Cheltenham Tips: Paddy Power’s Wednesday Cheat Sheet for day two of the Festival

IMPAIRE ET PASSE is a really good horse and should have no trouble stepping up in trip despite winning over two miles at Punchestown last time out.

Willie Mullins has chosen to run IMPAIRE ET PASSE in this contest over 2m 5f and he is the one they all have to beat.

Irish trained horses have won eight of the last nine renewals of this race and I’m hopeful that positive trend can continue courtesy of IMPAIRE ET PASSE. He looks like a top-class winner in waiting.

GOOD LAND might not be quite good enough if there is a real peach in here, but he has proven stamina and has been in great form. A solid each-way play.

The vibes are very strong for IMPAIRE ET PASSE since joining Willie Mullins and that will do me.

GERRI COLOMBE has passed every test that’s been thrown at him and there could be more improvement to come. He looks the one to beat.

SIR GERHARD was an impressive winner of the Ballymore Hurdle last season. He made a winning debut over fences at Gowran Park last time out, I was impressed with him and looks a value bet in this 3m contest.

I expect Gerri Colombe to be very difficult to beat, I fancy THE REAL WHACKER to go very close. He has track experience, stays extremely well and beat a decent horse when he won the Dipper Chase here.

I’ve long thought THYME HILL is a cracking each-way bet. He’s got the best hurdling from in this field and if he transfers that to fences he’ll be a player.

GERRI COLOMBE is unbeaten and will improve plenty for this test of stamina. He is my NAP on the day.

Captain Conby (each-way) will carry my money. The ground is against the other Mullins’ horses and Icare Allen ran badly last time out.

LANGER DAN hasn’t had much luck at Cheltenham since being runner-up to Galopin Des Champs in the Martin Pipe Hurdle two seasons ago. He’s still well handicapped and has to have a chance in this contest.

Charles Byrnes is the handicap king and RUN FOR OSCAR is a very big danger from his current mark of 147 makes him a big danger in this handicap hurdle. Langer Dan can hit the places.

BEACON EDGE has a chance to roll back the years for Noel Meade. He was once rated 158 and now runs off 147. Back him each-way.

I’ll take two each-way picks against the field. RUN FOR OSCAR has the scope of his hurdles mark of 147 while WATCH HOUSE CROSS won a decent race at Naas last November and should appreciate the step up in trip.

Last season’s Arkle Chase winner EDWARDSTONE impressed me as the most likely winner despite his defeat last time out. Energumene may have lost his old sparkle.

This race could be set up perfectly for EDWARDSTONE to travel in behind the leaders and then pounce before the final fence and stride away to the line.

A small but select field where the previous year’s Arkle winner has great records. EDWARDSTONE can come out on top against Energumene.

EDWARDSTONE might not want the ground to be too soft but he does have form with juice and is probably more reliable than Energumene who sometimes can be a weak finisher.

EDITEUR DU GITE has been  underestimated and there was no fluke about his win over  Edwardstone and Energumene last time. He can confirm the form again.

DELTA WORK revelled in the soft conditions last year when beating Tiger Roll and can deny his stable-mate Galvin now.

Galvin would prefer dry conditions whereas his stablemate and last year’s Grinch DELTA WORK will love the likely softer conditions. The booking of Keith Donoghue is a big asset.

It’s very easy to stick with the defending champion DELTA WORK who Keith Donoghue gets the leg up on from Gordon Elliott.

GALVIN was fourth in the Gold Cup last season and the drier the ground the better his chance.

DINOBLUE has a chance – that’s all she has is a chance. I hope she runs well as it would be great to see Luke Dempsey ride another winner at Cheltenham.

ELIXIR DE NUTZ has been contesting graded races and has improved with age. He looks a good each-way bet in a competitive field.

FINAL ORDERS could still be well handicapped even if he’s won his last seven races.

There’s no doubt THIRD TIME LUCKI would prefer the ground to dry out as quickly as possible but he’s got the ability to make a splash off a mark of 149 from 153 in his hey-day.

BEFORE MIDNIGHT has a fair each-way chance. A dual Cheltenham winner who is back below his last winning handicap mark. First-time cheekpieces could help too.

Stayers tend to win this race over the speed horses and I can see FACT TO FILE reversing the Leopardstown form with A Dream To Share.

There’s a good back-story to A DREAM TO SHARE and it would be remarkable for his octogenarian trainer John Kiely if he won.

I have been extremely impressed with the filly FUN FUN FUN, from her performances at Sligo in October to the Dublin Racing Festival last month. Many of Mullins’ champion bumper winners are not their first string.

This is a guessing game but the pin has come down on ITS FOR ME for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins. Looks nippy and stays well.

NO TIME TO WAIT won at Down Royal but it may have gone under the radar. He’s a big each-way price under Davy Russell.