It was a dream Day One for Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh at the Cheltenham Festival and I believe it’s set to continue on Day Two.
I’ll admit that tipping Golden Silver for the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday is sticking my neck out much further than siding with Willie Mullins’ Day One winners Hurricane Fly and Quevega. (Click here to read Day One as it happened.)
It was a sublime performance from the well-backed favourite with Ruby Walsh in hungrier-than-ever fashion, guiding the Cheltenham debutant home in front. Walsh, now hot favourite to become top jockey at the Festival, had already ridden the first winner of day aboard Al Ferof in the first race for Paul Nicholls and it was clear to see he meant business.
The manner in which Quevega won her third successive Mares’ Hurdle was highly impressive and she now goes for the Aintree Hurdle next, with all opponents dreading the challenge.
Golden Silver ridden by Paul Townend (centre) goes on to win the Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown last April
So, we look to Day Two and with Paul Townend jocked off the Champion Hurdler in favour of Ruby, we can expect a serious challenge from the talented pilot on board Golden Silver. Again, this feature event is overwhelmingly competitive but you’ve got to gobble up the 11/1 each-way price.
Big Zeb is well fancied by the throngs of Irish punters across the Irish Sea at the moment but a repeat of last year’s win is a tall order, in my humble opinion. Golden Silver got the better of Colm Murphy’s charge last time out in the Tied Cottage Chase and I feel that form will hold true.
And the rest of the action?
Okay, in the first race of Day Two (the Challenge Cup for amateur riders at 1.30) I’m more than happy to put my confidence in David Pipe’s Sona Sasta. A progressive type who steps up in class again in a short space of time but, so impressive was the eight-year-old in his last two wins, I reckon he’s got enough juice for this challenge. Beware of Chamirey in the Sir Robert Ogden colours, who could spring a surprise.
Oscars Well should be too good for So Young in the second but the Ruby factor needs to be taken into account. You can be sure the support will be for Mullins and Walsh in the market but Jessie Harrington’s novice is a class act. A toss of a coin, if you must.
Oppose Time for Ruppert and plough into Barry Geraghty’s mount Master of the Hall at a nice each-way price in the RSA Chase. Henderson’s only runner in this will like the ground to soften some more but, if it stays as it is, there shouldn’t be any problems. Donald McCain Jnr’s Wymott should also be knocking on the door.
The Coral Cup (4.00) belongs to Ruby and Call the Police. This fella has been strongly supported over the past week and should go off a warm favourite in the 25-runner field. At a price, take Venetia Williams’ Lightning Strike for a place – disappointing of late but if casting that aside should run a big race.
The Fred Winter is big time each-way territory and I only have a tentative choice in Alan King’s top weight, Kumbeshwar. Charlie Huxley in the plate takes 3lbs off his back and if rekindling his Sandown form there could be an upset on the cards for one of the most difficult races to predict at the famed festival.
And the bumper is, as always, wide open, so it’s best to wait and watch the betting. Any Irish gamble is always a strong indicator but if I was pushed for an ante-post bet it would be Philip Rothwell’s Divine Rhapsody, who has been laid out for this. Paul Carberry will be eager to land a winner but will have his work cut out up against tough opposition every way he looks.
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