Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Tips: Best bets for every race on Wednesday

13:30 - Ballymore Novices' Hurdle: Whatdeawant is better than he's shown

Tony Calvin: "Three Stripe Life is the right favourite (in the Without Favourite Market), and I would make him a touch shorter than 2/1. He is bred to excel at this longer trip.

"I could not put you off that bet and indeed I thought about going in two-handed on this market, but my recommended play is Whatdeawant each-way at 8.07/1, three places, without Sir Gerhard.

"I may be being lulled into the selection partly because he is owned by the sponsors (who won this with City Island in 2019) and he also needs to put a disappointing run at Naas last time behind him, but the manner in which he was backed into 2s from 5s for that Grade 1 has stayed with me. And he certainly didn't receive an optimal ride there."

Back Whatdeawant each-way without Sir Gerhard @ 8.07/1

13:30 - Ballymore Novices' Hurdle: Stage Star has potential to cause an upset

Rhys Williams: "I like the chances of over-looked Stage Star, who is a very fair each-way play here. Sir Gerhard takes up most of this market, meaning his price has inflated, but he has form lines that suggest he could be right out of the top draw himself. He has untapped potential, and the fearful comparisons to Bravemansgame from last year are only in the punter's favour here."

a href="https://www.betfair.com/sport/horse-racing/meeting?eventId=31303376&raceTime=1647437400000&dayToSearch=20220316&marketId=924.299225715">Back Stage Star each-way @ 9.517/2

14:10 - Brown Advisory Novices' Chase: Expect a big show from Bravemansgame

Paul Nicholls: "Bravemansgame has been superb this season, winning four out of four over fences and his jumping has been electric from day one. We've set him some stiff tasks against experienced horses but he has answered every question, has loads of class, jumps for fun and looks tailor made for the King George VI Chase at Kempton next Christmas.

"He doesn't take a lot of training and has improved as I expected for his latest victory at Newbury last month. Crucially, he is a much stronger horse this year and he returns to Cheltenham in top order. I'm confident of a big show from Bravemansgame who handles soft ground."

Back Bravemansgame @ 3.613/5

14:50 - Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle: Step up in trip will really suit Drop The Anchor

Kevin Blake: "While the task of Irish-trained runners in the handicap hurdles has been made more difficult by the British handicapper's more lenient treatment of the home team and coming down harder on the visitors, Drop The Anchor has escaped the worst of it with his British mark being just 2lb higher than his Irish mark.

"However, now that Drop The Anchor is finally set to be stepped up in trip in the Coral Cup, he could well take his form to the next level. A final bonus is that he is ridden by Simon Torrens, who rode him to win the Ladbrokes Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last year. Torrens rode out his claim in Ireland by partnering his 60th winner back in August, but is entitled to claim 3lb in Great Britain until he has ridden 75 winners and as he hasn't hit that number yet, his claim will be back in play here."

Back Drop The Anchor each-way @ 8.515/2

14:50 - Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle: Saint looks a class bet

Alan Dudman: "Saint Felicien running off 149 could still under-estimate a horse who has held a big reputation following a bloodless 8L win on debut in France.

"He won comfortably on his first run for Gordon Elliott winning at Gowran Park over 2m, with the horse he beat in second Slip Of The Tongue performing well in better races subsequently. Even the form of his Auteuil success has been boosted several times and plenty of winners have come out of that.

"A break of 71 days followed Gowran and was pitched into the Grade 3 Limestone Lad at Naas at the end of January, where he finished second to Darasso. The pace was sound thanks to Felix Desjy and was lobbing along over the far side with 7f to go."

Back Saint Felicien @ 7.06/1

15:30 - Queen Mother Champion Chase: Shishkin very much the one to beat

Timeform: "Shishkin was successful on both his previous visits to the Cheltenham Festival in the 2020 Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the 2021 Sporting Life Arkle.

"He reappeared this season with a smooth victory in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton and then produced a career best to edge out Energumene in a thrilling edition of the Clarence House Chase at Ascot last time. Unbeaten in seven starts over fences and very much the one to beat again here."

Back Shishkin @ 1.9720/21

16:10 - Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase: Rivals poised to Roll Tiger over

Patrick Weaver: "I'm going to stick my neck out and make Tiger Roll the banker lay in the Glenfarclas Chase. The dual Grand National winner has won this race three times - in 2018, 2019, and again last March - but he is 12 now and could be vulnerable to a younger rival.

"It is interesting that Tiger Roll's owner, Gigginstown Stud, also runs Delta Work. A winner of five Grade 1 chases in his prime, the nine-year-old is running in his first cross-country race and would have a good chance of beating his stablemate if taking to the unique fences."

Lay Tiger Roll @ 3.02/1

16:50 - Grand Annual Handicap Chase: Thyme White has a live chance

Bryony Frost: "My only ride on day two of The Festival is Thyme White in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup, but he's very much a live chance if all goes smoothly, so I'm really looking forward to him.

"I've only ridden Thyme White once, in a small field at Doncaster in December, and I probably haven't ridden an easier winner all season. Paul Nicholls has had this race in mind for him ever since, and I can see why."

Back Thyme White @ 10.519/2

17:30 - Weatherbys Champion Bumper: Don't let Ocean of Mercy go unbacked

Chris Loader: "Of those at bigger prices my eye is drawn to Ocean Of Mercy who is trained by Paul Hennessy. The six-year-old gelding has not been seen since the Cheltenham October Meeting when finishing third in a Listed Bumper over this C&D.

"That form has been boosted by the winner, the second placed Top Dog who went on to score in a similar event at Newbury and reopposes here, as well as the fourth Aucunrisque who is now a Grade 2 winning hurdler. Despite not running since the autumn I think he has been saved for this and he looks to have his ideal ground. He will have to improve significantly but I just cannot let him go unbacked."

Back Ocean Of Mercy each-way @ 34.033/1

At a similarly big price, Rhys Williams is tipping up Rosy Redrum in the Bumper.

Rhys says: "This is another big step up in class for Rosy Redrum but the way she's travelled through both races suggests that she has a lot of ability and any 25/1 or bigger appeals."

Back Rosy Redrum each-way @ 34.033/1

LISTEN TO OUR RACING...ONLY BETTOR CHELTENHAM DAY TWO PODCAST HERE