Cheltenham Festival tips: Templegate’s best bets for day two and COMPLETE guide to Champion Chase day

TEMPLEGATE takes on day two of Cheltenham Festival confident of banging in a few winners.

Our top tipster has studied the form for months and watched every race for every clue.

You would think there would be no excuses – but this is Cheltenham Festival and anything can happen!

Read on for our man’s definitive guide to day two of the greatest show on turf.

And don’t forget you can back any horse by clicking their odds below.

CHELTENHAM WEDNESDAY

1.30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

THREE STRIPE LIFE is crying out for this longer trip and looks a fair price to turn around Dublin Racing Festival form with hotpot Sir Gerhard.

Gordon Elliott’s hopeful’s breeding is all about staying power but he showed enough pace over the minimum trip at Leopardstown.

He can take a big step forward and upset the jolly under ice cool Davy Russell. Sir Gerhard won the Champion Bumper last year – with Three Stripe Life running strongly in fourth – and has taken well to hurdling although he did make a few mistakes when scoring last month.

He’s clearly got plenty of class but he’s plenty short enough in the betting.

Journey With Me has looked a nice prospect when winning a couple of minor contests for Henry De Bromhead.

He can improve a bundle for taking on this stronger company and has every chance of hitting the frame.

I Am Maximus can win the battle of the Brits but looks a few steps behind the Irish challenge.

He won a bumper here before a convincing debut success over hurdles at Newbury in December.

He came back here on New Year’s Day to finish an excellent second in a Listed contest behind a hot prospect in Hillcrest who is fancied for the Albert Bartlett later in the week.

That was a smart effort and there should be a lot more to come.

Stage Star has already scored at Grade 1 level when hammering his rivals to take the Challow Hurdle by more than six lengths.

He’s been off since that Newbury success in December but he’s proven over this trip and jumped really well.

Paul Nicholls will have him fit enough to do himself justice on this return to action.

Whatdeawant was a decent bumper performer for Willie Mullins and got off the mark over timber in a big field at Navan in December.

He then went to Naas in early January for a Grade 1 contest where he was well supported in the betting.

He was coming with a nice run until stumbling before the third last and is better than fifth place suggests.

This is tougher again though. This is a hard race for Scarface to be looking for his first win.

He ran well in the mud at Ascot last time but needs a leap forward against these rivals.

Hemlock has gone close in a couple of minor contests but is surely a good way short of this class.

Haxo showed promise on his hurdles debut at Punchestown and will improve but needs to massively in this company.

2.10 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

CAPODANNO gave potential superstar Bob Olinger lots to think about when chasing him home at Punchestown in January.

That was an excellent second and is arguably the best piece of form on show from this field.

He took a clumsy unseat early on at Leopardstown last month but can bounce back from that.

There should be a lot more to come. Paul Nicholls rightly thinks the world of Bravemansgame who has won convincingly on all four chase starts to date.

He took Grade 1 honours in the Kauto Star at Kempton on Boxing Day and progressed from that when giving lumps of weight away in a Newbury handicap last month.

He’s a proven stayer with loads of class. He has gone from the front but also got a nice lead off Ahoy Senor when lowering his colours at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Lucinda Russell’s hope didn’t seem himself going right-handed there but it was still a decent effort to come second.

He underlined his quality with a convincing victory at Wetherby last time.

His jumping was brilliant at the Yorkshire track and he saw out the trip well.

He’s had just four runs over fences so there should be more to come and he’s a real contender.

L’Homme Presse has made serene progress so far for Venetia Williams, winning on all four chase outings.

He didn’t break sweat to take the Dipper here before matching that form with an easy Grade 1 success in the Scilly Isles at Sandown.

He shapes as though stepping up to three miles will be fine and is another contender in an open race.

Gaillard Du Mesnil looks certain to improve for this longer trip after a solid third in the race where Capodanno unseated at Leopardstown.

He was staying on there and could take a place at rewarding odds.

Paul Nicholls has another chance with Threeunderthrufive.

He is proven over this distance and jumped like an old hand when scooting in at Warwick last time out in January.

He had easier options than this at the Festival so it’s interesting to see him here.

He scored in minor company at Cheltenham in November so the track holds no fears.

Farouk D’Alene would probably want the ground a bit softer as it was testing when he scored at Navan latest.

Saying that, his stamina is proven and he’ll have no issue getting up the hill.

Beacon Edge landed a nice prize at Fairyhouse in November and was a decent fourth in last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle so has fair Festival form.

2.50 Coral Cup

DROP THE ANCHOR was beaten just three lengths in the County Hurdle at last year’s Festival but this longer trip should be more to his liking.

He warmed up with a cracking fifth in a red-hot contest at Leopardstown where he finished ahead of Suprise Package who ran away with the Imperial Cup at the weekend.

Sportsfile

Will legendary owner JP McManus be celebrating a big winner on day two of Cheltenham[/caption]

He is off a lower mark than 12 months ago and can go close in a typically open race. Gordon Elliott has a couple of big chances.

Saint Felicien has run just three times over hurdles but caught the eye when second in a Naas Grade 3 last time. He can improve for going up in distance.

Stablemate Grand Roi was only midfield in this last season but had all kinds of traffic problems.

He has been holding his own in hot company this year including when fourth in the tough Boyne Hurdle at Navan last month.

The Shunter won the Paddy Power Plate here last year but is just as good over the smaller obstacles.

He hasn’t run in a hurdle since his excellent third at the Punchestown Festival and can’t be discounted from what still looks a fair mark.

He stays well and loves the hustle and bustle of a big field. Gowel Road has a live chance for Nigel Twiston-Davies.

He won a decent handicap here in November over this trip and has followed that up with a couple of good runs dropped back to two miles.

He’ll prefer this stamina test and could hit the frame.

Unexpected Party got the better of Garry Clermont in good company at Ascot last time and they both head here with each-way claims.

The former won easily despite clattering the final flight and was value for further.

The handicapper has shoved him up 12lb for that which makes life a bit more difficult but he can improve again.

Garry Clermont is down 1lb and the first-time cheekpieces combined with a longer trip could serve him well.

Camprond goes well at Cheltenham and wasn’t suited by dropping back to two miles when fourth in the Greatwood.

That was still a good effort and he’s back after a break from the same mark.

Dans Le Vent will love coming from behind off this strong pace.

Isabel Williams overdid the waiting tactics a bit at Sandown last month but they still finished in the frame.

Something similar could happen here. Indigo Breeze is another Elliott runner who will appreciate going up in distance.

3.30 Champion Chase

SHISHKIN has too much class for these rivals and can add the Queen Mother Champion Chase to his Festival roll of honour.

He has already taken the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle and this victory can cement his place in the sport’s history.

I started the season thinking he would have to improve a massive amount not to be overtaken by Willie Mullins’ rising star Energumene.

But that question already appears to have been answered with Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old getting the better of their duel at Ascot in the Clarence House Chase last month.

Everything was supposedly in the Irish challenger’s favour there – he was going left-handed and had looked really good when winning his comeback race at Cork in December.

And for a long way it looked as though Energumene would come out on top.

Shishkin pecked on landing early on and Paul Townend was able to get a nice lead that, at one point, looked like would be enough to land the victory.

But Shishkin powered up the Ascot straight to win by a cosy length. Even the Mullins team admit they are scratching their head about how to turn that form around. We know Hendo’s hotpot loves the track, the trip suits and he won’t mind the ground if it’s only the quicker side than he’s used to. Stand by for a repeat of Ascot.

PA

Superstar Shishkin could prove unstoppable[/caption]

Chacun Pour Soi also runs for the Irish champion and his chances are tricky to weight up. On his best form, he’s right up there with the other two.

He has an impressive six Grade 1 wins on his roll of honour including by 12 lengths at Leopardstown last month as he won the Dublin Chase in style.

A repeat of that would make him a real player here. The worry is that he’s been way below his best on both visits to England. His third in last year’s running of this was hardly a disgrace but his 34-length last in the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December is more worrying.

If you’re willing to put those travel problems down to a blip he has a genuine chance at decent each-way odds.

Last year’s winner Put The Kettle On looks a massive price given how well she runs at Cheltenham.

She won the Arkle in 2020 and clearly loves the place. Her form this season is a worry with a modest run here in November before a poor effort at Fairyhouse.

But Henry De Bromhead will have her tuned up for this and we should see something closer to her true running.

Nube Negra was beaten just half a length in this race 12 months ago and won the Schloer Chase here by six lengths in November.

He didn’t seem right from the tapes going up when fourth in the Tingle Creek last time.

It would be no surprise to see a return to form back at his favourite course.

We have another former winner in Politologue who was second to Nube Negra last time.

He’s a really good jumper but is 12 now and will surely find this too tough.

We’re used to Envoi Allen going off at odds-on prices and that was the case when he saunted to victory in a small field Grade 1 at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.

He has lots of talent but was a heavy faller when 4-9 favourite for the Marsh at last year’s Festival.

He’s had a breathing operation since then, which may help, but he needs to find his very best to lay a glove on the others.

4.10 Cross Country Chase

TIGER ROLL won this contest over the cross-country course by 18 lengths last season and looks hard to stop again.

That was his third victory in this race which plays exactly to the dual Grand National hero’s strengths.

He has had his usual quiet run over hurdles to warm up and Davy Russell can steer him home again.

It’s a shame that he retires here instead of having a lap of honour around Aintree next month but he can go out on a real high.

If this race was being run on the conventional track, Delta Work would be the clear pick.

He has won five Grade 1 races over fences and was beaten only six lengths in the 2020 Gold Cup.

He may not be the force he was but has lots of class. This is his first taste of a cross-country course and he’ll go close if handling the challenge.

Easysland interrupted Tiger Roll’s winning run in this race when coming out on top in 2020.

It’s surprising that he hasn’t won since then and has been pulled up on both starts since moving to Jonjo O’Neill.

That’s not too positive but he came back to finish second in this 12 months ago and could repeat that feat.

Brahma Bull was third in the Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury in November so has a touch of quality.

He makes errors over normal fences so this unique challenge may help. He has a good engine and will be an each-way threat if managing to get round.

Prengarde has lots of winning form in French cross-country races and that has been a good breeding ground for this.

He has joined top-class trainer Enda Bolger who won four of the first five runnings of this race in the Noughties.

He warmed up with a quiet spin over hurdles at Naas which will have sharpened him up. He didn’t come cheap for JP McManus and could repay a big chunk of his fee here.

Bolger also runs Midnight Maestro who took one of these at Punchestown last time but was poor here in December.

Shady Operator was second to his stablemate but could be more of a threat under top amateur Derek O’Connor.

4.50 Grand Annual Chase

ANDY DUFRESNE performed with credit when second in a Naas Grade 3 last time out.

He has been on the podium at the highest level and has enough pace for this trip. He has few miles on the clock and looks open to improvement.

He’s not the only one of Gordon Elliott’s runners in with every chance.

Buddy Rich looks a smart novice and he followed a smooth Navan success with a solid fourth in good company at Fairyhouse.

A repeat of that would put him in the picture. Embittered has been out of sorts but it was the same last year when he was backed off the boards for this race.

He was going very nicely until falling late on. This will have been his target for a long time.

Editeur Du Gite has been wrapped in cotton wool by Gary Moore ever since his impressive victory in a hot handicap here in December.

That built on another victory over this course and distance at the November meeting.

He’s crept up the weights but is a regular winner who has the scope for more improvement.

Sky Pirate was a head-bobbing winner of this race last year and will appreciate this return to a bigger field.

His mark is only 4lb higher than 12 months ago and he’ll give another good account of himself for Jonjo O’Neill.

Jonjo junior rides Elixir De Nutz for Colin Tizzard. He has done well in landing a couple of small-field wins and clearly has more to offer.

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He likes to go from the front so should stay out of trouble.

Before Midnight has done well this season for Sam Thomas and took a decent prize here in October.

He followed up in stronger company again at Ascot before finding a Grade 2 a bit much at Kempton’s Christmas meeting.

He came back to his best when a close second at Doncaster in January and has every chance off the same mark.

Amarillo Sky would like the ground a bit softer as it was testing when he scored by ten lengths at Newbury last month.

The handicapper was watching so he’ll need to improve from this higher mark. But he’s only six so there should be a fair bit more to come.

Thyme White skipped around Doncaster to score under Bryony Frost when last seen at Christmas.

He ran well enough in last year’s County Hurdle so has Festival experience.

The ground was testing when he scored on Town Moor but an 8lb rise is fair and he’s a contender for Paul Nicholls who has a decent record in this race.

5.30 Champion Bumper

JOYEUX MACHIN looks a huge price in a race that has been won by plenty of horses that were sent off at long odds.

He wasn’t beaten far by Facile Vega when second at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. And he did really well to score at Navan next time after meeting lots of trouble in running.

He needs to improve again but Paul Nolan’s five-year-old looks capable of running into the frame at least.

Facile Vega sets the standard after scorching home to land a Leopardstown Grade 2 by 12 lengths.

His chance is there for all to see but he’s a short price and Willie Mullins’ first string doesn’t have a great record in this.

Redemption Day has Paul Townend on board and he was impressive on debut at Leopardstown when winning on the bridle. He can take a massive step forward from that.

The yard also runs Seabank Bistro who won easily at Naas despite being green and is a massive price.

James’s Gate is another Mullins runner who will show more after scoring last time. Gordon Elliott has every chance with American Mike.

Jamie Codd has ridden him on both his wins with the latest at Navan being on a par with Facile Vega.

It would be no surprise to see him come out on top.

Poetic Music was a Listed bumper winner here in January for Fergal O’Brien and has an each-way chance.

Hughie Morrison runs Our Jester who was impressive at Ascot before a good AW bumper success at Lingfield. He has more to offer.

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