Cheltenham Day two betting preview: Race predictions for Cheltenham Festival
DAY two at the Cheltenham Festival is stacked with not just top quality action but competitive races too, with the Queen Mother Champion Chase taking centre stage.
Best horse racing betting sites to bet on Cheltenham 2024
Cheltenham Festival 2024 Day 2 Races
There are seven races in total with four of those coming in Grade 1. It all gets underway at 1.30 and you can see which races will be run and over what distance.
| Time | Race | Distance | Type |
| 1.30 | The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle Race (Grade 1) | 2m 5f | Hurdle |
| 2.10 | The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | 3m 1/2f | Chase |
| 2.50 | The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle Race) (Premier Handicap) | 2m 5f | Hurdle |
| 3.30 | The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase (Grade 1) | 2m | Chase |
| 4.10 | The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase | 3m 5 1/2f | Chase |
| 4.50 | The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup (Premier Handicap) | 2m | Chase |
| 5.30 | The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1) | 2m 1/2f | Bumper |
Cheltenham Festival Day 2
Given the height, anticipation and excitement of the Festival coming around, day one is always an over-excitable meeting. When day two comes around, it almost has the feeling like the festival is into a full swing.
The racecourse will continue to be a day of colour and the all those antepost bets that make it through day one make for an entertaining afternoon.
And with a unique, diverse set of races put on that day, it truly does offer something for every type of racing fan.
Cheltenham Day 2 best odds
As mentioned, day two at Cheltenham covers almost every aspect of national hunt racing over both obstacles and on the flat.
The Baring Bingham is the springboard for many of the sport’s great champions and the Champion Chase is a main highlight each year.
Check out our odds for the 2024 Cheltenham Festival right here.
Champion Chase bets and best odds
It’s the feature race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival and the Queen Mother Champion Chase never disappoints.
This year, Energumene won’t be here to defend his title having won it back-to-back, with injury cruelly ruling him out this year and denying a hat trick bid.
What that does is give others an opportunity and the top two dominating the betting markets are Energumene’s stablemate El Fabiolo and chief danger Jonbon.
El Fabiolo has won all six starts over fences so is the obvious choice to be favourite and will go off in that position on the day, particularly after Jonbon’s shock defeat on Trials Day here back in January.
Elixir De Nutz was a 22/1 shot that day in the Clarence House and is around the same price to record a stunning Cheltenham double.
However, Edwardstone’s camp have been pretty sweet on his chances, particularly having demolished a small field in the Game Spirit Chase earlier in February.
Champion Chase prize money
The Champion Chase is one of the most valuable races across the Cheltenham Festival.
A total prize purse of £400,000 is available to be won in the feature race on day two.
This year, the winner of the 2024 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase stands to take home a very nice £225,080.
Champion Chase jockey overview
As it stands, jockeys have not yet been assigned to their rides for the Champion Chase. Of course, they’ll know but it isn’t public knowledge yet.
However, in terms of the leading fancies, Paul Townend will ride El Fabiolo, Nico de Boinville should return to the saddle on Jonbon and Tom Cannon will steer Edwardstone.
Further details will be added here when they’re released.
Champion Hurdle trainer overview
Willie Mullins will again have a handful of chances here and will be eyeing the winner’s spot but also some good runs from his other charges.
He has the favourite, El Fabiolo but also an interesting contender in Ferny Hollow. There’s another couple in Gentleman De Mee and Appreciate It at bigger odds.
Nicky Henderson will be hoping for a good return at this year’s festival and trains Jonbon, with Alan King in charge of Edwardstone.
Henry De Bromhead is always a name to watch out for and he has Captain Guinness.
Champion Hurdle previous winners
| Year | Winner | Winning jockey | Winning trainer | Starting price | Age |
| 2023 | Energumene | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 6/5f | 9 |
| 2022 | Energumene | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 5/2 | 8 |
| 2021 | Put The Kettle On | Aidan Coleman | Henry de Bromhead | 17/2 | 7 |
| 2020 | Politologue | Harry Skelton | Paul Nicholls | 6/1 | 9 |
| 2019 | Altior | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson | 4/11f | 9 |
Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle best odds
- Ballyburn 3/1
- Slade Steel 7/2
- Ile Atlantique 6/1
- Mystical Power 6/1
- Readin Tommy Wrong 7/1
- Predators Gold 12/1
- 14/1 bar
*Odds correct at time of writing, with final declarations for each race 48 hours before raceday.
Brown Advisory Novices Chase best odds
- Fact To File 1/1
- Stay Away Fay 7/2
- Monty’s Star 6/1
- Grey Dawning 13/2
- Embassy Gardens 20/1
- Nick Rockett 20/1
- 22/1 bar
*Odds correct at time of writing, with final declarations for each race 48 hours before raceday.
Coral Cup best odds
- Sa Majeste 6/1
- Langer Dan 8/1
- Doddiethegreat 12/1
- Lucky Place 14/1
- Nurse Susan 14/1
- Hiddenvalley Lake 16/1
- Jigoro 16/1
- Making Headway 16/1
- 18/1 bar
*Odds correct at time of writing, with final declarations for each race 48 hours before raceday.
Cross Country Chase best odds
- Minella Indo 2/1
- Delta Work 7/2
- Coko Beach 5/1
- Galvin 5/1
- Conflated 7/1
- Foxy Jacks 14/1
- 20/1 bar
*Odds correct at time of writing, with final declarations for each race 48 hours before raceday.
Grand Annual Chase best odds
- My Mate Mozzie 7/1
- Saint Roi 9/1
- Libberty Hunter 12/1
- Madara 12/1
- Saint Felicien 12/1
- Demnat 14/1
- 16/1 bar
*Odds correct at time of writing, with final declarations for each race 48 hours before raceday.
Champion Bumper best odds
- Jasmin De Vaux 11/2
- Maughreen 11/2
- Jalon D’Oudairies 6/1
- Romeo Coolio 7/1
- Teeshan 8/1
- You Oughta Know 9/1
- Cantico 10/1
- 11/1 bar
*Odds correct at time of writing, with final declarations for each race 48 hours before raceday.
How to bet on Cheltenham races for Day 1
- Choose an online bookmaker form our list.
- Visit the site and sign up for an account.
- Verify your account and make a deposit.
- Head over to the horse racing section of the site.
- Select the race you wish to bet on.
- Look through the available markets and select your bet.
Don’t miss other Cheltenham Festival previews
FAQ about Cheltenham Day 2
How can I use Cheltenham Day 2 previews to improve my chances of winning bets?
Picking a winning bet involves a lot of things; skill, a bit of luck but also research.
Using previews can help you secure the best free bets out there on the market, ensuring you have more in your betting bank heading into the racing on day two.
Not just that, you can notice trends in previous winners and recognise a stable’s first choice jockey, giving an indication who the yard prefer if a trainer runs more than one horse.
What factors should I consider when choosing which horses to bet on for Day 2 races?
There are several key components to consider when making a selection at Cheltenham.
Most importantly though is the horse’s form and how they’ve been faring.
Top Jockeys and trainers will also have a huge bearing in any race and the odds so keep an eye on any market movers.
As well as that, it’s important to consider other horses performances, track conditions, past results and trends in previous winners.
Track preference is also key – how do they do running right-hand courses?
Are there any special promotions or offers from bookmakers for Day 2 races?
Yes. For events like Cheltenham there will always be a battle for your custom, so make sure you shop around for the best Cheltenham betting offers and free bets.
Most bookies will have some form of price boost on the big race for the day and even sometimes for most races, particularly containing a big name.
These could also take the form of daily doubles or accumulators, where two or more strong favourites for the day are put together in a multiple at bigger odds.
There will be an abundance of free bets handed out over the course of the four days too – for runners that fall, lose but finish in the places or when you bet on a certain race – so keep an eye out for those.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.