Quality action will take place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 12th March, 2025, with the Queen Mother Champion Chase being the feature race of the day. Our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the action and picks out his best bets for the day.
2:40pm Cheltenham – Coral Cup
A hugely competitive field will take their chance in the Coral Cup at 2:40pm and the heavily backed Bunting for the deadly duo of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend and the Dan Skelton-trained Be Aware will be two that have to be hugely considered for the contest. However, there could be more attractive value elsewhere and the one that stands out is Joseph O’Brien’s COMFORT ZONE, who can storm to victory for Ireland.
A winner of the Grade Triumph Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham on his sole visit to the track back in January 2023, the JP McManus-owned six-year-old failed to kick on from that effort having missed the festival that year, but he’s shown some decent form this term and looks more than capable of going close off 137. Last seen finishing a fine third behind Al Gasparo at Leopardstown back in December, he’s been kept fresh for this contest and while he was given a rise by the handicapper for that race, he showed he can excel in big fields and he could well be primed for a big tilt at this event.
3:20pm Cheltenham – Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Gavin Cromwell’s Stumptown was imperious when cruising to victory in the Cross Country Chase trial at Cheltenham back in December, but the eight-year-old has been given a significant 8lbs hike for that success, so off top weight here in a newly formed handicap version of this race then he will need to be a very good horse to claim glory in what is a fascinating renewal.
Proven in the race is Gordon Elliott’s GALVIN, who chased home Delta Work in this race two years ago, and while he’s now in the twilight of his career at 11 years old he looks to be on a very workable mark of 154 to claim this prize. Sure to hunt round through the early stages, the Cullentra House inmate has shown he relishes the track and the test of stamina this race offers and he can duly outclass Stumptown in the closing stages to hand the Elliott team a record-breaking sixth win in this race.
4:40pm Cheltenham – Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
Gavin Cromwell’s MIDNIGHT IT IS disappointed at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown last month when finishing eighth when well fancied, but he had an excuse that day having been found to be coughing after the race, so you can draw a line through that form. Prior to that the nine-year-old had stormed to victories over fences at Fairyhouse and Navan before going on to finish third behind The King Of Prs in a Grade 3 race back at Fairyhouse.
He is 14lbs higher than his last winning mark, so he will need a career best to land this prize, but he’s one that will relish the quick gallop this race always provides and he’s sure to be doing all his best work in the closing stages. Available at double-figured odds, at the time of writing, he could be the value play in what is a red-hot handicap for punters to work out.
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