Altior to defend his crown: 3 tips for Day Two of Cheltenham

Thom Malone looks ahead to Wednesday’s racing in Heed Your Hunch.

EACH DAY OF the Cheltenham Festival, Heed Your Hunch will be bringing you tips for the first, the last and the feature race at Prestbury Park thanks to Betway. 

Festival Trials Day - Cheltenham Racecourse Brewinupastorm and Richard Johnson at Cheltenham in January. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

The opening race on Wednesday sees three Grade One winners at the head of the market in the shape of Champ, Klassical Dream and the monstrous Battleoverdoyen.

One horse that has been the apple of his rookie trainer’s eye is Brewinupastorm (8/1). Olly Murphy is a former assistant to Gordon Elliot, so he has plenty of experience of winning with good horses. Champion jockey Dickie Johnson is already booked.

He had a novicey fall last time out at Cheltenham when leading and Johnson was
uncharacteristically angry with leaving a winner out there. He has four lengths to find with Champ, but could easily make that up on a stiffer track, and at his current price could be some value.

The Champion Chase is a thrilling spectacle with the best steeplechasers taking flight over the bigger obstacles at the highest speed. It has an illustrious roll of honour including greats like Sprinter Sacre, Moscow Flyer, Sizing Europe and Master Minded.

Nicky Henderson Stable Visit - Lambourn Altior and trainer Nicky Henderson at his Seven Barrows yard. Steven Paston Steven Paston

Altior (2/5) will win this. That is what he does. There is no conversation or argument to be had. He is the best horse in the race. He has no equal at this distance. The opposition is happy to admit they are running scared. He has never been beaten in seventeen attempts over obstacles.

He is looking to win at a fourth straight festival and back-to-back Champion Chases. The only question is how many more Champion Chases can he win.

Willie Mullins has won an incredible nine Wetherby’s Champion Bumpers. As a general rule he is mob-handed here, with the best of the winners of the bumpers he has farmed over the course of the season. Not this year.

The freakishly dry weather has seriously curtailed participation by Mullins in
bumpers this year. The exception is Blue Sari (11/4), who claimed victory at Gowran on Thyestes Day. He was weak in the betting on the day, but won with authority and pulling up was the most difficult part of rider Patrick Mullins’ journey.

He is only four, but so was Cue Card. Blue Sari can end Day Two in celebration.

Get your money back as a free bet if your horse loses in the first or the last race over each day of the Cheltenham Festival with Betway’s Money Back Special. You can also win a prize of £25k each day of Cheltenham on Betway’s Insider Blog with 4 To Win, a free-to-play prediction game. Offer as above. 18+, always gamble responsibly. For more, see BeGambleAware.org

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Jan 31st 2025, 6:26 AM

    Really tight between IRL and FRA but I’m going for IRL based on home advantage in the head to head. GS to boot.

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    Mute cian nolan
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    Jan 31st 2025, 8:32 AM

    Ireland. Slam. Sláinte.

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    Mute jajosullivan@aol.com
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    Jan 31st 2025, 8:11 AM

    A brief dip in form in the Autumn after 4 years of constant top quality rugby Inc summer Lions, NZ, SA tours but everyone is now fit and playing well. Competition for position with options left out of the squad if required for injuries. Nothing is certain but we are in a great position.

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Jan 31st 2025, 10:38 AM

    France.

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    Mute Noel Lynn
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    Jan 31st 2025, 11:02 AM

    @Carmine Lorenzo: Oh u of little faith

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    Mute Carmine Lorenzo
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    Jan 31st 2025, 3:29 PM

    @Noel Lynn: Just being realistic. They have Dupont and Ntamack back. We were poor in the autumn. Faz isn’t here… Wouldn’t be surprised if we were 3rd or 4th. But hopefully I’m wrong!

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    Mute Seanie
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    Jan 31st 2025, 3:45 PM

    @Carmine Lorenzo: ray ridge is effecting you lol but ya i hope your wrong too but france will be fave’s

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    Mute Ollie Fitzpatrick
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    Jan 31st 2025, 10:28 AM

    Ireland, but I would have preferred Andy in the driving seat!!

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    Mute Luke mc govern
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    Jan 31st 2025, 12:13 PM

    With Dupont and Ntamack together again I just think they’ll be too strong.

    I don’t Ireland will change things up too much with Farrell out and it feels like other teams have managed to counter our attack to some extent. Maybe the new direct around kick chaser will help though as I feel Ireland are good under the auld box kick

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    Mute Michael Corkery
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    Jan 31st 2025, 1:06 PM

    @Luke mc govern: we’ve beaten them before with Dupont and N’tamak. Yes they’ll be much stronger than the team we trashed in Marseille but I still just about fancy us.

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    Mute Seanie
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    Jan 31st 2025, 3:47 PM

    @Luke mc govern: Yes ireland need to try few different things if they cant break teams down like kicking more

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    Mute Seanie
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    Jan 31st 2025, 3:44 PM

    Ireland

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