Day two of the Festival and we send out 18 runners.

In the opener, the Turners Novice Hurdle, we send out 3 runners. BALLYFAD was just denied success in the Grade 1 Novice hurdle at DRF by Talk The Talk. He put in a gallant effort that day and should appreciate the step up in trip. He’s the pick of Jack Kennedy. RISKAWAY was a winner of his maiden hurdle over 2m4f on debut and looks to prefer better ground conditions. He’s not completely without a chance but others seem more favoured in this contest. Sam Ewing rides. SKYLIGHT HUSTLE was a Grade 1 winner last time out at Leopardstown over Christmas and has been kept fresh ready for today. There looks to be plenty of improvement in him and he should relish the step up in trip. Danny Gilligan will be in the saddle.

In the Brown Advisory Novice Chase we send out Romeo Coolio and Western Fold. Stepping up in trip to 3 miles for the first time, ROMEO COOLIO is one of our most anticipated runners of the week. A winner of 3 Grade 1’s already this season, he’ll wear a hood for the first time just to help him settle over the longer trip and looks to be a major player here with Jack Kennedy booked to ride. WESTERN FOLD has been on an upward trajectory all season. The Galway Plate winner will have no problem seeing out the trip and looks to have a good each way chance under Danny Gilligan who knows him well having partnered him for 4 consecutive wins.

We run two in the BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle. THE YELLOW CLAY carries top weight but is a previous Grade 1 winner and also finished second in the Turners at the festival last year behind The New Lion. One of the classier horses in the race, he sports first time cheekpieces and Michael Kenneally takes the ride and claims a useful 5lb. Another one with first time cheekpieces is FARREN GLORY. Third in both starts in Grade 3 contests this season after 11 months off the track, he’s in the form of his life and has come on plenty for those runs. He has a great chance of finishing in the placings under Jack Kennedy.

A race that we love to target every year is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and this year we have 4 chances running. FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU is an obvious market leader having won the Cross Country Chase here back in January off the back of a surprise win in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas. He is the pick of Jack Kennedy. CONFLATED has been running in point to points for the majority of the season and was third in the banks race at Punchestown last time out. One of the veterans in todays contest, he will be ridden by Danny Gilligan. PIED PIPER tries his hand at the cross country for the first time. His long term aim is the Aintree Grand National so he has done plenty of schooling over different obstacles. A horse who seem to thrive at Cheltenham, he has never finished out of the placings in his six starts at the course. Sam Ewing takes the ride. THE GOFFER was 4th in this last season and has finished runner up in two bank races at Punchestown this season. He wears fist time cheekpieces today and will be the mount of Josh Williamson.

FOUND A FIFTY is our sole runner in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase. Majborough looks hard to beat but our lad is capable of running a big race and picking up some prize money. Jack Kennedy rides.

In the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase we have 3 declared runners. TOUCH ME NOT sits at the top of the weights. He usually appreciates better ground conditions but ran a huge race to finish second in a Grade 3 chase in Naas last time out. James Smith has been booked to ride and claims a valuable 5lb off his back. RELIEVED OF DUTIES makes his handicap debut. Second over course and distance back in October, there will be plenty of improvement to come from him as he makes the move into handicap company and is the pick of Jack Kennedy. GOLDEN JOY was 1st reserve for the race but unfortunately doesn’t get a run.

Our final runners of the day are in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. BROADWAY TED was a surprise winner of a Grade 2 bumper at the DRF. He looks as though he is a dower stayer and would ideally prefer the ground to be on the softer side. Sean Bowen has been booked to ride and has previously won on him at Ayr. CHARISMATIC KID was third behind Broadway Ted in the Grade 2 bumper on his debut for us. A previous bumper winner in Navan, he raced a bit keenly in Leopardstown. Hopefully he’ll settle better today and will be the mount of Sam Ewing. KEEP HIM COMPANY comes into this contest unbeaten. He’s improved with each run and holds strong each way claims. He’s the pick of Jack Kennedy. WITH NOLIMIT is another who is capable of out running his odds. He was second last time out behind Broadway Ted and seems to be a progressive sort. Harry Swan takes the ride.