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THE Queen Mother Champion Chase (4.00) is the highlight on day two of the Cheltenham Festival and offers a massive chance for Jonbon to lay his Cheltenham hoodoo to bed. Many of you will be shouting at me that he has won at the Prestbury Park before, but there can be little doubt that he is a better chaser away from this track.

It is for the last reason that he has to be opposed in this speedsters’ championship and the one to go to war with here has to be the admittedly mainly disappointing MARINE NATIONALE (4.00).

Former winner of the Supreme Novices Hurdle, the selection has hardly filled himself with glory over the larger obstacles, and indeed he has been beaten on his three starts over fences this season, on his debut by outsider Quilixios.

Since then he has been placed in a pair of Grade One events, both times finishing behind the front running Solness. The selection looked like he was going to reel in the leader that day turning for home, but just wilted on the run in to be beaten by two lengths. I am hoping that the ground will be much quicker here though, and this real spring ground horse should hugely benefit from the recent dry week.

The aforementioned Quilixios could easily hit the frame if all eight declared runners go to post and he is the most likely source of a big shock.

The opening Turners Novice Hurdle at 1.20 is dominated in the betting by Final Demand from Ireland and Dan Skelton’s The New Lion. I have a feeling though that the former could well be switched to the longer Spa Novices’ Hurdle on Friday if the ground continues to dry out, and also that The New Lion may well be a better horse on a much flatter track.

So let’s go with an each-way play against the big two in the form of KISS WILL, who could be absolutely anything following an all the way debut win at Fairyhouse in January. Of course this is a massive step up in class, but he looked to have some engine inside that day and this extra yardage based on his run style and breeding looks spot on.

Ballyburn was totally overshadowed by Sir Gino at Kempton Park at Christmas, but that could easily have been predicted as it was around a sharp track over two miles, and the step up to three in the Brown Advisory (2.00) looks made to measure as the slower pace will give him more time to measure his obstacles.

But I feel we have yet to see the very best of stable mate of the complete outsider QUAI DE BOURBON. Placed in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle 12 months ago he has looked all stamina in his two races to date this season. I am only hoping that Mullins doesn’t sacrifice his chance by using him as a pace setter for the favourite.

Of the other races on the card, BEAT THE BAT (2.40) has been laid out for the Cup, while SO SCOTTISH (4.40) looks a massive player in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase having warmed up to this race with two runs over hurdles.