Cheltenham Festival tips: Templegate’s best bets for the Champion Chase today and the remainder of day 2 at the Festival

CHELTENHAM - DAY TWO

1.30

ENVOI ALLEN won the Champion Bumper here last season and can land another Festival success.

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1

He kicked off his hurdling career with a solid win at Down Royal before stepping into Graded company for convincing victories at Fairyhouse and Naas.

That extended his perfect career record to eight wins. He jumps, he travels, he stays, he surely wins.

Sporting John is the clear pick of the home team for Philip Hobbs and Barry Geraghty. He has been brought along quietly in a couple of egg-and-spoon races at Exeter before improving again at Ascot last month.

This is a much tougher challenge but he is progressing fast and jumps like a more experienced horse. He should definitely be in the shake-up.

The Big Breakaway stepped up well to win over this trip at Newbury last time with seven lengths in hand. Robbie Power didn’t have to get serious and there was plenty left in the tank. Colin Tizzard has been bullish.

Almost namesake The Big Getaway comes from Team Mullins on the back of a big-field win at Naas. He has much more on his plate here but it’s just his third hurdles run so there should be more to come and he stays well.

2.10

COPPERHEAD can shine in the RSA. There are no doubts about the six-year-old’s stamina given how well he won a good Newbury handicap over further at Christmas.

He then took another step forward when beating the useful Two For Gold in the Reynoldstown last month. He powered home there and looks tailor made for the hill with soft ground no problem.

Minella Indo has been heavily backed in recent days. He won the Albert Bartlett well last year before following up at Punchestown, ahead of Allaho both times.

He had to battle to win a minor chase at Navan but that was just his second run over the bigger obstacles. He’s clearly been showing plenty at home.

Champ has a touch of class but he hammered into the second-last fence when running away with the Dipper here last time. He was runner-up in the Ballymore over hurdles last season so won’t lack stamina.

He wasn’t the greatest jumper before that fall which may have taken its toll despite his quality.

Allaho looked a top-class chaser in the making when lagging in at Fairyhouse last time. That was just his second run over fences so there will be more to come. Stamina is a slight worry but he’ll make a bold bid.

Champ has a touch of class but he hammered into the second-last fence when running away with the Dipper here last time. He was runner-up in the Ballymore over hurdles last season so won’t lack stamina.

He wasn’t the greatest jumper before that fall which may have taken its toll despite his quality.

Allaho looked a top-class chaser in the making when lagging in at Fairyhouse last time. That was just his second run over fences so there will be more to come. Stamina is a slight worry but he’ll make a bold bid.

2.50

DAME DE COMPAGNIE jumped so well when winning a big-field handicap here last time and can repeat the feat.

She travelled sweetly for Barry Geraghty and made an impressive run through the field to win going away. She takes on the boys today from what still looks a fair mark and her smooth hurdling will be a major asset in an open race.

Owner JP McManus has other good chances with Birchdale and Alfa Mix who was a good second at Navan last time.

Stratum won the Cesarewitch on the level in October and has had a couple of nice prep runs since. He ran well in the Galway Hurdle in August and has the benefit of Robbie Power in the saddle. It would be no surprise to see him hit the frame.

Protektorat wasn’t beaten far in a Grade 2 here last time and has no issue seeing out this distance. It’s early days for him and he could improve.

Burrows Edge clocked a big personal best when landing a messy Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton latest. If he can match that effort going left-handed he’d have every chance from a fair 6lb higher.

Canardier makes his debut for Willie Mullins having been chasing. He was fifth in this last year off a similar mark and the master trainer may well have improved him.

3.30

DEFI DU SEUIL can cap an amazing season by winning the Champion Chase. He did well last year, winning the JLT at the Festival over half a mile further.

Trainer Philip Hobbs decided to campaign him for this race and it’s proved a wise move with three impressive efforts. He opened the season by taking the Grade 2 Shloer around here before following up at the top level in the Tingle Creek and Clarence House. We know he stays further, which will be a major asset up the hill, and there is more improvement to come.

With Altior not in the line-up, Chacun Pour Soi is the biggest danger and he was impressive when beating Min in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown last month.

Some have said beating Min is nothing special but it was a taking performance. He got the better of Defi Du Seuil at Punchestown last year, although he’d just had a hard race at Cheltenham that had clearly left a mark.

But Willie Mullins’ hope has obviously improved this season despite tasting defeat on comeback to A Plus Tard.

Dynamite Dollars was a good third behind Altior at Newbury returning from a year off. He was a Grade 1 novice and trainer Paul Nicholls has always said he would come back and win a big race. It’s asking a lot for today to be that day but he looks booked for third.

Sceau Royal was second in that race but those placings could be reversed now Dynamite should be fitter.

4.10

EASYSLAND can upset hotpot Tiger Roll in the Cross Country. The six-year-old was extremely good when winning over course and distance in December.

He handled the obstacles well and didn’t have to hit top gear for a convincing victory. He has since followed that up at Listed level in his native France and JP McManus has paid big bucks to buy him.

It won’t be easy stopping the Tiger landing a hat-trick of wins in this but a different three-timer is surely the priority for connections.

It’s a little over three weeks until the Grand National and you wouldn’t blame Gordon Elliott for having one eye on that milestone.

He needed his pipe-opener over hurdles at Navan last month but he did win that same race 12 months before coming here. It’s hard to pick holes in him but Easysland looks a real prospect.

One-time Gold Cup second Might Bite is the wildcard in the race. He has been out of sorts for a couple of seasons but there were better signs with his third at Newbury last time.

This challenge may rekindle his spark and he’d be a contender if it does. He’s won over three miles so should get home and could hit the frame – or could be tailed off!

4.50

PALLADIUM can bring the house down. He was a modest performer on the Flat but has been a revelation since going over hurdles.

He has landed a couple of Sandown contests with ease including by ten lengths last time. There should be a lot of improvement to come on his fourth run and he will love any juice in the ground.

Mick Pastor left behind a quiet UK debut effort here behind when winning well at Ludlow last time. Despite getting home well, he’s had a breathing operation and Paul Nicholls puts a hood on, which should help him settle.

The champ has another big chance with Thyme White. There was lots to like about his Listed win at Musselburgh where he kept on strongly.

Aramax is another French import who got off the mark for Gordon Elliott in good style at Naas last month. He showed good pace there, which will be an asset today.

The yard also sends out Tronador who was third in a decent race at Navan and will power up the hill.

They have other chances with Recent Revelations who scored in a big field at Cork and Saint D’Oroux who won by 24 lengths at Gowran last time.

Alan King has high hopes for Blacko who has won both his UK starts and jumped well for a young horse when scoring at Warwick. He is a real each-way player.

5.30

Willie Mullins has a great record but not always with his No1 hope. Appreciate It will go off favourite for the yard and with good reason after winning a Leopardstown Grade 2 in style.

He’s won over further than this two miles so will have no issue getting home. But the bookies were paying attention and he looks a short order.

Stablemate FERNY HOLLOW got off the mark well at Fairyhouse last month. He cruised through the race before winning comfortably.

It’s clearly taken a little while for him to hit top gear but there’s more to come and he won’t be far away.

Israel Champ won a Listed bumper here well in November and followed up nicely at Ascot. He’s half of a good team for David Pipe who has just welcomed Panic Attack from the Mullins stable.

She won nicely on debut at Market Rasen in January and gets a handy 7lb mares’ allowance. There should be a lot more to come.

Queens Brook looks the pick of Gordon Elliott’s hopes after cantering past 16 rivals to win at Gowran. It was a visually impressive effort even if the opposition wasn’t that hot.

It would be nice to see Roger Teal have a Festival winner and his Ocean Wind isn’t without hope. He was beaten on the nod by Audacity in a Listed race here before comprehensively reversing that form at Newbury.

SEE ALL FREE BETS HERE

CHELTENHAM

1.30 Envoi Allen (nb)

2.10 Copperhead (treble)

2.50 Dame De Compagnie

3.30 DEFI DU SEUIL (NAP)

4.10 Easysland

4.50 Palladium

5.30 Ferny Hollow