Wednesday 22 April 2020 10:44, UK
Tipping Day One of the Cheltenham Festival was fun - shall we do it all again for Wednesday? Go on then!
It's always a treat watching ALTIOR strut his stuff and Wednesday will be the day where his greatness can be celebrated.
For some reason, despite being unbeaten over hurdles and fences in 12 starts, there are doubts regarding his status within jump racing. He already has two Cheltenham Festival victories to his name in novice company, but this is his first opportunity to get that all-important win at the very top level at Cheltenham.
On everything we've seen so far - if he turns up anywhere near his best - then those taking skinny odds will have few palpitations. Min will provide his sternest challenge in the Queen Mother Champion Chase (3:30) rather than the returning Douvan, if he runs. However, considering Altior hammered him by seven lengths in the Supreme Novices Hurdle when they last met, it'd be a huge surprise to see Min triumph.
Judging by the hype, Samcro is likely to go off a warmer order than even Altior in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle (1.30), which is pretty staggering. Here we have a potentially top-class animal in Samcro, but one that hasn't yet showed he can handle the trials and tribulations of a Cheltenham Festival.
And, perhaps more significantly, he hasn't yet showed his form is of a higher level than NEXT DESTINATION, who looks worth chancing at the current prices for the Willie Mullins team. The six-year-old looks a much improved horse this season judging by his Graded wins at Naas over the winter, where he showed enough speed, stamina and class to define himself a top-class prospect.
The duel in the RSA Chase (2.10) between Presenting Percy and MONALEE has been talked up as one the clashes of the week. Both Irish horses look well capable of developing into Gold Cup players next season but it's Monalee that looks more likely to fulfill that promise over fences. He rates as a decent wager to land the Wednesday novice chase feature despite stamina question marks. Usually this race falls to a horse that is soaked in stamina but - as we saw last year with Might Bite - when a high-class performer lines up, ability can see him through. Monalee looks that type.
CAUSE OF CAUSES comes to life at this time of year as shown by his wins at the last three Cheltenham Festivals. He goes for a near unprecedented Festival four-timer in the Cross Country Chase (4.10) and such is the lack of credible contenders, he rates as the most likely winner at the prices.
The Wednesday handicaps are hideously tricky to solve but small stakes are advised on TOPOFTHEGAME in the Coral Cup (2.40) and ACT OF VALOUR in the Fred Winter (4.50) both of whom are trained by Paul Nicholls. The master trainer has an exceptional record in the Fred Winter, having trained the one-two in two of the last three seasons.
Advised tips with staking plan:
Cheltenham 1:30: Next Destination 3/1 (1pt win)
Cheltenham 2:10: Monalee 3/1 (3pts win)
Cheltenham 2:50: Topofthegame 12/1 (1pt EW)
Cheltenham 3:30: Altior 4/6 (3pts win)
Cheltenham 4:10: Cause Of Causes 3/1 (1pt win)
Cheltenham 4:50: Act Of Valour 8/1 (1pt EW)
*The points system is a way of calculating profit and should give you a good idea of how confident the tipster is about the selection is (1 lowest, 5 highest). Whatever your normal stake size is multiply that by the point suggestion. We'll be posting the profit and loss results over the week on the daily tipping page. And remember, gamble responsibly.
