Andrew Blair White’s Day 2 Preview

Day Two Preview – 2022 Cheltenham Festival – Andrew Blair White

The Ballymore Novices Hurdle looks a very interesting way to start the second day card. Sir Gerhard, who was at the top of the betting for the Supreme as well – has taken the mantle at the top of this market and is an odds on shot to go and win. He is followed in the market by Three Stripe Life – who would have to have an each way chance. However, between the two of them I’m not sure there’s a betting proposition in the race and as a result I’m going to be leaving it alone.

The Brown Advisory Novices chase looks an equally tricky race and has been left wide open by the omission of Galopin Des Champs. I think I will have a play in this race and I have come round to the Lucinda Russell trained Ahoy Senor. This Scottish trained gelding has been steadily progressive this year and shapes as if Cheltenham will be of great assistance to him. With that in mind and also with his jumping improving race by race, he should have a cracking each way chance. At a price of 7/1 with Paddy Power, I am going to be backing him each way.

• Ahoy Senor – 7/1 Each Way

The Cross-Country Race is a race that I will be having a play in. I can’t get over Tiger Roll in this race and I will be backing him to go and land his Fourth Cross Country. His form looks the best of the lot here and if he repeats what he did in the race last year, he should take an awful lot of beating. He is a shorter price than I would usually be putting up but I really hope that we see this horse finish his career on a high. I’ll be backing him at 6/4.

• Tiger Roll – 6/4 Win

The Grand Annual Chase is a wide-open handicap and I quite like two horses in this race both that have been well found in the market. First is Buddy Rich for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell. This horse has a likeable profile for this race having ran over this course and distance earlier in the year. He is a strong traveller and jumps well and hopefully will be involved at the business end. At a price of 8/1 with Paddy Power, who are paying six places each way – I’ll be backing him.

• Buddy Rich – 8/1 EW 6 Places

I will also be backing Embittered in this race, who went off favourite 12 months ago when falling halfway down the back. He put it together over fences in the summer when landing a few graded contests, and despite not being at his best over the last couple of starts he comes here of a really nice weight. With all of that taken into account and with the likelihood of this race being his target, he should go well. He is 8/1 with Paddy Power and I will also be backing him each way.

• Embittered 8/1 EW – 6 Places

The final race of the day is the Champion Bumper and this looks a fantastic race. Willie Mullins has plenty of bullets to fire but I’m not siding with one of them and even though Facile Vega has a fantastic chance, I’m willing to take him on at the prices. Instead, I’m going to be hoping that Gordon Elliott can have a brilliant Wednesday and I’m backing American Mike in this race. He has a lot going for him form wise and both his times and the horses he has beaten have all stacked up throughout the year. At a price of 9/4 – he might be the value.

• American Mike – 9/4 Win