Surprise results were in short supply on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, with the odds-on-favourite State Man coming out on top in the Champion Hurdle headliner.
Jockey Paul Townend delivered three victories in the first five races, with Willie Mullins no doubt delighted with that success and expectations rising ahead of Wednesday's action.
Mullins will hope that El Fabiolo can deliver for the stable and Townend in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, but there are a whole host of stories to be written throughout the afternoon.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at some of the picks that punters should potentially consider on day two.
Gallaghers' Novice Hurdle (13:30)
Wednesday's action kicks off with Ballyburn taking centre stage in the Gallaghers' Novice Hurdle - the Willie Mullins horse tipped to live up to his potential as one of the future star performers of this festival.
The six-year-old has demolished the field in his last two outings at Leopardstown and while the level of opposition is a class higher here, Ballyburn should live up to the 2/5 betting odds.
Ile Atlantique could emerge as his nearest challenger, despite second place becoming a common trend on his recent outings, but the undefeated - and more inexperienced - Handstands could offer value at around 12/1 having won on his four starts.
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase(14:10)
An odds-on favourite will start the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase with Fact To File looking to hand Mullins another winner at the start of day two.
Since finishing second in the Champion Bumper 12 months ago, victories have been posted at Leopardstown either side of the turn of the year, albeit in limited company.
Stay Away Fay should be the nearest challenger, whose stamina is known around here having won last year's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but was a disappointing third at this course as recently as January when going off as a 3/1 favourite, similar odds to this race.
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (14:50)
This race has proven to be a lottery over the years with only three winners being 9/1 or shorter since 2009. Langer Dan - the winner from 12 months ago - is sure to be popular, but punters can get more value than the 7/1 or so that is on offer.
Lucky Place gets the nod with us. The Nicky Henderson horse is yet to finish outside of the top two in five starts and was only beaten by half a length by the odds-on favourite Gidleigh Park around here in January.
The 14/1 on offer may not last long, as was the case with Jigoro who is dropping in price by the hour. Consistency has been the key since November with four top-threes recorded during that time and it would be a surprise not to see the French five-year-old not featuring prominently during the latter stages.
Queen Mother Champions Chase (15:30)
All eyes are on El Fabiolo in this race having won each of his six outings and prevailed by eight-and-a-half lengths in the most recent run at Leopardstown.
Looking for value further down the card is your best bet here, and although Jonbon brings natural appeal, Edwardstone is showing signs of getting back to top form.
Although only fifth to two-time winner of this race Energumene last year, 7/1 is a fair price to take a chance at each-way, particularly when he will look to remain in mid-field and pip El Fabiolo during the run to the finish.
Glenfarclas Chase (16:10)
This has the makings of being one of the most competitive races of the entire festival as Minella Indo, Delta Work and Coko Beach divide opinion among punters.
Delta Work has won on the last two occasions, yet is now 11 years of age, as is Minella Indo who will likely go off as favourite, partly through finishing second in the Gold Cup as recently as two years ago.
Nevertheless, Coko Beach is two years younger and impressively delivered victory in soft to heavy conditions at Punchestown last month. The one downside is a lack of experience at this course, four years passing since the last appearance.
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (16:50)
Another wide-open Grand Annual Challenge Cup is expected on Wednesday, with the last two winners coming in at 28/1 and 22/1.
You can make a case for a wide range of runners, but we are going with Solness down at 14/1, who can only benefit from the third that was posted at Leopardstown behind Madara after a 63-day break.
Dancing On My Own ridden by Rachael Blackmore will also command plenty of respect having won at this course as recently as October.
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (17:30)
Willie Mullins's three-year winning streak in this race came to an end last year as A Dream To Share edged out Fact To File by just one-and-a-half lengths.
However, Jasmin De Vaux looks primed and ready to get him back into the winners' circle in this year's edition having dominated on his reappearance at Naas early in 2023.
Gordon Elliott's Jalon D'Oudairies should emerge as the other main contender having stayed on well during his last outing at Leopardstown at the end of December, and a battle between two unbeaten horses could ensue here.
Darren Plant
