Cheltenham Festival Day Two

Well day one was a bit of a dampener but Simonsig saved the day for us especially with the 3/1 offer from Boylesports. For me the highlight was obviously Quevega making it 5 at Cheltenham but I was seriously impressed with Champagne Fever. My Tent Or Yours came to him but Champagne Fever is just so brave and gutsy out in front, proving himself a serious player for whatever he goes for next year.

On the flipside, a serious Disappointment was Grandouet. When he crashed out he was travelling by far the easiest and was just about to come into the race, who knows what would have happened had he stayed up. Personally I think the race would have had a different look but you cant take anything away from Hurricane Fly at all.

National Hunt Chase - Buddy Bolero

Since switching to fences Buddy Bolero has been very impressive unbeaten in two starts, taking some notable scalps on his way. On his chase debut he outstayed Theatrical Star and gave a pounding to Violin Davis who has since gone on to be a successful novice. He then went on to beat a very good field at Leicester including last years Grimthorpe winner Ikorodu Road. He now comes to the festival with a real live chance in Tuesday's opener and top amateur Jamie Codd takes the ride for David Pipe. There are two big doubts about him today which are the ground, he has never run on anything better than soft but the ground today should pose no problem. He has also never ventured over three miles and today he tackles a stamina sapping four miles which will push him but he should stay this no problem. Tom Scudamore describes this one as David Pipe's best chance of the week. (5/1)

Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle - Taquin Du Seuil

From one of the Lays of the meeting to one of the bets of the meeting in the Jonjo O'Neill French Import Taquin Du Seuil. Unfortunately pricewise put him up in the last week making his price crash in to around 11/2. I hope you backed him when put up on here before his Challow success at 16/1 and are enjoying the build up like me. He has looked a very classy recruit to the hurdling game since joining from France and has hardly put a foot wrong.

His life in England started out at Uttoxeter in a Maiden Hurdle in which he won hard held when beating a nice horse of Charlie Longsdon's by 15 lengths. His jumping that day was a bit novice like at times but once they picked up the pace he was jumping like a natural. He was then handed the impossible task of giving hot Supreme Novices favourite My Tent Or Yours 5 pounds at Ascot. However he gave it a real good try and over the last it was still in the balance before going down by one and three quarter lengths. It was clear a step up in trip was needed which is exactly what happened at Sandown (pictured above). This was arguably his most taking performance when beating the high regarded Le Bec from the Emma Lavelle yard. He won easily by 6 lengths that day but in truth it could have been as many as Tony McCoy allowed when sauntering up the hill. Next stop was his first victory in a Grade 1 as he took in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury. This was at the peak of the bad ground near the turn of the year and it took some guts and a lot of class to keep going in the mud. Eventually he beat Easter Day by 9 lengths who has since won at Huntingdon in a listed race.

He hasn't run since that day which is a very wise move from connections as it was a very tough and demanding slog round Newbury. The last thing you want to do to a 6 year old novice is bottom them out by running them too much and being greedy. One last positive is that he looks like the only genuine hurdler out of the top three in the market (Pont Alexandre and The New One). A very strong bet for the race and definitely one to keep on the right side of. (5/1) (Put up ante-post at 16/1)

RSA Chase - Hadrian's Approach

The key ingredient to win an RSA is stamina, something that Hadrian's Approach has plenty of, showing that after his last run with Unioniste. He was ahead of his reopposing rival that day just yards after the line, if it wasn't for a mistake two from home he would likely have won the race. Before that he had been beaten easily by Dynaste, however that was at Kempton which is certainly not a track for horses with more stamina than speed. The only thing that could be said against him is that his jumping can sometimes leave something to be desired, but at a preview night Nicky Henderson said he had been schooled intensely. As long as that practice has ironed out his quirks he can go very close here today and reverse form with Unioniste. (6/1)

3:20 Queen Mother Champion Chase - Mail De Bievre

It is fairly clear to anyone that knows much about racing that you should just be looking for something to come second at a nice price. Mail De Bievre could well be that horse after running a very good race in the Denman Chase over the longer trip of three miles. He sprinted about two and a half miles that day at Newbury from the front and jumped superbly throughout the contest. It was clear that 3 miles is too far for him especially with his front running tactics, he can make this a test of stamina again today and expose a few others. This type of ground mixed with this race could really play to his tactics and whereas most probably not being up to beating Sprinter Sacre he can definitely play a minor role. (16/1)

Coral Cup - Meister Eckhart

Meister Eckhart was a very good novice for Rebecca Curtis last year finishing fifth behind Brindisi Breeze in the Albert Bartlett. He is with Alan King now and has only had the one run this year in the National Spirit in which he was second to Prospect Wells. That was his first run for almost a year and he came through it very well and this has been his target all year long. He enters handicap company off a mark of 143 which is very fair, however he could still be inclined to improve a bit more. With that in mind he is a very solid each way bet at a decent enough price, saying that, everything in the Coral Cup is a good each way bet. You just have to pray for a clear passage and hope it all falls in to place on the day. Robert Thornton is of course injured this week which means Aidan Coleman gets the leg up today which is by no means a bad thing. He won a big handicap in the Pertemps on Kayf Aramis and can make it another here with Meister Eckhart. (16/1)

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - Counsel

One of the higher class flat performers recruited to the jumps game by Donald McCain. Rated 74 on the flat he never really got to fulfil his potential on the level, but has taken to the jumps scene very nicely. He opened up at Aintree when beaten out of sight by Handazan, however that was on bottomless ground which really isn't what he wants. He then registered his first National Hunt win at Bangor on better ground and managed to reverse placings with Moidore in doing so. Then came his toughest assignment when fourth to Kashmir Peak at Doncaster, also behind Vasco Du Ronceray and Sametegal. He was staying on late in the day that time and the strength of the form looks very useful and it was a more than promising run. He then won at Sedgefield in a weak race, most probably to ensure he got a mark worthy of getting into this race. That race went to plan and an opening handicap mark of 130 looks very workable and can take this years Fred Winter. A very strong each way bet. (16/1)

Weatherbys Champion Bumper - Sgt Reckless

One of the most confident bets of the week oddly comes in the Bumper, usually a lottery but one horse has stuck out to me all season. He opened up his account when sauntering to a win at Wincanton in the most impressive style possible. Will Kennedy didn't move a muscle that day but Sgt Reckless forged on with the look of a good horse about him. He then went on and won a very hot contest at Lingfield in which he had to give 7 pounds to some useful horses from all the top yards in National Hunt racing. One of the most intriguing things about his run today is that Champion flat jockey, Richard Hughes, gets the leg up today. Along with the fact the yard really rate and really fancy his chances, he gets a very strong vote today and can take the Bumper. (8/1)

NAP - Counsel
Nb - Sgt Reckless

Lets hope for some luck today after Simonsig managed to bail us out of prison yesterday, a few decent bets today and we will hope to be in with a winner or two.