Will it be Willie Mullins' day? We rate his four short-priced festival big guns

It's the million-dollar question, the answer that could well determine whether some punters and bookmakers emerge from Cheltenham week with money falling out of every pocket or in total shock: what chance Willie Mullins' four hot Wednesday fancies?

Here's an assessment of the quartet, with a rating out of five on the respective chance of each . . .

Cheltenham Festival Wednesday: day two cards and betting

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (1.20 Cheltenham)
Forecast odds: 5-2

Created a huge impression with two Leopardstown wins this winter, on the second occasion showing the combination of speed and stamina over 2m6f which make him tailor-made for the demands of this race.

Both wins were achieved on testing terrain, but the fact he possesses such a high cruising speed suggests he could be even more effective on drier ground at Cheltenham.

Plenty will argue he's not even the right favourite, emphasising the perhaps more solid form claims of Grade 1 scorer Bravemansgame, but one gets the impression Gaillard Du Mesnil can raise his level of performance still further in the Cheltenham cauldron.

Rating: Four out of five.

Cheltenham tips: one key runner from each ITV race on day two of the festival

Monkfish
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (1.55 Cheltenham)
Forecast odds: 4-9

It's increasingly difficult to pour cold water on claims this tremendously exciting seven-year-old looks unbeatable in this race. Monkfish ticks most of the boxes you look for in a Cheltenham winner, including previous festival form – he landed the Albert Bartlett 12 months ago.

Since then he's made the most spectacular of transitions to fences and people are already drooling about his 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup claims. His latest win at Leopardstown took the breath away, and it's hard to envisage defeat.

Five out of five.

Wednesday's free Cheltenham Festival tipping:

Paul Kealy's banker at Cheltenham on Wednesday

The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips on day two of Cheltenham

Cheltenham Wednesday tips: five horses to back on day two of the festival

Chacun Pour Soi
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.05 Cheltenham)
Forecast odds: 4-5

An extraordinary talent, and rates the banker of the entire four days for many.

With Altior lacking the speed he once used to dazzle race enthusiasts and not running, this looks a gimme for Chacun Pour Soi.

Only an 11th-hour setback prevented him strutting his stuff in the Grade 1 last year, and since returning to action he's been flawless with commanding wins at Cork and Leopardstown (twice).

Five out of five.

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (4.50 Cheltenham)
Forecast odds: 7-4

There were shades of Arazi's Breeders' Cup triumph when Kilcruit stalked his way through the field at Leopardstown last month with seemingly no effort to ultimately destroy a Grade 2 field in the most impressive style.

Based on a visual interpretation of that performance he looks a genuine star, and only fools may want to oppose him at Cheltenham.

Five out of five.

Cheltenham Wednesday previews:

1.20 Cheltenham: Gaillard Du Mesnil has right mix of speed and stamina to give Mullins victory

1.55 Cheltenham: can anything stop relentless Monkfish on his road to chasing superstardom?

2.30 Cheltenham: Gary Moore hoping for festival compensation with Botox Has after Goshen defeat

3.05 Cheltenham: first start in Britain for Chacun Pour Soi on biggest stage of all

3.40 Cheltenham: Tiger Roll 'as enthusiastic as ever' as he bids for fifth festival victory

4.15 Cheltenham: how the festival rejig will impact the Grand Annual

4.50 Cheltenham: 'A major player' – Kilcruit heads Mullins' Champion Bumper fabulous five

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