Irish horses, always well to the fore at Cheltenham, are strongly expected to dominate the two big races on the second day of the Festival meeting tomorrow.

Native Upmanship is the big hope of the Emerald Isle in the day's feature event, the £220,000 Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Trained by Arthur Moore, the nine-year-old represents real value at around 7-1 to upset the top two in the betting, Flagship Uberalles and Edredon Bleu.

Although at his best over two-and-a-half miles, the high-class Native Upmanship possesses enough raw speed to cope with this step back to the minimum distance.

Flagship Uberalles and Edredon Bleu have had only one run apiece this season, admittedly winning ones, while Tiutchev, the third-favourite, suffered an untimely attack of colic last month, which can hardly have failed to have disrupted his preparation.

With question marks about all three, Native Upmanship could be the horse to shine in this cracking event.

Colonel Braxton is the big hope of Ireland in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.

A former high-class hurdler, Dessie Hughes' charge created a big impression when winning over fences at Naas last month. He looks sure to take all the beating under Norman Williamson.

Alexander Millenium is the big hope of Ireland in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, but Rhinestone Cowboy, trained by Jonjo O'Neill, is napped to spoil the party by providing Williamson with another winner.

Hugely impressive when scoring at Ascot last month, Rhinestone Cowboy looks a very exciting recruit and his professional attitude, for one so inexperienced, should stand him in excellent stead.

Rouble, highly-rated by Josh Gifford, and the winner of his last three starts, makes plenty of appeal in the typically wide-open Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle. Leighton Aspell takes the mount.

In the Coral Eurobet Cup, a note should be made of Mary Reveley's Roveretto.

A recent creditable effort on the Flat should have put the finishing touches to this smart gelding, who figures at the right end of the handicap. In a tricky race, he makes as much appeal as any.

The National Hunt Challenge Cup Chase, over four miles and confined to amateur riders, looks another tough one for punters to crack. Mister Bigtime would be an aptly-named winner, and, with the hugely-experienced Philip Fenton in the saddle, and some solid form to his credit, he should not be left out of the reckoning.

The Mildmay Of Flete Challenge Cup Chase sees Foly Pleasant in with a great shout of notching his second course win of the campaign.

Jim Culloty's mount faces a stern test, trying to give weight away all round, but he is the classiest horse in the line-up and a bold bid is anticipated from Henrietta Knight's gelding.

Tommorow's tips:

Cheltenham

2.00 Rouble

2.35 Native Upmanship

3.15 Roveretto

3.55 Colonel Braxton

4.30 Mister Bigtime

5.05 Foly Pleasant

5.40 Rhinestone Cowboy (Nap)

Huntingdon

1.50 Enchanted Cottage

2.25 Beehive Lad

3.05 King Bavard

3.45 Marching Orders

4.20 Pertempts Profile

4.55 Hazard A Guess

5.30 Admiral Peary

Updated: 15:13 Tuesday, March 12, 2002