Ross Aylward takes a look at the key races on day two of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival.

Neptune Novices' Hurdle Tips

Rite Of Passage, a beaten favourite on his big day here last year (third to Dunguib in the Champion Bumper), heads the market for this year's Neptune Novices' Hurdle (2.05) over 2m5f.

The Favourite
Last year's Bumper form is looking even better now and Rite Of Passage has since made a seamless transition to hurdling with two impressive victories at Leopardstown and Punchestown. The latter track would have been too tight for him but he still won on the bridle from a decent horse in Healys Bar. In between, he won a big handicap on the flat and his trainer Dermot Weld is planing another flat campaign this year - don't be surprised to see him turn up in the Melbourne Cup, a race Weld has won twice already. Granted, the trainer hasn't had much success at the festival - Rare Holiday was his last winner 20 years ago - but he does well with his limited jumping recruits and rates this horse very highly. He goes in the soft but good ground wouldn't be a problem at all as it will bring his flat speed into play. A worthy favourite at 7/2 (William Hill).

The Dangers
Quel Esprit, fourth in last season's bumper, has been well-backed for this recently (now a best-priced 9/2 with Paddy Power) and it's no secret that his trainer Willie Mullins fancies him strongly, and he should know what it takes to win the race as he's won the last two renewals with Fiveforthree and Mikael D'Haguenet, who was backed off the boards last year down to 5/2. He certainly looked the part when winning in the mud at Cork and Punchestown, so it was disappointing to see him beaten on his next start when dropping back to 2m4f at Leopardstown (at odds of 30-100). His backers will have to forgive him that run and will point to the stronger pace at Cheltenham being in his favour.

The home challenge is headed by Nicky Henderson's Finian's Rainbow (7/1 Ladbrokes), an easy winner at Ascot on his latest start. That wasn't much of a race, though, and he is better judged on his third to Reve De Sivola (12/1 general) in the Challow Hurdle at the end of December. Connections of Peddlers Cross (8/1 general) were originally going to run in the Supreme over 2m but have decided to swerve Dunguib and try him at this longer trip. If he stays, he has a big chance but the speed and exuberance he showed when winning the Rossington Main Hurdle raises doubts about him getting home.

Jessica Harrington's Summit Meeting is an interesting runner as she rarely brings one over unless she thinks it has a real chance. Superbly bred and an easy winner last time, despite being in need of the run, he falls into the 'could be anything' category and it's no surprise he has been well-backed into 16/1 (Stan James).

Longshot
This has been a good race for fancied horses with seven of the last 10 winners coming from the first four in the betting, and it's hard to see past those already mentioned for the winner. That said, last season's Bumper runner-up Some Present could run well a a price (40/1 Totesport). He has been running well on deep winter ground in Ireland and will appreciate the drying conditions.

Key Stat
The last 10 winners were aged either five or six so the seven-year-old Finian's Rainbow will have to buck a strong trend.

Verdict
I'm a paid up member of the RITE OF PASAGE fan club and have already backed him at 11/2. I was feeling supremely confident until all the money came for Quel Esprit in the last week and even considered a saver on the Mullins horse. However, news that the Old Course (used on the first two days) won't be watered again before the meeting makes me think the ground will be genuinely good by the Wednesday and that has to suit ROP horse more. Quel Esprit's forte is his stamina and he was being considered for the Albert Bartlett over 3m, a trip he has already won over. Over 2m5f, he might just be tapped for toe and if ROP drifts to 4/1, I will be going in again. I suggest you join  me.


RSA Chase Tips

The clash between the Nicky Henderson-trained pair Long Run and Punchestowns in the RSA Chase (2.40) promises to be one of the highlights of the meeting.

The Favourite
The pair have flip-flopped in the market recently after Punchestowns was found to be lame (sound now) and Long Run, so impressive in two his British starts, is now almost certain to be sent off as favourite, with 2/1 the best on offer with Coral. This exciting French recruit gained plenty of admirers, me included, when winning the Feltham over 3m at Kempton's Christmas meeting and again at Warwick on his next start, where he showed plenty of speed over a sharp 2m to win going away by 12 lengths. If in the same sort of form, he's going to be tough to beat providing he jumps well, which is the worry. He was very low over some of his fences at Kempton and took a while to warm to his task at Warwick, and the fact his jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, while a top amateur, lacks experience against the best, will have his backers scurrying behind the sofa as he approaches the downhill fences.

The Dangers
His stablemate Punchestowns (3/1 Betfred) of course as he would be favourite but for that injury scare. He was by far the best hurdler in the field  - second to Big Buck's in the World Hurdle - and hasn't done much wrong in two chase starts, winning as he liked on his debut at Newbury and then surviving an early mistake when scoring at Sandown in February. He won't get away with a similar error - which came at one of Sandown's downhill fences - at Cheltenham, but he's undoubtedly a high class horse.

For many punters, this is a two-horse race, but they would be foolish to discount Diamond Harry (6/1 general), the next best of these over hurdles and two from two over fences, and last year's Albert Bartlett winner Weapon's Amnesty (8/1 Paddy Power), although both have had their own jumping issues.

The third Henderson runner Burton Port (14/1 Betfred) wasn't nearly as good as some of these over hurdles but he promises to be a better chaser and gained his fourth win in four starts when beating the useful yardstick Knockara Beau at Ascot last time. Citizen Vic (12/1 bet365) is an interesting runner as his trainer Willie Mullins has a good record in the race - provided last year's winner Cooldine, who won the same race as Citizen Vic, the Dr PJ Moriarty, prior to winning at Cheltenham.

Longshot
If Knockara Beau (20/1 Sportingbet) can jump better than he did at Ascot last time, he has a shout and the switch to racing left-handed should help in that respect. Prior to that, he'd chased home Weird Al at Wetherby and that horse was amongst the market leaders for this race before suffering a leg injury.

Verdict
I'm a huge fan of Long Run but I can't possibly back him at 2/1. He could make mincemeat of these but his jumping, after just two British starts, might need some more fine-tuning. His stablemate Punchestowns would have been the selection but for his recent setback which, although minor, has to be regarded as impinging on his chances. For me, it's not a race to get heavily involved in - the spectacle will provide enough of a buzz - although I still harbour strong hopes for my ante post pick WEAPON'S AMNESTY. He has to improve on what he's shown so far over fences but I think he's been crying out for 3m on good ground, which he should get here. At 8/1 with Paddy Power, he's still a very backable price.

Coral Cup Tips

The Coral Cup over 2m5f is always competitive and this year's renewal is no exception with bookmakers going 6/1 the field.

The Favourite
Only one favourite (Xenophon 2003) and one joint-favourite have obliged in the race's 16-history, which is a measure of the task facing Quantitativeeasing, who has been backed into favouritism (6/1 Ladbrokes) after being switched from the Neptune Novices' over the same trip. A winner of his only bumper start, the five-year-old bolted up on his hurdling debut at Newcastle in November and was equally impressive when defying a penalty in a Newbury novice the following month. Upped to this trip at Kempton last month, he was surprisingly turned over at odds-on but can be forgiven that defeat as the race was run at a crawl and the faster pace at Cheltenham will suit.

The Dangers
Willie Mullins' Deutschland has been the subject of plenty of recent support and is into 8/1 with Blue Square. Considered good enough to run in the Ebor and Doncaster Cup last flat season, he's no slouch over hurdles either and his third at Punchestown last month would have put him spot on for this.

Lake Legend (14/1 Sportingbet) and Sir Harry Ormesher (14/1 Paddy Power) are attempting to follow up notable handicap wins over this sort of trip, while the novice Wishfull Thinking (16/1 Ladbrokes) couldn't have been more impressive when defying a double penalty with ease to beat some good rivals at Exeter on his most recent start. Like the favourite, he has been rerouted from the Neptune Novices'.

Spirit River (14/1 Ladbrokes) was a good winner here over 2m1f in December and was possibly unlucky not to be involved in the finish of the Totesport Trophy at Newbury last month as he was travelling as well as anything when making a hash of the third form home. He's stepping up in trip here but his trainer Nicky Henderson, who runs four including the jolly Quantitativeeasing, is convinced it will suit.

On Raglan Road (16/1 William Hill), Dubnguib's erstwhile conqueror, and David Pipe's Mamlook (20/1 Stan James), a fine fourth in the Totesport Trophy, are others to consider in a wide-open race.

Longshot
Michael Flips (25/1 bet365) was a good winner at Kempton in January over this sort of trip and can be excused a poor run just one week later. First-time cheekpieces could eke out some more improvement.

Key Stat
Ten of the last 16 winners in the race's history were returned at SPs under 12/1.

Verdict
While there have been some shock winners, most have been prominent in the betting and, while I'm loathe to tip a favourite in a race of this nature, I do think QUANTATIVEEASING at around 13/2 on Betfair has plenty going for him. The handicapper must have found him difficult to assess after just three runs over hurdles and he looks teasingly well-treated off a mark of 139, which translates to a racing weight of 11st. His stablemate Spirit River looks the biggest danger.

Champion Chase Tips

Master Minded towers over his Champion Chase (3.20) rivals as he bids to become the first chaser to complete a hat-trick in the two-mile championship since Badsworth Boy 25 years ago.

The Favourite
Brilliant when winning here in 2008 and a clear best (won by seven lengths) when retaining his crown last year, Master Minded lines up here at his longest price for two years, although he's still odds-on - 10/11 best with Totesport. That's because his crown is not resting so easily on is head this time round after an injury restricted campaign - a fractured rib required rest until the Game Spirit in February and even his most ardent admirers would admit his air of invincibility has gone. However, he looked in far better shape in his warm-up in the Game Spirit, surviving a near calamitous error at the last to win impressively, and while some his rivals could have won have won that as well, he must take all the beating with a clear round.

The Dangers
The biggest danger has to be Kalahari King (9/2 across the board), whose CV reads an impressive five wins from eight runs over fences (runner-up in the other three), which includes an excellent reappearance win off top weight when his trainer Ferdy Murphy reckoned he was only 80 per cent fit. Last season, he confirmed himself one of the best novices around when just losing out by a short head to Forpadydeplasterer in the Arkle and then coasting to an eight-length win in his next race at Aintree. Has a bit to find with Master Minded on the ratings (12lb inferior) but one suspects the gap is closing.

Twist Magic is currently rated second best in the 2m division after two runaway front-running wins (going right-handed) and his trainer Paul Nicholls reports him a reformed character this season and not that far behind his stablemate Master Minded. So why can we back him at 7/1 (general)? Well, based on his previous runs at the festival (two falls and a submission from three attempts), he should be 100/1 and it remains to be seen whether he can get it right where it really matters.

Big Zeb (9/1 Ladbrokes) might have beaten Master Minded at Punchestown last April had he not clouted the last and won his warm-up for this impressively enough. However, jumping is his Achilles Heel and contributed to his downfall in this race 12 months ago. Forpadydeplasterer (9/1 bet365) looks a far safer conveyance of our money as he never seems to run a bad race - chase form of '12221222'. However, he hasn't won this season and his recent setback wouldn't have done him any favours.

Long shot
It's hard to see him winning but the veteran Well Chief (33/1 Ladbrokes) loves it round here (2004 Arkle winner and three-time festival runner-up) and could run into a place if one or more of the better fancied runners disappoint.

Key Stat
Three of the last favourites failed to complete the course, but the five who did get round collected four wins and a second.

Verdict
If you believe Master Minded is back to his brilliant best, then he's a certainty. He's a bigger price than both of the other Nicholls hotpot, Auto Star and Big Buck's, yet has fewer obstacles to negotiate and is a straightforward ride. Lump on at 10/11 if you must but I pinned my colours to the mast of KALAHARI KING back in January (on at 10/1 ante post) and I'm not going to desert him now. Only a top class chaser could have won the way he did last time at Doncaster and the air of confidence emanating from his trainer, who knows how to get one ready for the festival (eight winners), is enough to convince me. If you're not already on, then 9/2 is still fair (5/1 on Betfair), although he's worth a look in the in-running market as he will sit well off the pace before being produced between the last two.