Dave Nevison's Cheltenham Festival tips: best bets for day two

Doddiethegreat looks a bet to me in this incredibly tough handicap, and could land one for Nicky Henderson and the home team. 

He has only raced six times across three seasons but won his first four races, which included two bumpers and two hurdle races. He has run more than creditably on his past two starts and, and both outings have suggested that a strongly run contest over this trip is exactly what he would need. 

Doddiethegreat is by an Ascot Gold cup winner in Fame And Glory and all his near relatives that made the racecourse have been stayers, so his pedigree certainly backs up the theory that he will be suited by this race. 

He has finished just behind Go Dante (subsequent Imperial Cup winner) in big handicaps over two miles at both Cheltenham and Newbury this season, so his form looks very strong. 

Nico de Boinville rides this race very well and has won it twice for Henderson on bigger priced runners than this one, and I believe Doddiethegreat has a strong chance.

Captain Guinness has never won a Grade One over fences, but he has a fabulous record in them nevertheless, and has become a bit of a placepot banker in them over the past couple of seasons. 

He finished second in this race last season and I believe the way the race is likely to be run, he might be able to do the same this time around. 

El Fabiolo and Jonbon are both pretty much confirmed front runners, and Edwardstone was demonstrably cheered up by making the running last time. It must be possible that at least one won’t enjoy a battle over the first 12 furlongs of this contest, and at a track he runs well at, I can see Captain Guinness running very well again. 

He certainly seemed back to his best at Leopardstown last time out where he was very much ridden with an eye on this race.

JP McManus is certainly not short of a few bob, but he has left a bit behind backing his own horses down to favourite in this race for the past three seasons. 

Saint Roi has been openly talked about as the horse in the green and gold that is going to try and finally land the Grand Annual. The eight-year-old has struggled in a couple of Grade Ones this season and the only run that made him look on track for this was when he ran in a handicap on his penultimate start (his first chase handicap and only the second in his career).

He wasn't given the hardest time, and got hampered three out, plus was running on very nicely towards the finish. His mark over here is just a pound higher than that run, so he could be well in, and I definitely think he will get a stronger ride in this under Mark Walsh.

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