It was a 1-2-3 for trainer Willie Mullins in the opening race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

It was a 1-2-3 for trainer Willie Mullins in the opening race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

5-to-2 shot Impaire et Pass won the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle ahead of Gaelic Warrior and Champ Kiely. Paul Townend was the winning jockey and Ireland are up to six winners early on day two.

It's a 123 for Willie Mullins
IMPAIRE ET PASSE who defied a market drift shows the talent we saw @NaasRacecourse before Xmas and in January at @punchestownrace .
The English Novices outclassed again #Cheltenham2023 pic.twitter.com/nmcBVgdPva

— Joe Seward (@JoeSeward1) March 15, 2023

Willie Mullins now faces six rivals as he bids to retain the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the feature on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival.

The local trainer saw Facile Vega pipped to the first race of the day yesterday but did end up with his name on the winners’ board on more than one occasion as Irish horses took a 5-2 win from Tuesday’s racing.

The feature Champion Chase stages a battle between last year’s winner, Energumene and Edwardstone.