Dave1962

Last season the Paul Nicholls-trained No Drama won a bumper and then finished midfield in the Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. This season he has switched to hurdling and is undefeated in three races. He has been kept back for this race, as he was last seen on a racecourse just before the new year when winning at Newbury in the Challow. He was probably more impressive when winning the race before that at Sandown. With plenty of time to recover, every chance No Drama This End can make a winning start to Day Two of the Festival for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden.

There has to be a question mark over Final Demand following his poor showing in his last race at Leopardstown, where he was sent off the odds-on favourite and was beaten into third place by just over twelve lengths. So, in looking elsewhere, Romeo Coolio could take full advantage if the Willie Mullins horse again runs below expectations. Romeo Coolio switched to chasing at the start of this season and has won all four races. He is yet to race beyond two and a half miles, but, providing the extra distance poses no problems for him, Romeo Coolio could be a festival winner for Gordon Elliott.

The Skeltons landed one of the handicap races yesterday with Madara and could well bag another today with Kateira. Her last winning race was at Wetherby in November last year, where she finished twenty-eight lengths clear of the second horse, Golden Ace. She has raced four times since then and is yet to return to the winners' enclosure. The Skeltons have had success in targeting handicaps, and Kateira has come in for plenty of support for this race. Today she races off a four-pound lower mark than when winning at Wetherby.

At last year's Cheltenham Festival, Majborough was sent off the odds-on favourite for the Arkle but could only finish third after his jumping let him down. Since then he has raced four times, winning twice. By far his best effort was his last race when, fitted with cheek pieces, he bolted up by nineteen lengths at the Dublin Racing Festival on the first day of February, beating Marine Nationale into second. His jumping was probably the best it had ever been, and with cheek pieces fitted again today he appears to have a favourite's chance of winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Oxford are in the relegation zone on thirty-five points, whilst [Blackburn] are in twentieth place on thirty-nine points after both teams have played thirty-six games. Oxford have shown some determination in seeking to lift themselves out of trouble by winning their last two matches. One was at home to West Brom, who are above them in the table, and the other was away at Preston, who are above Blackburn in the table. Blackburn have lost four of their last five away Championship games.

Bodø/Glimt dispatched Inter Milan to reach this stage of the competition. Inter Milan were top of Serie A when they lost to Bodø/Glimt. With Sporting playing in what is probably a weaker league, there is every reason to think that Bodø/Glimt can win the first leg of this tie.

With Manchester City already through to the next round, Real Madrid were not convincing in their win against Benfica to reach this stage of the competition. Manchester City won on their last visit to Real Madrid, which was in the first round of matches in this season's Champions League competition.

The Willie Mullins-trained Bambino Fever will be one of the Irish punters' bankers for this year's festival. Her only blot on her CV was when finishing second in her first hurdle race. She made no mistake next time out, winning by a comfortable twelve lengths. She has won six of her seven races. She won the Champion Bumper at last year's festival and has every chance to add another win to her CV.

By their standards, Motherwell are having a fantastic season. They are fourth in the table, one place behind Celtic, who are not having the best of seasons. They beat Celtic when they welcomed them at the end of December. It's been over ten years since Motherwell won at Celtic. However, with the form of these two teams, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Motherwell can win.