The Cheltenham Festival continues as Willie Mullins eyes more success on Wednesday.
The Irish trainer heads into the second day of action on 97 Festival winners and, with a number of favourites in today’s races, there is every chance he brings up three figures.
Delta Work will not get the chase to make it three wins in the Cross Country Chase, after an inspection on Wednesday morning led to the race being abandoned.
Here, Paul O’Brien offers his best tips and bets for Wednesday at Cheltenham.
13:45 Gallagher Novices Hurdle - Ballyburn win, Handstands place
Willie Mullins trained Ballyburn won by 25 lengths at Leopardstown on December 29, and second place that day Cleatus Poolaw went on to win next time out. On his last outing Ballyburn won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on February 4 with ease beating previous Grade 2 winner Slade Steel.
That form makes him the clear choice for the win but with precious little return for the punters. The only horse that could possibly oppose the incredibly impressive Mullins contingent and earn a valuable place is the five-year-old gelding Handstands, who won a listed race at Huntingdon last time on February 8 against handy opposition and he's reunited with jockey Harry Cobden who rode him to victory on that day.
14:30 The Broadway Novices' Chase - Stay Away Fay
Fact To File is the clear favourite for this race for Willie Mullins' yard but this is one prize they may be denied. Stay Away Fay was the winner of the Albert Barlett Novices Hurdle last year at Cheltenham.
On his last outing at Cheltenham in January, this seven-year-old gelding only managed third after a mistake midway but still finished three and a half lengths from winner Capodanno, a contender for this week's Ryanair Chase, and second place The Real Whacker, entered in the Gold Cup. Prior to that race he had won twice over 3m this season, and can apply serious pressure to Fact To File and force him to crack.
15:15 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle - Might I E/W
With some bookies paying as many as eight places, picking one at a price E/W is clearly the value play and one who could prove handy is Might I. The eight-year-old gelding has shown some solid form recently and won at Exeter back in November last year, although admittedly that was in a head to head race.
He'll certainly be in contention for a place especially considering that pretty much a third of the field will be placed.
16:00 Queen Mother Champion Chase - El Fabiolo win, Captain Guinness place
El Fabiolo convincingly beat Jonbon, who is a non-runner here, in the Novices' Chase here last year and has continued to go from strength to strength this season and is undefeated. He won the Leopardstown Dublin Chase on February 4 with ease from Dinoblue, who had previously won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on December 27, when Captain Guinness disappointed.
Everything points to an El Fabiolo win, but Captain Guinness should benefit from the expected fast running of this race to regain his form and should be up for a place as others tire.
16:50 Jonny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase - Solness E/W
Listed winner Solness was third last time out at Leopardstown on February 3, Madara was first and Path D'oroux second. Solness is much better off in the weights this time around relative to those opponents but will need to be close up and then force the issue in the home straight to put pressure on the leaders to try to ensure it doesn't turn into a sprint finish.
If he can manage that then he should be guaranteed to place at the very least.
17:30 Champion Bumper - The Yellow Clay E/W
Winning both his four-year-old starts caught the eye of most tipsters on this George Elliott trained horse. His most recent run out was a disappointing fourth in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown on February 3 but he was badly hampered 2f out, dropped to the rear but then made up an impressive amount of ground late on once he had a free run.
Talent wise, this race is practically the same and if he gets a free run when it matters most, The Yellow Clay can come through to win.
