Day Two Best Bets – Cheltenham 2018

Punters had a mixed day yesterday but the defeat of Getabird would have hurt and Apple’s Jade’s reversal was worse for many but hopefully there might be a big priced Willie Mullins winner in the mix on day two.

Outsider In The County
Normal order resumed in some ways on day one of the Cheltenham Festival with Willie Mullins enjoying a better Tuesday than he did 12 months ago but in the County Hurdle he saddles five and Max Dynamite is the obvious choice for Ruby Walsh.

If Rich Ricci’s dual purpose performer brings his flat form to the table he would be quite an easy winner, however one at a much larger price is former Grade 1 winner Abbyssial who will be ridden by Danny Mullins.

This certainly is on the other end of the scale to the likes of Samcro in terms of confidence but if you are looking for something at a price, he is certainly worthy of consideration.

By Mullins’ own admission this has been far from an ideal prep for Abbsyssial who ran last month for the first time since the 2015 Cheltenham Festival where he ran in the Stayers Hurdle and he has to give 6lbs to Max Dynamite, however, Forge Meadow is a fair yardstick and Abbyssial wasn’t disgraced behind her at Gowran on heavy ground on that comeback run.

He was one of the top juveniles of his generation and this is a big ask but

he looks like he should be shorter than 33/1 and hopefully can run a big race at that price.

Read Niall Cronin’s Champion Chase preview here.

Percy to be Foot Perfect
Footpad duly obliged in the Arkle yesterday when justifying favouritism and Presenting Percy can do the same today. Presenting Percy has had one of the most unconventional routes to a novice chase at the Cheltenham Festival but while we know little about Pat Kelly, we do know that he’s a shrewd trainer and there’s a lot of logic behind his training.

Presenting Percy should have no question marks over his jumping having gone around Gowran Park with Our Duke, a leading fancy for the Gold Cup, and he previously won a very competitive handicap chase over 3m 6f so Presenting Percy has gone down a route no other horse to ever run in this race has and probably no other horse ever will again but this could be one of the shrewdest moves of the season

if Presenting Percy can win at the Festival for a second time.

Recommended Bets:
Presenting Percy (11/4) – 2.10
Abbyssial (33/1) – 2.50

*Prices correct at time of publication.