HARRY SKELTON: Cheltenham Festival – Day Two

We’ve got four nice runners on Day Two, with a defending champ in Unexpected Party in the Grand Annual at 4.40pm, and one of our best chances of the week in The New Lion in the Turners at 1.20pm, who we’ve been aiming to run in this all season, writes HARRY SKELTON.

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Turners Novices’ Hurdle 1.20pm

We’ve got a great chance with THE NEW LION in the first, and we’ve made no secret of how good we think he is. This will of course be the biggest test he’s ever had but he’s done everything we’ve asked of him so far and done so nicely. He was very impressive in the Challow Hurdle and has been training very well ever since. We took him for a racecourse gallop at Huntingdon and he took that really well so everything looks in order. Obviously, there’s plenty to say about the others, Final Demand has looked very impressive but we’re really happy with our lad and hopefully he can get the job done.

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 2.00pm

I think Ballyburn has a pretty straightforward task ahead of him and looks a cut above the rest here. He’s a strong travelling type and should prove better than the rest of the field.

Coral Cup 2.40pm

We’re running BE AWARE here who we’ve kept fresh since his last run at Ascot. He’s run at this trip before which suited him quite well but we’ve just kept him back at two miles this year as he can be quite fresh and forward-going in his races. After a good few races under his belt we’re stepping him back up here as we feel this race suits him really well, it should be right up his street. He ran a good race in the Greatwood Hurdle staying on strongly to the line, and ran flat out last time at Ascot all the way. This is an ultra-competitive race but he’s fairly unexposed and is in good form, we’re hopeful he’ll pick up some prize money.

Cross Country Chase 3.20pm

Surely the veteran Mister Coffey is the bet to make the places in this one. He still holds his maiden tag, but you’d hope he’d give you a run for your money, he enjoys it around here. I’d imagine Latenightpass is in with a squeak, too.

Queen Mother Champion Chase 4.00pm

It’s hard to oppose Jonbon here, although he hasn’t won at the Cheltenham Festival before. Things haven’t gone quite right for him at the Festival over the years, but he looks well in himself this year and will take a fair bit of beating. I think Marine Nationale will be the one to chase him home.

Grand Annual Handicap Chase 4.40pm

UNEXPECTED PARTY is defending his crown here. He’s six pounds higher in the weights this year which will be a challenge but he’s in really good form. The ground’s come right for him and we’ve been training him for this race all year and have left plenty to work with. We’re very happy with him and think he holds every chance of winning it again.

Champion Bumper 5.20pm

I ride FORTUNE DE MER. I’m going to ride him cold and come off the pace as they’ll go a strong gallop which should suit him well. He was far too fresh and keen last time out at Huntingdon as we just needed to get him out, you can put a line through that run. He needed to let off some steam there, but he’s been training hard and well since so if he can pick up a bit of place money, we’d be very happy with that.

DALSTON LAD has done nothing wrong and is a winner of both his bumpers. He stays well and is a straightforward type, we’ll see how he gets on. He’s a nice horse for the future whatever happens here.

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