Cheltenham Festival: Day two confirmations

There were plenty of interesting stories coming out of the Day one Cheltenham Festival entries on Wednesday and Day two's confirmations were made on Thursday and Willie Mullins is in the headlines again, after yet another last-minute change of decision.

No one will be too surprised about the horses being scratched from the day's feature race, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but it's the Turners Novices' Hurdle where the biggest shock has occurred.

Let's take a look at some of the key stories.

Turners Novices' Hurdle

Mullins has taken the very promising Mighty Park out of the Turners and he's now going for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle instead. It's an interesting move, as his latest update was that the Turners was the most likely target.

Joseph O'Brien's Talk The Talk has shortened for the race as a result of Mullins' move, despite him saying the Supreme was the probable target, while long-term ante-post favourite No Drama This End remains in contention, as do Ballyfad and King Rasko Grey.

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase

Mullins dominates the head of this market with Grade 1 novice chase winners Final Demand and Kaid d’Authie. Interestingly, Gordon Elliott has left Romeo Coolio in, but Western Fold is the more likely participant from that yard.

Henry de Bromhead's The Big Westerner has kept her entry and the Jamie Snowden-trained Wendigo is still there. Oscars Brother is progressing nicely over fences this term and it's good to see that he remains in contention.

Handicaps

The BetMGM Cup is shaping up to be a thoroughly competitive affair once again and Mullins trains the favourite, 151-rated Storm Heart. He's unbeaten in two starts this season, but probably has his work cut out for him off that sort of mark.

Charles Byrnes' I Started A Joke is one to watch, while Dan Skelton has picked out Kateira as his next Langer Dan and there's plenty to like about her chances. Iberico Lord returned to winning ways last time out and Nicky Henderson has won this race plenty of times.

The Cross Country Chase is very popular with the public and it provides something a little bit different. Last year's winner Stumptown is set to line up, but he has been usurped at the head of the market by Favori De Champdou, whose trainer Elliott loves the race.

There haven't been any truly drastic changes to the handicaps at this stage, although the useful novice Mambonumberfive has been taken out of the Grand Annual. Ben Pauling has kept No Questions Asked, also a graded performer, in contention.

Skelton's Be Aware is the current market leader and last year's winner Jazzy Matty is also popular in the betting. Britain can come out on top in this race, if the market is anything to go by.

Champion Bumper

Ireland have won this race nine times in the last decade and the first four in the market are trained by Mullins or Elliott. Love Sign d'Aunou bolted up last time out and he is the current market leader, ahead of stablemate The Irish Avatar.

Keep Him Company has shown a lot of potential in two bumper starts so far and he's just ahead of four year-old Quiryn.

Chris Gordon's Bass Hunter is the most fancied British runner, while leading Flat jockey Colin Keane is set to ride The Mourne Rambler.