Day two of the Cheltenham Festival is set to be a sensational day’s racing and our red-hot tipster Andrew Mount kicked off the meeting in stunning fashion having tipped up Jango Baie in the Arkle and Myretown in the Ultima. He’s now looking to continue that stunning form and here are Andrew Mount’s best Cheltenham Day 2 bets.
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Posted: 3:08pm, Tuesday, March 11th
2.40 Cheltenham – ANNA BUNINA (0.5pt e/w –40/1 generally) & SANDOR CLEGANE (0.5pt e/w – 16/1 generally)
John McConnell’s ANNA BUNINA tends to perform best in the warmer months, with all ten of her career wins coming in the April to October period. The nine-year-old has shown form in March before, notably in three handicap runs at the Cheltenham festival. She kept on well to finish a 125-1 eighth of 25 behind Belfast Banter in the 2021 County Hurdle, going down by just five lengths, returned two years later to finish seven lengths behind Favoir when a 28-1 ninth of 24 in the same race and, last year, ran a 22-1 seventh of 22 in the Pertemps Final, failing to see out the 3m trip (she also reportedly suffered from post-race heat stress). The in-between trip of the Coral Cup could prove ideal (she ran a close second over 2m4f here in October) and her turf record (Flat and jumps) from March to October reads 6122112128215191893708572 (7-25) for a profit of £9.10 to a £1 level stake at SP (expected winners = 2.81, A/E = 2.49). She’s likely to be finishing to good effect and is worth a small each-way dabble.
The Paul Nolan-trained SANDOR CLEGANE didn’t take to fences, recording form figures of 42244 (0-5), and also struggled in small fields (nine or fewer runners) in hurdles/bumpers, recording form figures of 22723244 (0-8). If we knock out his chase runs, his record in fields of ten or more runners reads 1131 (3-4), with the sole defeat when a close-up 28-1 third of 20 in last season’s Albert Bartlett (beaten by a length and a quarter). The tempo of today’s race will suit, and he qualifies on a couple of key stats – previous win or placed form at the Cheltenham festival and being in the top six in the weights.
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3.20 Cheltenham – MISTER COFFEY (1pt to finish exactly 2nd – 6/1 Sky Bet. Coral will also offer this market but haven’t priced up yet)
MISTER COFFEY has a terminal dose of seconditis and went home with yet another silver medal over course and distance last time. That took his chase score to 0-15 but he ran second in eight of those races and was third in three more of them. I like the ‘back to finish exactly 2nd’ market offered by both Sky Bet and Coral but if you don’t have access to those firms back him each-way (0.5pt e/w) and try to trade out of the win part of the bet in running.
4.40 Cheltenham – WESTERN ZEPHYR (0.5pt e/w – 33/1 generally)
WESTERN ZEPHYR qualifies as a bet for me in the Grand Annual on three statistical angles, including a jockey upgrade (Sean Bowen taking over from David Bass). Since 2012, backing horse who were ridden by David Bass last time out who are now running over fences under a different pilot would have found 84 winners 440 bets (19.1% strike-rate) for a profit of £105.92 to a £1 level stake at SP (expected winners = 64.54, A/E = 1.30). Those who finished third or worse last time out were 69 from 351 (19.7%) for a profit of £118.98. WESTERN ZEPHYR returned from wind surgery to score at Carlisle on his reappearance and followed that with a solid 12-1 second to L’Eau Du Sud in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham. That proved his ability to handle good ground and today’s course and distance, and he could go well from the front. Irish raiders JAZZY MATTY and MIDNIGHT IT IS are also respected.
5.20 Cheltenham – HIGHLAND HAVEN (0.5pt e/w – 66/1 generally)
I don’t usually bet in the Champion Bumper and siding with a British—trained runner might seem folly. However, I can’t resist a small interest on HIGHLAND HAVEN after her eyecatcher at Warwick last time. The Fergal O’Brien-trained five-year-old is a strong traveller who won well at odds of 11-1 in a 12-1 runner bumper at Ffos Las on her debut before failing to settle when sixth of eight at Huntingdon. She returned from a two-month break to finish a 12-1 second (beaten by a head) to stablemate and 11-10 favourite Strong Run at Warwick, doing clear best of those to come from off the pace, tactics rarely helpful at the Midlands venue.
Other races…
1.20 Cheltenham – Turners Novices’ Hurdle
I’ve no strong opinion in Wednesday’s opener but will probably throw FINAL DEMAND and THE YELLOW CLAY into my Placepot. I was tempted by POTTERS CHARM each-way but the first-time tongue-tie is off-putting.
2.00 Cheltenham – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
The keen-going BALLYBURN is not certain to be suited by the step up to three miles for the first time but still looks an obvious Placepot inclusion. BETTER DAYS AHEAD was my each-way suggestion at the antepost stage when we filmed the GG Cheltenham preview in London but with only two places on offer in this seven-runner line-up I can’t recommend him today.
4.00 Cheltenham – Queen Mother Champion Chase
JONBON’s career record of 17 wins and three second places from 20 starts suggest he’ll be hard to beat but two of those defeats came at the Cheltenham festival and he’s not totally bomb-proof. FOUND A FIFTY is probably best right-handed but he did run second in last year’s Arkle and has an each-way chance, as does LIBBERTY HUNTER, despite the ground being quicker than ideal.
Andrew Mount’s Best Bets
2.40 Cheltenham – ANNA BUNINA (0.5pt e/w –40/1 generally) & SANDOR CLEGANE (0.5pt e/w – 16/1 generally)
3.20 Cheltenham – MISTER COFFEY (1pt to finish exactly 2nd – 6/1 Sky Bet. Coral will also offer this market but haven’t priced up yet)
4.40 Cheltenham – WESTERN ZEPHYR (0.5pt e/w – 33/1 generally)
5.20 Cheltenham – HIGHLAND HEAVEN (0.5pt e/w – 66/1 generally)
Western Zephyr
Andrew Mount’s tips for Wednesday, 12th March 2025
Andrew Mount’s Horse Racing Tips – Cheltenham Festival Day 1, Tuesday, 11th March
The Cheltenham Festival is finally here. A superb four days of action awaits and Andrew Mount gives you his best day one bets at Prestbury Park. Back his selections with SkyBet’s brilliant new customer offer of £50 in Free Bets when you bet 5p! Posted: 9.45am, Monday, March 10th 2.00 Cheltenham – JANGO BAIE (1pt…
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