Day two of the Cheltenham Festival has attracted substantial fields across the board. Just two races have fewer than 16 runners and if there are no absentees, no race will have a single-figure field.
That is the task facing Matty Sutcliffe, who is going for big value bets on Wednesday. He has five selections, four of which can be backed at 33/1 or bigger…
1:20 Cheltenham – Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Free Spirit 100/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
A maximum field of 22 are declared for what looks to be a sensational renewal of the Turners Novices Hurdle. Willie Mullins has won four of the last ten renewals and fields six here, but then I don’t think the Closutton pecking order has been as well established as if often has been in recent years, and a chance is taken on his rank outsider Free Spirit.
The son of Muhtathir, who sired the 2020 winner Envoi Allen, was second on debut in a newcomers race at Auteuil. He then fended off the evens favourite at Dieppe to win by a head, having jumped impressively throughout despite taking a keen hold.
He made his debut for Willie Mullins in January when returning from a 221-day break and while it was a weak edition of the Moscow Flyer, it was interesting to see him pitched straight into graded company. That an awfully slowly run affair which favoured the ex classy flat horse Sober, whereas it hindered Free Spirit who raced keenly throughout.
I was still taken by that performance however, as he jumped well throughout and was brave at a few, displaying a solid aptitude for hurdling. He was still travelling well behind Sober on the turn home, but those keen exertions in a slowly run race took its toll late on.
A strong pace in this big field looks sure to suit him better here, and his dam is a half sister to the two time Grade 1 winner Fox Norton, who won the Melling Chase over 2m4f. I’d expect him to improve for a step up in trip, and the booking of Mark Walsh has further boosted by confidence as I’d expect him to be dropped right out early on and come there late in the day.
2:40 Cheltenham – BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Guard Duty 14/1 1pt EW 6 places
Guard Duty has featured a couple of times for the column this season and he’s a tricky horse to win with, as he’s often anchored right out in rear before coming with a late run, and I think he has a huge chance of at least placing here with that style of running.
He caught the eye on seasonal debut at Newbury when travelling well through a 17-runner field from rear to split the right pair in the market finishing second. The winner was beaten in the Lanzarote next time out but fared well in Grade 2 company prior to unseating last time, and the third, Lud’or, won that Grade 2 now rated 10lbs higher.
It was a similar performance at Windsor when again staying on late in the day for third, and he returned to the winners enclosure when a comfortable winner at 8/15F at Doncaster.
His earlier form this season would suggest that a mark of 142 is still workable and I’d expect him to be travelling strongly on the turn for home before passing horses late on.
4:00 Cheltenham – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Saint Segal 50/1 1pt EW 3 places
If the Majborough who turned up Leopardstown arrives in the same vein of form here then I’d be shocked if anything can get near him, but he has to prove that performance wasn’t a one off and his two race-ending errors in last year’s Arkle is still in the back of my mind.
Outside of that, there’s not a whole lot who have a bank of positives here. L’Eau Du Sud is of interest returning from a layoff but I don’t think he finds all that much off the bridle and that will catch him out as it did in the Arkle.
Il Etait Temps has to prove he can handle the Cheltenham hill alongside wellbeing after falling and Sandown, and it would take an almighty training performance from Henry De Bromhead to get Quilixios to win this after last seen falling in this last season.
Further down the market, Saint Segal may lack the natural class of those to the fore but he’s been a model of consistency of late and I can envisage him running into a place.
Since finishing fifth at Newbury last season and adopting prominent tactics, his form figures read 1233112122. His form has been strong this season, he gave 12lbs to Thistle Ask in the Haldon Gold Cup and was the only one somewhat able to keep up with him. He then bolted up at Kelso finishing nine lengths ahead of Matata, who bolted up off top weight in the New Years day handicap at Cheltenham.
He bumped back into Thistle Ask in the Desert Orchid at Kempton, finishing fourteen lengths clear of the third. I thought he ran an excellent race against Lulamba in the Game Spirit, rallying well after losing his position in a strangely run affair at Newbury.
I suspect he’ll jump off prominently and try to make it a test, as he’s proven himself to stay further and while he mightn’t be classy enough to win if the market protagonists are on song, he’s more than capable of running into a place.
4:40 Cheltenham – Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Boothill 40/1 1pt EW 5 places
There’s not many who appear well handicapped here, but the same can’t be said for Boothill who was rated 160 four runs ago and now finds himself on 145.
Admittedly, he’s completely lost his way since falling in the Desert Orchid last season, but he wasn’t entirely disgraced in that contest this term albeit a distant third.
He does require faith, but the angle here is he comes off the back of his second wind operation. His first came in 2024, and his next start saw him finish a length second to Jonbon over course and distance in the Shloer Chase. That was only six starts ago, and if the wind surgery proves the oracle here then he’s absolutely thrown in off 145 should he return to form.
5:20 Cheltenham – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (In Memory Of Sir Johnny Weatherby) (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (GBB) (Class 1) (4-6yo) – Diamant Dore 35/1 1pt EW 4 places
Ireland have dominated the bumper with the last British-trained winner coming in 2016, but the tide can turn in the unfamiliar form of an Adrian Keatley-trained runner.
Diamant Dore created a huge impression on bumper debut when a seventeen length winner at Ayr in January, with the evens favourite in second. It was a remarkable performance considering how green he was when he hit the front, as he did anything but look straight forward.
He powered through the soft conditions late on to clock a finishing speed percentage of 107.89%, with the second quickest only 100.64%. He was 4.28 seconds quicker than the rest of the field, and covered the final two furlongs 2.92 seconds quicker than the runner up. He recorded an RPR of 120 there, which was the second highest bumper RPR of any British horse with Bass Hunter recording 126, who is 12/1 here.
Visually, it was a serious effort despite the form likely not amounting to much. He was bought for £125,000 after looking set to win a point-to-point prior to falling at the last. He’s by Martinborough, the sire of Majborough and he’s a half brother to a six time winner over in France including in Grade 1 company, alongside a mare who was two from two on the flat.
I think he has the potential to become a proper horse for connections and if he was trained by Willie Mullins, he would be single figures.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1:20 Cheltenham – Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Free Spirit 100/1 0.5pt EW 4 places
2:40 Cheltenham – BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Guard Duty 14/1 1pt EW 6 places
4:00 Cheltenham – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Saint Segal 50/1 1pt EW 3 places
4:40 Cheltenham – Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Boothill 40/1 1pt EW 5 places
5:20 Cheltenham – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (In Memory Of Sir Johnny Weatherby) (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (GBB) (Class 1) (4-6yo) – Diamant Dore 35/1 1pt EW 4 places
Free Spirit Boothill
Diamant DoreMatty Sutcliffe’s Cheltenham Day 2 Tips
FAQs
What are today’s Cheltenham Festival tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing on day 2 at Cheltenham on Wednesday 11 March.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Cheltenham Festival tips were published at 10.05am on Tuesday 10 March.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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