Cheltenham Festival Day 2 has a host of strong favourites in Impair Et Passe, Gerri Colombe and Delta Work and a thrillingly up-for-grabs edition of the Champion Chase to look forward to.
Scroll down for our best bets, followed by the analysis behind them.
Cheltenham Wednesday Betting Tips
1:30 – Impaire Et Passe to win @ 5/2
2:10 – Gerri Colombe to win @ 5/4
2:50 – Sa Fureur each-way @ 13/2
3:30 – Edwardstone to win @ 6/4
4:10 – Delta Work to win @ 11/8
4:50 – Before Midnight each-way @ 18/1
5:30 – Chapeau Du Soleil each-way @ 25/1
Check out the latest horse racing odds at Betzone
1:30 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
IMPAIR ET PASSE may well be the most napped horse of this year’s preview circuit and although he has yet to dip his hooves in Grade 1 water there’s been a palpable sense of confidence about his ability from those with a foot in the Willie Mullins camp.
His trainer won this race for a fifth time with Sir Gerhard last year and Impair Et Passe can notch a sixth success at the expense of chief market rival Hermes Allen. The latter’s trainer Paul Nicholls has never won the race despite targeting it with the likes of Denman and Bravemansgame over the years.
Our tip: Impaire Et Passe to win @ 5/2
2:10 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
Gordon Elliott has brought GERRI COLOMBE along with sufficient care to suggest the master of Cullentra thinks he has a potential Gold Cup horse on his hands. Unbeaten in one point-to-point, two bumpers, two novice hurdles and three novice chases he can extend his perfect record.
Having already stayed 3m in his point and won going away in a 2m7f Thurles novice hurdle last season, there’s no doubt he’ll stay here and he should have too much class for The Real Whacker.
Our tip: Gerri Colombe to win @ 5/4
2:50 – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Give the BHA handicapper’s tendency to add on weight when reassessing Irish ratings ahead of the Festival Gordon Elliott must have been pleased as punch to see SA FUREUR dropped 2lbs from the Irish mark he received after winning the Grade 3 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle.
That was his third narrow win on the spin over hurdles and qualified him for Cheltenham, where he looks to have excellent prospects with Davy Russell in the saddle.
Our tip: Sa Fureur each-way @ 13/2
3:30 – Queen Mother Champion Chase
There’s less than zero chance Tom Cannon will give Editeur Du Gite as much rope as he did aboard EDWARDSTONE in the Clarence House Chase on Cheltenham Trials Day.
The jockey’s decision to concern himself chiefly with keeping tabs on Energumene proved unwise on that occasion, but he still only lost by a head and can reverse the form to score at the Festival for the second year running.
Our tip: Edwardstone @ 6/4
4:10 – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Last year’s winner DELTA WORK can emulate former stablemate Tiger Roll and take this for a second time. He enjoyed an ideal prep when third in the handicap version of this race at Cheltenham Trials Day, when he gave more than a stone in weight to the first and second.
He competes off level weights here and has the benefit of Cross Country experience over Galvin and Franco De Port. The trio are rated 13lbs or more better than every other runner in the race by the BHA handicapper.
Our tip: Delta Work to win @ 11/8
4:50 – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup
This race was the plan for Sam Thomas’ BEFORE MIDNIGHT in 2022 before a Wednesday of torrential rain and the 10-year-old can make up for lost time at this year’s Festival. Age is no barrier in a race won by 10 and 12-year-olds inside the last four renewals.
A course and distance winner off a BHA mark of 136 last term he followed up off 144 on his next appearance. Pitching up off 143 here this should well within his compass if the ground has good in the going description.
Our tip: Before Midnight each-way @ 18/1
5:30 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper
CHAPEAU DU SOLEIL was considered Willie Mullins best bumper horse going into the season if a combination of Closutton vibes and the ante-post betting was anything to go by. In an open race a chance is taken that he can deliver on the potential that those at Mullins HQ saw in him.
Our tip: Chapeau Du Soleil each-way @ 25/1
