The second day of the Cheltenham Festival 2023 on Wednesday promises to be another exciting day of racing where another bunch of elite horses take to the Gloucestershire track looking to etch their name in history.
Among the card on Wednesday we have a couple of handicap races, the Coral Cup and the Grand Annual Chase. We’ve had a deep look through the race card and we’ve come up with a couple of bets in one and one bet in the other.
2.50 Cheltenham
Preview
Probably the toughest race of the whole week is the Coral Cup handicap hurdle where a maximum field of 26 lines up. Run For Oscar, Captain Conby and An Epic Song are the front 3 in the market and the trio all look to be ‘plot horses’. I’m not sure any can be dismissed and the same can be said of Camprond who was 4th in this last year off 2lbs higher. However, I’m siding with 2 others.
Betting
The first of those is top weight Fil D’Or. There have been some excellent weight carrying performances in this in recent years and this could be another. In 8 starts over hurdles, he’s won 4 and been second on the other 4 occasions so the form is definitely there. He was 2nd in the Triumph here 12 months ago and then went on to land the equivalent at the Punchestown festival last April. Recently, he’s been novice chasing but returned to hurdles to land the Red Mills from the top class Sharjah last time out. He will love the ground and should be capable off this sort of mark on handicap debut. His jockey’s 5lb claim is another tick in the box and I fancy him to go close.
Langer Dan is the second selection and he’s a horse whose campaign is often geared around this meeting. 6th of 22 in the Boodles in 2020, a close 2nd of 22 in the 2021 running of the Martin Pipe behind none other than Galopin Des Champs and last year, he was a very well backed 7/2 favourite of the same race but was brought down at the 2nd hurdle. It could be argued that he’d have gone close given he went to Aintree next time out and landed the big handicap hurdle. This season hasn’t gone to plan but that has protected his handicap mark and I’m convinced he’ll be ready to roll here. A return to form is very likely and I just cannot see him out of the frame here.
Tips
Back Fil D’Or (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 Skybet BOG (⅕ odds 1-8)
Back Langer Dan (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 11.00 Skybet BOG (⅕ odds 1-8)
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4.50 Cheltenham
Preview
A maximum field of 20 for the 2 mile Grand Annual chase where last year’s winner Global Citizen returns to bid from back to back victories in the race. Andy Dufresne was 2nd in that race and comes back again off the same mark so has to be feared but isn’t backable at around 6/1. Final Orders is 5 from his last 5 over fences so looks a worthy favourite but this is a whole new ball game and his mark continues to rise. It’s not uncommon for horses running down the field in the race from 12 months ago to go well and it’s also a race where it’s hard to make up ground so prominent types with previous experience in this are the way to go.
Betting
The selection is Elixir De Nutz. He was pulled up in this 12 months ago but his form otherwise over fences is very solid indeed. He’s won 3 and finished 2nd 4 times from 11 tries over the bigger obstacles and his form has gone up a notch since adding cheekpieces to the regular tongue tie. Since the addition of cheekpieces, he won a handicap chase at Wincanton and finished 2nd to Funambule Sivola in the Game Spirit. He also has form at this track, albeit over hurdles, with a couple of wins a few years back. He will be up with the pace and should be thereabouts if he jumps cleanly.
Tips
Back Elixir De Nutz (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 13.00 Bet365 BOG (⅕ odds 1-6)
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