Thanks for joining me all day. I’ll back with again on Friday at 1pm, enjoy St Patrick’s Day and keep backing those winners!
Oh what an anti-climax. But still, it was an incredible day at Cheltenham for Ireland with six winners and the last one was actually trained in Ireland at one stage.
5.15 Result
1st Cheltenian 14/1
2nd Destroyer Deployed 66/1
3rd Aupcharlie 33/1
No super seven for Ireland. Richard Johnson partners the aptly named Cheltenian to victory in the Champion Bumper.
But it’s Cheltenian powering home…
Ericht improves, as does Cinders And Ashes.
The Tracey Shuffle still leads, then Destroy Deploy and Saint Luke. Pace is fastening.
Felix Yonger is handy, as is Ruby Walsh on Tusa Eire.
Oscar Magic went wide and neary ranout. Destroy Deploy is running second from The Tracey Shuffle. Ericht is well up there.
The Tracey Shuffle takes up the lead. Dark Glacier is prominent too.
They’re racing in the Champion Bumper.
Ericht is now your 5/1 favourite for the Champion Bumper, we’re about three minutes away and imagine the roar if it’s an Irish winner.
And just as I say that the punters start to get busy. Ericht, the favourite, is into 6/1 from 8/1. Raise The Beat is 7/2 second fav and they’re still coming for Rothwell’s, now 15/2.
But the money is for my selection Divine Rhapsody, 8/1 from 10/1 in a relatively quiet market. Still about 13 minutes to get your bets on.
Interesting that Tony McCoy rides for ‘Shark’ Hanlon in the bumper. Could he be the the one to cap a remarkable day for the Oirish?
Philip Rothwell’s Divine Rhapsody for me in the Champion Bumper. Niall Cronin goes for Cinders And Ashes.
Can we be stopped in the bumper for an Irish clean sweep on Day Two? Had to be the weight advantage for Arthur Moore’s winner that did me out of a 33/1 winner at Cheltenham. I’d trade it to see seven Irish-trained winners today though.
4.40 Result
1. What A Charm 9/1
2. Kumbeshwar 33/1
3. Darfur 16/1
4. What A Plan 4/1F
Six out of six for the Irish as What A Charm wins narrowly from Kumbeshwar!
And here’s What A Charm…
But here comes Plan A.
Darfur and Kumbeshwar.
Plan A cuts through the field.
Kumbeshwar still leads, with my luck he’ll never stay there!
Paintball goes handy enough, as does What A Charm.
Harry Hunt in third. Plan A is held up at the back of the field.
And he leads, along with Mr Muddle for company.
Kumbeshwar is well up there at the front.
Off and racing.
Couple of minutes away from the second last. A good friend of mine just told me Venetia Williams’ Tenor Nivernais will win this.
Tenor Nevernais and Titan De Spari are both coming in for support now. Each-way money for Kayef and Beyond, Davy Russell’s mount. Plan A still solid at 4/1.
These last two races are so wide open, don’t be surprised if we have some queer results. We’ll be underway in about 15 minutes. Time for tea now.
So, can I jump on the bandwagon here and say Gordon Elliott will grab the hat-trick in the next with Plan A? My luck has been rotten today. Well done to our tipster Niall Cronin though, who gave us Carlito Brigante this morning.
The Fred Winter is next up at 4.40 and I’ve gone for outsider Kumbeshwar. Mr Cronin has tipped Elliott’s Plan A.
So, it’s a double for Davy Russell, Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House on Day Two. Absolutely brilliant stuff. Ireland 8:4 Great Britain and we’re still on course to go through the card.
4.00 Result
1st Carlito Brigante 16/1
2nd Bothy 12/1
3rd Orsippus 33/1
4th Battle Group 33/1
5th Solix 25/1
And it’s another winner for Ireland and Michael O’Leary! Carlito Brigante wins the Coral Cup.
For Non Stop falls!
and takes it up with one to jump.
Carlito Brigante dangerous in second…
For Non Stop goes ahead.
Push comes to shove for many of them now down the hill. Walk On makes ground.
Great jump from For Non Stop t come alongside Dantari. Call The Police still goes well, covered up though.
Dantari leads by about 4l from For Non Stop, Carlito Brigante third. Arcalis makes big error.
Ballyhaunis well settled in midfield.
For Non Stop is second now.
A circuit to go and nobody has gone after Dantari yet.
Dantari is about 12 lenghts clear of Carlito Brigante in second.
Tiger O’Toole is stone last.
Call The Police is about eight, early doors though.
Dantari goes flying off in the lead, For Non Stop second and Carlito Brigante third.
We’re off and racing on time.
Almost set for the Coral Cup…
Ballyhaunis goes in this too, another Willie Mullins horse and I’ve had a small flutter on him each-way, simply because it’s my hometown. Plenty of support for him too, 16/1 into 10/1.
Call the Police now into 7/2. Ploughing into Ruby, so they are.
You’re having a nasty run of luck on Ladies Day here William – you obviously know f**k all about women 😉 – Phil, West Cork
Cheers Phil, you really know how to boost my confidence! I’d like to think I know more about women than horses, that wouldn’t be hard right now though, would it?
Loads of time to get your bets on for the Coral Cup at 4pm. An Irish clean sweep would be something else.
Lightning strike is 16/1 from 25/1. Venetia Williams’ runner could get into a place.
Meanwhile, Ann and Alan Potts go up to receive their second trophy of the Festival. Sizing Australia won the Cross Country yesterday.
The Coral Cup is next on the card and again Ireland has the leading chance, Call the Police. Ruby rides him and there’s lots of support, 4/1 from 11/2.
Ireland with the first four, Golden Silver stayed on well into fourth. So, now it’s Ireland 7:4 Great Britain.
Yet another Irish winner, but not the one majority would have hoped for. Well done Andrew Lynch, super ride.
Champion Chase Result
1st Sizing Europe 10/1
2nd Big Zeb 3/1
3rd Captain Cee Bee 14/1
Beats Big Zeb into second and Captain Cee Bee in third.
…and he’s the Champion Chaser for 2011!
But it’s Sizing Europe…
Master Minded almost falls!
Big Zeb goes in front.
I’m So Lucky running a big race.
Golden Silver going really well!
Big Zeb goes third, followed by Master Minded. Sizing Europe still ahead.
Four left to jump, all still with chances.
Now Sizing Europe hits the front. Well grouped.
Pace starting to pick up. Mad Max leads from Somersby.
Golden Silver towards the rear.
French Opera is third.
Big Zeb fourth and Master Minded sixth.
All safe over the first two fences.
Mad Max leads as expected, from Sizing Europe.
We’re racing in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Ted Walsh says he’d like to see Master Minded win. Course he does, his son rides him!
2/1 Master Minded, 100/30 Big Zeb.
Mad Max likely to make the running.. we’re nearly ready…
Five minutes away. Can Master Minded make it three Champion Chase wins? Willie Mullins and Golden Silver for me. While Niall Cronin, our other JOE tipster, goes for Big Zeb.
They’re parading and the excitement is getting to me. 5/2F Master Minded now.
This is going to be some race. Expect serious speed over the two miles, not looking forward to keeping up with it!
Just watched a clip of Moscow Flyer winning in 2005, some horse he was.
Paul Nicholls’ second in line Woolcombe Folly is garnering support, 7/1 from 9/1 and a small touch for Golden Silver, 10/1 from 11/1.
Big Zeb and Master Minded the joint favourites now at 3/1.
Right, surely my luck has to change and I’m confident Golden Silver will fly home in the big one, up next.
What a disappointment Time for Rupert was, bookies are smiling for sure. Hope Ruby is okay after that fall, looked nasty enough.
Great ride from Robbie Power to make it three from three for the Irish today. Could we have all the winners on Day Two?
2.40 Result
1st Bostons Angel 16/1
2nd Jesses Dream 10/1
3rd Wyward Prince 15/2
But Bostons Angel gets past Jessies Dream to win the RSA Chase!
And Magnaminity is flying.
Jessies Dream from Bostons Angel…
And down goels Quel Esprit. Jessies Dream in front on home turn.
Time for Rupert flat out, needs a miracle.
Elysian Rock blunders. Bostons Angel goes second now.
Quel Esprit has gone to the front. Time for the Rupert not going well, second last. Mikaeal D’Hageunet falls.
Time for Rupert not jumping perfectly. Elysian Rock still leads.
A packed field now. Master of the Hall going okay mid-division.
Elysian Rock leads, then Aiteen Thirtythree, followed by Magnaminity.
The Giant Bolster has unseated Roddy Greene.
Tim for Rupert well back in the field. Elysian Rock is at the front with Aiteen Thirtythree. Fair clip they’re going.
We’re off and it’s Aiteen Thirtythree who takes up the running.
7/4 now Time for Rubert… bookies will get thrashed if he dots up. Not far away now.
We’re five minutes away from the off.
Recorded weeks ago of course. Looks like he wants to bring him home. Couldn’t give him more praise.
John Francombe is riding Time for Rupert right now…
Time for Rupert gleaming in the parade ring. Am I daft to oppose the two-time Cheltenham winner?
The support is coming for Time for Rupert in the next, the RSA Chase. He’s now 9/4 from 11/4. I’m sheepishly siding with Barry Geraghty and Master of the Hall, 14/1.
Michael O’Leary just got teary-eyed in an interview on Channel 4. His father is dying from cancer at home and the occasion just got too much for the Ryanair chief.
Bloody hell, such a bad run of luck. That’s another one of my selections to slam a fence with the race at his mercy. Damn it.
2.05 Result
1st First Lieutenant 7/1
2nd Rock on Ruby 13/2
3rd So Young 2/1F
Photo finish but I reckon Davy Russell and First Lieutenant is up… Yes he is. Michael O’Leary a happy man.
Bad landing Oscars Well. First Lieutenant has pipped Rock on Ruby on the line!
But here comes So Young…
Minella Class and Oscars Well to batle it out.
Aikman still ahead of Tornado Bob down the hill.
Oscars Well improves, as does So Young.
Highland Valley is third and there’s plenty with chances with four to jump.
Minella Class jumping well, prominent enough.
Aikman stretches ahead by three lenghts in front.
Tornado Bob is second. Ruby is very patient on So Young. Megastar is the back marker. A circuit left.
Apologies, Aikman is the leader. Difficulty hearing with the lads chattering.
Oscars Well travels on the inside, about fifth.
So Young held up at the back. Tornado Bob is out in front.
Out they come and we’re off and racing…
We’re nearly ready for the 2.05…
Can we overtake Great Britain with an Irish winner here? We’ve got the first three in the betting so the chances are good. Come on Ireland!!
Support for Oscars Well now, into 7/2. This should be a good dual. 10 minutes away.
Next up, the 2.05 Neptune Novices’ Hurdle. So Young, Ruby Walsh’s ride, has been backed into 2/1 and that’s far too short for my liking. Oscar Wells will put up a big show.
Meanwhile, fantastic scenes in the winners enclosure as Derek O’Connor is welcomed back with Chicago Grey.
If you’re from Ballyhaunis and don’t back that horse and it wins, you’ll be forever barred from the town! – Paul, Mayo
I know Paul, I better shoot out and stick a few quid on him!
Sona Sasta would surely have been placed if he didn’t slam into the third last. But well done to Chicago Grey and that win bodes well for Time for Rupert in the RSA Chase, who has already beaten the first winner of the day.
An Irish winner. Derek O’Connor riding for Gordon Elliott. That’s four all now.
1.30 Result
1st Chicago Grey 5/1F
2nd Beshabar 9/1
3rd Be There In Five 20/1
And he streteches on from Beshabr to win!
Chicago Grey is powering home…
And he goes in front.
Beshabar has a great chance.
Chicago Grey is beginning to cut through the field. At the front it’s Sona Sast and On His Own.
Some Target is now last and hit that fence hard. Captain Americo edges ahead of Sona Sasta but still lots of racing left.
Sona Sasta still leads, then Captain Americo, followed by On His Own.
Chicago Grey is the back marker and could be jumping more fluent than this.
Alfa Beat is well up there too, in about fifth.
They’re well grouped with two circuits left. Sona Sasta takes over from Chamirey and Captain Americo goes third.
Chamirey leads from Sona Sasta.
Major Malarkey a faller at the third.
Chicago Grey towards the rear early on. Chamirey prominent.
And they’re off and racing… four miles the trip remember…
Chicago Grey is the 5/1 favourite.
Here we go, they’re at the post for the National Hunt Chase…
There’s a major gamble on Ballyhaunis in the Coral Cup at 4pm. 16/1 into 10/1. And hey, guess what? That’s my hometown!
Five minutes away from the off in the first of the day.
What do you fancy yourself today? You can get in touch through Twitter, Facebook or email (see above).
The first race is about 20 minutes away now. A four mile trip for amateur riders and their mounts. Alfa Beat is the 5/1 favourite at the moment, Chicago Grey is 11/2 and Som Target at 13/2. My selection, Sona Sasta, is an 11/1 chance.
Here‘s my full prediction for today’s racing. Pick of the bunch is Oscars Well in the second race.
Market movers in the first race: Some Target 13/2 from 8/1 and Chicago Grey 5/1 from 6/1.
So, I’m all settled in for another great day’s racing. Just had to put that picture of Hurricane Fly (above) outjumping Peddlers Cross at the last to win the Champion Hurdle yesterday. Go on Ruby ya good thing!
First race off at 1.30, tips on the way.
Good afternoon and welcome to Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival, it’s Ladies Day.
After Day One the score stands at Great Britain 4:3 Ireland. Here’s to hoping we can leapfrog them early on today.
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