1:20 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle

Three last-time-out Grade 1 winners dominate the market for the opener on day two and it can go to Henry de Bromhead’s exciting Bob Olinger. The Robcour-owned six-year-old took the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle impressively last time and that is often an excellent guide to this race. He recorded a good time when beating Blue Lord by six and a half lengths and looks capable of coming on again from that.

Gaillard Du Mesnil probably has the best form in the race, courtesy of his impressive win over a good field of Irish novice hurdlers at the Dublin Racing Festival, but that came on soft ground over a furlong further and he might be vulnerable to speed on better ground here. Bravemansgame looks to be the home team’s best chance but, impressive as he was in winning the Challow Hurdle, he only had two rivals to contend with there.

With that in mind, it might be worth chancing a bigger-priced alternative, either the admirably tough Bear Ghylls or Keskonrisk, with slight preference for the latter. He was third to Appreciate It in a two-mile Grade 1 contest at Christmas but that was just his second start over hurdles, so he has significant scope to improve and it’s interesting he has been thrown in at the deep end here.

SELECTION: BOB OLINGER ALTERNATIVE: KESKONRISK

1:55 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

Monkfish is many people’s idea of a banker of the week and for good reason too. He ticks all the relevant boxes - namely his proven top-class Festival form, courtesy of his win the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle last season and his proven class over fences this season having posted two excellent Grade 1 wins. His jumping has been immaculate and he improved significantly from his win at Christmas to his latest top notch success at the Dublin Racing Festival, where he posted an 11-length win on the bridle. That the runner-up to him that day, old rival Latest Exhibition, is avoiding the Festival completely to avoid another rematch tells you all you need to know.

Eklat De Rire is an exciting chaser for Henry de Bromhead but it may be The Big Breakaway who gives Monkfish most to do. He won over course and distance on his chase debut and ,though he was beaten on his last two starts, the latest was in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton, a track that didn’t play to his strengths.

SELECTION: MONKFISH ALTERNATIVE: THE BIG BREAKAWAY

2:30 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

Nicky Henderson has won the last two renewals of this race and could well make it three in a row because he has four good chances. The best of them could well be Monte Cristo who defied odds of 25/1 to win smoothly when last seen in a two-mile, five-furlong handicap hurdle at Kempton at Christmas. That was just his fourth start for Henderson and, though he has gone up 12lb, he deserved that sort of rise, given the authority of his win and he can improve again at this distance.

Daryl Jacob takes the ride on Monte Cristo, given his retainer with the owners, but it’s interesting Nico de Boinville rides the once highly touted Birchdale of the other Henderson trio. He was ninth, not beaten that far, in this race last season and returns 2lb lower with possibly a better preparation, having run promisingly on the all-weather when last seen. Irish hopes Grand Roi and Koshari represent our two big stables and are very much respected.

SELECTION: MONTE CRISTO ALTERNATIVE: BIRCHDALE

3:05 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase

Chacun Pour Soi will be all the rage to complete the championship set for Willie Mullins but, at such a short price, he looks worth taking on. Despite the unfortunate late scratch of Altior, this looks a very good renewal with the likes of last season’s winner Politologue, Arkle heroine Put The Kettle On and the up-and-coming Nube Negra among the chief rivals.

Of them all, Put The Kettle On boasts the strongest claims of an upset. Arkle winners have an excellent record in the following season’s Champion Chase and she was a good winner over Fakir D’oudairies 12 months ago, appearing to idle in front on the run in before going away again late on. She maintained her 100% record with a game win in the Grade 2 Shloer Chase at the November meeting and has been rested and kept fresh for this race since finishing third to Chacun Pour Soi at Leopardstown over Christmas. Her proven ability at this course could be key, especially when that is still an unknown for the favourite.

At a much bigger price, don’t discount the claims of Harry Whittington’s Rouge Vif, who will come alive if the ground dries out. He beat the aforementioned Nube Negra comprehensively last season at Warwick and won impressively off a mark of 156 in a handicap chase over this course and distance earlier in the season. His stable went through a bad spell mid-winter but Rouge Vif comes here fresh and he could surprise a few.

SELECTION: PUT THE KETTLE ON ALTERNATIVE: ROUGE VIF

3:40 Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country)

This is often an unappealing betting heat, given the difficulty in deciphering form and deciding which horses will handle the unique course, but it’s still a fun race to watch. Last season’s champion Easysland is back to defend his title and should do so, given he holds a mammoth rating of 167 and competes with his rivals off level weights. That said, if the ground dried out significantly, it would be a worry and it might be worth finding a bigger priced alternative.

It’s hard to trust Tiger Roll, based on what he has done this season, so he gets a pass as well, for all that it would be brilliant to see him win again. John McConnell is really progressing as a trainer and sent out winners at Cheltenham already this season, one of them being Some Neck, who gained crucial experience when winning over this course in December. This 10-year-old was once a very promising horse for Willie Mullins but may have found his real vocation now.

SELECTION: SOME NECK ALTERNATIVE: EASYSLAND

4:15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup

Ibleo could be one of the bets of the day at around 12/1 for this two-mile handicap chase. The Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old has gone from strength to strength this season, having won his last two, most notably when ridden supremely confidently to win at Sandown on his second last start. He went on to win again at Doncaster where he beat The Big Bite, who looked on course to win the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury before trying to run out, and the horse that finished third, Whoshothesherrif, won by 15 lengths on his next start. He is proven over the course and distance, given he finished second to Sky Pirate earlier this season, and though he was well held there, he is a much better horse now.

Both Embittered and Entoucas are possibly well treated coming into this race, more so the former, who finished third to Saint Roi in last season’s County Hurdle, so you know he handles the course as well. Zanza could have a big say for Philip Hobbs as well. He was travelling well in the race dominated by Sky Pirate and Ibleo when he came down at the third last and has been kept fresh for this since.

SELECTION: IBLEO ALTERNATIVE: EMBITTERED

4:50 Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Kilcruit and his new stable companion Sir Gerhard dominate the betting for the Champion Bumper, and slight preference is for the latter. A change in trainer so late in the day is not ideal but this expensive purchase looked a really nice prospect earlier in the season, defeating Letsbeclearaboutit at Navan.

Kilcruit visually was so impressive at Leopardstown but a searing early pace may have exaggerated his authority, and quicker ground could be a slight concern as well. Willie Mullins has the most winners of any trainer in this race and, though the front two look his best chances, don’t write off his other runners, namely the mare Grangee. She showed a good attitude to return to winning ways in a Grade 2 contest at the Dublin Racing Festival and mares have an excellent recent record in this race from a very small amount of runners. Fayonagh won this in 2017, Relegate in 2018 and Queens Brook was third last year.

SELECTION: SIR GERHARD ALTERNATIVE: GRANGEE