Oh it was good on day one wasn't it? Time for day two selections now, are you ready? Let's begin then!
1:30pm Ballymore Novices' Hurdle 2m 5f 10 runners
Hermes Allen for me here is the one to beat. He's been really impressive so far, making it three from three with that routine success in the Challow last time out.
There's no negatives to him what so ever, he'll go on any ground by the looks of things, and the pace of the race doesn't have to be run to suit, because he did well at Newbury to win with such a ferocious pace being set out in front.
I'll take him at 10/3, but Impaire Et Passe is the short priced favourite for a reason as well, so it'll be interesting to see these two kick off the day.
Last year's handicapping certainty which ended up getting beat, Gaelic Warrior has been jumping right on some of his recent outings and that's a cause for concern in a hotter race, but he's dangerous like he was this time last year.
American Mike hasn't been great over hurdles this season, and at 40/1 he seems too big of a price to get involved, and something special would need to happen for him to get close I think.
So its Hermes Allen to start the day, and Impaire Et Passe to follow him home.
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase 3m 11 runners
Now it is very early on day two, but is Gerri Colombe everyone's banker?
Colombe means dove in French, or so translate says, and this horse is now seven from seven under rules, and he really does look unstoppable, you could say he's in flying form.
At 7/4, he's very backable, and hopefully he'll soar to success.
His main danger seems to come from The Real Whacker because I think Sir Gerhard has a few questions to answer still as of yet so isn't worth a chance.
The Real Whacker has ran here at Cheltenham on all three starts this campaign, finishing 11th out of 15 back in October over hurdles, but has been a revelation since taking to the bigger obstacles.
He made it two from two in the grade two dipper with a good performance from the front, and kept finding, and even more importantly got up the hill.
For me though it's Gerri Colombe, who also got up the Sandown hill, and I think he'll just edge this one.
A quick mention for a horse who'll want it as soft as possible but I'm not quite sure if she will make it up the hill, but Galia Des Liteaux brushed aside a poor run at Kempton to land a valuable race at Warwick last time out, and if she arrives here in similar form, that seven pounds she recieves from her male counterparts could make her one to watch out for.
Thyme Hill is another who won well last time, but it remains to be seen whether he will jump like that again.
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 28 runners
I said on day one that I liked one of the handicaps, this one not so much.
The Langer Dan fan club is screaming at me that this will finally be his year at Cheltenham, and you know what, you would be daft to write him off.
His form isn't anything special this season, it wasn't last term when he won at Aintree, or the year before that, or even when he won the Imperial Cup at Sandown in 2021.
To think he's had no luck here at all after he bumped into Galopin Des Champs in the Martin Pipe in 2021, then got brought down last year when favourite, could suggest it just isn't meant to be for him, but I'm not going to give up now.
Handicapped at four pounds higher now, there's no chances being taken, but he always runs well at this time of year, it's just a fact.
10/1 gets me involved anyways, and if Good Risk At All jumps better, he will run a big race at 16/1 to get involved in the places.
3:30pm Queen Mother Champion Chase 2m 7 runners
Small turnout, full of questions to be answered though, can Edwardstone and Energumene reverse the form around with Editeur De Gite?
A tricky one I know, but I feel as though Energumene travelled well for a long way in that race before those late mistakes.
If they were down to the colour of the boards on the fence then he'll know better this time, and he just might be too good if back to his best.
Take nothing away from Edwardstone though, he's so talented and classy, and deserves to win this so badly because he is just so likeable.
It's the same with Editeur De Gite, and he proved that his win at Kempton wasn't a fluke when he won that race last time, and that for me is what makes it so interesting.
He has nothing to lose still because everyone thinks the other two will bounce back, but will they?
I'll go Energumene here at 7/4, but, I think Edwardstone is the real danger.
4:10pm Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 16 runners
Delta Work completed the ultimate sin last year when he beat Tiger Roll in this to send him into retirement on a second placed finish.
He's rightfully favourite for it again this year, but I'm going to go with Galvin at 9/4, who will relish these fences I think, and stays all day long.
Snow Leopardess has all my heart at 25/1, and I hope she runs like she did last time because out of all horses running on day two, including Langer Dan, I want her to run well the most.
4:50pm Grand Annual Handicap Chase 1m 7f 22 runners
Time to get to another handicap, this time over fences.
I don't think it's Final Orders just yet, and this horse is rolling at the minute, winning five in a row.
A fiercly competitive handicap at Cheltenham though is always going to be the biggest test to that record, but at 6/1 and clearly being in form, that's my main pick for this.
Before Midnight is dangerous at 20/1, and always runs well and should be on the premises once more here.
5:30pm Champion Bumper 2m 24 runners
The bumper to finish the second day off, I always keep this simple each year, so I'm not changing now.
Fact to File will have a track to suit him more on this occasion, and at 13/2 he can reverse that form with A Dream to Share.
Queens Gamble at 20/1 is my each way pick as well here, ran well in defeat last time, and this race has always been the plan all year long.
A reminder of my selections for day two:
1:30pm - Hermes Allen 10/3
2:10pm - Gerri Colombe 7/4, Galia Des Liteaux 7/1
2:50pm - Langer Dan 10/1, Good Risk At All 16/1
3:30pm - Energumene 7/4
4:10pm - Galvin 9/4, Snow Leopardess 25/1
4:50pm - Final Orders 6/1, Before Midnight 20/1
5:30pm - Fact to File 13/2, Queens Gamble 20/1
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