But the biggest danger is surely posed by the hard-pulling grey Grands Crus, whose trainer David Pipe (below) said: "I've always held him in the highest regard. At home he is a unique racehorse. He's in very quiet in his box and to saddle up. Yet once he is on the gallop you can't hold him."
As the race comes to the boil, expect to see Tom Scudamore strike for home on Grands Crus with Walsh poised on Big Buck's in his slipstream.
Walsh already has one hand on the jockeys' trophy at Cheltenham after a superb treble on the opening day and he will be hoping for further success on Poquelin, trained by Nicholls, in the Ryanair Chase. The pair were pipped by Albertas Run last year but he has struggled this season while conditions are perfect for Poquelin.
Tony McCoy ended a frustrating first day at Cheltenham feeling extremely sore after a horrid fall on Sunnyhillboy. Most sportsmen would probably have taken the week off after sustaining such heavy punishment. McCoy, however, is incredibly determined and should gain some compensation on Aigle d'Or in the Byrne Group Plate.
Notably well handicapped, the gelding has been kept under wraps for most of the winter in the belief that he can give his big- punting owner JP McManus a winner at the meeting.
