'It could all hinge on him and I want to take him on' - Cheltenham's layers expect day two of the festival to turn on one horse

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Wednesday may traditionally be the quietest day in the betting ring, but the on-course layers are pinning their hopes of a big day on getting Champion Chase favourite Majborough beat.

After a mixed day one, Ken Howells report a loss, Kevin Myles broke even and Dan Hague came out ahead, day two hinges for many on the odds-on favourite for the showpiece race.

Myles, who bets from pitch nine in the Tattersalls enclosure, said: "We're hoping for a better day today. It could all hinge on Majborough. He's the one we're scared of but also the one we want to take on. He's both things so it could be good or bad."

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Hague, who operates from just a few places higher up the rail from pitch six, added: "Traditionally today's the quietest of the four, but there are a few to get stuck into.

"Majborough is probably the one I'm most looking to take on today.

"He got an easy lead last time at the DRF and I don't think he will do today. As we saw with his stablemate Kopek Des Bordes, the fences are there to be jumped. If he starts making ricks today he'll be in trouble.

"Il Etait Temps is the one I want to keep onside. You could argue he's not got the best record here but he's a spring horse."

I'll Sort That is a Grade 1 winner but 14-1 for the TurnersCredit: Patrick McCann

In the Turners Novices' Hurdle, Hague is keen to keep an Irish Grade 1 winner onside.

"Another I want to keep onside is I'll Sort That. The ground might be a bit quick, but he's trained and ridden by Declan Queally, who knows the time of day. If he was trained by Willie Mullins he'd be a 4-1 shot. Instead he's 14-1."

Of the other favourites, Brown Advisory Novices' Chase hotpot Romeo Coolio Hague is most keen to take on. "Romeo Coolio's another one I'm looking to take on. Will he stay?

"They've put the hood on him and will be riding him chilly I'd have thought. Up in trip with them going hell for leather on the ground, I'd be willing to take him on."

Ken Howells, who operates from pitch 19, is hoping the large fields can lead to shock results to turn their festival around.

"The fields are big today and we're hoping that's in our favour," said Howells.

Speaking on day one, Hague added: "We ducked and dived and did win. You could stand Old Park Star at 9-4 for whatever you wanted. In what's usually a light betting heat Madara was a bad result. He was very popular.

"The result from heaven for us was when Lulamba and Kopek Des Bordes both got beat. Whether you play opinionated or orthodox you got the money there and that was the saving grace for the day."

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