FAST-AND-LOOSE CHELTENHAM: Punters scrambled to keep up yesterday as four races were run in faster-than-average times on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, and in three of them ‘winner made all’: King Rosko Grey, Kitzbuhel and Jingko Blue.
🎩 TRAINERS: Willie Mullins 5, Nicky Henderson 3, Gavin Cromwell 1, Noel Meade 1, Jonjo O’Neill 1, Padraig Roche 1, Dan Skelton 1, Venetia Williams 1 (Ireland 8, England 6).
🧢 JOCKEYS: Paul Townend 3, James Bowen 2, Nico De Boinville 1, Harry Cobden 1, Charlie Deutsch 1, Colin Keane 1, Richie McLernon 1, Danny Mullins 1, Harry Skelton 1, Conor Stone-Walsh 1, Mark Walsh 1,
🟣 DAQMAN: Won 3-1 Madara, Won 5-2 Il Etait Temps, won 15-8 Old Park Star. Lays Logic: Majborough unplaced 5-6fav.
MULLINS IS AT FEVER PITCH
⭕ 1.20 Cheltenham (Mares’ Novices Hurdle) The last five market leaders to have failed included only one Willie Mullins favourite, but before that he landed five winners of this consecutively, from 4-7 to 50-1.
Now here he is with his 2025 champion-bumper star for Jody Townend, Bambino Fever, 12-lengths winner under brother Paul in the mare’s Fairyhouse preliminary.
She was pipped by Oldschool Outlaw at Naas before that one won the Solerina, also at Fairyhouse, slamming Place De La Nation nine lengths. But both those races were run on heavy ground.
Stats fans looking for Graded (1 and 2) placed mares who win this, the answer could be Carrigmoornaspruce.
But check out a mares novices test at Warwick five weeks ago, when Kingston Queen beat White Noise, after running third to Tuesday’s Supreme winner, Old Park Star, here at Cheltenham in mid-December.
Betdaq Betting Exchange2.1 Bambino Fever, 25 Kingston Queen
SINGING 14.0 THE BLUESMAN
⭕ 2.00 Cheltenham (Golden Miller Novices’ Handicap Chase) First running last year was won by Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden with a 146-rated and they have Regent’s Stroll now off 145.
Nicholls used to train The Bluesman, to whom he must give 11lb. On a handy rating for champion-jockey Sean Bowen to get off the mark, from two behind younger brother, James, who has had a winner a day for Nicky Henderson, Holloway Queen (Tuesday) and Jingko Blue (yesterday).
Betdaq Betting Exchange 6.6 Regents Stroll, 14 The Bluesman
JADE THE NEW MARES JEWEL
⭕ 2.40 Cheltenham (Mares’ Hurdle) Lossiemouth was heading for a hat-trick in this but was so improved that maestro Mullins gambled on the Champion Hurdle instead. That was no gamble. It was an exhibition.
Now he relies on Jade De Grugy, seven-lengths second in this Mares Hurdle to Lossiemouth last year.
And the only worry among the opposition is Wodhooh, 9-10 over hurdles with her sole defeat, less than three lengths, by Lossiemouth in the Aintree Hurdle.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 2.06 Wodhooh, 3.3 Jade De Grugy
KABRAL SET FOR HIGH JINKS
⭕ 3.20 Cheltenham (Stayers Hurdle) Kabral Du Mathan (pictured below) got a big boost for this when Jingko Blue, his five-and-a-half-lengths victim over 2m 4f in the Relkeel, ran away with the Premier Handicap yesterday.
Can he now step up to 3m and overcome the last two winners of this Stayers Hurdle, Teahupoo – now 9 – and the veteran Bob Olinger, pensionable age at 11 yet relegated Teahupoo to runner-up in this very race a year ago.
Seven-year-olds (6-9) have the best record which brings in Ma Shantou, winner of his last two starts here at Cheltenham, including the Cleeve Hurdle impressively from the Long Walk winner, Impose Toi.
Then you have Ballyburn, beaten only a nose by Teahupoo in the Hattons Grace in November.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 5.8 Kabral Du Mathan, 7.7 Ma Shantou
OUTSIDER NEEDING HEART ..
⭕ 4.00 Cheltenham (Ryanair Chase) Jonbon has won or finished second 21 times consecutively (3-3 at around today’s trip) but is 10 now.
So, too, King George winner (2024) and narrow second (2025) Banbridge, who clearly prefers a flat track.
Last month’s Irish Gold Cup winner, Fact To File, won last year’s Ryanair, travelling strongly most of the way, with two previous winners of the race beaten off, Protektorat and Envoi Allen.
His 2025 runner-up in this after getting behind, Heart Wood, was also back to form over further the last day with a change of tactics, making virtually all.
But you need a price because trainer Henry De Bromhead has failed to get a single Festival place this week (0-15) and Heart Wood hasn’t won at Cheltenham: 17 out of 19 had previously scored here.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 2.3 Fact Or File, 14.5 Heart Wood
SUPREMELY OR ABSOLUTELY
⭕ 4.40 Cheltenham (Pertemps Hurdle Final) C’Est Different has limited experience (four hurdle races) and, along with Bold Difference, Champagne Chic and Minella Emperor, is on the lowest ratings rung for winning this.
But after only three hurdles starts, ‘Hot Spot’ Kikijo already has a better mark than two of the last five winners, and is claimed off.
Electric Mason goes well fresh and was impressive, kept away from the others at Haydock in November (Ace Of Spades fourth) but Freddie Gordon rode out his claim that day.
And the seven-year-old is 13lb worse off with the third, Supremely West from the Cheltenham qualifier.
Ace Of Spades was beaten by Emma Lavelle’s Ma Shantou, also at Cheltenham, in January. The Lavelle stable today runs Classic King (Ben Jones booked).
But that one was 10 lengths behind Absolutely Doyen (improved 31lb with 5-5 since the autumn) at Wincanton on Boxing Day.
Gordon Elliott is 0-28 at the Festival this week and Staffordshire Knot has shown all his best form on soft-heavy.
Betdaq Betting Exchange 5.2 Supremely West, 13.5 Absolutely Doyen, 18.5 Kikijo
THE BIG ASK AT BETDAQ 37.0
⭕ 5.20 Cheltenham, (Kim Muir Challenge Cup) Here’s one for these madcap cavalry charges: front-runner Ask Brewster, winner of the Golden Miller here last April, has a 7lb-claiming amateur looking for glory in the saddle.
In fact, Barry O’Neill is Point-To-Point champion jockey. Don’t forget to look behind you, Barry (Prends Garde A Toi).
Betdaq Betting Exchange 17 Prends Garde A Toi, 37 Ask Brewster
DAQMAN’S BETS
on Betdaq Betting Exchange
1.20 Cheltenham (win 30, win 12)
BET 1pt win and place KINGSTON QUEEN
BET 12pts win BAMBINO FEVER
2.00 Cheltenham (win 30)
BET 5.5pts win REGENTS STROLL
BET 2.5pts win THE BLUESMAN
2.40 Cheltenham (win 20)
BET 8pts win JADE DE GRUGY
3.20 Cheltenham (each to win 20)
BET 4pts win KABRAL DU MATHAN
BET 3pts win MA SHANTOU
★ 4.00 Cheltenham (win 15)
BET 12pts win FACT OR FILE (nap)
BET 1.2pts win HEART WOOD
4.40 Cheltenham (win-50 bull’s-eye bet)
BET 4pts win ABSOLUTELY DOYEN
BET 3pts win KIKIJO
BET 5pts to win 21 SUPREMELY WEST
5.20 Cheltenham (win-50 bull’s-eye bet)
BET 3.2pts win PRENDS GARDE A TOI
BET 1.4pts win and place ASK BREWSTER
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