DAY TWO OF the Cheltenham Festival is perhaps the lowest-key but the opener is without a doubt one of the races of the week.
Gamble responsibly throughout the four days – it is important to enjoy the racing and any winner that comes your way without getting too frustrated if things go wrong!
Here are three selections for day two.
This looks the race of the day. There are ten runners but nearly everything has some sort of chance.
Barry Connell says that Good Land would have been good enough to win the Supreme if he did not have another runner in it. American Mike, one of the outsiders, was second to Facile Vega in the Champion Bumper 12 months ago. Hermes Allen, trained by Paul Nicholls, has been all but flawless over hurdles so far on his unbeaten run.
Willie Mullins runs Champ Kiely, Gaelic Warrior, Ho My Lord and Impaire Et Passe. None can be ruled out but Impaire Et Passe has been all the chat in recent weeks, suggesting he has improved since he won at Punchestown in Grade Two company in January. He looks sure to appreciate stepping up in trip and, with Paul Townend seemingly having him ahead of three really promising Mullins runners in the race, he makes plenty of appeal.
One of the Irish bankers of the week. Be it in point to points, in bumpers, over hurdles or fences, this horse has never been beaten, and it is hard enough to weigh up his limitations since he never seems to win by very far.
He looks sure to be better now that he tries a staying trip. He has likely been getting away with shorter distances over fences so far but he keeps winning and is really hard to fault.
At a huge price, I Am Maximus is not hopeless. He was not disgraced in Grade 1 company last time and might be ridden more forward this time. Willie Mullins supplies the majority of the field.
Willie Mullins runs ten here, which must be a record for one trainer in a Cheltenham race, but it is still far from guaranteed that he will win it! A Dream To Share has joined JP McManus and the wily John Kiely has a high-class prospect on his hands, though he may not be in love with this ground.
It will suit Better Days Ahead, a real staying type, and this could be quite a slog. He represents the connections of American Mike and has an edge over Champeau De Soleil on running at Fairyhouse. BoylesSports pays four each-way places.
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