So that's it for Day Two
The shock defeat of Douvan in the Queen Mother Champion Chase was the biggest upset on the second day of a Festival that is fast turning into a financial bonanza for bookmakers. On a day when thousands more punters did their conkers, the Willie Mullins-trained hot-pot was beaten by Henry De Bromhead’s Special Tiara, who gave weigh room veteran Noel Fehily another feature race to go with the Champion Hurdle he won yesterday. After two days of racing, Mullins and his leading jockey Ruby Walsh remain without a winner between them.
In the day’s most thrilling race, Might Bite looked to have thrown away a commanding lead in the RSA Novices’ Chase after being headed by Whisper on the run-in, only to get back in front and win by the skin of his teeth under a relieved Nico De Boinville. Previously, Willoughby Court triumphed in the Neptune Novices’ hurdle in the hands of David Bass to give English trainer Ben Pauling his first Festival winner. The annual bookie benefit that is the Coral Cup (it’s sponsored by a bookmaker for a reason) was won in fine style by Supasundae and Robbie Power, to give the trainer Jessica Harrington her first winner at this year’s jamboree, while Gordon Elliott saddled his fourth winner in two days when he sent out Cause of Causes and Jamie Codd to win the specialist wacky race event that is the Cross Country.
In the day’s closing two contests, champion jockey Richard Johnson got off the mark in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle on the Nick Williams-trained 33-1 shot Flying Tiger, while the Champion Bumper went to the mare Fayonagh, to make it a double on the day for Codd and make it five winners after two days for Elliott, who is enjoying a Festival beyond his wildest dreams. On a more sombre note, today’s opener resulted in the death of the JP McManus-owned Consul Du Thaix, who suffered a crashing fall that also left his jockey Mark Walsh sidelined for the rest of the week with a bad concussion.
Updated
Champion Bumper (5.30) result
1 Fayonagh (Mr J J Codd) 7-1
2 Debuchet (D E Mullins) 10-1
3 Claimantakinforgan (Nico de Boinville) 22-1
22 ran
Also: 9-2 Fav Cause Toujours, 10-1 Next Destination 4th
Non Runner: 15
Tote: win 8.60 places 3.00 4.10 7.20
Tote Exacta: 88.00
CSF: 69.40
Tricast: 1497.00
Updated
Champion Bumper (5.30) 2m
Fayonagh the mare wins under a brilliant ride from Jamie Codd after being bashed up at the start and left behind. Codd waited patiently at the back and bided his time to come with a searing run through the field to win by over a length. A quite remarkable ride. If I’d backed her I’d have thrown my betting slip away after half a furlong.
Champion Bumper (5.30) 2m
My Mate Mark continues to lead from Copernicus and Irish Roe with the field well spread out ... They bunch up inside the final half-mile and Dans Le Vent and Debuchet occupy the front two placings ... Debuchet looks to have the wiin but is collared by a remarkable run from Fayonagh who came right from the back to win after being left behind at the start. Fayonagh makes it five for the Festival for trainer Gordon Elliott and a double on the day for Jamie Codd.
Champion Bumper (5.30) 2m
Off the go in the final race of the day and My Mate Mark makes the running early doors from Copernicus and Irish Roe is in third.
Champion Bumper (5.30) 2m
They’re making their way down to the start in the Champion Bumper, a race without jumps where inexperienced babies learn about the hurly burley of life on the racecourse. Cause Toujours, trained by Dan Skelton heads the betting at 5-1. WIllie Mullins has the next couple in the betting in Carter Mckay (6-1) and Debuchet (8-1). There would be no more popular winner of this race than Quick Grabim (25-1), who is trained by popular former jockey Robbie McNamara, who was left paralysed from the waist down in a fall at Wexford in 2015.
Champion Bumper (5.30) preview
This was formerly a Mullins benefit, though other trainers are allowed to get a look-in these days, the great man having won it just the twice in the past eight years. His two against the field, Carter McKay and Next Destination, both look very dangerous, though the drying ground could result in the first-named being tapped for toe.
Irish Roe has been kept for this since dead-heating here in November and may go well again at a big price. Cause Toujours was an exciting, wide-margin winner at Warwick, while Someday also has strong credentials and should provide trainer’s daughter Kate Harrington with a live chance. Western Ryder comes from a yard that does extremely well in this type of race and he has more experience than most of these.
More heartbreak for punters ...
Another long-priced winner will have bookies smiling, but spare a thought for jockey Lizzie Kelly who had the choice between the winner and Diable De Sivola, which finished fifth or sixth. Sadly for her, she chose unwisely.
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) result
1 Flying Tiger (R Johnson) 33-1
2 Divin Bere (N D Fehily) 9-2 Fav
3 Nietzsche (Danny Cook) 12-1
4 Project Bluebook (B Hughes) 14-1
22 ran
CSF: 179.91
Tricast: 1978.85
Updated
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) 2m
Nietzsche leads over the last but is headed by Flying Tiger and Divin Bere on the run-in. Flying Tiger pulls a length clear to beat Divin Bere by a neck for champion jockey Richard Johnson and the trainer Nick Williams.
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) 2m
Fidux leads them over flights number three and four from Dodgy Bingo, Nietzsche and Dakota Moirette ... Rainbow Dreamer tracks the leaders but the field remains tightly bunched as they approach the business end of the race ...
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) 2m
They’re off in the Fred Winter and Divin Bere the favourite, but all eyes on the steamer Linger, who’s been backed off the boards. After a failed attempt to get them to jump off, starter Robbie Supple got them on their way from a standing start and Fidux and Linger lead them over the first two hurdles ...
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) 2m
The runners and riders are on their way down to the start for the Fred Winter, with Cheltenham still bathed in early evening sunshine on a glorious day at the Festival. THere’s been a massive plunge on Linger, ridden by Rachael Blackmore - it’s been backed into 6-1 from 33-1.
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) preview
Of all the runners in handicaps this week, Divin Bere looks the one most likely to be better than his current rating, having beaten a really useful type on his British debut in January and had a wind operation since. He will surely give his backers a good run, for all that Huntingdon is a very different track from Cheltenham.
But there will be others in this field of youngsters who have hidden talent, including his stablemate, Domperignon Du Lys. Paul Nicholls has had the one-two in this race for the past two years, so his Dolos and Dreamcatching are worth a second look, especially the latter, who seems on a steep upward curve. Linger is an interesting Irish raider, having had the Triumph Hurdle as his stated target when last seen, winning in December.
Updated
Cross Country (4.10) result
1 Cause Of Causes (Mr J J Codd) 4-1
2 Bless The Wings (D N Russell) 10-1
3 Cantlow (A P Heskin) 9-4 Fav
16 ran
Also: 8-1 Auvergnat 4th
CSF: 37.53
Tricast: 112.66
Updated
Cross Country Chase (4.10) 3m 6f
They’ve two to jump and Quantative Easing is pulled up at the rear of the field. Amazing Comedy leads by three lengths from Auvergant and Cause of Causes ... Cause Of Causes leads over the last under Jamie Codd and is going to win pulling a cart. Cause Of Causes wins the Cross Country, his third Festival win, under a fine ride from Jamie Codd for the trainer Gordon Elliott.
Updated
Cross Country Chase (4.10) 3m 6f
It’s Ballyboker Bridge from Any Currency, Cantlow, Amazing Comedy, Third Intention and Cause Of Causes as they approach the water jump for the second time. There’s a loose horse in amongst them that got in Cantlow’s way and caused him to peck on landing ...
Cross Country Chase (4.10) 3m 6f
Ballyboker Bridge leads from Any Currency and Cantlow as they go over the water jump and hang a left towards the grass banks known as the cheese wedges, where Usuel Smurfer and First Lieutenant come a cropper ...
Cross Country Chase (4.10) 3m 6f
They’re away and running in the Cross Country Chase, where thousands of racegoers have made their way across the track to congregate around the special course-within-a-course which the riders must navigate. Ballyboker Ridge is the one they’re all following in the hope his rider studied the map before they left the weigh room ...
Cross Country Chase (4.10)
Next up its the terminally perplexing Cross Country Chase in which riders navigate a ridiculously complicated course and go over double-spread fences, stuffed hurdles, grass banks, cheese wedges and various other obstacles until the one remaining horse and rider that manage to stay intact and don’t get lost wins.
Irish trainer Enda Bolger and Nina Carberry are the masters of this race and the Bolger-trained Cantlow is the favourite here. Nina isn’t riding this week as she’s expecting her first child, who is due in nine weeks, but she is on hand to say that if she was riding she’d have chosen Cantlow.
Now here's a thing ...
In the immediate aftermath of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, ITV’s betting reporter Matt Chapman said that quite a few people would be unsurprised by the result because rumours emanating from the Willie Mullins yard had suggested Douvan was not working well.
I’ve seen almost every minute of ITV’s Cheltenham coverage over the past two days and I’m fairly certain that’s the first time anyone from their presenting team has mentioned those rumours. In fact, nobody on the ITV team has been championing the “extra-terrestrial” more than Chapman. If they were aware of any such rumours, surely they had a duty to mention them to their viewers? They may have, but if they did I missed that memo.
I can’t stress enough that this is not pocket talk - I don’t bet on 2-9 shots as I’m a tight git who’s firmly of the belief that if you already have the £9 you don’t need to risk it for an extra £2.
Updated
Cross Country Chase (4.10) preview
This is a specialist discipline for Irish trainers, whereas British trainers tend to use it as a late-career option for fading stars. The result is that only the excellent Balthazar King has been good enough to win this prize for Britain in the past decade, the trophy being marked for export eight times out of 10. Cantlow has made good as a cross-country type for master trainer Enda Bolger and was carrying lots more weight than the winner when second here in a handicap in January.
He has the strongest course form. Cause Of Causes probably has more ability but was well beaten that day, his first foray into cross-country racing, and has to prove that he can cope with the new discipline. Auvergnat is a young improver but has plenty to find with Cantlow. Colour Squadron is one to be careful of, his efforts on the track nearly always falling well short of his ability.
Updated
Willie Mullins on Douvan: "I thought he was in trouble at the top of the hill. I imagine we'll find a physical problem."
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) March 15, 2017
Willie Mullins added after Douvan's shock defeat: "Ruby was a bit gobsmacked."
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) March 15, 2017
AP McCoy speaks ...
On ITV, the former champ suggests that the front-running tactics of the Henry de Bromhead-trained Special Tiara got Douvan out of his comfort zone and caused him to perhaps doubt himself and start reaching for fences. He ran like a hairy goat here and Ruby Walsh looked far from pleased as he rode his mount back to the saddling enclosure.
Updated
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) result
1 Special Tiara (N D Fehily) 11-1
2 Fox Norton (Aidan Coleman) 7-1
3 Sir Valentino (P J Brennan) 33-1
10 ran
Also: 2-9 Fav Douvan, 20-1 Top Gamble 4th
CSF: 90.95
Tricast: 2558.29
Updated
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
That’s a wonderful pillar to post victory from Special Tiara, in a massive upset. Douvan’s jumping was erratic to say the least and when Ruby Walsh asked him questions towards the business end of the race there was nothing left in the tank.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
Special Tiara leads around the bend from Gods Own ... Douvan is beaten ... Special Tiara leads them up the hill from Fox Norton and looks to have held on to win by a head on the line for Noel Fehily. SPecial Tiara wins the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Douvan came nowhere.
Updated
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
Special Tiara leads by a length from Garde La Victoire as Douvan puts in a couple of unconvincing jumps, getting in very tight against the third fence ... Special Tiara leads by five from Douvan, who reaches for a fence but gets to the other side ... Special Tiara continues to bowl along in front with Douvan, who looks in big trouble ...
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
Off they go in the fast and furious blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Queen Mother Champion Chase roller-coaster ride with Special Tiara, Douvan and Simply Ned making the running three abreast as they leap the first two fences ...
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
The runners and riders are making their way past the grandstand in racecard order, with Douvan leading the way. He’s aiming for his 14th consecutive victory and halfway through the second day of the Festival, his trainer Willie Mullins could really do with a winner having failed to get off the mark so far. His jockey Ruby Walsh is also looking for his first winner of the week and if Douvan gets turned over, one suspects it’s just not meant to be their week. Douvan looks stunning - lean, muscular ... regal. They’ll be off and running in racing’s fastest steeplechase very soon.
Updated
Robert "Choc" Thornton tweets ...
While it’s rare to see one jockey criticising another, it’s fair to say that the former rider was not impressed with the winning ride that Nico De Boinville gave to Might Bite in the RSA.
I'm gonna get shot for saying this but that was one of the worst winning rides I've ever seen #CheltenhamFestival #speechless
— Robert Choc Thornton (@Choc_Thornton) March 15, 2017
Updated
And here is Douvan... pic.twitter.com/xUBuzLCjJn
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 15, 2017
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) betting
- Douvan 2-9
- Fox Norton 7-1
- Gods Own 8-1
- Special Tiara 11-1
- Garde La Victoire 16-1
Supasundae bolts up in the Coral Cup
Supasundae took charge of the Coral Cup for trainer Jessica Harrington and jockey Robbie Power. Owned by Alan and Ann Potts, the 16-1 chance came into his own approaching the final flight and was much too good for Taquin Du Seuil, who succumbed by two lengths. Who Dares Wins and Monksland finished third and fourth respectively.
“He’s galloped all the way to the line,” said Robbie Power. “He was a very, very good bumper horse and beat Yanworth in the [Aintree] Bumper.”
Harrington said: “I only inherited him this year from Henry de Bromhead so it’s absolutely fantastic. Good ground was the real making of him. We knew he’d improve a real lot on that ground.” Tombstone, the 7-2 favourite, was most disappointing. - PA Sport.
Updated
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) preview
If Mullins is still waiting for a winner after this, the world really will be upside down. He fields Douvan, who is not just a hot favourite at odds of about 2-7, he is reckoned by some to be the best chaser ever trained in County Carlow and perhaps anywhere.
Unbeaten in 13 for Mullins, he is certainly good enough to land this unless something goes wrong and clever enough at his fences to minimise the risk of parting company with Ruby Walsh. The opposition is not strong, some potential rivals having been scared off into other races. Special Tiara, God’s Own and Fox Norton have all had their days in the sun but the level of their ability is now well established and it does not come near Douvan’s. Garde La Victoire is less exposed but his jumping let him down in the major spring festivals last year.
Coral Cup (2.50) result
1 Supasundae (R M Power) 16-1
2 Taquin Du Seuil (Aidan Coleman) 12-1
3 Who Dares Wins (Wayne Hutchinson) 33-1
4 Monksland (D Meyler) 66-1
25 ran
Also: 7-2 Fav Tombstone
Non Runner: 26
Updated
Coral Cup (2.50) 2m 5f
Supasundae has bolted up in the Coral Cup to win pulling a cart from Taquin De Seuil. “I got the perfect pozzie all the way around,” says jockey Robbie Power, who says the horse has been crying out for good ground. WHo Dares Wins was third and Monksland was fourth.
Coral Cup (2.50) 2m 5f
Supasundae leads them up the hill and wins the Coral Cup for Robbie Power and Jessica Harrington from Taquin Du Seuil.
Updated
Coral Cup (2.50) 2m 5f
Bravissimo the grey leads by a length under Katy Walsh, sister of Ruby with four hurdles left to jump ... they’re tightly grouped and if you’re an Arsenal fan who backed The Romford Pele you can probably throw your ticket away ... Tombstone is getting a patient ride and only has six or seven behind him with two to jump ... Tombstone is being scrubbed along as Who Dares Wins, Modus and Supasundae make the running ...
Coral Cup (2.50) 2m 5f
The 25 runners and riders are off and running in the annual bookie benefit that is the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle and there’s been a huge plunge on the Gordon Elliott-trained hurdle. It’s a real rough-and-tumble race in which no quarter is spared or given as the competitors ride three or four abreast jockeying for the best position like cyclists in a peloton approaching the business end of a stage .... Bravissimo makes the running here with a lead of three or four lengths over Thomas Hobson, Who Dares Wins and Hawk High ....
Another look at that photo finish in the RSA, Might Bite (near side) just getting up to defeat Whisper pic.twitter.com/jKw5mu8MxR
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 15, 2017
Might Bite shows his teeth in the RSA
Might Bite defeated stablemate Whisper in the RSA Chase in one of the most dramatic finishes in recent Cheltenham Festival history. The former was a mile clear under Nico de Boinville, but a less-than-fluent leap at the last gave Whisper just a squeak.
Whisper then suddenly grew inspired along the run-in, whereas Might Bite - who fell at the final fence at Kempton on Boxing Day with a Grade One prize at his mercy - faltered as he hung badly to his right and was even headed.
De Boinville managed to correct his path with the aid of a loose horse and the Nicky Henderson-trained pair eventually flashed past the post in unison, but Might Bite (7-2 favourite) was announced the winner by a nose.
“He did exactly the same in his hurdles run around here, the same thing happened,” said De Boinville. “Without the loose horse I wouldn’t have won. He’s a thinker but he’s so talented, he jumped for fun - he should have won by five or 10 lengths. It’s great for the owners and great for guv’nor, he’s having a great time of it. I kept faith with this horse, I can see why others might not! We’ll see [if he is a Gold Cup horse], we might have to iron out a few issues, but he’s definitely got the ability.”
Updated
More bad news for Mark Walsh
Reports from the racecourse suggest the jockey will miss the rest of the Festival after being stood down with a concussion suffered in the first race. Expect some significant jockey changes for the rest of the week, as Walsh had a fine book of rides for the week due to Barry Geraghty being sidelined. Nico De Boinville is the first to benefit - he’ll take over on Hargam, currently a 12-1 shot on the next race.
Coral Cup preview (2.50)
A big-field handicap hurdle is meat and drink to Gordon Elliott, who has at least two fine chances in Tombstone, well treated after beating Jezki last time, and Automated, impressive at Navan in December. Peregrine Run gets the dry surface he needs and won here in November; put a line through his defeat last time in Warwick mud.
Modus is a tricky customer but probably has more to give and there was plenty to like about his Lanzarote success last time, the step up to this distance seeming to help a lot. Taquin Du Seuil looks well treated back over hurdles and comes from the Jonjo O’Neill yard that is returning to form after a weak season.
RSA Novice Chase (2.10)
That was a sensational race and ITV pundit AP McCoy pundit quite rightly points out that a loose horse, one of the earlier fallers, almost certainly helped Might Bite to victory. He was wandering aimlessly all over the track on the run-in, but perked up upon being passed by a loose horse which gave him something to aim at and straighten his course.
Replay: Might Bite (@sevenbarrows) rallies to overhaul stablemate Whisper in an extraordinary finish to the RSA pic.twitter.com/T4WL1buROZ
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 15, 2017
Updated
RSA Novice Chase (2.10)
1 Might Bite (Nico de Boinville) 7-2 Fav
2 Whisper (D N Russell) 9-2
3 Bellshill (R Walsh) 5-1
12 ran
Also: 6-1 Alpha Des Obeaux 4th
CSF: 18.49
Tricast: 79.38
Updated
RSA Novice Chase (2.10) 3m
Might Bite wins!!! What a performance for Might Bite after it looked like he’d thrown the race away on the run-in. He made a mistake at the last and then started drifting across the track on the run-in. He was headed by Whisper but rallied to get his nose back in front on the line where it mattered.
RSA Novice Chase (2.10) 3m
Might Bite leaps three out with a lead of about ten lengths from Whisper and Bellshill ... has Might Bite nicked this one? Might Bite leaps the last but starts to drift on the run in .... Whisper heads him, but Might Bite gets back on track and the pair cross the line together. It’s a win for Nicky Henderson, but with which horse? I think Might Bite got back up, but we’ll need to see a photo!
Updated
RSA Novice Chase (2.10) 3m
The field is well strung out with Mite Bite making the running with just under a circuit to go ... Acapella Bourgeois is in second place, while Alpha Des Obeaux is in third ... Bellshill and OO Seven are next while Our Kaempter has been pulled up ...
RSA Novice Chase (2.10) 3m
Marinero is an early faller and is now running loose and getting in the way of other horses near the back of the field ... Might Bite leads from Alpha Des Obeaux and Acapello Bourgeois. Those three horses have a 12-length lead on the rest of the field, which is led by Royal Vacation. Might Bite leads from Alpha Des Obeaux with Acapella Bourgeois in third place. Bellshill is making progress through the strung out field ...
RSA Novice Chase (2.10) 3m
The 12 runners in the RSA Novices’ Chase are away and running after some pre-race tomfoolery from Acapella Bourgeois, who tried to steal a length under Roger Loughran. The frontrunner was very wound up by the time the starter, Robbie Supple, finally got them away from a standing start. It was a messy start but they’re off and running ... Acapella Bourgeois and Might Bite are making the running ...
Bad news for Mark Walsh
The rider of Consul De Thaix will not be riding again today as a result of the injuries he suffered in his fall in the first and will therefore miss out on his ride on the favourite Cantlow in the Cross Country. In the absence of Barry Geraghty, this was expected to be a big week for Walsh, but it’s gone disastrously for him so far.
Tony McCoy is in rare old form today
Far from being miserable because he can no longer indulge his passion for riding racehorses, the 20-times champion jockey seems to be absolutely revelling in his role as an ITV pundit. For a man not particularly renowned for his winning sense of humour and breezy world view, he’s just been riffing, be-bopping and scatting at the expense of his fellow pundit Luke Harvey in genuinely funny fashion and had to be told off by presenter Ed Chamberlin for making a slightly risque joke at the expense of a veterinary surgeon they just had on the show. Go AP!
News of a fatality
Bad news from the track, where the Nicky Henderson-trained, JP McManus-owned Consul De Thaix has had to be put down after suffering a bad fall in the first race. That’s never nice news to have to report.
Willoughby Court triumphs in the Neptune
Willoughby Court showed stunning bravery to land the Neptune Investment Management Novice’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The 14-1 chance, trained by Ben Pauling and ridden by David Bass, had looked a sitting duck once Neon Wolf made his move.
But try as he might along the run-in, the 2-1 favourite could not get on level terms with the front-running Willoughby Court, who was announced the winner after a photo-finish, getting the nod by a head. “My horse drifted right and drifted left again,” said Bass. “It’s brilliant for Ben and his team.
“I’m so grateful to him and his owners to ride a nice horse like this. I thought I was always holding him [Neon Wolf]. This lad stays well and it’s fantastic for Ben, who is a really good trainer.” Messire Des Obeaux finished third at odds of 8-1.
Updated
RSA Novice Chase (2.10) preview
Might Bite is one of those Marmite favourites. Some think he’s an overwhelming talent, now available at a good price because doubts about him have been overplayed. Others worry about his shocking last-fence fall at Kempton on Boxing Day and the mark it may have left. He didn’t prove much in pottering round Doncaster last time and one could worry about the fact that he has performed below market expectations on his last two runs at Cheltenham.
Acapella Bourgeois is an improving Irish chaser who could make things hard for his rivals by bowling along in front. The question is whether he needs proper soft ground, because he won’t get that here. Alpha Des Obeaux would be fancied to finish strongly past both of them if he could be relied on to show his best but he flopped at Leopardstown over Christmas when last seen and was found to have bled. Whisper is a classy beast but may lack the stamina for three miles. Bellshill fell last time and then fell again when schooling at Leopardstown recently, which left him a bit stiff. Pick your poison.
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30)
So, the stewards were happy that any interference on the run-in was minimal and that the best horse won, so have not called an enquiry. Willoughby Court has provided a second ever Cheltenham Festival winner for jockey David Bass and a first one for the horse’s trainer Ben Pauling, who is based in Bourton on the Water in Gloucestershire.
Consul De Thaix update
Consul De Thaix took a very heavy fall in that race and is currently receiving veterinary attention. His jockey Mark Walsh was able to walk away.
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) result
1 Willoughby Court (D Bass) 14-1
2 Neon Wolf (N D Fehily) 2-1 Fav
3 Messire Des Obeaux (D A Jacob) 8-1
15 ran
Also: 50-1 Burbank 4th
CSF: 42.17
Tricast: 254.37
Updated
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
Willoughby Court and David Bass are first past the post, with Neon Wolf and Noel Fehily a head back. There was a minimum amount of interference but having watched the head-on shot, ITV pundits Mick Fitzgerald and AP McCoy both say they’ll be surprised if Willoughby Court lose this in the stewards’ room. Bear in mind, a stewards inquiry has not yet been called. For those wondering, Messire Des Obeaux was third.
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
Two to jump and Willoughby Court continues to lead from De Dollar Man ... Neon Woilf is nicely poised and Brelade is looking dangerous ... WIlloughby Court leads them over the last with Neon Wolf breathing down his neck ... Willoughby Court wanders across the track but holds off Neon Wolf at the line ... Willoughby Court is first past the post, but that will almost certainly go to the stewards ...
Updated
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
Willoughby Court continues to make the running by about a length from De Dollar Man, Livelovelaugh, Neon Wolf and Messire Des Obeaux. THey’re all still standing and ... no, they’re not ... Consul De Thaix has gone down and hampered two others. Bacardys was one of them ...
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
The 15 runners and riders are away and running in the opener, starting in the middle of the track with Willoughby Court out in front from De Dollar Man, Livelovelaugh and Neon Wolf are next as they tank along with seven hurdles to jump ...
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) betting
They’ve gone 2-1 against Neon Wolf in the opener, while ITV racing have just taken a look at one ring bookie’s liabilities on the favourite: £33,000 and rising by the second.
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) betting
- Neon Wolf 15-8
- Bacardys 4-1
- Shattered Love 9-1
- Messire Des Obeaux 11-1
- Willoughby Court 16-1
- Bon Papa 16-1
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) preview
Is this where it all starts to go right for Willie Mullins? The Irishman, who has dominated jump racing for years, peppered the crossbar on Day One but could not find the back of the net. Not since 2008 has he had to wait this long for a Festival victory. He fields four of the 15 runners for this, a contest he has won twice in the past three years, and has a strong chance with Bacardys, a Grade One winner last time.
But he’ll have to overcome Neon Wolf, the likely favourite, who is unbeaten in four and beat a useful type by nine lengths last time. Messire Des Obeaux is another Grade One winner in the field, having bagged the Challow in December, and victory for him would help Alan King move on from a tough opening day, when the defeat of Yanworth must have been especially hurtful.
We have another non-runner ...
The racing Post are reporting that Someday is lame and will therefore not run in today’s Champions Bumper.
Today’s non-runners
- 2.50: Carrig Cathal
- 5.30: Someday
Some lunchtime listening ...
In today’s Love The Jumps podcast from The Jockey Club, there’s a recap on yesterday’s action and there’s chat from Noel Fehily, Nicky Henderson, Malcolm Jefferson, Jack Kennedy, Gordon Elliott and Lisa O’Neill.
One non-runner so far today ...
Cheltenham 2.50: Carrig Cathal
Today's market moves ...
1.30 Shattered Love has been the shortener here, down from 16-1 to 10-1, though Neon Wolf (2-1) and Bacardys (4-1) remain strong at the top of the betting.
2.10 The early 7-1 has gone about Alpha Des Obeaux, who is now a point shorter.
2.50 Tombstone is proving popular, down from the early 6-1 to 4s with 7-2 popping up in a lot of places. Meanwhile, his stablemate Automated has slid to 16-1 and there doesn’t seem much love for the 18-1 shot Modus. Taquin Du Seuil is 16-1 from 22s.
3.30 Douvan remains a best price of 3-10. Opposition to him is not strong but the standout prices have been wiped off about Fox Norton (now a best 9-1) and God’s Own (12-1).
4.10 Cause Of Causes has tightened up a bit from 9-2 to 4-1 to challenge Cantlow at the top of a market dominated by JP McManus. Bless The Wings is 12-1 from 16s.4.50 Divin Bere is a strong favourite at 5-1 from 7s, while there has been good support for Dino Velvet, 16-1 from 33s, who was tipped up by his trainer, Alan King, at a preview night on Saturday.
5.30 Cause Toujours is attracting some support, from 8-1 to 15-2, against the Mullins-trained favourite Carter McKay, who looks slightly uneasy at 5-1. Bakmaj, representing the connections that won with Tully East on day one, is 14-1 from 18s and even that is not likely to last, with 12-1 the general price.
An improved audience for ITV
ITV’s first day at the Cheltenham Festival scored an improved audience on the final years of Channel 4’s contract. The average audience for Tuesday afternoon’s programme is reported by the broadcaster as 800,000, up from the 674,000 reported by Channel 4 last year and 527,000 for the same day in 2015. It is the biggest first-day average since 2013, when C4 got 815,000. In these days of changing viewing habits and an overall decline in the TV audience, the more significant figure may be the 12% audience share reported by ITV, which beats last year’s 9.5% and indeed the share recorded for any Festival day for at least the last two years. The peak audience yesterday was 1.1m for the Champion Hurdle.
You could have it all ...
Empire Of Dirt will be left in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when the final entries are made this morning for Friday’s race. But, alas, it seems we fans of the horse cannot hope for a late change of heart that would actually make him likely to take part. Eddie O’Leary, who speaks for the owner, says Thursday’s Ryanair is the horse’s target and he is being left in the Gold Cup “in case he falls at the first in the Ryanair” or meets with some other early mishap that wouldn’t stop him running the next day. Empire Of Dirt looks a Gold Cup horse to me but he’s owned by Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, who is clearly keen to win his own race.
Mullins v O'Leary
We’re tracking the relative success this week of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, a powerful owner in jump racing, and the champion Irish trainer Willie Mullins. The pair of them fell out in September, resulting in about 60 horses being moved to other Irish trainers. So far at this Festival, O’Leary is faring the better, his two winners on opening day including one, Apple’s Jade, that was moved from Mullins to Gordon Elliott in the autumn.
Their runners today
1.30
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Mullins: Bacardys, Bon Papa, Kemboy, Livelovelaugh
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O’Leary: Shattered Love
2.10
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Mullins: Bellshill
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O’Leary: Marinero, Alpha Des Obeaux
2.50
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Mullins: Thomas Hobson, Allblak Des Places, Tin Soldier, Bravissimo, Sure Reef
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O’Leary: Tombstone
3.30
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Mullins: Douvan
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O’Leary: nil
4.10
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Mullins: Alelchi Inois
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O’Leary: First Lieutenant
4.50
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Mullins: nil
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O’Leary: Icario, Dakota Moirette
5.30
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Mullins: Carter Mckay, Next Destination
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O’Leary: nil
Our tips for today's races
1.30 Neptune Novice Hurdle: Bacardys 4-1
2.10 RSA Chase: Acapella Bourgeois 13-2
2.50 Coral Cup: Automated 14-1
3.30 Queen Mother Champion Chase: Douvan 2-7
4.10 Cross-country Chase: Cantlow 100-30
4.50 Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle: Divin Bere 6-1
5.30 Champion Bumper Cause: Toujours 8-1
That would be two for Willie Mullins, which, together with the sort of performance we expect from Douvan, would assuage the pain of yesterday’s blank. But Automated would give Mullins’s rival, Gordon Elliott, four for the week and an excellent chance of being top trainer at the Festival for the first time. My first five tips are all Irish-trained and would give Ireland a 9-5 lead if they all came in. Hope springs eternal ...
Champion Bumper (5.30) preview
This was formerly a Mullins benefit, though other trainers are allowed to get a look-in these days, the great man having won it just the twice in the past eight years. His two against the field, Carter McKay and Next Destination, both look very dangerous, though the drying ground could result in the first-named being tapped for toe.
Irish Roe has been kept for this since dead-heating here in November and may go well again at a big price. Cause Toujours was an exciting, wide-margin winner at Warwick, while Someday also has strong credentials and should provide trainer’s daughter Kate Harrington with a live chance. Western Ryder comes from a yard that does extremely well in this type of race and he has more experience than most of these.
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) preview
Of all the runners in handicaps this week, Divin Bere looks the one most likely to be better than his current rating, having beaten a really useful type on his British debut in January and had a wind operation since. He will surely give his backers a good run, for all that Huntingdon is a very different track from Cheltenham.
But there will be others in this field of youngsters who have hidden talent, including his stablemate, Domperignon Du Lys. Paul Nicholls has had the one-two in this race for the past two years, so his Dolos and Dreamcatching are worth a second look, especially the latter, who seems on a steep upward curve. Linger is an interesting Irish raider, having had the Triumph Hurdle as his stated target when last seen, winning in December.
Cross Country Chase (4.10) preview
This is a specialist discipline for Irish trainers, whereas British trainers tend to use it as a late-career option for fading stars. The result is that only the excellent Balthazar King has been good enough to win this prize for Britain in the past decade, the trophy being marked for export eight times out of 10.
Cantlow has made good as a cross-country type for master trainer Enda Bolger and was carrying lots more weight than the winner when second here in a handicap in January. He has the strongest course form. Cause Of Causes probably has more ability but was well beaten that day, his first foray into cross-country racing, and has to prove that he can cope with the new discipline. Auvergnat is a young improver but has plenty to find with Cantlow. Colour Squadron is one to be careful of, his efforts on the track nearly always falling well short of his ability.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) preview
If Mullins is still waiting for a winner after this, the world really will be upside down. He fields Douvan, who is not just a hot favourite at odds of about 2-7, he is reckoned by some to be the best chaser ever trained in County Carlow and perhaps anywhere.
Unbeaten in 13 for Mullins, he is certainly good enough to land this unless something goes wrong and clever enough at his fences to minimise the risk of parting company with Ruby Walsh. The opposition is not strong, some potential rivals having been scared off into other races. Special Tiara, God’s Own and Fox Norton have all had their days in the sun but the level of their ability is now well established and it does not come near Douvan’s. Garde La Victoire is less exposed but his jumping let him down in the major spring festivals last year.
Coral Cup (2.50) preview
A big-field handicap hurdle is meat and drink to Gordon Elliott, who has at least two fine chances in Tombstone, well treated after beating Jezki last time, and Automated, impressive at Navan in December. Peregrine Run gets the dry surface he needs and won here in November; put a line through his defeat last time in Warwick mud. Modus is a tricky customer but probably has more to give and there was plenty to like about his Lanzarote success last time, the step up to this distance seeming to help a lot. Taquin Du Seuil looks well treated back over hurdles and comes from the Jonjo O’Neill yard that is returning to form after a weak season.
Photograph: James Marsh/BPI/REX/Shutterstock
RSA Novice Chase (2.10) preview
Might Bite is one of those Marmite favourites. Some think he’s an overwhelming talent, now available at a good price because doubts about him have been overplayed. Others worry about his shocking last-fence fall at Kempton on Boxing Day and the mark it may have left. He didn’t prove much in pottering round Doncaster last time and one could worry about the fact that he has performed below market expectations on his last two runs at Cheltenham.
Acapella Bourgeois is an improving Irish chaser who could make things hard for his rivals by bowling along in front. The question is whether he needs proper soft ground, because he won’t get that here. Alpha Des Obeaux would be fancied to finish strongly past both of them if he could be relied on to show his best but he flopped at Leopardstown over Christmas when last seen and was found to have bled. Whisper is a classy beast but may lack the stamina for three miles. Bellshill fell last time and then fell again when schooling at Leopardstown recently, which left him a bit stiff. Pick your poison.
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) preview
Is this where it all starts to go right for Willie Mullins? The Irishman, who has dominated jump racing for years, peppered the crossbar on Day One but could not find the back of the net. Not since 2008 has he had to wait this long for a Festival victory. He fields four of the 15 runners for this, a contest he has won twice in the past three years, and has a strong chance with Bacardys, a Grade One winner last time. But he’ll have to overcome Neon Wolf, the likely favourite, who is unbeaten in four and beat a useful type by nine lengths last time. Messire Des Obeaux is another Grade One winner in the field, having bagged the Challow in December, and victory for him would help Alan King move on from a tough opening day, when the defeat of Yanworth must have been especially hurtful.
Top jockeys after Day One
- Nico De Boinville 1
- Bryan Cooper 1
- Noel Fehily 1
- Jack Kennedy 1
- Lisa O’Neill 1
- Denis O’Regan 1
- Tom Scudamore 1
So the honours have been widely shared and include Festival firsts for Kennedy and O’Neill. As with the trainers, the champions of Ireland and England have so far been shut out, though God knows Ruby Walsh was knocking on the door, with form figures of 2443 for his four rides. In Richard Johnson’s case, the only surprise is that there wasn’t more work for him; his three rides on day one started at odds of 14-1, 25-1 and 33-1. Does no one want to use a top-class jockey?
Top trainers after Day One
- Gordon Elliott 3 wins
- Nicky Henderson 2
- David Pipe 1
- Alan Fleming 1
For the first time in nine years, Willie Mullins did not get a winner on the opening day. The last time that happened was in 2008, the day Tidal Bay won the Arkle for Howard Johnson, which certainly feels like a long time ago.
Adding to the sense of power changing hands, Gordon Elliott had a treble, taking him to 11 Festival wins for his career, leaping over Ferdy Murphy, David Elsworth and Enda Bolger on the all-time list. Nicky Henderson continues to be Mr Reliable here and has taken his Festival tally to 57. Paul Nicholls was blanked on day one but only ran four and will have better chances to come.
The 32Red Cheltenham Festival tipping competition
Congratulations to TIMEFORM, who won yesterday’s competition on a princely final score of +28, largely thanks to Labaik (25-1). Malcolm Day (+24.75) chased him close. TIMEFORM, we’ll be in touch by email next week.
You could win a £50 bet from 32Red by proving your tipping prowess on today’s races. All you have to do is give us your selections for all of today’s races at Cheltenham. As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional stakes of £1 at starting price on each tip. Non-runners count as losers.
Please post all your tips in a single posting, using the comment facility below, before the first race at 1.30pm.
There are seven races at Cheltenham today and you must post a single selection for each race. Our usual terms and conditions will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing. If we get a tie after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out of those with the highest score. If an entrant has to repost their selections because of a non-runner, we will use the time of their later posting for tiebreak purposes.
If you don’t win today, don’t despair. We are running an identical competition on each day of the Festival.
An optimistic medical report
There’s good news this morning about Edwulf, whose collapse on the run-in caused such alarm after yesterday’s sixth race, the National Hunt Chase. Racecourse officials report that he is “up and about” at a local veterinary centre, showing no signal that would give immediate cause for concern.
There seems a degree of puzzlement about what actually went wrong with him, his jockey indicating he was dehydrated and short of oxygen while the trainer’s brother tweeted that he had had a seizure. Vets with hundreds of years of experience, collectively, have not agreed on what ailed him, apparently. But there is said to be every reason to hope that he’ll make a full recovery.
There is also positive news regarding jockey Willie Twiston-Davies, who was taken to hospital in Gloucester for x-rays on his back following his fall from Foxtail Hill in yesterday’s closing race. His brother Sam took to twitter last night to say Willie has fractures of his T8 and T9 vertebrae, but reports this morning say he has full movement of his fingers and toes and is expected to make a full recovery. We wish him well.
Just left @willy_twiston in hospital , he's in good spirits but fracture to his T8&9 and some cracked ribs! Will know more in the morning.
— Sam Twiston-Davies (@samtwiston) March 14, 2017
It's Ladies Day at Cheltenham
Seven races into this year’s Festival and the bookies’ satchels are already bulging after just one favourite, the practically unbackable odds-on hot-pot Altior, obliged on day one. With punters’ pals – the trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh – both drawing rare blanks and four of yesterday’s seven winners going off at odds of 12-1 or higher, punters will be licking their wounds, but more than 50,000 of them will flock through the gates for another crack at the betting ring this afternoon.
Mullins saddles the odds-on favourite Douvan for today’s feature race, the Queen Mother Champion Chase, while Walsh will be tasked with the responsibility of riding the two-mile chaser to its 14th consecutive victory. The general consensus is that only bad luck in running (and there’s plenty of it about) will stop the peerless Douvan from winning at a canter.
There are seven races on today’s card, with the first due to go off at 1.30pm but we’ll be here with previews, betting guides, updates, results, the best photographs from the track and everything else you need throughout the day.
