Cheltenham Day 2 Tips: Bryan Cooper & Robbie Power's Wednesday Festival Predictions & NAPs

We have Cheltenham day 2 tips for you from BoyleSports Horse Racing Ambassadors Bryan Cooper and Robbie Power.

If day 2 is anything like the opening day at the Festival then we are in for a treat. Bryan and Robbie preview all the top-class action and give us their tips plus NAPs for the day.

Cheltenham Day 2 Tips From Bryan Cooper & Robbie Power

Queen Mother Champion Chase Tips & Preview – 16:00

Robbie Power: Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival. The feature on Day 2 is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Is this Jonbon’s chance to get his head in front at the Festival? Bryan, are you in the Jonbon camp this year?

Bryan Cooper: I am in the Jonbon camp this year. I think if he’s ever going to win a Champion Chase, it’s this year. I just can’t see anything that can beat him. I know his track record around Cheltenham hasn’t been great, but he has been beaten by some very good horses and I think this will be his year. The more the ground dries out I think the better for him. Nico [de Boinville] will buck out there, be good and positive, and I think he’ll jump into the ground.

Robbie Power: I agree. I think Jonbon is the one they all have to beat. What do you think will finish 2nd to him?

Bryan Cooper: I’d say if Marine Nationale is ridden to finish 2nd he will be 2nd. He has improved with each run this year. I think he would have been a lot closer if he didn’t make the mistake at the second last at the Dublin Racing Festival. So, I think he has a chance, they’ll settle him in a bit and he’ll pick up the pieces to be 2nd.

Robbie Power: Yeah, I think this is Jonbon’s chance to get his head in front at the Festival and I fancy Quilixios to be 2nd. He was 2nd to him in the Tingle Creek. He beat Marine Nationale in Naas earlier in the season. I think on drying ground, Quilixios – a former Festival winner – could pick up the pieces.

Bryan Cooper’s Champion Chase Tips: Jonbon – 5/6 & Marine Nationale Top 2 – 5/4

Robbie Power’s Champion Chase Tips: Jonbon – 5/6 & Quilixios Top 2 – 17/2

Coral Cup Tips & Preview – 14:40

Robbie Power: The big handicap on day 2 is the Coral Cup. BoyleSports are paying the first 6 places. Your big fancy for the Coral Cup Bryan?

Bryan Cooper: I like Comfort Zone again for Joseph O’Brien, a very highly rated flat horse. He won over 2 miles and 2 furlongs in Royal Ascot on the flat. He jumps well. This looks like it has been the plan for him. I’d say the ground dries out a bit, it’ll definitely be in his favour. He’s 10/1 (now into 8/1) now and I think he’s a worthy bet.

I like Jimmy Du Seuil as well (14/1), Danny Mullins rides him, I think he has grade one form, now back in handicap company. But I’m going to go for Comfort Zone.

Robbie Power: I’m going to give a mention to Beckett Rock (28/1). He was 2nd in a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse for Henry de Bromhead. Darragh O’Keeffe rides, I think the drying ground will suit him and I think he is overpriced. I think Beckett Rock each-way with BoyleSports paying the first 6 places is good value.

Bryan Cooper’s Coral Cup Tips: Comfort Zone – 8/1 & Jimmy Du Seuil – 14/1

Robbie Power’s Coral Cup Tip: Beckett Rock – 28/1

Turners Novices’ Hurdle Tips & Preview – 13:20

Robbie Power: Two very interesting novice races on day 2. The Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle sees England versus Ireland, Final Demand against The New Lion. Which camp are you in?

Bryan Cooper: I think long-term Final Demand (6/4) will turn out to be a better horse but I just think The New Lion (9/4) might just have a bit too much pace for him. He’s a speedy horse. I know the form of the Challow doesn’t always work out well for Cheltenham.

But Harry Skelton knows what to do with a grade one horse and I’d say this is as good a horse as he’s had for a long time. I think he’ll have too much pace. He’ll follow Final Demand. I can see them going a gallop but the more this dries out I can see this going in his [The New Lion’s] favour.

Robbie Power: I definitely have respect for The New Lion but I’m in the Final Demand camp. I thought he was very, very impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival. He’s a very straightforward horse to ride, looks that way, jumps great. I think when Paul Townend gets stuck into him he’ll find plenty up this hill to repel The New Lion.

Bryan Cooper’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle Tip: The New Lion – 9/4

Robbie Power’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle Tip: Final Demand – 6/4

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Tips & Preview – 14:00

Robbie Power: Ballyburn in the Novices’ Chase is stepping up to 3 miles. No English runner in this race. Ballyburn for you, Bryan?

Bryan Cooper: I’m not a fan of Ballyburn to be honest. I don’t like his jumping technique, he’s always in for the easy option. I think too much can go wrong in this race for him.

I like Dancing City – he doesn’t get the respect he deserves – he’s unbeaten in 6 runs, he won 3 grade ones last year, he’s unbeaten over fences. This is a real tough test to have to stay and I think this horse ticks all the boxes and I’m going to go with Dancing City to turnaround Ballyburn.

Robbie Power: I agree, Ballyburn is definitely the class act in the race, stepping up to 3 miles. His pedigree suggests that 3 miles is all he wants. It looked to me at the Dublin Racing Festival that he would stay 3 miles. Drying ground will definitely suit him, I think Ballyburn will be hard to beat but I give a good each-way shout to Gorgeous Tom for Henry de Bromhead. He was just beaten in the Drinmore, flying home that day, stepping up to 3 miles will definitely suit him and I think he’ll finish second to Ballyburn.

Bryan Cooper’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Tip: Dancing City – 6/1

Robbie Power’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Tip: Gorgeous Tom E/W – 10/1

Cheltenham Day 2 NAPs

Bryan Cooper: My NAP for Cheltenham Day 2 is Copacabana in the Champion Bumper. Patrick Mullins picked him [gets first choice of Willie Mullins horses in the Bumper]. I think he’s a proper horse, he stays very well. He won at Navan, which is a great trial for good bumper horses, he ticks all the boxes and he’s my NAP.

Robbie Power: Copacabana in the Champion Bumper, I definitely have a big strong fancy for that. But my NAP on day 2 at the Cheltenham Festival is Final Demand.

Bryan Cooper’s Cheltenham Day 2 NAP: Copacabana to win the Champion Bumper – 11/4

Robbie Power’s Cheltenham Day 2 NAP: Final Demand to win the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle – 6/4

*Prices are subject to fluctuation.

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