Cheltenham Day 2: Predictions from Walsh and McClean

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Race (Grade 1, 1.30pm)

Ruby Walsh: It is Ireland v England. Impaire Et Passe v Hermes Allen. I think this will be Ireland. I'm a massive fan of Willie Mullins' Impaire Et Passe

He's won at Naas, he's won at Punchestown. I think he has been very good. Willie has great back up in Champ Kiely to go with it.

Donn McLean: You can argue the Challow Hurdle form has worked out okay. But the Challow Hurdle and the Ballymore, if you look at the record, you would presume it would be an easy follow on because it's two and a half miles at Newbury and similar in the Ballymore. You'd think there'd be a good correlation.

But 20 winners of the Challow Hurdle have tried to win the Ballymore and all 20 have failed. It's remarkable.

Hermes Allen is a very good horse but I fully agree with Ruby on Impaire Et Passe. There seems to be a real confidence behind him from the Willie Mullins yard. I think Hermes Allen will get done for pace and Champ Kiely is the value.

Brown Advisory Novices' Steeple Chase (Grade 1, 2.10pm)

Ruby Walsh: Gerri Colombe, The Real Whacker and Sir Gerhard are all unbeaten over fences. I think it's between them. I'm a big Gerri Colombe fan. He was very good at Limerick at Christmas and in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown

Jordan Gainford rides him. I think he is one. I don't think Sir Gerhard has the experience. He might be the best horse but only having had one run over fences it has to be a massive negative.

Donn McLean: What Gerri Colombe did in the Scilly Isles Chase - before that I thought he was vunerable at Sandown - it was good to soft ground over two and a half miles and he battled on well to beat a good Nicky Henderson horse. I thought we saw something new from Gerri Colombe there.