Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Preview, Racecard, Runners, Riders and Favourites

Cheltenham Festival Day 2 – Wednesday 15th March 2017

There’s absolutely no doubting who will be the star attraction on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, as Douvan lines up in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. We lost a few good horses in the run-up to the festival, but punters get the chance to watch a real class act in all his glory here.

One of the best races of the week, the Queen Mother Champion Chase is a grade one contest, disputed over one-mile seven-furlongs. 10-runners are expected to post at 3.30pm for the 2017 edition, and all eyes will be firmly fixed on Willie Mullins’ show-stopper.

Cheltenham Festival 2017 – Top Day 2 Offers

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Other Cheltenham Day 2 offers:

Cheltenham Festival Day Two – Racecard

One of the poster boys for the festival, seven-year-old gelding Douvan arrives at track boasting a fearsome record of 13 runs – 13 wins, and he was last seen holding on to his 100 per cent record when winning the grade two Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown last month, and with plenty to spare too. Closest finisher Realt Mor trotted home 6 ½ lengths behind.

The race favourite also shows winning experience at this venue, taking the Supreme Novices a couple of years ago, and the Arkle Chase last time, beating Sizing John with plenty to spare that day. A hat-trick of Cheltenham wins is to be expected, and he is nailed-on king of this race, according to the odds. At the time of writing there’s no more than William Hill’s 2/7 on Douvan doing the business, with Fox Norton in behind as 8/1 second-fav.

With a price like that backers may be forced to simply sit back and enjoy the show. He’s a remarkable horse who has been preparing for this day for months, so sports fans are in for a real treat. One for big-hitters only, perhaps, but he will also be a popular pick in day two accumulators.

Our next best goes in the penultimate race on the card, the Fred Winter Hurdle, and should be available at more of a punter-friendly price. Long Call has been the early market leader in the run up to this race, but the progressive Nietzsche is the one for us.

Brian Ellison’s hopeful arrives with confidence in the tank, having recorded back-to-back wins in his last two starts, scoring in decent company at Market Rasen and Catterick in January. That would’ve been just the tonic for his Cheltenham prep, and efforts suggest there’s plenty more improving in him. Hopefully we’ll see that today.

I am trying to get a jump on the bookies here as they appear to have written the selection’s chances off too easily, but I’ve had him marked down in my notepad for a while now, and this race should play to his strengths. I’m hoping for an upset, and there’s currently 25/1 at 888Sport that I’m right. We’ll play that one each-way, and hope he lives up to his promise.

Cheltenham Festival – Wednesday 15th March 2017 Predictions

We’ve got a pick in every race, you can add them to your Cheltenham daily acca, or take each one on its own. As most seasoned punters know it’s very difficult to pick out a long list of winners, so something like a Lucky 15, Lucky 63 or even a super heinz should ensure you get something back for your stake.

Cheltenham Day Two Tips

1.30 – Neon Wolf
2.10 – Might Bite
2.50 – River Frost
3.30 – Douvan
4.10 – Sausalito Sunrise
4.50 – Nietzsche
5.30 – Carter McKay