Cheltenham Day 2 Tips: Owen’s best bets for Wednesday at the Festival

It started so well. Old Park Star, the Nap of the Day, landed the Supreme and I was already planning how to spend the money when my seven-fold acca came in. What happened next? The less said about that the better.

Hopefully there's one or two more winners from my Cheltenham Day 2 Tips, which includes a 14/1 each-way Nap.

13:20 - Sortudo each-way @ 14/1

I'm doubling down on SORTUDO, tipped at 40/1 antepost, for the Turners Novices' Hurdle.

I wasn't planning on doing so. I had King Rasko Grey lined up, but after Talk The Talk's poor effort in the Supreme on Tuesday I've gone cold on him. Same goes for Ballyfad and Skylight Hustle. Famous last words...

No Drama This End is a serious racehorse, but I do think he's vulnerable on this ground over this trip. I've doubts about Sober and, to a lesser extent, Act Of Innocence too.

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That leaves it wide-open for a Sortudo, who I thought was judged very harshly after going down to the reopposing I'll Sort That in the G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (former Lawlor's Of Naas) at the start of the year.

He was sent off 15/8f in County Kildare and indeed travelled like the best horse in the race, but as he admitted himself after the race, Patrick Mullins gave him far too much to do while I'll Sort That got first run on the field.

Because the race wasn't won by Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott, it was immediately declared a poor G1. The winner looks a smart type and the pair were 13 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

Sortudo has Danny Mullins, fresh from winning the Arkle on Kargese, in the saddle and I'm hopeful he can steer the selection into the places at least.

14:00 - Western Fold each-way @ 14/1

The biggest advert for Cheltenham removing the 2m4f novice chase from its schedule is the strength of this year's Brown Advisory. What a race this is.

Romeo Coolio. Final Demand. Kaid d'Authie. Koktail Divin. Wendigo. The Big Westerner. Oscars Brother. Western Fold. Kitzbuhel. If you fancy any of those, I couldn't put you off. Talk about strength in depth.

Again, I'll be hoping Kaid d'Authie does the business after tipping him at 33/1 antepost - but on the day, at the prices and with conditions in mind, I'm leaning to WESTERN FOLD.

Gordon Elliott's seven-year-old caught the eye in defeat to Kaid d'Authie on less-than-ideal ground in the Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival, despite a 100+ day layoff. Connections are expecting significant improvement.

He'll be a lot more comfortable on this ground and although it's not ideal Jack Kennedy is on Romeo Coolio, Danny Gilligan is a fine pilot who knows the horse very well. He was on board the day he won the Galway Plate, the day he beat Savills Chase hero Affordale Fury in open company at Gowran Park and the day he was third to Envoi Allen in the Champion Chase at Down Royal.

His form is as good as anything in this field and I just can't let him go unbacked at what is an outstanding each-way price. There's no way he should be double figures in my mind.

14:40 - The Yellow Clay @ 8/1

It could be a great day for Mr. Elliott as I also fancy THE YELLOW CLAY in the Cup.

The seven-year-old son of Yeats was one of last season's top novice hurdlers, winning four on the bounce - including a Grade 3, Grade 2 and Grade 1 - before finishing runner-up to The New Lion in the Turners Novices' Hurdle.

Since then, it's not been plain sailing. He was beaten at 8/15f on his seasonal return in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan in November, before a poor effort in the Christmas Hurdle over three miles at Leopardstown on December 28.

He's been given plenty of time - 73 days to be exact - to get over that and lines up in a handicap for the first time off a mark of 155, with the extremely valuable Michael Kenneally taking off five pounds. He also wears cheekpieces for the first time. That could also help bring him back to form.

If he's back to something like, which Gordon Elliott has alluded to the build-up, then he has a mighty chance.

15:20 - Desertmore House @ 4/1

I say it every year, but I'm not the biggest Cross Country fan, so we'll keep this one short and sweet.

Martin Brassil's 11-year-old DESERTMORE HOUSE has been revitalised for going over the banks at Punchestown and in receipt of stacks of weight from Favori De Champdou and Stumptown at the top of the market, he looks the bet to me.

His four-length beating of The Goffer, who had Final Orders trailing by a further eight-and-a-half, reads very well and if he takes to this unique course, I can see him running a huge race.

16:00 - L'Eau du Sud @ 5/1

In the absence of the title holder Marine Nationale, Majborough should oblige for favourite backers in the Champion Chase.

However, he's not the sort of odds-on shot I'm happy to get involved with. I don't need to, either, with him in the antepost book at 5/1.

If he does everything right like he did at the Dublin Racing Festival, nothing will beat him. Nothing will get close, in fact. Take the boosted 15/8 about him winning by five lengths or more if you're in that camp. For me, because he's prone to an error or three, I'm happy to look elsewhere.

Il Etait Temps is another risky proposition given his Cheltenham form and a bad fall the last day, so I'll settle for Dan Skelton's L'EAU DU SUD.

The trainer told Betfred during a stable visit last week that he's expecting the eight-year-old to run as well, if not better than he did when winning the Shloer over course and distance by 15 lengths.

He's the solid option in a race that hasn't been the kindest to punters in recent years.

16:40 - Relieved Of Duties each-way @ 12/1

I would be rather keen on Ryan's Rocket in the Grand Annual if he lined up, but unfortunately that's not looking likely. You have to feel for Fergal O'Brien, who's still chasing his first Cheltenham Festival win.

In his absence, a tentative vote goes to RELIEVED OF DUTIES for Gordon Elliott (again).

The seven-year-old son of Sholokhov made a winning debut over fences at Fairyhouse all the way back in October, before finishing runner-up to the 141-rated Alnilam in a novices' chase over course and distance. Back in fourth, over 10 lengths adrift of the selection, was the reopposing Addragoole.

Since then, Relieved Of Duties has struggled on deeper ground. No surprise at all when you look through the form book.

Back on a sounder surface, off a mark of 136 with Jack Kennedy returning to the saddle, he ought to be competitive.

17:20 - Broadway Ted each-way @ 14/1

I think this is a fascinating renewal of the Champion Bumper. It's caused me a migraine trying to figure it out, though.

I like a few, including The Irish Avatar and The Mourne Rambler, but at the prices I'm going to have to put up BROADWAY TED each-way.

Gordon Elliott's five-year-old is actually the highest-rated runner in the field, at 131, after winning the Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival.

He looks uncomplicated and should give champion jockey Sean Bowen rides a great spin in a race that often suits hardy sorts like Broadway Ted.

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