Cheltenham Day 2 Preview - 15th march

Day two will hopefully kick-off with the much-anticipated clash between Denman and Black Jack Ketchum in the R&SA Novices' Hurdle at 2pm. Jonjo O'Neill will decide with connections at a late stage as to where Black Jack Ketchum will take his festival chance. Denman is likely to be a very warm order for the race after being unbeaten in 4 starts over timber. All eyes will be on this race for future festival stars. The R&SA Novices' Chase at 2.35pm has had a selection of big priced winners in the last few years, and you have to go back to 1998 to find a winning favourite. Three horses vying for favouritism at this stage are the Willie Mullins trained Our Ben who has been aimed at this race for some time, tough stayer Darkness and the Martin Pipe trained Commercial Flyer. Quality not quantity will be the order of the day in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 3.15pm, with the smallest field over the 4 days. Moscow Flyer will be trying to bounce back after a disappointing campaign. Young pretender Kauto Star carries Paul Nicholls hopes along with the tag of favouritism. Since 1985 this race has gone to the first or second favourite 14 times, and no winner has been priced bigger than 7/2 since 1997. All eyes will be on Willie Mullins' entries in the Champion Bumper at 5.20pm, having won the race 5 times in the last 10 years. An added interest for punters is the occasional appearance of jockeys more accustomed to plying their trade in the Flat racing sphere, Jamie Spencer, having won on Pizarro in 2002, is earmarked for the ride on well backed Dancing Hero Other Races On Day Two:4.00pm - Handicap Hurdle.4.40pm - Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.