The second afternoon of the Cheltenham Festival is upon us, with another seven scintillating races to enjoy from the 'greatest show on turf'.
Wednesday is Queen Mother Champion Chase Day as Jonbon bids to finally end his quest for a Festival win, while Ballyburn will be a hot favourite in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.
They race at Cheltenham from 13:20-17:20, with the feature race due off at 16:00 and we've got a race-by-race guide to the action.
1.20 - Turners Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m5f)
Day two may begin just as the opener did on Tuesday, with Messrs Mullins and Townend to the fore.
FINAL DEMAND is a well-bred son of Walk In The Park and while there was more fanfare surrounding some of his stablemates at last month's Dublin Racing Festival, it shouldn't have gone amiss just how impressively he won the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle over 2m6f.
He cruised into contention under Townend and then simply powered clear from a very solid benchmark in Wingmen, winning by a dozen lengths. He's clear on ratings coming into this, and may only be getting started.
His stablemates Kaid D'authie and Kel Histoire have scope for improvement to get involved but the danger could be Gordon Elliott's The Yellow Clay. He is a perfect 4-4 over hurdles and his experience could be key. He dismissed Supersundae at Naas last time and is battle hardened.
UK hopes include Sixmilebridge for Fergal O'Brien, who beat an out of sorts Potters Charm here on Trials Day. Nigel Twiston-Davies believes that form can be turned around.
The New Lion is also unbeaten for Dan and Harry Skelton, and has been snapped up by JP McManus since his Challow win at Newbury in December, but winners of that Grade 1 have traditionally struggled as novices at this meeting.
SELECTION: FINAL DEMAND
NEXT BEST: THE YELLOW CLAY
2.00 - Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1, 3m)
BALLYBURN was all the rage as a novice at this meeting 12 months ago over hurdles and encountered few issues in delivering a win, he is fancied to repeat the trick now over the larger obstacles.
He was assured if not quite spectacular in his wins at Punchestown and Leopardstown, while in between times he was second-best to Sir Gino at Kempton over Christmas. That was over a 2m trip that would not have been ideal for Ballyburn, facing Britain's best and fastest novice chaser on a speed-favouring track. It's not a stick to beat him with and his DRF success since was smooth and measured.
The rise to three-miles should suit, with Gold Cup ambitions firmly in place for 2026, and he should take some halting.
UK runners have won three of the last five renewals of this contest but they won't improve on that now, with not a single contender from the home side.
Stablemate Dancing City looks like one to rival him with, but Danny Mullins' partner is taking a sharp rise in class here. Better Days Ahead could easily put in a strong showing for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy but perhaps Gorgeous Tom will outrun his odds for Henry De Bromhead.
He was doing his best work at the finish in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse in December and could improve for the step up in trip.
SELECTION: BALLYBURN
NEXT BEST: GORGEOUS TOM
2.40 - Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (2m5f)
A proper cavalry charge in store here with a field of 26 runners engaged. Lots with chances towards the front of the market, including Impose Toi for Nicky Henderson, who has two wins in the last six years, as well as unexposed duo Bunting for Willie Mullins and Be Aware for Dan Skelton.
They are all in the mix, while Al Gasparo and long-absent Jimmy Du Seuil are other notables.
The one that appeals is SANDOR CLEGANE for trainer Paul Nolan. He's always been a staying type, and was placed in the Albert Bartlett at this meeting two years ago. He was a smart novice over fences last season but didn't win, and most recently he has been holding his own in graded company back over timber. This is his first start in a handicap and the hardy eight-year-old should be able to stay on strongly up the Cheltenham hill.
Vischio couldn't follow up his Dublin Racing Festival heroics in the Morebattle at Kelso, but Emmet Mullins' charge will find this trip to his liking.
At a massive price, look out for Neil Mulholland's Ike Sport, who shaped better at Doncaster last time and perhaps hasn't been seeing out three-miles.
SELECTION: SANDOR CLEGANE
NEXT BEST: IKE SPORT
3.20 - Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (3m6f)
This race returns to being a handicap after a 10-year hiatus, but that might not prevent STUMPTOWN from looking like a blip on the page.
The Gavin Cromwell inmate has been flying in this sphere and his December win over course and distance was impish in the extreme, as Keith Donoghue arrived to challenge Mister Coffey, sitting motionless, and waited patiently before a push-button manoeuvre to go and win the race.
Stumptown is 8lb higher in the ratings for that success, but it wouldn't have held him back last time.
Galvin is high class and should go well as Gordon Elliott bids for a record seventh win in the race, while his stablemates Vanillier and Minella Crooner have the ability when in the mood.
Mister Coffey should run his race again but Escaria Ten, fourth in the December contest at a massive 80/1 and having occupied the same berth since at Sandown, could be the each-way play at decent odds.
SELECTION: STUMPTOWN
NEXT BEST: ESCARIA TEN
4.00 - Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1, 2m)
Just eight runners and a race that seemingly revolves around JONBON. He has settled for second in his two Festival starts but was behind only Constitution Hill (Supreme) and El Fabiolo (Arkle).
He's become a model of consistency this season, and indeed all of last term bar one jumping error here on Trials Day, winning the Shloer Chase here, Sandown's Tingle Creek and the Clarence House at Ascot.
Right now, he's got the best profile of any two-mile chaser in Britain or Ireland and this should be his moment.
Solness is the fly in the ointment. He was 25-lengths behind Jonbon at Sandown in December but aggressive tactics have since brought successive Grade 1s in Ireland. He should give it a bold sight.
Captain Guinness won this a year ago, fortuitously, but isn't the same force now, while Found A Fifty has to put a poor run last time behind him.
Marine Nationale would be a very poignant winner and has excellent claims, while two-time winner Energumene was no match for Jonbon at Ascot but should be in the mix for a medal.
SELECTION: JONBON
NEXT BEST: ENERGUMENE
4.40 - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (2m)
Unexpected Party won this race last year and is 6lb higher now, he's got a chance for the Skelton yard, while the likes of top-weight JPR One for Joe Tizzard, My Mate Mozzie for Gavin Cromwell and fellow Irish raider Jazzy Matty need to be considered.
THIRD TIME LUCKI was fourth in this very race two years from a 15lb higher mark and perhaps has been campaigned with a return in mind. He's had three runs back after a long absence and new trainer Fergal O'Brien may just feel he's nicely treated off 134.
General Medrano for Emma Lavelle is another player. He won at Newbury in December and was second-best at Doncaster over this trip in January behind Petit Tonnerre with re-opposing Nells Son in third. He went for home early and is only 2lb higher now if he can be smuggled into this contest.
SELECTION: THIRD TIME LUCKI
NEXT BEST: GENERAL MEDRANO
5.20 - Weatherbys Champion Bumper (2m½f)
A lot like the Supreme on day one, the Willie Mullins contingent could have a great race by themselves.
Bambino Fever has achieved more than any but may be overlooked with Jody Townend steering again. The Workforce mare Aqua Force joined this team after a winning debut at Gowran Park by a whopping 28-lengths and is now owned by JP McManus.
Meanwhile both Copacabana – the choice of Patrick Mullins – and Gameofinches were very impressive in their debut wins and have to be feared.
Gigginstown runner Kalypso'chance is another who looks well above average. That also must be said for NO DRAMA THIS END following his taking success at Warwick on New Year's Eve.
He swatted aside a well-touted favourite from the Skelton team and recorded a very decent time. The Ditcheat trainer has never won this race, but he thinks plenty of this horse, and he could be a first UK winner since Ballyandy in 2015, carrying the famous Denman silks up the hill in style.
SELECTION: NO DRAMA THIS END
NEXT BEST: KALYPSO'CHANCE
