Cheltenham / Timeform / 11 March 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

On to the second day of the Festival and the second contest of the afternoon is the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

A number of the leading contenders for this race also have entries in the Albert Bartlett (Spa) on Friday, the longer race for staying novice hurdlers that was introduced in 2005. In its various guises the Ballymore has dented some big reputations over the years, most recently in 2006 when the then unbeaten Denman had to settle for second behind Nicanor.

Similarities between Denman and Diamond Harry are inevitable with both having won the Challow Hurdle en-route to this race. Nick Williams' six-year-old really is one of the most exciting prospects in National Hunt racing at present, and, unlike several of the other main contenders, has first-hand experience of the unique Cheltenham track, having won twice there already this season.

Mad Max is another contender defending an unbeaten record and his trainer Nicky Henderson describes him as 'the biggest horse he's ever trained'. He took the scalp of current favourite Karabak at Ascot before putting up a much improved effort to win at Newbury. He's had another minor breathing operation since his latest success, and, open to further improvement, could go close.

Karabak has won both his starts since his length-defeat to Mad Max. Alan King's charge has got better and better with racing, first beating Mahonia by nine lengths at Cheltenham, before destroying an unexposed field at Ascot a month later, his nearest rival, the well-regarded Kangaroo Court, fourteen lengths back. He can't be left out of calculations in his current mood.

There have been plenty of changes of plan in recent weeks over which of Willie Mullins' string will go for the race and the shrewd handler is reportedly set to run Mikael D'Haguenet. His best effort came in what was essentially a match with Pandorama in a Grade 1 at Navan in December, defeating his odds-on rival impressively despite still looking to be learning throughout. Two facile successes in Grade 2s followed that and he would have sound form claims if lining up, although his wins have all come on testing going.

The Nightingale has been the subject of some strong market support in the last week. Paul Nicholls' only runner in the race quickly put his unfortunate slip-up at Exeter on his hurdling debut behind him with an easy win at Taunton, that form franked since by the runner-up, the progressive Patsy Finnegan. He'll be fresher than most, having not run since November, but he'll need to improve again on bare form.

Howard Johnson and Graham Wylie are no strangers to success in this race, having won it with No Refuge in 2005, and they look to have a strong contender this time in the shape of Quwetwo, whom Wylie bought out of Sue Smith's stable following his impressive bumper success at Newcastle in November. He's had plenty in hand when winning both his subsequent starts over hurdles and has frame possibilities at a price.