Nicholls will be more than happy to see No Drama at all on day two

No Drama This End puts his unbeaten hurdling record on the line in a competitive renewal of the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old suffered his only defeat when well down the field in the Champion Bumper last year but has made a seamless transition to obstacles, winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham’s November meeting, the Winter Novices’ Hurdle and the Challow Hurdle.

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: “I love everything about him, he’s got that class and he’s a big, scopey chaser which is what we like and it’s exciting.

“When he won the first time at Cheltenham, the excitement started building as you could see you had something special and we were always going to aim then towards the Turners.

“You are always nervous in this job in case something goes wrong and you are always on a fine edge, but you just hope to turn up on the day with a great chance.

“He’s just so laid back and he would fall asleep whatever speed they were going but you just pick him up and he’s there for you. They don’t go slow in Cheltenham races and Harry (Cobden) proved the last day on him you can make the running on him and he still picked up really nicely.

“You wouldn’t want to make the running on him, but you can ride him accordingly. Denman got done for a bit of toe in a slowly-run race but more often than not these Festival races are so competitive and run at a good pace.

“No Drama This End I think has a great chance and is a Grade One winner, but of course there are always improvers from Ireland and Act Of Innocence is no mug either, it will be a good race.”

Act Of Innocence has yet to finish outside the top two since switching to Nicky Henderson from Nicholls, with wins at Newbury and Huntingdon under his belt.

Henderson said: “I think he’s pretty smart. He’s a lovely horse. It’s a race that England can win and it’s a race that’s been dominated by the Irish, so let’s try to steal one!

“I’d be surprised if stamina is the issue. Originally we thought that Act Of Innocence was the quicker of the two (Old Park Star) but they seem to have flip-flopped. One has got more tactical speed and the other has more stamina.”

Gordon Elliott is triple-handed with Skylight Hustle, Ballyfad and Riskaway.

Skylight Hustle won at a canter at Fairyhouse in November before following up in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown a month later and will step up to two miles and five furlongs for the first time.

Elliott said: “He was obviously a fortunate winner at Christmas, I thought Talk The Talk (who fell at the last hurdle) was going to beat him, but our horse did hit the line very well.

“I think two-five will really suit him as you can drop in and ride your race and he has the class to travel in a two-mile race.”

Willie Mullins will also provide strong competition to the home battalion with King Rasko Grey, Sober, Sortudo, Laurets d’Estruval, Saint Baco and Free Spirit.

Sortudo is also going up in trip and Mullins believes the omission of hurdles was all that beat him last time out in the Ballymore Novice Hurdle.

Mullins said: “He was second over two and a half at Naas and the last two hurdles were missing. Patrick said if he had jumped he would have won it.

“He sat and suffered and next thing the hurdle was gone but it was a tremendous performance from Declan Queally’s horse (I’ll Sort That).”