What an opening Tuesday we had – some really long priced winners got us underway – hopefully we can continue that success with our Cheltenham Festival 2009 Day Two Tips.

The second day is where we start to know who’s winning in any Cheltenham Festival – its also when one’s betting fortunes can be made or lost! We should see one or two trainers or jockeys hitting their second or even third winner on the Cheltenham Wednesday.

This page contains our tips, form guide and ratings summary for every race of Cheltenham Festival 2009 Day Two – Wednesday 11th March 2009, including (click the race to jump straight to our runners guide, tips & best price odds):

• 1.30 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 4m
• 2.05 Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle 2m 5f
• 2.40 RSA Steeple Chase 3m 1/2f
• 3.20 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase 2m
• 4.00 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) 2m 5f
• 4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m 1/2f
• 5.15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Open NH Flat Race) 2m 1/2f

1.30 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 4m (Channel 4)

A nice long race to get day two started, this race sees some big guns tack to the track to slog it out over a rguelling 4 miles- that famous uphill finish made all the tougher by a relentless Festival pace over the longest distance.

National Hunt Steeple Chase Runners, Form, Ratings & Best Odds

National Hunt Steeple Chase Tips & Ratings Summary

If Wichita Lineman is fully recovered and starts in this race, we’d be surprised, however, his ranking does show that, based on the evidence of recent results, Pangbourne, Carnival Town and Itsa Legend represent good each-way chances at prices long enough to put very small bets on.

2.05 Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle 2m 5f (Channel 4)

A novices hurdle is often difficult to predict, however, this is one of the best novices hurdles you are likely to see in the calendar, so as a general rule, horses have put down a good few indicators as far as what they can do is concerned.

Novices Hurdle Runners, Form, Ratings & Best Odds

Novices Hurdle Tips & Ratings Summary

There’s little to split the top three Quwetwo, Karabak and China Rock and, as a result, the advised bet is the now familiar each-way dutch on the three. With two of these at 20/1+ sandwiching the ante-post 7/2 joint favourite, the prices allow this bet too.

Consider a forecast for small change too.

2.40 RSA Steeple Chase 3m 1/2f (Channel 4)

This race, which takes place over Gold Cup distance and course of 3 and a half miles over the big obstacles, is often one of the most exciting races of the Cheltenham Festival. 2009, hopefully, will be no different.

RSA Steeple Chase Runners, Form, Ratings & Best Odds

RSA Steeple Chase Tips & Ratings Review

There is very little between the top three: What A Friend, Carruthers and Casey Jones – so another low stakes each-way bet should provide some return on investment. The bookies look to have called this one about right, so thereis not a huge amount of value in this field otherwise: another no-bet or low-bet race for Cheltenham die-hards.

3.20 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase 2m (Channel 4)

The Queen Mother Champion Chase, over 2 miles, is the chase event for those speedy horses who can jump. The perfect contrast to the RSA chase and Gold Cup over 3 and a half miles, which test stamina and jumping, this one is all about taking fences well, but most of all quickly.

These fences are unforgiving, though, so care must be taken, as any mistake at Cheltenham at speed will see even the best of jumpers ship its jockey.

Queen Mother Chase Runners, Form, Ratings & Best Odds

Queen Mother Chase Tips & Ratings Summary

This race is all about one horse: MASTER MINDED has this race well within his grasp providing he gets round in one piece. This can be considered one of the best bets of the Cheltenham Festival thus far. However, the price of 4/11 may not be of interest to everyone, so all eyes will be looking for a second place horse to make up forecasts, or a value each-way bet. That horse is, according to our ratings, Briareus.

4.00 Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) 2m 5f (Channel 4)

A handicap hurdle which is viewed as one of the second tier races in the Cheltenham Festival – they can’t all be Gold Cups – the Coral Cup is one of those races that the travelling gamblers can attack with aplomb.

Coral Cup Runners, Form, Ratings & Best Odds

Coral Cup Tips & Ratings Summary

Gee Dee Nen and the 100/1 shot Tisfreetdream offer some excellent each-way value in this huge field event.

4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m 1/2f (Racing UK)

Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Runners, Form, Ratings & Best Odds

Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Tips & Ratings Summary

Another of those juvenile handicap events sees the top three in Systemlays’ ratings with a slight margin over the rest of the firled, and hence solid each-way prospects – those horses are Flag Of Honour, Alexander Severus, Helium.

5.15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Open NH Flat Race) 2m 1/2f

Though we don’t often tip in bumpers, Cheltenham Festival is a little different, so we’ve produced ratings for this collection of the finest prospects in National Hunt.

Champion Bumper Runners, Form, Ratings & Best Odds

Champion Bumper Tips & Ratings Summary

As you can see, the ratings put very little between the top several horses in this event and, as is the norm with bumpers, expect improvement from any or all of these, too. Resultantly, a race to watch with interest: with a view to the future!