Cheltenham Day 2 Tips: 10/1 NAP heads Wednesday’s fancies

It was a wet but wonderful opening day of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and we're ready to do all it over again on Wednesday, with the action starting at 13:30 and ending shortly after 17:30 as per.

For my Cheltenham Day 2 tips, I'm predicting more Willie Mullins domination - and I've got a 10/1 NAP in the (hopefully) lucky last.

13:30 Gallagher Novices' Hurdle - Ballyburn @ 4/11

I'd say it's more of a challenge knowing what to call this race than it is to find the winner of it.

Having tipped Ile Atlantique at 20/1 antepost, I am rooting for him in the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle, formerly known as the Ballymore/Baring Bingham, but his stablemate BALLYBURN will be very, very hard to beat.

I truly believe this is a case of 'if he stays on his feet, he wins', for the six-year-old is easily the best novice hurdler around and appears to have no chinks in his armour.

14:10 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase - Fact To File @ 5/6

From one Willie Mullins-trained 'good thing' to another - I can't have FACT TO FILE beat in this.

The seven-year-old son of Poliglote was beaten by the re-opposing American Mike on his chasing debut at Navan in November, but like many of the yard's runners he improved hand over fist when bolting up at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He then went to the Dublin Racing Festival and gave Gaelic Warrior, who may well have won the Arkle 24 hours earlier, a beating. Many will play down that form and suggest the aforementioned rival simply didn't show up, but that's not how I see it. I think Fact To File crushed him, and any horse that can do that to a horse of such ability must be exceptionally talented in their own right.

I'm a fan of Stay Away Fay, but unfortunately he meets what I believe to be the best novice chaser in the game who is my strongest fancy of the entire week.

14:50 Coral Cup - Built By Ballymore @ 13/2

For me, the Coral Cup is usually the toughest handicap of the entire week and this year's renewal is no exception, despite having 'only' 24 runners.

That being said, there's a few obvious candidates here, including defending champ Langer Dan, Sa Majeste, Doddiethegreat and BUILT BY BALLYMORE.

I like the latter for the incredibly shrewd Martin Brassil outfit. He looked a novice of fair potential when bolting up in a maiden hurdle at Limerick over Christmas and confirmed that promise when winning by the same margin in a stronger event at Punchestown around a month-and-a-half ago.

I envisage the six-year-old son of Flemensfirth being a classy novice chaser next season, but first he can take this lucrative handicap hurdle on ground that will be right up his street.

15:30 Queen Mother Champion Chase - El Fabiolo @ 8/15

Jonbon is one of my favourite horses in training and before his misstep in the Clarence House Chase here in January I would have given every chance of getting revenge on last year's Arkle conqueror EL FABIOLO.

However, that was a less-than-ideal preparation, while Willie Mullins' superstar looked better than ever when bolting up in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown last month. Edwardstone's new-found front-running tactics means the race is likely to be set up for him, too.

Both are prone to a mistake or two, but El Fabiolo is more likely to recover best and he's taken to win the third meeting between the pair.

16:10 Cross Country Chase - Coko Beach @ 10/3

If this race goes ahead - the course is currently waterlogged and an inspection has been called for 8am on Wednesday - I'll be backing COKO BEACH.

Galvin is a doubt to even run in these conditions, let alone win, while Delta Work is 11 now and looks to have regressed slightly this season - and Minella Indo is short enough for me under the circumstances.

That makes Coko Beach, who going off jockey bookings is Gordon Elliott's third-string (though I'd imagine track specialist Keith Donoghue would take over from Sam Ewing if Galvin doesn't run), the logical bet for me.

The nine-year-old is actually the highest-rated horse in the field, he loves deep ground and he was impressive when winning on his first attempt round over the cross country fences at Punchestown last month. His younger legs could be the key here.

16:50 Grand Annual Handicap Chase - Maskada e/w @ 15/2

I'm going to take a bit of a punt on MASKADA to defend her Grand Annual crown for the in-form Henry de Bromhead.

Henry's horses ran superbly yesterday and this eight-year-old mare, who won this race off 142 last year beating the Mares' Chase favourite Dinoblue, looks to have been campaigned with this in mind and she'll absolutely love the deep ground.

It's not going to be easy, eight pounds higher in the handicap, but this doesn't look a great renewal and with Betfred paying five places instead of four, she must have a fair chance of at least making the frame.

17:30 Champion Bumper - Cantico @ 10/1

Fact To File in the Brown Advisory is my strongest fancy, but the best bet on Wednesday has to be Willie Mullins' CANTICO in the bumper.

The five-year-old was my 20th and final antepost selection for the Festival and after seeing Paul Townend's name alongside his at Monday's declaration stage, indicating he's second in the pecking order at Closutton, I've only grown in confidence.

In what promises to be a testing affair, the son of Diamond Boy, who is proven on heavy ground, can use his experience to put these rivals to the sword.

Cantico was touted as the yard's top bumper horse before the season, and after a couple of twists and turns I fancy that may well prove right in the end.