We’ll be back here tomorrow with all the action from an eight-race card that includes the Ryanair Chase, the World Hurdle and the rescheduled Cross Country.
Thanks for stayig with us, see you tomorrow.
So that’s it for another day. The star of the show was Sprinter Sacre, who romped home in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Elsewhere Willie Mullins landed two more, the opener and the last, and he may have won the RSA too if Boston Bob had not tumbled at the final fence, leaving the way open for Lord Windemere, another Irish winner. The fourth Irish winner of the day was Gordon Elliott’s Flaxen Flare in the Fred Winter.
And the big bet of the day for most Irish backers, Pont Alexandre, never figured in the Neptune, with that one going to The New One.
Here’s the result of the last
1st 2 Briar Hill (IRE) 25/1
2nd 14 Regal Encore (IRE) 7/1 j
3rd 7 Golantilla (IRE) 9/1
Winning TrainerW P Mullins
Winning JockeyR Walsh
Runners 23 ran
Non runners20
Unpl. FavLe Vent D’Antan (FR) 7/1 J
Distances7
SF £176.32
Tricast £1735.43
Looking at the replay, Briar Hill was very impressive. One to note for the future.
So that’s seven Irish wins (from 13 races), and five for Mullins. Four wins for Ruby now too.
Regal Encore was second, Golantilla was third and The Liquidator was fourth.
An Irish win, for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins on Briar Hill
A bit of info on Shield. Aidan O’Brien hasn’t had a runner here for 11 years. Have to think Shield has a chance here then.
A few Flat jockeys are in this one. Joseph O’Brien is on his father’s horse Shield (16.3) while Richard Hughes is on Sgt Reckless.
The best Irish bet might be Golantilla, Tony Martin’s horse. Tipped by a few wise heads, he’s available at 9.5 on Tote.
Apologies if I advised that Ruby Walsh was done for the day. He’s on Briar Hill for Willie Mullins at 20.6
We’re sticking with Ireland, and Wexford, and backing Le Vent D’Antan for the win. Liz Doyle is a bit of a specialist in this race so her horse is worth a punt at 10.9. It is on the drift though as it gets upset in the peparation. Not being pulled out yet but acting the maggot.
The favourite, though, is the brilliantly named, and English, Sgt Reckless. Second in the betting is Regal Encore with AP in the irons and third is Union Dues, one of the Mullins’ entries.
Right, there are nine Irish runners in the field of 24 runners in the Champion Bumper. A bit of an Irish specialty, we have to win this one, right?
By the way, that win takes Ireland to six so far, already one better than last year. And guess what’s next? The Champion Bumper. We reckon a seventh Irish win might only be about 30 minutes away. We’ll be back to preview that in a mo…
Here’s the result. Look at the Tricast return… if only, eh?
1st 18 Flaxen Flare (IRE) 25/1
2nd 5 Caid Du Berlais (FR) 20/1
3rd 14 Ptit Zig (FR) 22/1
4th 19 Milord (GER) 16/1
Winning TrainerG Elliott
Winning JockeyD Condon
Runners 24 ran
Unpl. FavBordoni (USA) 6/1 J, Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 6/1 J
Distances4 ½, 1 ¾
SF £446.09
Tricast £10669.25
Caid Du Berlais was second, Ptit Zig was third and Milord was fourth. But Flaxen Flare was majestic.
A win for Ireland via Gordon Elliott. A pointer for Our Conor later in the week perhaps
Flaxen Flare wins in some style, Davy Condon standing in the irons saluting the crowd as he passed the winning post. Class
Okay, we’re about to go here. This will be fast and furious…
A late lunge on Another Sensation, ridden by AP. Yours for 11.8 and Jonjo O’Neill is still waiting for a winner this year.
And that news is relevant as no horse carrying over 11-4 has won this…
And just so you know, Mullins also has the top weighted horse, at 11-10 in Blood Cotil and the second (11-5) Fatcatinthehat. Yep, it’s a bit of a puzzle this one.
Bordoni, with Denis Regan in the saddle, is yours at 6.5 but we think Geraghty/Henderson can strike again with Megalypos at 8.1.
We might have a small punt in Kalmann. One of Willie Mullins’ Paul Townend takes the ride and after a near miss on Boston Bob and a brilliant third in the Coral Cup a win would top off a day that was literally very up and down. At 19.3 we think it’s a great bet.
Right, here’s Ruby Walsh’s last chance to nab a winner today. He aboard the favourite, Saphir Du Rheu. The horse is trained by Paul Nicholls, whose not having a great Festival thus far. It’s available at 5.7 on the Tote.
Okay, still two to go and we’ll take you through the final hour, and final two races, of Day 2. Next up is the Fred Winter, a 24 horse handicap hurdle.
Interesting tweet from the BBC journo Francis Keogh
He didn’t win but Willie Mullins performance with Fiveforthree deserves credit. The other Mullins chance, and a big fancy, Abbey Lane, was nowhere.
Bit more on Pendra, who never went well before getting into a bit of traffic at the turn. Fifth was Ericht by the way.
Here’s the final result…
1st 5 Medinas (FR) 33/1
2nd 9 Meister Eckhart (IRE) 14/1
3rd 4 Fiveforthree (IRE) 20/1
4th 11 Master Of The Sea (IRE) 10/1
Winning TrainerA King
Winning JockeyW Hutchinson
Runners 28 ran
Unpl. FavPendra (IRE) 6/1 F
Distances2, Nose
Master Of The Sea was fourth.
Meister Eckhart was second and Fiveforthree, brilliantly, was third.
Medinas wins. Incredibely don’t think we mentioned it! Win for Alan King. Great race that went off fast and then slowed with the big ones coming to the fore. The favourites never featured though.
Okay, they are lining up. Best of luck, we’re sure every horse in the race has a few backers so someone out tere will win. Hope it’s you!
By the way, in races like this with lots of horses over 7/1, theTote.com is better than your local bookie 70 per cent of the time. Check out theor prices here.
Bit of money now for Cash And Go, from the Henderson/Geraghty team, and another Hendo horse, Ericht, at 10 stone 10lbs is also attracting support. I must be close to mentioning all 28 at this point, right?
Here’s Barry Geragthy after his big win on Sprinter Sacre.
“He is an unbelievable horse. To beat Sizing Europe the way he did was a remarkable performance. He was keen early on but settled down. He’s a class act. I think the ‘Frankel of jump racing’ is a fair way to describe him.”
We have a new favourite in Pendra. Ridden by AP McCoy, it certainly has the form line, if it stays out of trouble of course. Did we mention that there are 28 runners…
We’ve heard more tips for this race than any other this week. Among the horses we’ve heard more than once are Barbatos (32.1) and Mr Watson (15.1) but in this race, your guess is as good as mine.
We’re not convinced by Abbey Lane, especially over the ground. A horse like Fiveforthree, who hasn’t run in over 700 days, would be an epic win for Mullins and for jockey Pual Townend, we hope he does it. A classy horse in its day, at 11 the years are against it but at 20.9 its worth a bit EW.
The favourite is Abbey Lane (7.2). No prizes for guessing the trainer and the jockey but it deserves pointing out that Ruby Walsh has yet to have a winner today…
Okay, we’re still awestruck by Sprinter Sacre’s run but next up is the Coral Cup (4.00) and with 28 horses to go through, we better make a start.
Rumours on RTE that Sprinter Sacre may be Punchestown bound next month. What a treat for Irish racing that would be. Make it happen Nicky!
Here’s the result folks. 19 lengths. 19 LENGTHS ahead of Sizing Europe.
1st 5 Sprinter Sacre (FR) 1/4 f
2nd 3 Sizing Europe (IRE) 6/1
Winning TrainerN J Henderson
Winning JockeyB Geraghty
Runners 7 ran
Distances19
SF £1.85
While we wait for the full result of the Champion Chase, and the return of Sprinter Sacre to the winner’s enclosure, here’s the moment that Boston Bob fell at the last in the RSA.
It was expected, and not much fun for us punters, but that was still a great performance.
Oh that was sensational by Sprinter Sacre. Barry Geraghty barely moved on the winner’s back. In fairness to Sizing Europe he took on the winner but Sprinter Sacre just flew past him and pulled away three from home. Wishfull Thinking was third, Sanctuaire fourth. That was awesome.
Somersby a faller
They’re off!
The lads on the TV are saying Sizing Europe for second. This will be a hectic sprint, over two miles and 13 fences so brace yourself. A few mentions of Somersby too, who has run well at Prestbury Park before.
Old stager Sizing Europe is second in the betting, at 6.1 but we have doubts Henry de Bromhead’s star can place here. At a push we will go for Sanctuaire at 12. Beaten by Sprinter Sacre twice we think he is the only one with even a sliver of a chance against the favourite.
Unbeaten in seven races over fences, last year’s Arkle winner is a machine. He has won those seven races by an average distance of 15 lengths and on form no horse should go near him. If you have bags of cash nearby, maybe back him at 1.2. The rest of us will have to look elsewhere.
Right, were caffeineed up and back in the saddle. The Champion Chase is one of the Festival highlights and this year is no exception. It’s not because of a great battle this time, though, it is all about one horse; Sprinter Sacre.
Okay, we have about 20 minutes until the feature, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, so I’m off to grab a cuppa. Be back in a few minutes to build up to Sprinter Sacre’s big day.
Here’s the full result of the RSA
1st 5 Lord Windermere (IRE) 8/1
2nd 6 Lyreen Legend (IRE) 10/1
3rd 3 Hadrian’s Approach (IRE) 7/1
Winning TrainerJ H Culloty
Winning JockeyD Russell
Runners 11 ran
Unpl. FavUnioniste (FR) 5/2 F
Distances1 ¾, 6
Tote Win £11.60
Pl £2.50,£2.60,£2.40
EX £95.70
SF £81.16
Tricast £589.95
By the way, favourite Unioniste never really featured. More good news for the bookies.
Really feel for Paul Townend, the man who was on Boston Bob. A top man and we would have loved to see him get a Cheltenham Grade 1 win. Better luck next time Paul.
A first training win at Cheltenham for Jim Culloty, the man who rode Best Mate to all those Gold Cups. Great stuff and delighted for Jim.
Oh Boston Bob led and had a bad fall at the last after looking a winner all the way. Left it open for Lyreen Legend and Lord Windermere. The latter did it in the finish. Great ride by Davy Russell.
Okay, about to go. Just over three miles and 19 obstacles. Good luck whoever you backed.
And if you backed Hadrian’s Approach the lads on the telly reckon his jumping is very suspect. Barry Geragthy is aboard. #prayforbarry
Okay, they are lining up for the RSA. It’s going to be a really interesting battle. Can Mullins get back to winning ways with Boston Bob?
All the money is for Unioniste. Now at 2.5. Boston Bob almost double that price right now.
For a bit of value, Lyreen Legend, from Dessie Hughes, is a good each-way bet at 14.7 with the Tote. He doesn’t win every race he runs, but he usually places.
We say underwhelming as horses like Arkle and Denman have won this race before. That said, the most intruiging thing in this race is the fact that Ruby Walsh is aboard Paul Nicholls charge Unioniste. Paul Townend is on Mullins’ Boston Bob. A top class rider, don’t be put off by the absence of Ruby on Boston Bob’s back.
Okay, 20 minutes until the slightly underwhelming RSA Chase. We wonder will the Mullins mini-flop in the last affect Boston Bob’s price?
Still in a bit of shock at that race, and not just because our bet bit the dust. Pont Alexandre didn’t look like we had seen here in Ireland. That said, The New One might be a a real class act. We’ll see next year.
Here’s the result. Ireland 4, Britain 4 right now.
1st 8 The New One (IRE) 7/2
2nd 5 Rule The World 5/1
3rd 3 Pont Alexandre (GER) 6/4 f
Winning TrainerN A Twiston-Davies
Winning JockeyS Twiston-Davies
Runners 8 ran
Non runners4, 6
Distances4, 4 ½
SF £21.05
Tricast £35.56
It was a slow enough pace and around the bend Ruby pressed the buttton on Pont Alexandre. It seemed to work but when he hit the hill he died and The New One was very impressive over the final stages. Good ride by Davy Russelll to claim second for Mouse Morris and Michael O’Leary.
Wow, no win for Pont Alexandre, who finishes third, sinking a load of bets and saving many bookies. The New One, from the out of form Nigel Twiston-Davies yard wins. Second was Rule The World.
Just saw a tweet from a bookie which read ‘If Pont Alexandre wins this we’ll have to turn off the heating’. He’s second right now
Okay, just before the off the only other option is Rule The World at 7.0 with the Tote. Mouse Morris and Davy Russell have a good thing there and if Pont Alexandre doesn’t live up to what we have seen so far, Russell can pounce. That’s a big if though.
Great shot of Patrick Mullins celebrating his win aboard Back In Focus in the first.
We’d love to tell you that some money had come in but the world and their mother is now awre of the red-hot form of one particular yard. Pont Alexandre being plowedinto right now.
There’s a couple of non-runners in this one. Puffin Billy, who ran yesterday, and Sizing Gold, sit this one out. Eight go to post in this 2m5f test.
Okay, not long until the next race, the first Grade 1 of the day, the Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle. As you can imagine, there is a tidal wave of money for Mullins and Walsh’s horse of Pont Alexandre. It’s 1.9 now on Tote.
Did we mention it was Ladies Day? We’ll just leave this here…
Here’s the full result of the opener on Day 2
1st 1 Back In Focus (IRE) 9/4 f
2nd 15 Tofino Bay (IRE) 8/1
3rd 5 Godsmejudge (IRE) 7/1
Winning TrainerW P Mullins
Winning JockeyM Mullins
Runners 16 ran
Distances½, 19
SF £18.03
Tricast £107.79
Oh yeah, and another win for Willie Mullins and Ireland. Mullins 4, Rest of the World 3 right now
What a finish! Tofino Bay had the race in the bag when Rival D’Estruval fell at the second last. Nina was miles clear of Back In Focus but began to idle up the hill and Patrick Mullins coaxed the favourite back into it and caught the long-time leader Tofino Bay. Still, if you backed Back In Focus to win, and Tofino Bay to place, lik we did, then that was a pretty sweet finish.
Scampi Boy unseats rider. Hampers Rose of the Moon in the process
No change at the top with a lap to go
Favourite Back In Focus also up with the leaders now… 13 fences completed, 12 to go
Highland Lodge and Tofino Bay lead with two full circuits still to go
Enda Bolger’s Drawn N Drank is struggling in last. May be pulled up soon if doesn’t improve.
Okay, here we go… good luck today everybody.
RTE have told us that 33 Irish horses are running at the Festival today, three in the first. Impressive raiding party that.
This is a race for amateur jockeys, but the likes of Nina Carberry and Patrick Mullins are far from novices. This race will be a long trek A bit of late money for Emperor’s Choice, Highland Lodge and Rose Of The Moon as punters look for a bit of EW value. It’s probably the safest way to bet in this race to be honest.
The other mover, and one we have had a few euros on ourselves, is Tofino Bay. The Dessie Hughes trained horse, ridden by Nina Carberry, should have the stamina for the four-mile race and at 8.0 on the Tote, it’s definitely worth an EW punt.
Right, let’s have a look at the opener. No surprises to see all the money piling into the favourite Back In Focus. Trained by the man of the Festival so far Willie Mullins, and ridden by son Patrick, we suspect some of the wedge won on his runners yesterday is being ‘re-incvested’. By the way, the price on Tote is 3.2 right now.
It’s Ladies Day today by the way, and that might explain the slightly mad head on trainer Nicky Henderson taken at the course this morning. Don’t stare Nicky…
Okay, just about half an hour until the first race of the day, the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase. The going today is Good to Soft, Soft in places.
Yesterday Kevin Kilbane picked a few winners so we present his tips for today… if they don’t come in, take it up with Kev…
By the way, the Tote have recruited top jockey Barry Geraghty to give them a few tips today. You can check out the full info here but here’s his top Tote tips for Day 2.
-Place bet – Tofino Bay in the first race 1.30 pm
-Reverse Exacta bet – Pont Alexandre & Taquin Du Seuil in 2:05 pm (Reverse Exacta is when you nominate 2 horses to come 1st and 2nd in any order)
-Each Way bet in 4:40 – Megalypos
Now is as good a time as any to remind you that the Tote Jackpot is a guaranteed £50,000 again today at Cheltenham. To be in with a shot at the money, just click here for all the details.
And if you’re wondering why all the papers are full of Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins today, have a look at how yesterday unfolded here.
If you haven’t had a chance to read the papers this morning, here’s our full preview of today’s action.
Welcome to Day 2 of our Cheltenham Festival coverage, in association with theTote.com. Day 1 was pretty good so let’s hope we have just as many good races, and winning bets, as we did yesterday.
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