Wednesday marks Cheltenham Festival day 2, with the highlight being the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 3.30pm. Andrew Mount has three selections for you to follow.
Posted: 3.40pm, Tuesday, March 12th
2.10 Cheltenham – STAY AWAY FAY (1.5pt win – 7/2 William Hill)
Last year’s Albert Bartlett winner STAY AWAY FAY lost his unbeaten record over fences when only third to Gold Cup hope Capodanno in the Cotswold Chase but the fact he was switched from novice company so early in his career gives us some idea of how highly he is regarded by trainer Paul Nicholls. Having made all when successful at Exeter and Sandown he was perhaps unsuited to a less aggressive ride and made one or two jumping errors as a result. The first-time cheekpieces go on today and his trainer has a fine recent record when using this headgear, scoring with seven of the 21 qualifiers since the beginning of last year for a profit of £20.03 to a £1 level stake at SP.
2.50 Cheltenham – BALLYADAM (1pt ew – 14/1 bet365, William Hill)
BALLYADAM has finished strongly into fifth place in the last two County Hurdles, going down by six lengths to State Man when 50-1 for the 2022 renewal and, last year, finding Faivoir just over four lengths too good when a 12-1 shot. The point-to-point winner’s latest success came over 2m4f and his last-time-out third in a Grade 1 hurdle over 2m7.5f at Leopardstown suggests that today’s 2m5f trip will prove ideal. Those in the top six in the weights have a good recent record and he can reward each-way support despite shouldering top weight.
3.30 Cheltenham – CAPTAIN GUINNESS (1pt without El Fabiolo, 4/1 generally)
El Fabiolo is going to be desperately difficult to beat in the Champion Chase but the bet without the favourite is CAPTAIN GUINNESS, runner-up to Energumene in the race 12 months ago. Henry De Bromhead’s nine-year-old chased home El Fabiolo and Dinoblue at the DRF and also ran well in at the Cheltenham festival in 2021, running third to Shishkin in the Arkle, and in the 2020 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (he was close up and travelling well when brought down two out).
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
2.10 Cheltenham – STAY AWAY FAY (1.5pt win – 7/2 William Hill)
2.50 Cheltenham – BALLYADAM (1pt ew – 14/1 bet365, William Hill)
3.30 Cheltenham – CAPTAIN GUINNESS (1pt without El Fabiolo, 4/1 generally)
Stay Away FayAndrew Mount’s tips for Wednesday, 13th March 2024.
Andrew Mount’s Myth Busters – Nicky Henderson is out of form and his runners should be avoided at the Cheltenham Festival
In the past few weeks several racing journalists/pundits have voiced the opinion that trainer Nicky Henderson is out of form and that his Cheltenham Festival runners should be treated with a degree of caution. Let’s examine the yard’s recent form to give us some background… Since the beginning of February (until the close of play…
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