ITV7 Tips: Plenty of longshots for Wednesday

Tuesday wasn't the best as Neil Monnery went two of seven for his ITV7 selections but Wednesday is a new day and he's looking beyond the favourites in three of the first five races at the Festival...

We get Day 2 of the ITV7 underway with the Ballymore and an odds-on favourite that could see me knocked out of the competition within a few minutes. Sir Gerhard is a big time choice who isn’t the best hurdler but has fine speed but I’m going elsewhere. I’m on the early Paul Nicholls’ double but my choice in the Brown Advisory may shock you.

That means it is Stage Star in the opener for me as my ITV7 selection. A winner last time out in the quality Grade 1 Challow at Newbury and it wasn’t close. Six-and-a-half lengths. It is a good price in the markets and should Sir Gerhard go down - that would eliminate plenty of players in one foul swoop.

If I’m still in after the opener at Cheltenham then I’ll be well chuffed. If I’m still in after the second then I’ll really start to get excited. Paul Nicholls has the favourite in Bravemansgame but down in the markets is Threeunderthrufive who is my selection. Four straight wins albeit not in this type of company have been more than decent. To win this competition you’ve got to push the boat out. This is me on the slipway giving the metaphorical boat a big shove into the water.

The Coral Cup is a proper tough race to pick. Plenty of good options in one of the true wide-open races of the Festival. I’m going to go with Unexpected Party for Dan Skelton. Won last time out at Ascot and hasn’t finished outside the top two in his past four. He is a relatively lightly raced horse and you know his trainer will have him in tip-top condition for this one. 

I’m not going against Shishkin in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. No need to write a soliloquy on this one. Is anyone going against Tiger Roll in the Cross Country Chase? Well some no doubt will but I’m not going to be one of them.

As ITV don’t cover all seven races at the Festival, two races at Huntingdon are part of Wednesday’s ITV7. In the 13:50 I’ve gone with Joly Maker and in the 14:30 Parisian Blue will be my play.