Cheltenham Day 2 Tips - Wednesday's Tips for the 2025 Festival
Free expert tips for day two of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival
Craig Jones
The second day of the Cheltenham Festival is known as 'Style Wednesday', and we've got the action covered with our Cheltenham Day 2 tips.
Three Grade 1 races are on the card - the Turners Novices' Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and the Champion Bumper, with the Champion Chase in particular, always being a fascinating contest.
After some expert betting tips? Check out our free Cheltenham Day 2 tips and the top Cheltenham betting offers available ahead of the Festival.
| Race | Tip |
| Turners Novices’ Hurdle Tips | Alan Kelly - Final Demand (NAP) Charlie McCann - Final Demand Paddy Brennan - The New Lion (NAP) |
| Brown Advisory Chase Tips | Alan Kelly - Dancing City Paddy Brennan - Dancing City EW |
| Coral Cup Tips | Alan Kelly - Be Aware & Samui EW Charlie McCann - Be Aware EW & Jipcot EW Paddy Brennan - Be Aware & Jipcot EW |
| Cross Country Chase Tips | Alan Kelly - Iwilldoit EW & Escaria Ten EW Charlie McCann - Galvin & Vanillier Paddy Brennan - Galvin |
| Champion Chase Tips | Alan Kelly - Jonbon Charlie McCann - Marine Nationale WO Jonbon Paddy Brennan - Libberty Hunter EW |
| Grand Annual Chase Tips | Alan Kelly - So Scottish EW Charlie McCann - Unexpected Party & Third Time Lucki EW Paddy Brennan - Unexpected Party & Third Time Lucki EW |
| Champion Bumper Tips | Paddy Brennan - Copacabana & Fortune De Mer EW |
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Cheltenham Day 2 Betting Tips
A race that always brings the ingredients to be a thriller, it's Champion Chase day, as the best at two miles take each other on over fences.
Turners Novices’ Hurdle Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tip - Final Demand (NAP)
- Charlie McCann's Tip - Final Demand
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - The New Lion (NAP)
Paddy Brennan - The New Lion (Nap)
This race comes down to the top two contenders, and I'm a massive fan of THE NEW LION (Nap).
I know the Challow Hurdle form hasn't always translated into success at Cheltenham over the years, but this horse is exceptional.
He's a Kayf Tara, and he's improving all the time. I genuinely think he'll win tomorrow - he's my Nap of the entire meeting.
As for Final Demand, while he's a very good horse, I believe The New Lion is the better one at this stage of his career - the conditions tomorrow should favour The New Lion.
That's not to say Final Demand needs softer ground, but a slightly slower surface would have suited him better - he's a big horse - and I see him as a future three-mile chaser.
Meanwhile, I view The New Lion as a potential Champion Hurdle contender in the making - that's how I see it.
Check out our Turners Novices’ Hurdle Betting Odds.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tip - Dancing City
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - Dancing City EW
Alan Kelly - Dancing City
Since winning the Grade 1 Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s festival, the return to Prestbury Park as a chaser has been eagerly anticipated regarding the Willie Mullins-trained Ballyburn, who contests this extended 3m contest rather than the shorter trip of 2m in Tuesday’s Arkle.
With a slight doubt regarding the distance of today’s race, and following a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Sir Gino at Kempton over Christmas, I prefer to side with the guaranteed stamina of stablemate Dancing City, winner of both of his starts over fences, along with three Grade 1 victories over the smaller obstacles.
At the start of the season, and at odds of around 10/1, the eight-year-old was going to be my ante-post banker of the week to win the National Hunt Chase, until that race was turned into a handicap. Despite a field of only 7, and on good to soft ground, this is still going to prove a severe test of stamina, a quality Dancing City has in abundance.
Check out our Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Betting Odds.
Coral Cup Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tip - Be Aware & Samui EW
- Charlie McCann's Tip - Be Aware EW & Jipcot EW
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - Be Aware & Jipcot EW
Charlie McCann - Be Aware EW (Antepost) & Jipcot EW
I recommended BE AWARE each way in the Coral Cup at 10/1 – see foot of column - when the major firms went NRNB on the Festival and the grey is a best price of 11/2 at the time of writing.
Dan Skelton is looking for a hat-trick in the race following the wins of Langer Dan in 2023/24 and the selection has looked to be crying out for a step back up in trip having finished placed – second in the Greatwood here in November and third at Ascot the following month – in two competitive handicaps over the minimum distance before Christmas.
The 6-y-old only has one career win to his name in six starts, but I have long thought a step back up in trip would see him in an even better light. He was raised 7lbs for finishing second in the Greatwood when he went down by just half a length to Burdett Road in receipt of just 3lbs.
Brighton FC owner Tony Bloom owns Bunting, and he has been the big mover in the market since the declarations were made with Paul Townend booked for the Willie Mullins trained 5-y-old who was beaten 20L by Majborough in the Triumph Hurdle here twelve months ago.
He made a terrible mistake three out yet was only beaten three-quarters of a length at Clonmel on his reappearance, but the winning margin may have flattered him, and he will surely have to improve for the step up in trip. He is not guaranteed to improve for the trip on breeding, but his connections know more than most. A fascinating contender.
This has been the target for Impose Toi since scoring at Newbury back in the autumn from a 7lbs lower mark and he and Ballyadam are much respected but, at a much bigger price, I must throw a few quid each way on JIPCOT who looks sure to appreciate the drop back in distance having been campaigned over three miles on his last couple of starts.
The Jonjo O’Neill trained 6-y-old scored at Newbury over Christmas when he turned a 2m4f+ handicap into a procession from a 10lbs lower mark. The 25/1 on Tuesday morning looked fair.
Check out our Coral Cup Betting Odds.
Cross Country Chase Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tip - Iwilldoit EW & Escaria Ten EW
- Charlie McCann's Tip - Galvin & Vanillier
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - Galvin
Charlie McCann - Galvin & Vanillier
Stumptown is fitted with cheekpieces for the first time which is a surprise but a trait with leading Irish horses on the first couple of days at the Festival. He was a fluent scorer over C&D back in the autumn but has been raised 8lbs as a result and I have backed both his market rivals GALVIN and VANILLIER who is a stablemate of the Gavin Cromwell trained favourite.
Galvin receives 3lbs from the market leader and finished runner up in the corresponding race two years ago to the ill-fated Delta Work when the race was not a handicap. The selection finished second in the American Grand National (2m 5f) when last seen in October having finished fourth at Aintree in the great race on his penultimate start. The drier the ground the better for Gordon Elliot’s 11-y-old who is 1lb lower in the weights than when fourth in the National.
Vanillier was a revelation in his first time blinkers over the Punchestown Banks last time under Keith Donaghue who retains loyal to Stumptown with Sean Flanagan taking over on the grey. The 10-y-old has looked a short runner over C&D in the past and has plenty to find with Stumptown on C&D running back in December, but he did land the Albert Bartlett here in 2021 and was second in the Grand National of 2023.
If the headgear works the oracle a second time, he looks sure to run a big race with - like Galvin – the faster the ground the better.
Check out our Cross Country Chase Betting Odds.
Champion Chase Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tip - Jonbon
- Charlie McCann's Tip - Marine Nationale W/O Jonbon
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - Libberty Hunter EW
Alan Kelly - Jonbon
A best price 10/11 as I write (Monday evening), I think there will be some even money available about Jonbon at some point on Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning, the Nicky Henderson-trained/J P McManus-owned nine-year-old by far and away the most likely winner of a race he was forced to miss 12 months ago.
Jockey Nico De Boinville took the bull by the horns in his race against fellow rival Energumene in Ascot’s Grade 1 Clarence House Chase in January, the Walk In The Park gelding setting out to make all, taking control of the outcome from some way out for a comprehensive six and a half length victory over the Irish challenger.
I hope De Boinville employs similar tactics in this championship contest, or at least keeps close tabs on potential pacesetter Solness, in which case there can be no excuses for a horse who surely deserves to win a Champion Chase.
Check out our Champion Chase Betting Odds.
Grand Annual Chase Tips
- Alan Kelly's Tip - So Scottish EW
- Charlie McCann's Tip - Unexpected Party & Third Time Lucki EW
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - Unexpected Party & Third Time Lucki EW
Paddy Brennan - Unexpected Party & Third Time Lucki EW
Team Skelton aren’t going to win everything, but their horses are the ones I’ve started keeping a closer eye on, and I fancy UNEXPECTED PARTY.
The ground will be perfect, he loves this course, having won this race last year, and I think he’ll run a massive race - he’ll go very close.
Looking for some value further down the field, THIRD TIME LUCKI (Each-Way) has slipped to a very workable mark of 134 and gets in off a nice weight - at 20/1, he could run a huge race.
I just think the spring sunshine on his back might help him - he needs to bounce back to his best, but if he does, he’ll be right in the mix.
Check out our Grand Annual Chase Betting Odds.
Champion Bumper Tips
- Paddy Brennan's Tip - Copacabana & Fortune De Mer EW
Paddy Brennan - Copacabana & Fortune De Mer EW
COPACABANA is the one I've been keeping an eye on.
I've done a few Cheltenham Previews, and you hear many of the Irish lads raving about this one.
I think Gameofinches is a horse that would prefer much softer ground. So for me, the main danger to Willie Mullins' runner is Kalypso'chance for Gordon Elliott - I see it coming down to those two.
If you're looking for an interest at a massive price, one to consider is FORTUNE DE MER (Each-Way) from the Skeltons' yard.
Ignore his last run - it wasn't about winning - they ran him to get a run into him because he was too fresh, and they wanted to take that edge off him before heading here.
I don't know whether you'd call it good or bad, but that run was just a setup for this - he could run a huge race - If he hadn't run last time, he'd be 6/1 here.
Check out our Champion Bumper Betting Odds.
Cheltenham Day 2 Schedule
Here is the schedule for Day 2 of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, starting with the first race at 1:20 pm.
| Time | Cheltenham Day 2 Races |
|---|---|
| 1:20pm | Turners Novices’ Hurdle Race |
| 2:00pm | Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase |
| 2:40pm | Coral Cup |
| 3:20pm | Cross Country Chase |
| 4:00pm | Queen Mother Champion Chase |
| 4:50pm | Grand Annual Chase |
| 5:30pm | Champion Bumper |
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Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Overview
The second day of the Cheltenham Festival is all about the Queen Mother Champion Chase - an extreme test of jumping ability and speed - won over the years by horses including Moscow Flyer, Sprinter Sacre, and Altior.
The Cross Country Chase is a real marmite event, but it offers a unique spectacle at the Cheltenham Festival and is well worth watching at 3:20pm.
We’ve also got a chance to see what the future will look like, with the Champion Bumper rounding off the card at 5:20pm.
It is a flat race for youngsters who will be sent over obstacles next season and has been won in recent years by Cue Card, Envoi Allen, and Ferny Hollow.
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What Happened Last Year?
Relive all the excitement of Champion Chase Day at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.
Cheltenham Day 2 FAQs
When is Cheltenham Ladies Day?
Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival, now known as Style Wednesday, always takes place on the second day of the four-day Festival and always falls on the Wednesday. In 2025, Cheltenham Ladies Day is on Wednesday, March 12th.
What is the feature race on Day 2 of Cheltenham?
The feature race on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival is the Champion Chase, which is run over two miles on the Old Course.
Who won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2024?
The Irish runner Captain Guinness won the 2024 Champion Chase, landing a surprise result on the day.
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