Latest Cheltenham Tips: @RoadCheltenham Analyses Wednesday Day Two Card

One down, three to go as we move onto Style Wednesday at Prestbury Park. The big names will be out in force off the track, but it’s the action on the racecourse itself that we care about and Day 2 of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival looks an absolute cracker.

As I did on Day 1, I’ll be advising a selection in every race – one point for six of the runners and a 2pt NAP of the Day. So, after a day that'll be remembered for shocks galore, let’s get stuck into the action and hopefully I can point you to a winner or two at Cheltenham today...

13:20 - Turners Novices’ Hurdle

It looks a red hot renewal this year but FINAL DEMAND looks the standout contender on his Dublin Racing Festival performance and I’m backing him to give Willie Mullins a fourth successive win in the race. He should take plenty of beating on all known form. The snow softened ground will also be in his favour.

The Yellow Clay and The New Lion bring Grade 1-winning form of their own to the race though, winning the Lawlor’s of Naas and Challow Novices Hurdle respectively. They are big contenders here and the market move for The Yellow Clay this morning merits consideration, but I believe they view Final Demand as a future Gold Cup horse and he may prove too good.

Tip: 1pt Final Demand (WIN) at 7/4

14:00 - Brown Advisory Novices' Chase

I was lukewarm on BALLYBURN (NAP) a few weeks ago but the more I look at this race, the more I think he’s a good thing. I know connections are excited to head back to Prestbury Park and he could be a dual Cheltenham Festival winner come Wednesday evening.

Dancing City and Better Days Ahead would both prefer softer conditions and the British handicapper reckons he has 8lbs in hand on the field. Ballyburn has always been touted as a future Cheltenham Gold Cup horse and with his price contracting all the time showing the confidence behind him, hopefully he can stamp his mark.

Tip: 2pts Ballyburn (WIN) at 11/10

14:40 - Coral Cup

I’m a massive fan of COMFORT ZONE in this race and he’ll suit the general pattern of the race. Joseph O’Brien is an excellent target trainer, as shown with his Fred Winter success on Tuesday, and I’d imagine that he has been campaigned with one day in mind – and it certainly wasn’t the last day at Leopardstown.

He still ran a huge race that day though, finishing third on his first start over hurdles since last July. I have respect for the likes of Jimmy Du Seuil, Impose Toi and Be Aware but I’m siding with Comfort Zone at a nice price.

Tip: 0.5pts Comfort Zone (E/W) at 8/1

15:20 - Cross Country Chase

No, you’re not reading this wrong – I’m putting up MISTER COFFEY in the Cross Country Chase. The softer conditions on this course will suit him and he’s adapted well since switching to this discipline, finishing second in two starts over the Cheltenham banks.

He meets Stumptown on better terms than when finishing second to Gavin Cromwell’s runner in December, with a 5lb swing in favour of Nicky Henderson’s horse. He’s without a win since a Sandown handicap hurdle in November 2020, but I think he has a cracking chance of ending that run.

Tip: 0.5pts Mister Coffey (E/W) at 7/1

16:00 - Champion Chase

The ground should suit Solness and he goes there with a fantastic chance following two Grade 1 victories at Leopardstown. However, I’m not convinced that the jockeys will let him get his own way out in front for a third time and the race could fall into the lap of a horse like MARINE NATIONALE.

The quicker surface is a huge positive for him and rider Sean Flanagan will look to play his hand late in the day. He’s finished outside of the first three just once in 10 runs under rules and he’s a great each way bet at the prices.

Tip: 0.5pts Marine Nationale (E/W) at 5/1

16:40 - Grand Annual

I fancied Unexpected Party quite strongly a few days ago but I’ve gone off him a little bit with the quickening conditions but a horse that won’t mind the faster surface is JAZZY MATTY and he should have no problem with the hustle and bustle of a Grand Annual.

He won the Fred Winter on Cheltenham’s Old Course in 2023 and he ran a massive race when finishing second to Path D’Oroux at the October meeting. With a mark of 135, he carries a favourable racing weight and he can go well.

Tip: 0.5pts Jazzy Matty (E/W) at 8/1

17:20 - Champion Bumper

Can KALYPSO’CHANCE give Gordon Elliott a third winner in the Champion Bumper? In my opinion, he has a fantastic chance of being in the shake-up and he’s done nothing wrong in two starts to date – winning a Listed bumper cosily on his most recent start at Navan in December.

On official ratings, Kalypso’chance is the joint-best horse in the race alongside Dublin Racing Festival winner Bambino Fever and he is rated 7lbs superior to antepost favourite Copacabana. Elliott’s main dart in the race, he has a great each way chance.

Tip: 0.5pts Kalypso’chance (E/W) at 6/1