There is an open feel to a lot of the huge races at Cheltenham this year and some engaging stories.
Will the kind of Irish feelings Monkfish and Chacun Pour Soi hold up? Do Cheltenham old-timers such as Altior and Paisley Park have another huge race in them? Plus the little matter of whether Al Boum Picture can win a 3rd successive Gold Cup?
Here, Telegraph racing specialists Marcus Armytage and Charlie Brooks, in addition to our tipster Marlborough, select their winners for the first day.
Cheltenham Celebration 2021 day 2
1.20 pm – Ballymore Beginners’ Difficulty
Marlborough: Little field put together, however a highly-competitive and interesting renewal of the Ballymore Novices’ Difficulty, without any less than 3 Grade 1 winners directing the marketplace. Bravemansgame has actually long been highly-regarded by his fitness instructor Paul Nicholls, who compared him to Denman following his 10 length win in the Challow Difficulty, and he steps forward searching for a four-timer. Nevertheless, it was tough not to be deeply satisfied with BOB OLINGER’s facile Grade 1 success at Naas back in January, an efficiency that makes him the one to beat in this context. Keskonrisk must value this action up in journey and can encounter a location.
Marcus Armytage: BEAR GHYLLS— brings an unbeaten record into the race and from an unfashionable backyard in the middle of Exmoor will be 3 times the chances he ought to be.
Charlie Brooks: GAILLARD DE MESNIL: Willie Mullins’ beginner hurdlers look really strong. Tough to see the Brits beating him in this.
Ed Chamberlin: BRAVEMANSGAME: Might be one for the house side, fitness instructor Paul Nicholls has actually even compared him to Denman.
1.55 pm – Celebration Novices’ Chase
Marlborough: A race that has actually not constantly been the kindest to market leaders, with simply 6 favourites requiring given that 2000. Monkfish has actually looked relatively bombproof to date, winning his last 6 starts, consisting of in 2015’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Difficulty in addition to all 3 starts over fences. He might well show much too great for his 5 competitors here, however SPORTING JOHN wants to have actually been neglected in this context and comes here with really dynamic claims. He appeared to have real reasons for his 2 beats under guidelines, and comes here off the back of an outstanding win in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, with the action up to 3 miles today sure to open more enhancement.
Marcus Armytage: SPORTING JOHN— Monkfish will be tough to beat however is not a working male’s rate– the Philip Hobbs trained chaser might be far better than what we have actually seen up until now.
Charlie Brooks: Frustrating field, foreseeable choice. MONKFISH
Ed Chamberlin: MONKFISH is huge and high however likewise a fantastic professional athlete with feet like a ballerina. The Irish lender of the conference.
2.30 pm – Coral Cup Difficulty
Marlborough: Intensely competitive renewal of the Coral Cup; cases can be produced numerous. GUARD YOUR DREAMS wants to have actually been sobbing out for an action up in journey beyond 2 miles and gets his opportunity here, having actually struck the line highly to end up sixth in last month’s Betfair Difficulty, having actually been outmatched for the majority of the race; anticipate to be completing highly up the hill here. Craigneiche was a taking winner of his sole start in handicaps at Ascot back in January, and steps forward as a most unexposed improver from the Nicky Henderson steady that has actually won the last 2 runnings of this race. Janika finishes the shortlist.
Marcus Armytage: WITNESS SECURITY (NAP)— has the speed to win over 2 miles however likewise the endurance for this journey, he is an enhancing beginner without any weight on his back.
Charlie Brooks: MONTE CRISTO was so outstanding at Kempton in December, his connections have not troubled to run him once again. Most likely this has actually been the strategy. Still more to come from him.
Ed Chamberlin: GUARD YOUR DREAMS ended up really highly in the Betfair Difficulty, when he was available in 6th, and this longer journey might be perfect. Each-way encouraged.
3.05 pm – Champ Chase
Marlborough: The Champ Chase is a race that has actually in some way avoided master fitness instructor Willie Mullins for many years and, whilst Chacun Pour Soi appears to have plenty choosing him, he stays unverified at Cheltenham and others make more appeal at most likely costs. As the winner of his last 6 starts, consisting of an outstanding maiden Grade 1 success at Ascot last time out, FIRST CIRCULATION can show a significant risk to all, specifically if more rain falls at Prestbury Park. Politologue can even more frank Very first Circulation’s Ascot kind with another huge run here, and he finishes the shortlist of possibilities.
Marcus Armytage: NUBE NEGRA— we just have the proof of one run when he beat Altior at Christmas however might be the one to make Chacun Pour Soi take out all the stops.
Charlie Brooks: CHACUN POUR SOI can’t be opposed. He’s pure class and is the flag bearer of the ‘Mullins maker.’
Ed Chamberlin: Not exactly sure that I enjoy the rate however CHACUN POUR SOI has all the credit to enable Willie Mullins to fill the one space on his Cheltenham CV
3.40 pm – Cross Nation Chase
Marlborough: Whilst doing not have some apparent depth, this year’s Cross Nation Chase sees 4-time Cheltenham Celebration & & double Grand National winner Tiger Roll clash with his conqueror in in 2015’s Cross Nation at the Celebration, specifically EASYSLAND, and it is not tough to imagine the latter-named validating that kind this afternoon. Easysland has age on his side and went out a most outstanding winner of this race in 2015. He has actually had simply the one run this season, completing fourth over today’s course and range back in November. Far better can be anticipated today, and he ranks lender product here. Tiger Roll can chase him home as soon as again.
Marcus Armytage: EASYSLAND— won the race doing handstands in 2015 even if he showed up a bit under par he ought to go really close.
Charlie Brooks: This race is a distinct job which generally tosses up the normal suspects. I’ll stick to EASYLAND, although he has a brand-new jockey which isn’t perfect over this course.
Ed Chamberlin: EASYLAND won this in 2015 for David Cottin and is greatly fancied to do it once again. My cherished Tiger Roll is the 2nd preferred however would be an emotional bet I fear.
4.15 pm – Grand Yearly Chase
Marlborough: Wide open race. ENTOUCAS is still without a win over fences in 5 starts, however he has actually shown a constant sort given that his switch to chasing and is required to provide an excellent account of himself here. Amoola Gold is another constant horse who steps forward with dynamic each-way claims; he stays on a great mark and can outrun most likely double figure chances. Ibleo has actually not done anything however enhance over fences, looking much better than ever when triumphant at Doncaster back in January. He has yet another career-high mark to defy however is tough to eliminate in such kind.
Marcus Armytage: CHOSEN MATE— won the race in 2015 coming through from the back, he can recover in a race which is typically performed at a furious speed.
Charlie Brooks: This is great race for newbies and SKY PIRATE has actually been a discovery given that hanging back in journey, although he won an indicate point as a 4 years of age.
Ed Chamberlin: EMBITTERED was 3rd in the County Difficulty in 2015 so has that necessary Celebration kind. He looks relatively dealt with over fences.
4.50 pm – Champ Bumper
Marlborough: 3 STRIPE LIFE looked more than beneficial in winning his only bumper start and has actually been the topic of some intriguing market assistance in current days, even more notable offered the prominence of previous stablemate Sir Gerhard towards the front of the marketplace. Sir Gerhard himself has actually likewise looked classy in winning his 3 begins to date and needs to include here; the more the ground dries, the more powerful his possibilities will be. Kilcruit was a most outstanding winner of a Grade 2 at Leopardstown last month, looking worth for a bargain more than the bare margin would suggest; he can be a threat to all. Lastly, Shearer needs to step up here however is more than entitled to after simply 2 starts; he finishes the shortlist.
Marcus Armytage: KILCRUIT— travelled through to win his last race without coming out of 2nd equipment.
Charlie Brooks: Willie Mullins might quickly have the very first 3 house. Kilcruit can’t be beaten on his last run, however RAMILLIES, who the fitness instructor states he hasn’t got to the bottom of yet, is a fantastic each method bet.
Ed Chamberlin: Mullins will win the bumper however it’s simply a concern of which one. Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard look impressive however when you speak with Willie he constantly discusses RAMILLIES in radiant terms, and he’s generally not far incorrect. I’ll be going each method here.
Marlborough’s bet of day 2
SPORTING JOHN (1.55 ) is the only runner in the field who has yet to take on 3 miles, which action up in journey may simply open adequate enhancement to distress the short-priced favourite here. Sent the clear second option by the market behind Envoi Allen in in 2015’s Ballymore Novices’ Difficulty, Sporting John stopped working to provide his real running and, following a strong-staying win in last month’s Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, he can provide an excellent account of himself now stepped up in journey.
Cheltenham Celebration 2021 pointers and best choices throughout the week
1) Sporting John, 12-1 in the Brown Advisory Beginner Chase (Wednesday)
He was a bit frustrating in the Ballymore Difficulty, for which he was 5-1, in 2015 however ended up distressed. He has plainly had a couple of problems this season. He ran no sort of race at Exeter and, after a long space far from the course, took ages to heat up at Sandown however came through to win well. He can just enhance on that. The ‘however,’ obviously, is that he is up versus Monkfish, the Willie Mullins preferred. He will be tough to beat and Sporting John might be one for the projection however if Monkfish gets handled in advance by The Huge Breakaway it might set the race up for the sluggish beginning Sporting John to come through up the hill.
