Dave Nevison's top tips for the second day of the 2018 Cheltenham Festival

Samcro is going to take all the beating in the opening race on Wednesday (Racingfotos)

I cannot find any reason why Samcro will not win and connections have always been adamant this would be his race. It looks the right choice to me.

I watched his latest victory from the press room at Musselburgh and to a man all present thought we had seen the Cheltenham banker.

Hopefully he will pay for some of the no hopers I have put up!

The favourite has not won the Coral Cup in the past ten years, but the winner has come from the first six in the betting for seven out of those runnings and would have provided a good profit had you backed those six.

However, as a lazy man looking for arguments to suit my position, after ten straight losers the market leader must be due a win.

Max Dynamite can justify favouritism in the Coral Cup (PA)

Max Dynamite has been rested since his very rewarding globetrotting trips last year and comes to this race fresh.

I believe that he has proved suited by longer distances on the Flat and expect him to make up for some past disappointments beyond the minimum trip over hurdles.

Big fields and strong pace is absolutely no issue and he is one of few in this field that could be very significantly ahead of their mark.

Willie Mullins has not won this handicap, or indeed many Cheltenham handicaps, which is a rather inconvenient stat but I can live with it as he boasts a fine record with his handicap runners at Royal Ascot handicaps and has come close to landing the Melbourne Cup more than once - so he doesn’t miss by far when he aims for one.

The Last Samuri has less on his plate in terms of opposition (PA)

I am taking Kim Bailey to stick it to Enda Bolger and Gordon Elliott, who must have been surprised that this fabulous Grand National horse was among the entries.

His Aintree chances may be behind him but this event is less competitive and he has a few more years in these races if he enjoys it.

I certainly won’t be going overboard backing in the Fred Winter but I am taking a stab at a French outsider who looks progressive in conditions at Pau that I am assuming are going to be very similar to what he will encounter on Wednesday.

The trainer is certainly capable and this horse was brought along steadily on the Flat, improving with a stamina test and he finished off his rivals at halfway last time before losing concentration late on.

Felix de Giles has made his name in France but has had victories here, so 33/1 looks big.

Dave's top tips for Wednesday: