Who To Follow On Day Two Of The 2023 Cheltenham Festival

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Cheltenham - March 15 2023
Cheltenham 13:30
7
Paul Townend

Impaire Et Passe

J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 11-7
OR: 148
Days: 59

The first race of the afternoon on the second day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival is the Grade One Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and our win selection is Impaire Et Passe.

The talking horse of all the preview nights is Impaire Et Passe who could turn out to be a superstar off the back of this race and we think he will take all the beating.

He is a horse we are a huge fan of, having been bought by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede after winning a bumper in France over 1m4 1/2f, he was given to Willie Mullins and made his debut on the 20th December at Naas.

He looks a serious talent being an 18 lengths winner of a 24 runner Maiden Hurdle over 2m3f and although he would be dropping in trip for this race he has bundles of class.

Impaire Et Passe extended his credentials At Punchestown in January when bolting up by close to seven lengths in the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, tracking the leader Shecouldbeanything the whole way round, jumping like a stag and then quickening away after the last in very deep ground.

He has been heavily backed since then for the Ballymore and having previously won over 2m3f and looking like he will stay no problem, he looks the one to beat.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
15/03/23CHL21Sft11-71
15/01/23PUN16Hy11-41
20/12/22NAA19Sft11-71
27/03/22NCY12.5Sft9-71

Trainer To Follow - Willie Mullins

Willie Mullins is the man to be on again on day two of the meeting and in the opener he has a strong favourite in Impaire Et Passe who will be very tough to beat but Gaelic Warrior and Champ Kiely are live players.

In the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Sir Gerhard has come for support in the market and will love the soft ground, but Mullins also has Ramillies, Bronn and Adamantly Chosen who could run into a place.

Mullins has two at a big price in Icare Allen and Scaramanga who will be looking to pick up place money in the Coral Cup and then in then in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Energumene will looking to land back to back renewals.

Franco De Port is a Grade One winner looking to step up in trip in the Cross Country Chase and it is surprising to see Willie Mullins have a runner in that event all together.

The Closutton maestro has some live chances in the Grand Annual with the talented mare Dinoblue sure to go close and Dads Lads looks to have been saved for this all season.

Finally in the Champion Bumper Mullins has a serious amount of runners with his best chances in the betting looking to be It's For Me, Fun Fun Fun and Fact To File.

Jockey To Follow - Michael O'Sullivan

Michael O'Sullivan has some nice chances on the second day of the festival with Good Land looking to make it back to back Grade One wins in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

In the Coral Cup O'Sullivan teams up with Noel Meade on Grade One performer Beacon Edge who could be well handicapped off 147, especially with the jockey taking off 3lb.

Finally the rider gets the leg up on the 33/1 chance Loughglynn for Willie Mullins who was a nice winner last time on soft ground and will love conditions again.