On the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, OTB Sports' resident racing nerd Thom Malone has another daily Trifecta.
The Ballymore Novices Hurdle at 1.20 opens proceedings at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday where Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead again have the favourite in Bob Olinger. Britain's best chance of winning this stands with Bravemansgame.
"To young people out there, male, female, whatever - if you want to do something, go and do it, because, to me standing here right now, literally anything can happen." Take a bow @rachaelblackmor 👏🏻🏇🏆⬇️ https://t.co/d52suXBVor
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 16, 2021
Paul Nicholls has never won this Cheltenham Festival race and even Denman could only finish second in the 2006 renewal. Jockey Harry Cobden revealed on Tuesday that this was the best novice he has ever seen in his time at Ditcheat. Bravemnasgame was an impressive and very easy winner of the Challow Hurdle when last seen. The last time Paul Nicholls won the Challow was with Denman. Bravemansgame can go one better than the great man.
In the typically impossible Coral Cup at 2.30, the eye is drawn to the green and yellow hoops of JP McManus. While Blue Sari has done little in his last two starts, he has festival form when finishing second to Envoi Allen in 2019.
A handicap mark of 138 looks like it could be workable for Blue Sari if he can regain some form, and appeals as an each-way bet. The jockey booking of Mark Walsh is also a major positive.
The feature race on Wednesday is the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 3.05, where Willie Mullins has never had the winner. Chacun Pour Soi is odds on to put that right and deservedly so.
The horse was a late defector in the race last year but he can put that right this time around having been flawless in his two starts so far this season at Leopardstown. On another day of short-priced favourites, Chacun Pour Soi is another who can heap misery on the bookies.
Catch the Cheltenham Festival Show every morning on OTB Sports from 10.30.
