Cheltenham Festival, second day: Champion Chase

High point of another brilliant card from Cheltenham is the Queen Mother Champion Chase over 2 miles at 16.20 CET. All roads lead here to Master Minded (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), who will be attempting to win this event for the third year running, a feat only once before achieved. On all known form he should manage this without too many problems, even though he has given his supporters some shocks this season - firstly when losing here last autumn (it was later discovered that he had cracked a rib, so he is excused) and then when taking a terrible mistake at the last when winning last time at Newbury. He cannot afford such mistakes at this unforgiving track, but he is clearly the best horse in the field and it will be a major surprise is something goes wrong this time.

There are two German-breds in the field, Twist Magic (Nicholls/ Robert Thornton) and Well Chief (David Pipe/ Timmy Murphy). Twist Magic has the (FR) suffix, but he has a totally German pedigree and has been in great form this season, winning Grade One events easily at Sandown and Ascot, making all on each occasion. The problem with him is that he seems to favour right-handed tracks and has never shone at Cheltenham. He is at much shorter odds than Well Chief, but we much prefer the latter, who always runs well here and has been runner-up twice in this event. He is now approaching the veteran stage, but the drying ground will be in his favour and he looks an interesting place bet at the likely price.

Others to consider are the Irish hopes Big Zeb (Colm Murphy/ Barry Geraghty) and Forpadytheplasterer (Tom Cooper/ Tony McCoy); the former has disappointed on his British runs so far, but we still expect him to go well, while the latter won the "Arkle" over this CD last year from Kalahari King /Ferdy Murphy/ Graham Lee), who won in great style last time at Doncaster and on that form looks the main threat to the favourite. Our suggested bet here is a tricast with Master Minded to win and Well Chief to finish second or third.