Expert's Best Bets: Cheltenham Festival Day 2 tips with Enda McElhinney

The Cheltenham Festival continues on Wednesday afternoon with the second of four incredible days at Prestbury Park set to be headlined by the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

There are no less than four Grade 1 contests on the Wednesday afternoon agenda, headlined of course by the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 4:00 as Majborough carries favouritism and we’ve got race-by-race tips from the Racing Post’s Enda McElhinney for all the day two action at Cheltenham.

All prices quoted are with bet365, where new customers can claim up to £30 in free bets to use on the Cheltenham Festival. You can also back our biggest tips of the day below, which we recommend backing as an each-way bet, while the rest of our hand-picked accumulators are available over on our Cheltenham Festival tips page!

Cheltenham Festival 2025 Day 2 Expert’s Best Bets

1.20 – Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Experts’ Best Bet: No Drama This End

Paul Nicholls has witnessed a few false dawns in this race since Denman finished second to Nicanor two decades ago, with the likes of Bravemansgame, Stage Star, Hermes Allen and Captain Teague all busted flushes here after winning Newbury’s Challow Hurdle at Christmas. The poor record of winners from that Grade 1 in this race was halted by The New Lion 12 months ago and NO DRAMA THIS END can follow him in. He’s looked very good so far, Nicholls has offered a favourable Denman comparison, and his strong-travelling style promises to be suited by the Irish raiders likely to serve up a strong gallop.

2.00 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

Experts’ Best Bet: Koktail Divin

As with the opener, a bumper field turns out and there is genuine depth and quality aplenty. Final Demand and Kitzbuhel blotted their copybooks last time and so DRF winner Kaid D’authie carries as much hopes as any of Willie Mullins’ six-strong contingent based on the Leopardstown form. Romeo Coolio won an Irish Arkle war five weeks ago and that could find him out here, while Wendigo looks best of the British. Henry de Bromhead’s string usually come to life here and he’s got two. His mare The Big Westerner was touted for this race from Christmas and so it’s noted that Darragh O’Keeffe instead rides KOKTAIL DIVIN. He was last spotted romping to victory at Leopardstown in December and his earlier form bodes well. There should be more to come.

2.40 – BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)

Experts’ Best Bet: Farren Glory

The race formerly known as the Coral Cup will be no less puzzling under a new moniker. Cases can be made admirably for many but perhaps FARREN GLORY will have his day. The 2023 Royal Bond winner didn’t progress as a novice over fences last season despite his Naas win but he ran sound races. He wasn’t far behind re-opposing Storm Heart at Gowran Park in a Grade 3 last time over 2m and his third in last season’s Boyle Hurdle (2m6f, soft to heavy) suggests going back up in trip is wise. He’s 3lb better off with Storm Heart and sports first-time cheekpieces. He can thrive for Jack Kennedy.

3.20 – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Limited Handicap)

Experts’ Best Bet: Pied Piper

Last year’s winner Stumptown and Favori De Champdou dominate the betting, the latter winning here in January. They concede plenty of weight to the field but are set to go well. PIED PIPER is an interesting Cross Country debutante for Gordon Elliott with Sam Ewing riding. Stamina shouldn’t be a forte on breeding but nobody told Tiger Roll that when he made this race his own and this eight-year-old has won over trips in excess of three-miles. He wasn’t done when falling in the Thyestes and has never been out of the first three in six Cheltenham over hurdles/regulation fences. If this quirky test lights his fire he can outrun a big price.

4.00 – BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (NAP)

Experts’ Best Bet: Majborough

MAJBOROUGH put it all together to win at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and a repeat effort will make Willie Mullins’ charge difficult to beat here. Defending champion Marine Nationale is absent, which adds to his allure and if he jumps around in one piece, he should carry Mark Walsh to Champion Chase glory.

4.40 – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

Experts’ Best Bet: Be Aware

BE AWARE looks potentially well-treated off a mark of 147 for Dan and Harry Skelton. He was second in an Arkle Trial here in November and runner-up to Lulamba in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December. A three-runner Windsor Grade 2 in January didn’t play to his strengths as he finished second. He was second in the 2024 Greatwood Hurdle at this venue and ran well for a long way in the Coral Cup last season. His claims are there to be seen.

5.20 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

Experts’ Best Bet: Love Sign D’aunou

Willie Mullins has won five of the last six renewals and a staggering 14 overall. The champion trainer runs five of the 22-strong field now and they’ve combined to win five bumpers this season by a combined tally of just over 48-lengths. LOVE SIGN D’AUNOU accounted for 24 of those lengths in his impressive Naas win seven weeks ago. It was on bottomless ground and it seems as though Patrick Mullins has spent most of his time since trying to convince himself to jump off in favour of something else. He was unsuccessful and could be rewarded with his fifth Champion Bumper victory.

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