Cheltenham Festival day 2 tips: Robbie Power has strong each-way fancies for Wednesday

Ballyburn looks a complete racehorse on what he has done so far and he is strongly fancied to land the Gallagher's Novice Hurdle, which is today's opening race.

He stays really well, he jumps really well and it's very hard to pick holes in him. He will be very hard to beat and should get day two off to a winning start for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

We always look for a novice to get behind for the week and Ballyburn looks like the Irish banker of the meeting.

READ MORE: Willie Mullins and Paul Townend the toast of Cheltenham as treble stings bookies

Team Mullins could be looking to land a double on the day in the second race, the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, with Fact To File.

He was very impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival, he steps up a bit in trip here again after going the same route as Florida Pearl after going straight from bumpers to chasing.

He jumps, he travels, there probably are question marks about the trip for him, but I think he'll get it.

Mark Walsh will look to switch him off early on, he was a bit keen at the Dublin Racing Festival so getting him switched off will be the most important thing early in the race and he will be hard to beat.

But if there is a stamina doubt, Monty's Star will be there to pick up the pieces under Rachael Blackmore. He's a very nice horse, he's a solid jumper, a very strong stayer and the more of a stamina test this turns into, the more it will suit him.

However, if there is a Gold Cup horse lurking among these, Fact To File is probably the one.

In the Coral Cup, Sa Majeste could be very hard to beat for the same connections, the form of the Limerick race he won when beating Noble Yeats is very strong. He could potentially be very well handicapped, but I do have a strong each-way fancy in the race for Ballyadam.

He has been fifth in the last two County Hurdles when shouldering plenty of weight and stepping up in trip this year will definitely suit him and I fancy him to be in the shakeup.

Captain Guinness was second in the Champion Chase last year to Energumene, it was a disappointing run at Leopardstown at Christmas when he went off favourite, but there were genuine excuses for that happening.

He ran a nice race at the Dublin Racing Festival, he'll improve from that run and I give him a big each-way chance in the race.

Of all the short-priced favourites this week, I'll put my neck on the line and say El Fabiolo is probably the one that I would oppose the most. It's a very strong race with Edwardstone and the change of tactics with him, and if El Fabiolo makes one or two mistakes, it could be a very difficult race for him.

He probably is the best horse in the race, but I wouldn't be rushing to back him at that price.

The Cross Country might not be on today, with an inspection to take place this morning, but if it does go ahead, Minella Indo can continue his impressive Cheltenham form by winning for a third time at the meeting.

Liberty Hunter is very interesting in the Grand Annual, with Harry Cobden booked to ride, and I give him a huge chance in the race. Maskada is one of three in this for Henry de Bromhead after winning it last year and she definitely has an each-way chance.

The fact Willie Mullins is running so many in the bumper suggests that he might not have a star amongst them and Teeshan might just be the one in this race for Paul Nicholls.

Bet of the day - Liberty Hunter - Grand Annual 4.50

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