Sportsmail's racing expert Robin Goodfellow dishes out his tips for day two of the Cheltenham Festival featuring the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Carrying a big weight should not be a barrier to success for the classy Vision Des Flos (right)
CHELTENHAM
ROBIN GOODFELLOW
1.30 Battleoverdoyen
2.10 Delta Work
2.50 VISION DES FLOS (nap)
3.30 Altior
4.10 Fact Of The Matter
4.50 Fine Brunello (nb)
5.30 Meticulous
GIMCRACK
1.30 Sams Profile
2.10 Delta Work (nap)
2.50 Uradel
3.30 Min
4.10 Tiger Roll (nb)
4.50 Lethal Steps
5.30 Ask For Glory
BALLYMORE NOVICES' HURDLE
1.30: GRADE ONE — 2 MILES 5 FURLONGS
Champ is a very talented novice, but Challow Hurdle winners are 0-16 in this race, while seven-year-olds also possess a very modest record. With that in mind, he is reluctantly overlooked in preference for BATTLEOVERDOYEN who was too strong for the likeable Sams Profile in a Naas Grade One in January.
The selection completed a rare feat that day by winning at the top level following a maiden hurdle victory and, although his education has been compacted into small window (he won a bumper in November), he is with the right trainer to keep progressing.
Sams Profile, a strong stayer who likes soft ground, didn’t enjoy the clearest of passages at Naas and could prove a live threat at a decent price given his trainer’s record at this meeting.
BEST BET : BATTLEOVERDOYEN 10-3
NEXT BEST: SAMS PROFILE 10-1
RSA NOVICES' CHASE
2.10: GRADE ONE — 3 MILES
Recent concerns over Santini’s fitness are a little disconcerting as he appeared to boast the ideal credentials for an examination like this, even if he is a little short on chasing experience.
This track should suit him a good deal better than Kempton last time. However, DELTA WORK has impressed with his performances in Ireland this winter and victory over Le Richebourg in the Drinmore Chase reads particularly well.
A step up to 3m produced another accomplished display at Leopardstown and he should be well suited by the rigours of this event. Drovers Lane may fare best of those at bigger prices as he has had a wind operation since winning here before.
BEST BET: DELTA WORK 9-4
NEXT BEST: DROVERS LANE 16-1
Red-hot favourite Delta Work heads a field of 12 for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham
CORAL CUP HANDICAP HURDLE
2.50: GRADE THREE — 2 MILES 5 FURLONGS
Needless to say, this is one of the hardest handicaps of the week but carrying a big weight has been no barrier to success with eight of the last 10 winners in the top eight of the handicap.
With that in mind, the classy VISION DES FLOS has appeal from the likes of Scarpeta and Uradel given he arrives in grand form after a decisive victory at Fontwell. That success was compensation for a series of excellent efforts from the six-year-old who has also chased home Grand Sancy, Buveur D’Air and Brain Power this season.
The first-time cheekpieces look a clever move for Scarpeta who was good enough to finish fourth to Samcro last year in the Ballymore Hurdle and would love more rain.
BEST BET: VISION DES FLOS 16-1
NEXT BEST: SCARPETA 16-1
QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
3.30: GRADE ONE — 2 MILES
It is difficult to envisage ALTIOR being beaten, especially as he has recorded 17 consecutive successes over obstacles.
However, any horse can post a below-par effort and it is worth recognising that he was off the bridle against the Paul Townend-ridden Min in this race 12 months ago before engaging top gear to inflict a second festival defeat on his old rival.
It could well be a case of more of the same today, but Ruby Walsh may well have a plan to sit behind Altior this time instead of becoming a target turning for home. It promises to be a highly interesting tactical battle with Sceau Royal and Champion Chase regular (453 in this race) God’s Own in the shake-up for the places.
BEST BET: ALTIOR 2-5
NEXT BEST: MIN 4-1
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
4.10: 3 MILES 6 FURLONGS
Many will consider Tiger Roll one of the bankers of the meeting and it may well transpire that way given the manner in which last year’s Grand National winner bounded clear of some useful rivals in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan last month.
A two-length winner in this race 12 months ago, Tiger Roll has become a standing dish at the festival with three previous wins and the only unpalatable aspect is the price. With that in mind, FACT OF THE MATTER could be worth supporting each-way at a track which appears to have given him a new lease of life.
A wind operation may also produce improvement and he has developed an excellent association both with the Cross Country track and rider Gavin Sheehan.
BEST BET: FACT OF THE MATTER 16-1
NEXT BEST: TIGER ROLL 11-10
JUVENILE HURDLE
4.50: GRADE THREE — 2 MILES
Jose ph O’Brien has a fine collection of juveniles this season, not least Sir Erec who is a strong fancy to win Friday’s Triumph Hurdle. The master trainer is also well represented here with likely market leader Band Of Outlaws, Star Max and FINE BRUNELLO all looking
