Cheltenham 2023: NAP of the Day for Cheltenham Day 2

Already have an account?

Already have an account?

The Cheltenham Festival kick-off with a bang! We saw some big performances in the first day of racing with the likes of Constitution Hill and Honeysuckle making a name for themselves at the biggest racing event on Earth. Easyodds have asked me to provide my NAP for each day, so below you can find my Cheltenham BEST BET for Day 2!

Cheltenham NAP of the Day - Day 2

14:10 Cheltenham Tips

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – 3m½f

Gerri Colombe 2pts Win @ 6/4

This certainly isn’t a vintage renewal of the Brown Advisory outside of my selection, but to be honest that just further enhances my confidence!

Let’s start with Thyme Hill. I cannot be having this Horse in a month of Sunday’s. Not only has there not been a 9yo winner of the Brown Advisory since 1992, but his form over fences is terrible too. On debut at Exeter he was extremely careful over his fences, on his second start at Newbury he was horrific when only 2, and on his latest start he won an extremely week Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton which completely fell apart. McFabulous himself has since been pulled up in a 3-runner race too! Thyme Hill has absolutely no chance here in my eyes.

The Real Whacker has stronger claims than that of the previous discussed, but again I can’t see how he’s good enough. On debut he only beat Indigo Breeze by three-quarters of a length over this course and distance on completely different ground, and last time he won a below-par Dipper Novices’ Chase when beating Monmiral. He’s another Horse who has bundles to find with my selection.

Two with chances would be Sir Gerhard and Galia Des Liteaux. Sir Gerhard’s case is entirely built around his reputation and talent, as he’s only been able to have one start over fences when bolting up on Thyestes Day over 2m despite making a complete mess of the first. You’d have to feat he lacks the experience despite the talent. The ground has certainly come right for Galia Des Liteaux however, and as she’s a Mare she does receive a 7lbs allowance. On her latest start she was a very good winner of the Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase on Heavy ground, and I’d very much expect her to be hitting the frame. Ramillies is another who should run well, as his ‘victory’ (later taken away in the stewards room) over Thedevilscoachman reads well.

To the surprise of absolutely no one however, my NAP of Day 2 is Gordon Elliott’s Gerri Colombe. I must confess that I absolutely adore this Horse, but clearly he is going to take the world of beating here on all known form.

From Day 1 this Robcour charge has jumped fences with aplomb – winning on Chase debut at Fairyhouse over 2m5f with a very comfortable success over Bronn. Stepping straight into Grade 1 company over Christmas, Gerri Colombe then went and won the 2m3½f Faugheen Novices’ Chase when staying on strongly to beat Adamantly Chosen by 4.25 lengths.

By far the most satisfying of his wins came at Sandown for the 2m4f Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novice Chase however. I just remember every single preview podcast and tipping column pigeon holing this Horse into needing Soft ground, and how he was a favourite worth taking on because of it. Our friend Gerri didn’t get that memo however – as despite needing to be kicked into gear by Jordan Gainford, he went on to record a very good 1.75 length success over Balco Coastal, even though that trip was probably on the sharper side for him.

Clearly the Soft ground at Cheltenham is going to play into Gerri Colombe’s strengths more than others in this race, but to me the most important thing for him is stepping up in trip to 3m for the first time over fences. As a Novice Hurdler last season we saw him hack up in a 2m7f event, and I believe this step up in trip is going to unlock an even better version of Gerri Colombe over fences – which will hopefully lay him down as a contender for next year’s Gold Cup. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves just yet however, as Gerri Colombe is my strongest bet of the week here, so let’s take each race one at a time!

PREDICTION: Gerri Colombe 1, Galia Des Liteaux 2, Ramillies 3