Cheltenham Festival race card, tips and betting preview for Day 2 of the meeting on Wednesday

IT'S Betway Champion Chase day at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday.

There are the usual mix of top Grade 1 contests and fiercely competitive handicaps – so we have got stuck in.

 Race 1 – 1.30 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

There is no doubt that Envoi Allen is the one to beat.

He has won each of his seven starts under Rules, including the Champion Bumper here 12 months ago, and his form over hurdles is rock-solid.

But he wasn't impressive over this trip at Naas and there is a suspicion he could be vulnerable over this far on easy ground.

So take a flyer on the exciting THE BIG BREAKAWAY, who has been the subject of glowing reports from the Tizzard team.

He is all about potential, but he trounced some useful rivals at Chepstown and Newbury and his jockey Robbie Power reckons he is top-class.

Sporting John is unbeaten and ran out a ready winner at Ascot last month. He is another top prospect and significant market support should be taken very seriously.

The Big Getaway is another promising hurdler with bundles of potential. He could hardly have won any easier at Naas in January and he commands respect.

At a huge price, Mossy Fen could run into a place.

SELECTION: The Big Breakaway

DANGER: Envoi Allen

Race 2 – 2.10 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

COPPERHEAD could hardly have been more impressive in the Reynoldstown.

He jumped and travelled like a tank and he was barely out of second gear when crossing the line, leaving some classy rivals for dead in the home straight.

He is a very exciting staying chaser and rates a confident selection.

The favourite Champ hasn't been seen since taking a crashing fall in the Dipper here on New Year's Day.

That was a far from ideal preparation and he hasn't been that convincing over the bigger obstacles thus far.

Minella Indo looks a bigger threat, with the form of his workmanlike Navan victory given a boost last month.

He won the Albert Bartlett in fine style here 12 months ago and is open to significant improvement for his top trainer.

Allaho should relish this step up to three-miles and is another well worth a place on the shortlist.

SELECTION: Copperhead

DANGER: Minella Indo

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Race 3 – 2.50 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Any number of chances in this fiercely competitive handicap.

JP McManus could hold the key here with Dame Du Compagnie and ALFA MIX.

Narrow preference is for the latter, who caught the eye in a good race at Naas where he was a shade unlucky not to win (pulled miles clear of third).

He is attractively weighted and a big field and a strong pace should suit this progressive strong-traveller down to the ground.

Dame Du Compagnie looks similarly well-treated off 140, but she takes some winding up and there is a suspicion she is better suited to the more galloping New Course.

Canardier makes his debut for Willie Mullins off a decent mark having finished fifth in this off 4lb lower last season.

He commands respect, while his stablemate Bachasson has plenty of back-class and caught the eye when third in the Boyne Hurdle on his return from a lay-off.

Champagne Well is interesting on his second to Thyme Hill earlier in the season, while impressive Kempton winner Honest Vic holds sound each-way claims.

SELECTION: Alfa Mix

DANGER: Dame Du Compagnie

Race 4 – 3.30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

It's a real pity Altior doesn't run here, but we should still be in for a cracking contest.

DEFI DU SEUIL can take full advantage of the reigning champ's absence and crown an excellent season.

He was brilliant in the Clarence House at Ascot and he has won twice at the Festival previously.

Jockey Barry Geraghty will be full of confidence after his Champion Hurdle success and this horse is at the peak of his powers.

The Dublin Chase rather fell into Chacun Pour Soi's lap at Leopardstown last time and, while he is a very classy customer, he will need to step up again to win this. That's not to say he can't.

Dynamite Dollars shaped with plenty of encouragement on his return from a lay-off and is the pick of the remainder.

SELECTION: Defi Du Seuil

DANGER: Chacun Pour Soi

Race 5 – 4.10 Glenfarclas 'Cross Country' Chase

All eyes will be on the brilliant TIGER ROLL, who is chasing his fifth Festival victory and a hat-trick of wins in this contest.

He raced with plenty of enthusiasm when fifth on his return to action in the Boyne Hurdle last month and that will have blown away the cobwebs.

He will prove very hard to beat, but he faces a worth adversary in French raider Easysland, who has been snapped up by JP McManus since his last run.

The David Cottin-trained six-year-old won easily here in December and has since won at Pau. He commands the utmost respect.

Urgent De Gregaine has done his connections proud around this course over the years and should give another good account.

If Might Bite takes to this new discipline he could pose a massive threat. That is a big 'if' though.

SELECTION: Tiger Roll

DANGER: Easysland

Race 6 – 4.50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

TRONADOR makes plenty of appeal.

He represents the same connections (and has followed the same route to the Festival) as the 2018 winner Veneer Of Charm, and he caught the eye when a good third at Navan last time.

He looks very well-treated off 129, this stiff track will suit and he gets first-time blinkers.

Stablemate Aramax is an obvious threat for his powerful connections, and there is definitely mileage in his mark of 138.

Mick Pastor, who has undergone a wind op since winning at Ludlow, is another to consider closely, though he flopped on his only previous start here.

Galahad Quest and Night Edition fought out the finish to the Triumph trial here in January and have snuck under the radar. They make plenty of each-way appeal.

SELECTION: Tronador

EACH-WAY SHOUT: Galahad Quest

Race 7 – 5.30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

Word is that APPRECIATE IT is a good thing for the Willie Mullins team.

He was undeniably impressive when a wide-margin winner at Leopardstown during the Dublin Racing Festival and is likely going to take the world of beating.

But there is plenty of potential in this line-up, with Queens Brook and Israel Champ bringing rock-solid form claims to the table.

Ocean Wind fairly bolted up at Newbury on Betfair Hurdle day and he is also worth a close look.

SELECTION: Appreciate It

EACH-WAY SHOUT: Ocean Wind

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