2021 CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 2 TIPS AND RACE CARD

Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival is known as Ladies’ Day and features the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 3.30. Politologue won last year for Paul Nicholls following the late withdrawal of Altior and Chacun Pour Soi but all three are on target for this year’s renewal. Nicholls also has high hopes for Bravemansgame in the opening Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle while Irish ace Monkfish is hot favourite for the RSA Chase. We provide our free expert analysis and tips for all seven races on day two, and of course tips for all 28 races throughout the festival

Cheltenham Day 2 Races Schedule

Cheltenham Festival Wednesday Feature Race

The feature race on day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival is the Grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles. Can Politologue defend his crown against the Irish raider Chacun Pour Soi or will Altior reclaim the title he last won in 2019? Here is our free guide to the big race and Cheltenham betting tips to help you through day 2 of the festival meeting.

3:30 Queen Mother Champion Steeplechase

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 race over two miles and the highlight of Ladies’ Day. Badsworth Boy (1983, 1984, 1985) is the only horse to win the race three times while dual winners include Viking Flagship (1994, 1995), Moscow Flyer (2003, 2005), Master Minded (2008, 2009) and Sprinter Sacre (2013, 2016).

The latter was trained by Nicky Henderson who also produced Altior to win in 2018 and 2019. Injury denied him a hat-trick bid last year with Politologue taking advantage for Paul Nicholls. The grey faces a formidable rival this year in Chacun Pour Soi, an impressive winner at Leopardstown in December.

Chacun Pour Soi

The ante-post favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase this year is Chacun Pour Soi, trained by Willie Mullins. He was strongly fancied last year but was a late withdrawal through injury. The Policy Maker gelding underlined his claims for the title with an impressive victory at Leopardstown in December. He has only been beaten once in six outings for Mullins.

Politologue

Politologue is the reigning Champion Chaser after beating stable companion Dynamite Dollars by 9 ½ lengths. The value of that race was diluted by the absence of Chacun Pour Soi and Altior but both are on course for Cheltenham this season. Politologue confirmed his well-being with a 7 lengths victory in a weak renewal of the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.

Altior

Altior was pushed out to 12-1 following his surprise defeat in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. He was under pressure a long way from home before plugging on into second behind Nube Negra. He was conceding 6lbs and had not raced for almost a year but it would be a remarkable achievement to win his third Queen Mother Champion Chase at the age of eleven.

Nube Negra

Dan Skelton’s Nube Negra burst into contention for this race when coasting to victory in the Desert Orchid Chase. He pulled his way into the race before quickening clear, belying his 20-1 starting price. That was only his fifth race over fences and he will be a major player if he can reproduce that form at Cheltenham.

Waiting Patiently

Ruth Jefferson has entered King George VI Chase runner-up Waiting Patiently in the Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase. The latter would seem the obvious target but he is not short of speed and a drop back to two miles cannot be ruled out.

Put The Kettle On

Henry De Bromhead’s 2020 Arkle Trophy winner Put The Kettle On could line up as the only mare in the field. She won the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham in November but looks held by Chacun Pour Soi on Leopardstown form.

Duc Des Genievres

Duc Des Genievres was an impressive 13 lengths winner of the Arkle here in 2019 but has been beaten in all eight subsequent starts. He appeared to benefit from the move from Willie Mullins to Paul Nicholls when chasing home Put The Kettle On in November but did not jump fluently when only third in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton.

Sceau Royal

Alan King’s Sceau Royal has been a consistent performer at the highest level but has been beaten at four Cheltenham Festivals. His best run was a fine third to Altior in the 2019 Champion Chase and he has shown plenty of dash over hurdles this season. He was an early faller at Kempton in December but could still be a contender for place money at long odds.

Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Betting Tips

The first race on Day 2 of the Festival is the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. Paul Nicholls is yet to win this race, even seeing the mighty Denman beaten here in 2006. He could put the record straight this year with Bravemansgame, a 10 lengths winner of the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury at the end of December.

Monkfish got the better of Latest Exhibition by a neck in last season’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. The pair renewed rivalry over fences at Leopardstown in December, Monkfish stretching his advantage to three lengths. He looks a worthy favourite for the RSA Chase this season. The Cross Country Chase could also see a familiar duel with Easysland and two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll among the entries, first and second in 2020. Welsh Grand National winner Potters Corner is also on target for the race which is his intended prep for Aintree.

Sir Gerhard will feature in plenty of Cheltenham day 2 tips in the Champion Bumper. He is owned by Cheveley Park, successful in this race with Envoi Allen (2019) and Ferny Hollow (2020). The son of Jeremy won his first two starts impressively at Down Royal and Navan.

Cheltenham Free Bets For Wednesday

Cheltenham races day 2 will feature plenty of special offers and free bets. Some leading bookmakers including Paddy Power offered Cheltenham free bets on selected races to existing customers in 2020. 888Sport customers finding a Cheltenham winner at odds of 4-1 or bigger were rewarded with a £5 free bet for the following day.

There will also be enhanced odds on the big race favourite for new customers to limited stakes. Other Cheltenham Wednesday offers could include money back as free bets for placed horses in the opening Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. Check with your bookmaker when placing your bets.

Cheltenham Day 2 Odds

Bravemansgame will feature in plenty of Cheltenham Festival day 2 tips in the Ballymore Hurdle and heads the ante-post market at 4-1. The Willie Mullins-trained Monkfish is as short as 2-1 favourite for the RSA Novices’ Chase after confirming his supremacy over Latest Exhibition. The latter is a 10-1 shot and could once again provide the biggest threat with an absence of top staying novices emerging from the top trials in Britain so far.

Cheltenham day 2 tips on the featured Queen Mother Champion Chase are also favouring the Mullins yard with Chacun Pour Soi 6-4 clear favourite. Reigning champion Politologue is available at 6-1 while Altior is out to 12-1 after his defeat at Kempton over Christmas. Easysland is 2-1 favourite to repeat his win in the Cross Country Chase where all eyes will be on Tiger Roll (7-1). He will need to show some sparkle to keep hopes alive of equalling Red Rum’s record of three victories in the Aintree Grand National.

Sir Gerhard is already a hot favourite for the final event of Cheltenham races day 2. He is as short as 9-4 for the Champion Bumper, a race Ireland has won seven times in the past nine seasons.

Wednesday’s Results