There are no shortage of runners on Wednesday's second day of the National Hunt festival for chasers and hurdlers at Cheltenham Racecourse. Here's a quick rundown of selections and field sizes for the seven-race program, which begins at 9:30 a.m., Eastern.

Race 1, novices' hurdle, 2 5-8 miles - Samcro (11) is unbeaten in six starts, including three races over hurdles, and will be about 3-5 to beat 13 rivals. Duc Des Genievres (7) was second to Samcro in his last start and merits consideration.

Race 2, novices' chase, 3 1-16 miles - This could produce runners for next year's Gold Cup, which is run on Friday and is the focus of the four-day week. In this field, Presenting Percy (10) was second to Gold Cup contender Our Duke in his last start against tougher rivals. He will be favored in this fiel dof 10, and is preferred to Black Corton (4).

Race 3, handicap hurdle, 2 5-8 miles - Only 26 to choose from and the pick is Topofthegame (3), who should be around 10-1. Max Dynamite, a top-class flat horse (11) who was third in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in Australia, is likely to be favored in his first start over hurdles since a ninth in the Galway Hurdle in Ireland last March.

Race 4, Queen Mother Champion Chase, 2 miles - Altior (1) is unbeaten in seven starts over hurdles and will be favored. He is the selection on class and ability, but sustained a foot injury earlier this week that trainer Nicky Henderson insists will not be a factor. Douvan (4) was seventh as the 2-9 favorite in the 2017 Queen Mother, but suffered an injury in the race and has not started since. This is a big ask for a comeback.

Race 5, cross-country chase, 3 3-4 miles - This is run over fences, hurdles, timber, banks, hedges and goes on forever. It is more of a spectacle than any other race this week. Watch out for The Last Samurai (11) in the 16-horse field.

Race 6, juvenile handicap hurdle, 2 1-16 miles - A 22-runner field of 4-year-olds and it shoud be competitive. There are two to consider Nube Negra (7), who has won two of his last three and Mitchouka (2), who has won his last two and was popular with bettors in local bookie shops on Wednesday morning.

Race 7, flat race (bumper), 2 1-16 miles - The only race not over obstacles this week. It is always a scramble, frequently run at a slow pace even for a two-mile race with a fairly hectic sprint to the uphill finish. Another that is more fun to watch than to have too heavy of an investment. Which means the pick of Rhinestone (12) will win and I'll wish I'd bet more. Also look out for the longshot Crooks Peak (3), who won here in November.