Cheltenham Tips: David Mullins’ Day 2 Picks & Predictions

Cheltenham Tips Day 2

• Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle: Hermes Allen - 9/2 888
• Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase: Gerri Colombe - 6/4 Bet365
• Coral Cup Hurdle: Beacon Edge EW - 12/1 BetVictor
• Queen Mother Champion Chase: Edwardstone - 13/8 Boylesports
• Cross Country Chase: Delta Work - 11/8 William Hill
• Grand Annual Chase: Dads Lad - 14/1 Ladbrokes
• Champion Bumper: Fact To File - 11/2 William Hill

What a great start to the week for Ireland on day one of Cheltenham Festival, with five winners from seven races.

We managed to find three winners in the day one column with Honeysuckle a clear highlight. What a way to bow out for her and the team at Henry De Bromhead’s yard. 

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Her connections obviously got the decision right to head to the Mares Hurdle this year rather than tackle Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle. Nicky Henderson’s horse was truly amazing in the feature race.

We were certainly treated to some brilliant racing and more of the same on Day 2 would be perfect. You'll find individual breakdowns of my selections for Wednesday below. 

1.30pm Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – Hermes Allen

I fancy Hermes Allen in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. Impaire Et Passe has been all the talk in the preview night circuit but I would have liked to have seen him do a bit more ahead of this. 

I think the soft ground will suit Paul Nicholls’ runner who has been excellent so far and he could just be a class above them. Good Land for Barry Connell will surely appreciate the softer ground and has now drifted out to a good price. Hermes Allen is the pick though.

2.10pm Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – Gerri Colombe 

I think Gerri Colombe has to win here. Sir Gerhard is a very good horse but I would have liked to have seen him prove himself over this 3m trip before today with his breeding and his jumping the last day wasn’t perfect. 

There are a lot of fences to be jumped in this and I just think Gerri Colombe ticks all the boxes for the Brown Advisory.

2.50pm Coral Cup Hurdle – Beacon Edge EW

I like Beacon Edge in the Coral Cup Hurdle, a previous Grade 1 winner and connections have booked Michael O’Sullivan for the ride a good while ago, so they are obviously keen on his chances and he will take off a valuable few pounds with his claim. 

It’s a very hard race to get a grip on and I’ll be hoping they have it right for an each-way bet here.

3.30pm Queen Mother Champion Chase – Edwardstone

I’ve been wracking my brains here in the big one as it’s a very open renewal of the Champion Chase and my original fancy Gentleman De Mee was ruled out earlier in the week. 

I haven’t been overly impressed with Energumene since his novice days, I always held him in such high regard so the bar was set very high, but he did win the race last year and must have a chance again. 

If I had to pick a ride in the race it would be Edwardstone and I just give last year’s Arkle winner the edge here.

4.10pm Cross Country Chase – Delta Work

It’s Delta Work for me in the Cross Country Chase, especially the way the ground is shaping up. 

Delta Work has been there and done it before whilst Galvin would probably prefer better ground, and although he has the higher rating I’m sticking with Delta Work to win again for Gordon Elliott.

4.50pm Grand Annual Chase – Dads Lad

The Grand Annual Chase is a very tough race to call. Dinoblue will be popular here and looks to have an attractive handicap mark for Willie Mullins and Luke Dempsey but I’m not too sure she is going to tough it out up the Cheltenham hill. 

I just worry she’s been a weak finisher in her races so far. For that reason I’ll go with Dads Lad, also for Willie Mullins, who’s won around there over fences and looks a big price on betting sites for a horse that ticks as many boxes as he does.

5.30pm Champion Bumper – Fact To File 

The Champion Bumper is a minefield and Patrick Mullins had lots to choose from with a remarkable 10 entries for the Willie Mullins team there. 

He has chosen Fact To File, and I agree with him, this is a proper horse and I can just see him being the safest bet for punters in the finale.