Confirmed runners and riders for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle and Wednesday's other Grade 1s

Paul Townend has opted to ride Impaire Et Passe over Gaelic Warrior in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (1.30) as a field of ten was declared for the opening race on the second day of Cheltenham.

Townend has ridden the pair in all their starts for Willie Mullins and has sided with Impaire Et Passe, who has won both his outings in Ireland, including in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer at Punchestown. Patrick Mullins will ride Gaelic Warrior for the first time.

Energumene to face six rivals in his bid for a second Champion Chase 

Impaire Et Passe has been a buzz horse on the Cheltenham preview nights circuit but Gaelic Warrior has been a talking horse himself, having been sent off at 13-8 for last year's Boodles on his debut for Mullins before finishing second. He has won each of his three starts since.

Mullins, the leading trainer in the history of the race with five wins, also saddles Champ Kiely and Ho My Lord.

Hermes Allen, winner of a trial for this race at the course in November before cruising home in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury, leads the British team against a strong Irish challenge, which also includes Good Land.

The seven-year-old won a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival and is another leading novice hurdler for trainer-owner Barry Connell, who has Marine Nationale going in the Supreme on day one.

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle runners and riders

American Mike Davy Russell
Champ Kiely Danny Mullins
Gaelic Warrior Patrick Mullins
Good Land Michael O'Sullivan
Hermes Allen Harry Cobden
Ho My Lord Mark Walsh
Impaire Et Passe Paul Townend
Marble Sands Paddy Brennan
Master Chewy Sam Twiston-Davies
Persian Time Adrian Heskin

The Real Whacker goes for Brown Advisory over Gold Cup

The Real Whacker had the option of running in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but connections decided to stick to novice company and go for the Brown Advisory (2.10) instead.

The Dipper Novices' Chase winner will be ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies and is one of the 11 final declarations for the 3m contest, for which his rivals are headed by unbeaten ante-post favourite and Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase winner Gerri Colombe.

With Tom O'Brien out injured, Micheal Nolan comes in for the big-race ride on Thyme Hill, who was second in last year's Stayers' Hurdle, while Galia Des Liteaux is the only mare in the field.

Willie Mullins is responsible for nearly half the field with his five-strong team made up of two-time festival winner Sir Gerhard, the supplemented Adamantly Chosen as well as Ramillies, Bronn and I Am Maximus.

The Gordon Elliott-trained Mighty Potter, who is favourite for Thursday's Turners Novices' Chase, was not declared here and neither was Stage Star, who is poised for the same race.

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase runners and riders

Adamantly Chosen Brian Hayes
Amirite Rachael Blackmore
Bronn Daryl Jacob
Gerri Colombe Jordan Gainford
I Am Maximus Danny Mullins
Ramillies Bryan Cooper
Sir Gerhard Paul Townend
The Real Whacker Sam Twiston-Davies
Thunder Rock Adrian Heskin
Thyme Hill Micheal Nolan
Galia Des Liteaux Harry Skelton

Mullins saddles ten in bid to extend Bumper record

Willie Mullins has lined up a strong team in a bid to extend his Champion Bumper (5.30) dominance with Ireland's champion trainer responsible for ten of the maximum field of 24.

It's For Me and Fun Fun Fun, who are owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, and the JP McManus-owned Fact To File lead the challenge as Mullins targets a 13th victory in the Grade 1 contest. Paul Towend rides It's For Me, with Patrick Mullins aboard Fact To File and Daryl Jacob on Fun Fun Fun.  

McManus bolstered his festival firepower by purchasing the John Kiely-trained A Dream To Share, who was promoted to favouritism after winning at the Dublin Racing Festival. 

Weatherbys Champion Bumper runners and riders

A Dream To Share John Gleeson
Beachcomber Jonjo O'Neill Jr
Better Days Ahead Jamie Codd
Captain Cody Josephine Townend 
Captain Teague Harry Cobden
Chapeau De Soleil Brian Hayes 
Chosen Witness Sean O'Keeffe 
Encanto Bruno Sean Bowen
Fact To File Patrick Mullins 
Fascile Mode Charlie Mullins
Favour And Fortune Tom Cannon
It's For Me Paul Townend
King Of Kingsfield Jordan Gainford
Lecky Watson Jack Foley 
Loughglynn Michael O'Sullivan 
No Time To Wait Davy Russell
Western Diego Rachael Blackmore 
Westport Cove Danny Mullins 
Fun Fun Fun Daryl Jacob 
Queens Gamble Jonathan Burke
D Art D Art Bryan Cooper
Fiercely Proud Luca Morgan
Samui Sam Ewing
Shinji Aidan Coleman

Champion Chase runners and riders

Captain Guinness Rachael Blackmore
Editeur Du Gite Niall Houlihan
Energumene Paul Townend
Edwardstone Tom Cannon
Funambule Sivola Charlie Deutsch
Greaneteen Harry Cobden
Nube Negra Harry Skelton

Cheltenham day two: full racecard and odds

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