Mullins set for more success on day two

Willie Mullins enjoyed a teriffic opening day at Cheltenham and with another strong team of contenders he looks the man to follow again on Wednesday.

The champion trainer has horses either trading as favourite or disputing for favourtism in the first three races on day two.

Gary Carson takes a look at the fields for Wednesday's action and fancies that Mullins can add a few more winners to his tally.

John Oaksey National Hunt Chase

BACK IN FOCUS looks a class act here and with stamina his forte this four-mile trip should hold no fears. He pulled things out of the fire when taking a Grade 1 event at Leopardstown over Christmas and there are not many of the others here that you could say were genuine top level performers. The prospect of soft ground looks another plus as his only below par effort came on a quick surface at Aintree. Tofino Bay was well held in fourth behind the selection at Christmas and although he went on to reverse form with the second Aupcharlie that is maybe more to do with that rival's stamina limitations. The pick of the home team looks to be the progressive Buddy Bolero but although he was impressive last time, beating See U Bob doesn't look the most exciting form as he's not the force of old. Jamie Codd rides Buddy Bolero and his big rival Derek O'Connor has been booked for Rival D'estruval for months. He was impressive when stepped up in trip at Kelso back in December but hasn't run since. The horse that beat him at Carlisle previously, Bold Sir Brian, franked the form subsequently before going off the boil.

Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle

PONT ALEXANDRE looks a real star in the making and it would be impossible not to have been enamoured with his two wins since joining Willie Mullins. It said something of the regard he was held in that he was pitched straight into Grade 1 company and he destroyed a classy field at Navan. He again made decent horses, like Sizing Gold, look very slow at Leopardstown and it's hard to see a chink in his armour. The trip and ground will suit and he looks open to even more improvement on just his third hurdlings outing. Rule The World was very impressive when winning at Naas, when beating Minsk, but with Champagne Fever not giving his running then the form can be questioned. Mouse Morris thinks highly of his charge and he is improving but on overall form he looks to have plenty to find with the selection. My Tent Or Yours ran a cracker in the Supreme Novices and Taquin Du Seuil will prove popular having chased him home at Ascot back in November. The winner has probably improve since then but so has Jonjo O'Neill's charge, who has posted a couple of good wins since, including taking the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury.

RSA Chase

Boston Bob hasn't been overly impressive over fences this season and although a stiffer test of stamina here should help it's hard to get carried away with his chances. Lord Windermere was only just half a length behind him in the PJ Moriarty and although a decent enough sort he looks short of top class. Lyreen Legend, who was fourth at Leopardstown, also looks pretty exposed and would be a surprise winner. Goulanes just got home when backed to make a winning debut over fences at Wetherby last month. This is a big step up and he looks inexperienced. Unioniste appears the best of the English although he just scraped home from Hadrian's Approach last time and it would be hard to get carried away with his form as he was well put in his place behind Dynaste here last November. A chance is taken with Boston Bob's stable-mate TERMINAL who really impressed with the way he did things at Navan last time and looks unexposed and progressive. He beat a decent sort in Tofino Bay in good style then and was going away at the end. He wasn't any world beater over hurdles but looks a better prospect over fences and the step up in trip last time really brought about improvement. With stamina so often the key here he looks overpriced at around 25/1.

Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase

It's hard to look past SPRINTER SACRE although he may have to work a bit harder here as Sizing Europe is better than the opposition that he has been facing in England this season. Nicky Henderson's star could do no more than destroy what has been put in front of him and the likes of Sanctuaire, Somersby, and Wishful Thinking don't look to have any chance with him on all known form. Mail de Bievre showed promise in the Denman Chase at Newbury and will probably appreciate this drop in trip. But his best form in France was three years ago now and it looks a big gamble supplementing him for this while Tataniano has no place in this field. The only serious opposition to Sprinter Sacre is the 2011 winner who continues to hold his form well. He was an unlucky loser in this last year and although the winner Finian's Rainbow hasn't done much for the form this term it would be harsh to judge Sizing Europe on his efforts. Henry de Bromhead's charge was all out to beat Rubi Light over Christmas but that was on very testing ground and even if they are calling the ground slow here it is seriously better than what he has been racing on in Ireland during the winter. He probably isn't getting any better at eleven but still seems to be as good as ever and could just make the favourite work. Sprinter Sacre looks exceptional, though, and it would be a major surprise if he was beaten.

Coral Cup

Always a tricky race to try and work out and FIVEFORTHREE may prove an each-way bet despite the fact that he returns from a long break. He looks well treated on the best of his form from a few seasons ago and Willie Mullins wouldn't be running him here if he didn't feel that he was capable of a bold show. Fitness shouldn't be an issue coming from these quarters. Ruby Walsh takes the mount on stablemate Abbey Lane and he also looks a leading contender after running out a good winner of the competitive Boylesports Hurdle at Leopardstown in January. Bondage landed a good prize over course and distance last October but may just have enough weight now while Master Of The Sea has been a big improver but this looks a much tougher assignment. Cash And Go steps up in trip here but looked as if a bit further would be a plus last time.

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

Ruby Walsh should have a good handle on the form here and it looks significant that he takes the mount on SAPHIR DU RHEU. Paul Nicholls charge was turned over at a short-price first time but left that behind when scoring at Taunton in January and he looks on a nice racing weight here. Walsh has rode both of Willie Mullins' runners. Blood Cotil carries top-weight and although he disappointed slightly behind Our Conor at Leopardstown you have to take that form in context as the winner is favourite for the Triumph Hurdle. He is maybe better than that effort judged on his first two wins and could produce a bold bid under top-weight. He is preferred to Ruacana, who stayed on to finish in front of him at Leopardstown. Fatcatinthehat can be a bit free and the hustle and bustle here may not suit him. French import Kalmann is a bit of an unknown quantity and it's interesting that Paul Townend gets the leg up on him. One would assume he's on the Mullins runner adjudged to have the best chance and any market moves would be interesting.

Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Another fascinating renewal of the race and as ever it's hard to be confident about the relative merits of some of the form and the impression that horses made are maybe more relevent. LE VENT D'ANTAN really caught the eye with the manor of his victory at Leopardstown and gave the impression then that he's open to plenty of improvement. The trainer was glowing in her assessment of the gelding afterwards and she knows talent when she sees it having had the likes of Cheltenian and Al Ferof through her hands. Willie Mullins has a strong team as usual and the pick may be Union Dues. Patrick Mullins is a good judge and he hasn't hide his admiration for the dual winner, who was impressive with the style of victory at Navan back in December. Golantilla was a big money purchase after his Cork bumper win and although that probably wasn't the strongest contest he looks a classy prospect. Shield is an interesting runner for Aidan O'Brien but needs to step up on what he has shown to be a major contender.