Group Captain to spoil Paddy party

DAY TWO
The opening race of Day 2 is the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle (2pm) and, like so many other races at the Festival, it looks wide open.
The betting is led by the unbeaten Aigle D’Or from the Nicky Henderson yard at around 9/2 – he’s won his first two races pulling a cart and will doubtless be thereabouts, but I like the look of two other horses in the race.
Forpaddydeplasterer is trained by Thomas Cooper who could have a big Cheltenham – remember he has River Lane running in the Fred Winter Hurdle on the opening day.
This horse has had four starts and won three. His last start saw him win the Deloitte Hurdle at the expense of Cork All-Star. He is owned by a group of flamboyant Sunderland supporters, the Goat Racing Syndicate, who will light the place up if he wins.
I think if anybody is going to spoil the party then it could be the Alan King-trained Group Captain (11/2) who has won all three races over hurdles – the trainer thinks this is his banker bet of the Festival.
The former smart flat horse didn’t set the racing world alight in his first two jaunts over hurdles but in his last win at Exeter he looked a real star in the making, winning a listed hurdle event.
The Royal & Sun Alliance Chase is always tricky to work out and we have narrowed it down to just two.
We think Albertas Run (6/1) will take all the beating, his only defeat was at Aintree behind Tidal Bay. He has won well at Cheltenham and at Ascot and looks a worthy wager on Wednesday. The danger in the race could come from the Irish-trained French import Pomme Tiepy (12/1). She has done nothing wrong, winning four from four over here.
Leg Spinner (5/1) leads the markets for the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle, but we like the look of Ringaroses who gets a 7/1 pricing. Our outside bet is the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Peacock at 25/1.
On to the big amateur race, the Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, and Beat the Boys looks like the four miles will be right up his street; the 20/1 on offer looks too good to turn down.
The finale on Day 2 is the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and as usual the Irish have a strong hand this year.
I think Colm Murphy holds the aces with the unbeaten Zaarito the 7/2 jolly.
He is unbeaten in three races and he is one of my naps of the Festival.

Master Minded the one to beat in Chase
....but watch out for Fair Along from the back-to-form Hobbs yard
On to Wednesday and the big race of the day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase – another puzzling race to work out.
Master Minded is the favourite at the moment at around 11/4, but that could change come 3.15 next Wednesday.
Stablemate Twist Magic (3/1) and last year’s winner Voy Por Ustedes (7/2) are fighting it out for favouritism and it’s a hard call to make to see who goes off the jolly.
Master Minded easily disposed of Voy Por Ustedes in the Game Spirit Chase and his odds plummeted for the Champion Chase from 20/1 in to 3/1. But he is prone to the odd error and fell on his debut at Exeter. Word is he is flying at home. Ruby Walsh has picked him ahead of Twist Magic so that could be a tip within itself.
It looks a thrilling race but if the front three in the betting cut off each other’s noses then two outsiders might just run into a place.
The Irish-trained Nickname was pulled out of last year’s race on the day because the conditions didn’t suit him. Any sign of rain next week then back this mudlark who is 25/1 at the minute. If the heavens open, just watch that price tumble.
He jumps for fun and if he takes his place in the field expect a big run.
The Peter Hobbs yard have had a quiet season by their usual high standards but in recent days things have been picking up with a few winners on the board.
They have Fair Along entered and if they revert back to front-running tactics, this one might have a few of the big ones in trouble.
He was last seen finishing fourth to Kauto Star at Ascot after trying to force the pace there – the drop back to just two miles will be right up his street.
He is as big as 16/1 and that could be the value bet of what looks a muddling race.
They Bet: Master Minded 11/4, Twist Magic 3/1, Voy Por Ustedes 7/2, Tamarinbleu 15/2, Fair Along 16/1, My Way de Solzen 20/1, Mansony 25/1, Newmill 25/1, Nickname 25/1, Don’t Push It 33/1, Andreas 50/1, Another Promise 50/1, Justified 66/1, Schindlers Hunt 66/1.