Mick Fitzgerald, Ruby Walsh, Patrick Mullins, Matt Chapman and Harry Cobden have made their selections ahead of day three of the Cheltenham Festival.
In Paddy Power’s daily cheat sheet, the five experts have picked out the horses they expect to impress as the biggest week in the British racing calendar continues apace.
Seven races will take place in total, with the likes of Sixandahalf and Teahupoo backed for success.
See all of their selections for day two on Paddy Power’s cheat sheet below.
Day two of the Cheltenham Festival takes place tomorrow and there is plenty to look out for
It has been an action-packed Festival so far and seven more races will take place on Thursday
13:20 – Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
RUBY WALSH
Paul Townend has gone for Aurora Vega over Maughreen, probably because she has more racing experience. I like AIR OF ENTITLEMENT each-way for Henry de Bromhead.
MICK FITZGERALD
Gavin Cromwell’s SIXANDAHALF looks the most solid option and the one to beat.
HARRY COBDEN
I’ll be riding JUBILEE ALPHA and she’s my best ride of the week. She jumped brilliantly in schooling and going left handed is perfect for her.
PATRICK MULLINS
MAUGHREEN has a huge engine and a lot of talent but it will be difficult to step into a 24-runner race on the back of just one hurdle run. I think she’ll run very well.
MATT CHAPMAN
SIXANDAHALF should take some beating and while she lacks a load of hurdling runs she could just be far too good for this field.
Answer To Kay is the class horse and backed in the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase on Thursday
14:00 – Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
RUBY WALSH
The class horse, if the penalty doesn’t stop him, is ANSWER TO KAYF and I like SAN SALVADOR each-way at a price.
MICK FITZGERALD
ASIAN MASTER has some smart form in graded races and doesn’t look too badly handicapped on those runs.
HARRY COBDEN
CALDWELL POTTER has a very workable handicap mark of 146. He could be our dark horse for the Festival but the softer the ground the better his chance.
PATRICK MULLINS
ANSWER TO KAYF has been brought along lovely over fences this season. He won a handicap chase at Naas in January when last seen and John Shinnick rides again. He has a fantastic chance.
MATT CHAPMAN
CALDWELL POTTER has been mocked by many this season having cost €740,000. He’s got a tasty handicap mark of 146 for a Grade 1-winning hurdler and he had no problem with yielding ground in his bumper days.
14:40 – Pertemps Network Final
RUBY WALSH
I like one at a good price. KARL DE TOURELLES is only a five-year-old but that age group are pretty well handicapped. He has a lot of weight but his mark of 139 might be workable.
MICK FITZGERALD
Putting the cheekpieces on JERIKO DU REPONET is a very good idea and his handicap mark of 135 is workable. Hopefully the headgear sharpens him up.
HARRY COBDEN
HENRI THE SECOND (each-way) is not well handicapped against some of these but is consistent and could sneak a place.
PATRICK MULLINS
FEET OF A DANCER has had a similar prep to Mrs Milner who won this for Paul Nolan in 2021. This looks like it has been the plan for a while.
MATT CHAPMAN
ONE BIG BANG might well be too high in the handicap now having gone up 7lb for a victory at Haydock. However, he stays strongly and will enjoy running at a furious pace. He’s got an each-way chance.
Fact To File will be the hardest to beat in the Ryanair Chase but his price is now short
15:20 – Ryanair Chase
RUBY WALSH
Fact To File will be the hardest to beat but his price is plenty short now. I’ve thought for a long time JUNGLE BOOGIE is the each-way nap.
MICK FITZGERALD
Protektorat would be a big player, but drying ground won’t help his cause. There’s no getting away from FACT TO FILE who will be hard to beat.
HARRY COBDEN
IL EST FRANCAIS can get the better of Fact To File if he turns up and is fit and well. He’ll love the ground and I don’t think the track will bother his running style as much as people make out.
PATRICK MULLINS
FACT TO FILE wants good ground and a strong pace to aim at to produce his best and with Il Est Francais in the line-up, he gets exactly that.
MATT CHAPMAN
PROTEKTORAT did this column a great favour last year and I’ll be on him again each-way for trainer Dan and jockey Harry Skelton.
16:00 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
RUBY WALSH
I’m not TEAHUPOO’s biggest fan, but I’ve looked this race up and down for six weeks and I can’t find a horse to oppose him.
MICK FITZGERALD
It could be a funny race pace-wise and for that reason I’ll go for THE WALLPARK (each-way) as you know he’ll be coming home hard over this 3m trip.
HARRY COBDEN
My intended mount Monmiral was a late non runner which is a shame. TEAHUPOO will be hard to beat.
PATRICK MULLINS
TEAHUPOO is the reigning champ and his form at the top table should stand to him as he looks head and shoulders above the rest and should be winning this.
MATT CHAPMAN
In a light career, LUCKY PLACE (each-way) has never gone 3m before but if he gets the trip he could easily improve by bundles.
16:40 – Trustatrader Plate Handicap Steeple Chase
RUBY WALSH
GINNY’S DESTINY races close to the pace and that will suit the make-up of this race. He’s come down enough in the weights and he was bordering on a Graded horse last year.
MICK FITZGERALD
MASACCIO looks a solid each-way play based on his third to the re-opposing Jagwar over course and distance in January.
HARRY COBDEN
GINNY’S DESTINY seems to have a little bit of his ‘zip’ back. He’s won over course and distance which is a big positive and might get a few of these out of their comfort zone.
PATRICK MULLINS
THECOMPANYSERGEANT sticks out like a sore thumb to me in the 2m 4f Plate Handicap Chase as his trainer has a fantastic record with horses of this profile.
MATT CHAPMAN
JAGWAR is edging up the weights but has obvious claims here as an improver. He scored in a big field at Bangor back in November so should be able to cope with the hustle and bustle of this race.
Ginny’s Destiny will suit the make-up of the Trustatrader Plate Handicap Steeple Chase
17:20 – Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase
RUBY WALSH
Sa Majeste was a lucky winner last time out. WALKING ON AIR looked unlucky to me at Doncaster as he fell at the last when he was going to win.
MICK FITZGERALD
MIDNIGHT OUR FRED was second in the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas when last seen and that’s a nice bit of form to bring into this contest. He’s only 4lb higher now and is definitely a player.
HARRY COBDEN
Gelino Bello is high-class but may be better on a right-handed track. It’s an amateur riders’ race so I’ll be watching on to see how JOHNNYWHO gets on as he’s my nap of the meeting. He’s got plenty of class and he has a huge chance as trainer Jonjo O’Neill will send him here raring to go.
PATRICK MULLINS
I ride Sa Majeste but the one that catches my eye is MIDNIGHT OUR FRED who has a nice, light weight and ran a great race when second in the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas.
MATT CHAPMAN
MIDNIGHT OUR FRED (each-way) stays well and is improving at the age of eight. A mark of 132 is tough but he’s got credentials on his form to date.
