That's it for Day Two at the Fesitval
Nigel Twiston -Davies and his son Sam both enjoyed doubles on the day, with Twiston-Davies Sr saddling Blaklion (ridden by Ryan Hatch) in the RSA Chase and Ballyandy, ridden by Twiston-Davies Jr) in the Champion Bumper. Sam Twiston-Davies’ other winner came on Diego Du Charmil in the Fred Winter.
There was no doubting the big story of the day, however: Sprinter Sacre’s fairytale return from health problems to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase for the second time, with Nico De Boinville in charge of the steering job for trainer Nicky Henderson, who’s done a wonderful job to nurse his charge back to full health after heart problems.
Elsewhere, Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins had to settle for just one winner, today, taking the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle on Yorkhill, while Davy Russell notched up his first winner of the Festival on Diamond King, trained by Gordon Elliott, in the Coral Cup. Local horse Any Currency was the popular winner of the Cross-Country Chase, finally winning for Martin Keighly after two consecutive second-place finishes in the strange race. Aidan COleman had his feet in the stirrups dangling from the saddle on that particular winner’s back.
Champion Bumper (5.30) result
1 Ballyandy (Sam Twiston-Davies) 5-1
2 Battleford (Mr M P Fogarty) 25-1
3 Bacardys (R Walsh) 16-1
23 ran
Also: 7-2 Fav Augusta Kate, 11-1 Castello Sforza 4th
Non Runner: 14
CSF: 136.17
Tricast: 1908.56
Updated
Champion Bumper (5.30) 2m
Ballyandy wins for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and his jockey son, Sam. A double for them on the day, as they win by a flared nostril from Battleford, ridden by Mikey Fogarty, who was riding for Willie Mullins.
Champion Bumper (5.30) 2m
That’s as tight as a drum - I can’t tell who won that, looking at the freeze-frame ...
Champion Bumper (5.30) 2m
Battleford goes for home on the hill, with Ballyandy in hot pursuit on the inside. Ballyandy gets to the front on the far side, but Battleford battles forwards again. It’s a photo!
Champion Bumper (5.30) 2m
At the halfway stage, Spirit Of Kayf leads the way, with Winsome Bucks in second. Augusta Kate is in third on the outside ...
Champion Bumper (5.30) 2m
They’re off and running in today’s Get Out Of Jail Stakes - if you haven’t had a winner yet, this is your last chance ... until tomorrow. Augusta Kate is the 7-2 favourite and would be a dreadful result for the bookies. King Uther is a non-0runner and 23 horses take their chance ...
Champion Bumper (5.30) betting
- Augusta Kate 4-1
- Ballyandy 6-1
- New To This Town 15-2
- Avenir Dune Vie 8-1
- High Bridge 12-1
- Castello Sforza 12-1
It was a day to remember at Cheltenham... https://t.co/n3YSST367j
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) March 16, 2016
Preview: Champion Bumper (5.30)
A flat race for horses who will be jumpers in time, this is another contest in which Willie Mullins does well. Of course, he would expect to do well, with seven of the 24 runners on his side. The market likes Augusta Kate, the seven-length winner of a valuable contest at Navan when last seen. A case can be made for her stablemate Castello Sforza, unseen since April when he won a race that has worked out. Ballyandy is a tough sort who won here in November and hosed up at Newbury last month.
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) result
1 Diego Du Charmil (Sam Twiston-Davies) 13-2
2 Romain De Senam (Nick Scholfield) 20-1
3 Coo Star Sivola (Lizzie Kelly) 16-1
4 Missy Tata (B J Cooper) 10-1
22 ran
Also: 6-1 Fav Jaleo
CSF: 138.44
Tricast: 2053.94
Updated
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) 2m
Campeador and Voix Du Reve were both looming large at the last, but suffered crashing falls at the final hurdle. Jockeys Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty walked away (the latter very gingerly) and both horses are reported to be looking OK too.
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) 2m
Diego Du Carmil wins the Fred Winter for trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies. Romain De Senam was second and Coo Star Sivola was third. That’s a one-two for Paul Nicholls.
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) 2m
Coo Star Sivola leads, while Missy Tata has just flattened a hurdle ... three to go in the Fred Winter. Coo Star Sivola continues to lead under Lizzie Kelly, with Diego Du Charmil breathes down her neck. Voix Du Reve makes ground but falls at the last. Diego Du Charmil and Romain De Senam flash past the post in a one-two for Paul Nicholls. It’s a photo, but it looks like Diego Du Charmil was the winner, but I’ll get back to you with confirmation.
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) 2m
They’re away in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, with Akavit leading the way. Duke Street is on the inside with Coo Star Siviola third and Wolf Catcher in fourth ...
Corrections and clarifications: No More Heroes
Contrary to reports on social media, reports of No More Heroes’ demise have been greatly exaggerated. He is, apparently, still with us but his injury is serious. Here’s hoping he pulls through although the prognosis remains extremely bleak.
Updated
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50) betting
- Diego Du Charmil 6-1
- Jaleo 13-2
- Missy Tata 10-1
- Campeador 8-1
- Fixe Le Kap 11-1
- Kasakh Noir 14-1
- Voix Du Reve 12-1
- Kasakh Noir 14-1
- Messire Des Obeaux 16-1
- Our Thomas 16-1
Another equine fatality to report
It’s my sad duty to report that No More Heroes has been put down after suffering what appeared to be a tendon injury after buckling on landing at one of the final jumps in the RSA Chase. He was taken to the local equine hospital, although the prognosis was bleak. “It doesn’t look good I’m afraid,” his trainer Gordon Elliottt said at the time. “He’s done a tendon. Bryan [Cooper, his jockey] said he felt something after the third-last. That’s the ups and downs of racing.” The decision to put down No More Heroes means the number of fatalities at this year’s Festival currently stands at four. The Govaness, Pont Alexandre and Rezorbi all suffered fatal falls yesterday.
Preview: Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50)
A tricky handicap made all the trickier by the runners being aged just four and bursting with the potential to be better than they have so far shown. Diego Du Charmil, an ex-French runner, carries some confidence from the stable that won this race last year with a similar type. Campeador is a fancied runner who is less easy to like, having killed his chance by fighting for his head last time. Duke Street got his handicap mark from three quick runs in the autumn and is likely to prove ahead of that racing now. Coo Star Sivola didn’t cope with heavy going last time but should be happier this time.
Cross Country Chase (4.10) result
1 Any Currency (Aidan Coleman) 11-1
2 Josies Orders (Ms N Carberry) 15-8 Fav
3 Bless The Wings (Mr J J Codd) 33-1
16 ran
Also: 9-1 Quantitativeeasing 4th
CSF: 30.78
Tricast: 702.96
Updated
Cross Country Chase (4.10) 3m 6f
The favourite Josies Orders is making ground up the inside but has a lot to do. Any Currency leads up the hill and wins for Aidan Coleman, with Josies Orders coming like a train to finish second. The line came too soon for the favourite. Any Currency wins the Cross-Country for local trainer Martin Keighly after finishing second in each of the past two years.
Cross Country Chase (4.10) 3m 6f
Valadom leads from Love Rory and Sire Collonges and Josies Orders are all up front, but Love Rory is going backwards. Love Rory is pulled up, as Josies Orders as Valadom continues to lead from Any Currency ...
Cross Country Chase (4.10) 3m 6f
They’re off and running in the Cross-Country, that race that takes place in the middle of the Cheltenham course, where riders - without the aid of a sat-nav - have to try and remember a twisting, winding route that takes in a series of 31 fences, mounds, hills, cheese-wedges, ditches and the like. Enda Bolger is a specilist at training horses for races like this, while Nina Carberry is the mistress when it comes to riding them. Before the riders set off, Channel 4 presenter Clare Balding made the point that quite a lot of jockeys don’t like riding it, because it’s so difficult to remember the route. “Find Nina and follow her,” was Mick Fitzgerald’s advice, with the former rider happy to admit he “didn’t really” like the race. I won’t lie - I don’t like trying to describe what’s going on, but I’ll do my best. Some early news: Balthazar King, the second favourite, has fallen at one of the cheese wedges, shipping Richard Johnson out the side door. Horse and rider both look OK ...
The lord giveth and the lord taketh away ...
The punter who bet £220,000 on Douvan to win £80,000 yesterday has done his dough ... and then some. Jamie Loughead, spokesman for Star Sport bookmakers,, has been in touch to say that the firm took £135,000 from the same fellow on Un De Sceaux and £60,000 on More Of That, both of whom lost. Ouch.
Cross-Country Chase (4.10) betting
- Josies Orders 9-4
- Balthazar King 11-2
- Quantitiveeasing 9-1
- Sire Collonges 10-1
- Any Currency 10-1
- Ballyboker Bridge 12-1
- Cantlow 12-1
- Third Intention 16-1
- Rivage D’Or 25-1
- Dolatulo 25-1
- Uncle Junior 25-1
- Bless The Wings 25-1
Preview: Cross Country Chase (4.10)
Time for a spot of hedge-hopping, or, as one bookmaker has it: “That race where they go round and round in circles until the favourite’s in front.” Josies Orders is the favourite this time, having won twice around here this season. He comes from the Enda Bolger yard that has done well in such races. Balthazar King also has excellent course form but it seems almost unreasonable to hope for more from him than a safe jumping round, he having been absent for a year since breaking ribs in the Grand National. Rivage D’Or won this last year but really seems to have lost the plot since then.
Nicky Henderson: "Dreams do happen, it's unbelievable."
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) March 16, 2016
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) result
1 Sprinter Sacre (Nico de Boinville) 5-1
2 Un De Sceaux (R Walsh) 4-6 Fav
3 Special Tiara (N D Fehily) 16-1
10 ran
Also: 20-1 God’s Own 4th
CSF: 9.00
Tricast: 50.26
Updated
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
Sprinter Sacre wins the Queen Mother Champion Chase under Nico De Boinville, returning from heart problems to regain his crown. He took up the running two out and left Un De Sceaux looking like he was paddling in tar as he charged up the hill. The favourite had no answers for Sprinter Sacre and had to settle for second. Special Tiara was third.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
Incredible! Sprinter Sacre wins the Queen Mother Champion Chase for the second time! What a fairy tale! He leapt the last like a stag and roared up the hill to deafening cheers.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
Un De Sceaux takes it up, with Ruby Walsh keeping him on a very tight rein. Sprinter Sacre forces Special Tiara out wide and takes up the running ...
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
Special Tiara leaps six from home, followed by Un De Sceaux about two lengths behind. Soimersby is next, then Sprinter Sacre ...
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
Sizing Granite makes a dog’s breakfast of the first, but stays on his feet, as Special Tiara makes the running, followed by Un De Sceaux and Sprinter Sacre ... Felix Yonger and Sizing Granite are already out of contention ...
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
They’re away and running in the feature race of the day, with Un De Sceaux, Special Tiara and Just Cameron making sure to get away with a clear view in this test of speed over two miles, all looking for an early lead ...
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) 2m
The parade is over and the jockeys have cantered down to the first fence to give their mounts a view of what lies ahead. Sprinter Sacre looks great, as does Un De Sceaux, who could give Ruby Walsh his 50th Festival winner.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30) betting
- Un De Sceaux 8-11
- Sprinter Sacre 5-1
- Dodging Bullets 12-1
- Felix Yonger 12-1
- Special Tiara 16-1
- Sire De Grugy 14-1
- Gods Own 20-1
- Sizing Granite 25-1
- Somersby 50-1
- Just Cameron 66-1
Football's Stephen Hunt is enjoying a day at the races ...
And he’s unlikely to make the same mistake that Samir Carruthers made yesterday.
Pee patrol 😂😂😂🚰🚻🚾✊🏻💦☔️
— Noel Hunt (@boyhunt) March 16, 2016
One day late @stephenhunt1010
Any tips for your "poor" brother! Loving the hair too!! #Fresh pic.twitter.com/IVTHrH842i
Diamond King sparkles in Coral Cup
Diamond King was produced to perfection by Davy Russell to rule the roost in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham. Russell delivered Gordon Elliott’s charge after jumping the last flight and quickly asserted on the run to the line.
Baron Alco and Ubak, both trained by Gary Moore, set a steady pace and the tempo only increased down the hill with two flights to jump. Several horses were spread across the course, with Blazer, Ubak, Waxies Dargle and Long House Hall among those having every chance.
However, Diamond King (12-1) burst through on the far side to pounce and score by a length and a quarter from Long House Hall (16-1). Ubak (28-1) was another neck away in third, with Blazer (8-1) fourth. “That was great,” said Elliott. “Davy gave him a great ride and we’re delighted everything worked out. We thought if he settled he’d win.”
“It’s great to ride a winner here at any time of the year, let alone at the Festival,” said Russell. “Gordon filled me with loads of confidence - no instructions. All credit has to go to Gordon, he got him here in tip-top shape. He’s a master of his trade and it was easy to ride him.”
Preview: Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30)
It’s great to have the last three winners line up here but all of them have had issues that mean they are probably not as effective as when landing this. Sprinter Sacre has been winning again but is not the force of old after his heart issues. Sire De Grugy has been hard to win with for a couple of years but landed the Tingle Creek by knocking his main rival aside at the last. Dodging Bullets put up no more than a fair effort in his belated prep-run last month but better seems likely this time. All of them seem right up against it with a talent like Un De Sceaux in the field and may need him to run into one of the fences, something he does about once a season. There might be early fireworks if Special Tiara takes on Un De Sceaux for the lead.
Coral Cup (2.50) result
1 Diamond King (D N Russell) 12-1
2 Long House Hall (Harry Skelton) 16-1
3 Ubak (Joshua Moore) 28-1
4 Blazer (B J Geraghty) 8-1
26 ran
Also: 15-2 Fav Rock The Kasbah
CSF: 168.76
Tricast: 5256.59
Updated
Coral Cup (2.50) 2m 5f
Diamond King was the 12-1 winner, with Longhouse Hall in second, Ubak in third and Blazer fourth - we’ll have the full result with SPs in a moment.
Updated
Coral Cup (2.50) 2m 5f
There are six abreast as they jump the last and Diamond King takes over from Ubak ... Diamond King wins the Coral Cup with a well-timed run up the inside for jockey Davy Russell and trainer Gordon Elliott.
Coral Cup (2.50) 2m 5f
Four from home and Baron Alco maintains his lead, while Rock The Kasbah is going backwards ... not literally ... as they gallop down the hill. Waxies Dargle is stil;l in it as Baron Alco and Ubak lead them over the third last ... Hunters Hoof is still up there ...
Coral Cup (2.50) 2m 5f
Baron Alco continues to make the running as they approach the fourth, Ubak is second, with Hunters Hoof in third and they\’ve six to jump. ONe For Harry is losing touch at the back of the field, while Politologue is making ground under Sam Twiston-Davies ...
Coral Cup (2.50) 2m 5f
They’re off and running in every rubbish typist’s nightmare race and Baron Alco leads them along with the field strung out like Wednesday’s washing ...
Coral Cup (2.50) betting
- Rock The Kasbah 8-1
- Politologue 9-1
- Diamond King 10-1
- Arbre De Vire (9-1)
- Baoulet Delaroque 12-1
- Blazer 12-1
- Blood Cotil 12-1
- Hunters HOof 14-1
- Long House Hall 16-1
- Baron Alco 16-1
- Avant Tout 25-1
- The Romford Pele 25-1
- Call The Cops 25-1
- Avant Tout 25-1
- Ubak 28-1
Blaklion roars in RSA Chase
Blaklion stayed on commendably up the hill to take the honours in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham. Produced by Ryan Hatch in a wide-open race, the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Blaklion (8-1) put in a tenacious effort to come out on top.
The winner and Shaneshill battled it out in the closing stages, with the former prevailing by half a length. More Of That was third, another eight lengths in arrears.
“He’s not very big, but he can jump,” said Hatch, who was claiming his second Festival victory. “He was absolutely super - he travelled all the way. He had a bit of boot at the end and passed them all. He’s such a legend, he’s as hard as nails. He’s a very good horse and I just steered him, really.”
Some injury news from the RSA Chase ...
If you’re the kind of person who’s going to back Rock The Kasbah for musical reasons, you may well have backed No MOre Heroes in the previous race. I’m sorry to report he suffered a tendon injury while stumbling on landing after a fine jump while very much in contention at the last. More Of That burst a blood vessel, which excuses his poor performance. Here’s wishing both horses a speedy recovery.
A steer for gentlemen of a certain age ...
Sponsored as it is by a bookie, the Coral Cup is arguably the trickiest race from which to pick a winner at the CHeltenham Festival. If you can’t think of anything else, why not go for No3 ...
"The best day of my life," says @Rynerhatch. "He's not the biggest, but he jumps. An absolute legend." #Blaklion pic.twitter.com/cMwZ0eTVQp
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) March 16, 2016
Preview: Coral Cup (2.50)
One of the week’s trickier handicaps, so do feel extra smug if you manage to find the winner. Paul Nicholls, who trained last year’s winner, has another ex-French five-year-old who might be nicely weighted. His Politologue managed to unseat his rider between fences here in December but chased home a classy sort next time and won well at Exeter last month. Baoulet Delaroque, a stablemate of his, has won his first two handicaps and probably has more to offer. Waxies Dargle is interesting after running fifth in the Betfair Hurdle last time and he also fared well around here in November when third behind Old Guard. Blazer was well fancied for the Betfair but that probably came too soon after he had won the week before. The better from a month’s break, he could do better here.
RSA Chase (2.10) result
1 Blaklion (Ryan Hatch) 8-1
2 Shaneshill (P Townend) 16-1
3 More Of That (B J Geraghty) 6-4 Fav
8 ran
Also: 5-2 No More Heroes 4th
CSF: 111.32
Tricast: 294.44
Updated
RSA Chase (2.10) 3m
Ryan Hatch and Blaklion, a small little slip of a horse, take the honours with a very patient ride from Shaneshill and Paul Townend. More Of That and Barry Geraghty were third.
Updated
RSA Chase (2.10) 3m
Blaklion wins the RSA Chase under Ryan Hatch for the trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
RSA Chase (2.10) 3m
Seeyouatmidnight leads on the inside from Roi Des Francs, No MOre Heroes is alongside him on the outside ... Seeyouatmidnight hits the third last but stays on his feet, while No More Heroes , Roi Des Francs, Shaneshill and Blaklion go over the last together ...
RSA Chase (2.10) 3m
No change in the order as Seeyouatmidnight continues to lead narrowly from Roi Des Francs and they have length or two on Le Mercurey, No More Heroes and Vyta Du Roc, who canter along three abreast. They’re over the water jump with six to go and Barry Geraghty gives More Of That a reminder down his neck ...
RSA Chase (2.10) 3m
Seeyouatmidnight continues to make the running from Roi Des Francs and Le Mercurey ... they’re all still standing with the field separated by about 10 lengths - you could throw a very big blanket over them and they’ve 11 obstacles ahead of them ...
RSA Chase (2.10) 3m
They’re away and running in the RSA Chase, with No More Heroes burdened by the weight of the Glendenning sheckles ... Seeyouatmidnight leads over the first three fences from Le Mercurey, No More Heroes and Roi Des Francs ... they’ve 16 to jump ...
RSA Chase (2.10) betting
- More Of That 13-8
- No More Heroes 5-2
- Vyta Du Roc 9-1
- Seeyouatmidnight 10-1
- Roi Des Francs 10-1
- Blaklion 11-1
- Shaneshill 16-1
- Le Mercurey 25-1
Ruby admits he had to tear up Plan A
Walsh admitted the race had not panned out as he had planned, but was full of praise for his classy mount. “I’d hoped to sit fourth or fifth down the inner, but he was rank going to the start so I had to go back a bit further,” he said. “The last thing I said I was going to do was be upsides at the last and in front for too long, but when I got to the second-last I couldn’t resist and the gap opened up. He’s a very, very good horse. David Casey rides him every morning and he was pretty adamant he wanted two-and-a-half (miles) with better ground, and he was right.
“He could have been the best of the bumper horses last year but we didn’t get to run him until just before Cheltenham and then he went and won in Punchestown. Since he came back in, a lot of people have been impressed with him. He’s a fine specimen.”
Yorkhill wins the Neptune Novice Hurdle
Yorkhill gave Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh their fourth winner of the Cheltenham Festival when comfortably outpointing Yanworth in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.
Walsh made a decisive move on Yorkhill (3-1) by steering an inside path and getting a great run turning for home. Pulling double to that point, the Graham Wylie-owned six-year-old had all of his rivals at full stretch, including Yanworth, who had been sent off the 11-10 favourite to maintain his 100 per cent record over hurdles.
Instead, it was Yorkhill who remains unbeaten over hurdles after slamming his main rival by a length and three-quarters. Its’afreebee, who was always to the fore, stuck on pluckily for third, seven lengths behind the classy first two.
“Ruby gave him a super ride - he needed a bit of luck,” said Willie Mullins. “It opened up, and he shot through. He jumped the last well. We seriously thought about going for the Supreme, but the more I looked at it, the more I thought Altior was hard to beat and that this race was the one. He can go novice chasing, but we’ve sort of abandoned that to go down the Champion Hurdle route - he looked very sharp going off that bend. He’s a real smart hurdler.” [PA Sport]
Preview: RSA Chase (2.10)
My doubts about the stable form of Jonjo O’Neill were pretty thoroughly dispelled on Day One, when he won with Minella Rocco and had a second place in a tough handicap. That being the case, it’s harder to oppose More Of That, who beat Annie Power (!) in the World Hurdle two years ago and is unbeaten in two spins over fences this season. He hasn’t been tried in Graded company over fences but the quality is still likely to be there. No More Heroes has won two Grade Ones over fences and showed he could cope with Cheltenham when a close third over hurdles last season. Seeyouatmidnight seems rather disrespected on 12-1 for a horse with his win-rate who won round here on New Year’s Day.
The Idiot Who Urinated In A Pint Glass apologises ...
MK Dons midfielder Samir Carruthers has issued a grovelling apology for being caught short and on camera having an impromptu pee-party on a Cheltenham VIP box balcony yesterday. Good for him, although I’m not sure announcing that you “don’t want to be known as the idiot who urinated in a pint glass” is the best way of going about not becoming known as The Idiot Who Urinated In A Pint Glass.
Updated
Winning owner Graham Wylie: "When Willie [Mullins] bought Yorkhill, he said I might have got you a Gold Cup horse." pic.twitter.com/rqVPPhh4cQ
— Channel 4 Racing (@Channel4Racing) March 16, 2016
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) result
1 Yorkhill (R Walsh) 3-1
2 Yanworth (B J Geraghty) 11-10 Fav
3 Its’afreebee (Ian Popham) 33-1
11 ran
Also: 20-1 Bello Conti 4th
CSF: 6.25
Tricast: 85.21
Updated
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
THat was a great ride from Ruby Walsh, who got a wonderful run up the inside after waiting for a gap which may or may not have come. He rousted York Hill home to win by two lengths from Yanworth. It’safreebee was third.
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
York Hill leads over the last and charges up the hill under Ruby Walsh to win from Yanworth ...
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
It’safreebee forces his way up the inside, with Thomas Hobson still in front, O O Seven is still in with a good shout as they go over the second from home ... York Hill is getting a great run around the inside under Ruby Walsh ...
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
Thomas Hobson continues to lead from A Toi Phil, O O Seven and It’safreebee ... they’re well grouped with three to jump ...
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
Thomas Hobson leads from It’safreebee and A Toi Phil with the field separated by about 30 lengths. Yala Enki is pulled up by Aidan Coleman, as THomas Hobson continues to bowl along in front with five hurdles left to jump ...
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
The field jump away on the starter’s command and Thomas Hobson sets off in front, leading over the first two of 10 hurdles ... Thomas Hobson from Itsafreebeee, 0 0 Seven, Bello Conto and A Toi Phil ... they’ve seven to jump ...
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) 2m 5f
The 11 runners in today’s opener make their way down to the start and out on to centre of the track and wait to be sent on their way. After the pummeling they took yesterday, the bookies will be hoping to get Yanworth beaten in this one ...
Steve Ayres tweets ...
The groom of Neptune Novices Hurdle favourite Yanworth has been tweeting earlier this afternoon ...
Time to get ready buddy #orangemachine #yanworth #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/5QiLnOsW7K
— Steve Ayres (@orse_racing_lad) March 16, 2016
It's time 🙈 pic.twitter.com/gOrOE571vw
— Steve Ayres (@orse_racing_lad) March 16, 2016
Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30) betting
- Yanworth 5-4
- Yorkhill 5-2
- A Toi Phil 9-1
- Thomas Hobson 20-1
- Vigil 20-1
- O O Seven 20-1
- Bello Conti 20-1
- Yala Enki 25-1
- Itsafreebee 28-1
- Welsh Shadow 33-1
- Ghost River 100-1
Channel 4 feature on Patrick McCann
Patrick, some of you may remember, was the Racing Post photographer, who was hit and had his leg broken by Quantitiveeasing and Nina Carberry after horse and jockey crashed through the rails on the Wednesday of the Festival last year. Happily, Patrick made a full recovery and got a splendid up-close-and-personal photo for his troubles. Nine and Quantitiveeasing were both OK too.
I was just chatting to our own snapper Tom Jenkins, who was at Cheltenham yesterday, and asked him how he gets those shots from underneath the fences, while the horses are in mid-leap. I’m pleased to report that he doesn’t lie on his back underneath the fence, but has two or three cameras stuck in the ground fence-side, which he sets off using remote control. Well, I thought it was interesting.
Preview: Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30)
Here’s a big chance for Alan King, who had just one runner on Day One. He fields Yanworth, a very exciting young talent, unbeaten in four over hurdles. His Cheltenham record is already good, as he hosed up here on Trials Day in January and was a staying-on fourth after traffic trouble in the Champion Bumper last year. Willie Mullins (three winners in the past eight years) has four strong contenders, notably Yorkhill, though he’ll meet a very different surface to the one on which he won the Tolworth. His A Toi Phil is improving rapidly. Yala Enki is a game front-runner but the expectation is that he’ll be swamped at the home turn here.
Ruby speaks ...
Ruby Walsh on Un De Sceaux's chances in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase today. #TheFestival https://t.co/bvP5dbJbLn
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 16, 2016
Apologies for the break in transmission ...
We had some gremlins in the system, which prevented us from updating the blog, but our tecchies appear to have banished them, so hopefully everything will run smoothly for the rest of the afternoon. As annoying as it was to be unable to post, the lads running the Budget Liveblog had it a lot worse!
Pendleton-watch ...
Despite the shroud of secrecy that’s enveloped her very daring project over the past year, the Guardian’s crack team of investigative reporters have discovered that multiple Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton has been learning to ride and has taken the brave and - some say - foolhardy decision to participate in Friday’s Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Working in conjunction with Betfair, who are paying her £200,000+ for her troubles, Pendleton will ride Pacha Du Polder in the three-mile two-and-a-half-furlong chase but has been refusing to talk about her plan in the build-up to the race, unless you count the press conference she staged to announce her decision, several dozen newspaper interviews, a couple of television appearances and - more recently - yesterday’s appearance on Women’s Hour, which you can listen to by clicking on this link.
Having never before sat on a horse 12 months ago, but worked her backside off over the past year to get proficient enough to line up in the Foxhunters, only a churl would begrudge Pendleton her chance and we can only hope she doesn’t wilt under the intense pressure of being the star turn in a race that is now, due to her involvement and the surrounding publicity circus, almost certain to attract more media attention than the Gold Cup, which is staged on the same afternoon.
Star Sports hit for £80,000 in one bet yesterday
Self-styled “gentleman’s bookmaker” (we’re guessing MK Dons midfielder Samir Carruthers isn’t a customer) Star Sports laid the biggest on course bet at Cheltengham yesterday: £220,000 on Douvan at 4-11. The Willie Mullins trained chaser duly obliged in fine style in the Arkle, costing Star Sports £80,000.
“Yesterday was a great day of racing, and has certainly put punters ahead,” said the firm’s spokesman Jamie Loughead. “We were knocked harder than most by Mullins’ treble - which we laid heavily ante-post and on course. We lost £80k in one £220k Douvan bet on course from a long standing client- disappointing but you’ve to come to Cheltenham willing to take on the favourites. It’s a marathon not a sprint, we’re always looking to lay a bet and we hope that we’ll be ahead by Friday night. Getting Yanworth beat in the first would be a good start!” Trained by Alan King and ridden by Barry Geraghty, Yanworth is currently available at odds of 6-4.
An Undertone (ask your dads, kids) offers a tip ...
On the 40th anniversary of The Undertones, I might put sixpence on horse number 3. Courtesy @endamcclafferty pic.twitter.com/zGhPJK2zBa
— Michael Bradley (@MickeyUndertone) March 16, 2016
And here’s why, in case you don’t know ...
Champion Bumper (5.30)
A flat race for horses who will be jumpers in time, this is another contest in which Willie Mullins does well. Of course, he would expect to do well, with seven of the 24 runners on his side. The market likes Augusta Kate, the seven-length winner of a valuable contest at Navan when last seen. A case can be made for her stablemate Castello Sforza, unseen since April when he won a race that has worked out. Ballyandy is a tough sort who won here in November and hosed up at Newbury last month.
Preview: Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.50)
A tricky handicap made all the trickier by the runners being aged just four and bursting with the potential to be better than they have so far shown. Diego Du Charmil, an ex-French runner, carries some confidence from the stable that won this race last year with a similar type. Campeador is a fancied runner who is less easy to like, having killed his chance by fighting for his head last time. Duke Street got his handicap mark from three quick runs in the autumn and is likely to prove ahead of that racing now. Coo Star Sivola didn’t cope with heavy going last time but should be happier this time.
Updated
Preview: Cross-Country Chase (4.10)
Time for a spot of hedge-hopping, or, as one bookmaker has it: “That race where they go round and round in circles until the favourite’s in front.” Josies Orders is the favourite this time, having won twice around here this season. He comes from the Enda Bolger yard that has done well in such races. Balthazar King also has excellent course form but it seems almost unreasonable to hope for more from him than a safe jumping round, he having been absent for a year since breaking ribs in the Grand National. Rivage D’Or won this last year but really seems to have lost the plot since then.
Preview: Champion Chase (3.30)
It’s great to have the last three winners line up here but all of them have had issues that mean they are probably not as effective as when landing this. Sprinter Sacre has been winning again but is not the force of old after his heart issues. Sire De Grugy has been hard to win with for a couple of years but landed the Tingle Creek by knocking his main rival aside at the last. Dodging Bullets put up no more than a fair effort in his belated prep-run last month but better seems likely this time. All of them seem right up against it with a talent like Un De Sceaux in the field and may need him to run into one of the fences, something he does about once a season. There might be early fireworks if Special Tiara takes on Un De Sceaux for the lead.
Preview: Coral Cup (2.50)
One of the week’s trickier handicaps, so do feel extra smug if you manage to find the winner. Paul Nicholls, who trained last year’s winner, has another ex-French five-year-old who might be nicely weighted. His Politologue managed to unseat his rider between fences here in December but chased home a classy sort next time and won well at Exeter last month. Baoulet Delaroque, a stablemate of his, has won his first two handicaps and probably has more to offer. Waxies Dargle is interesting after running fifth in the Betfair Hurdle last time and he also fared well around here in November when third behind Old Guard. Blazer was well fancied for the Betfair but that probably came too soon after he had won the week before. The better from a month’s break, he could do better here.
Preview: RSA Chase (2.10)
My doubts about the stable form of Jonjo O’Neill were pretty thoroughly dispelled on Day One, when he won with Minella Rocco and had a second place in a tough handicap. That being the case, it’s harder to oppose More Of That, who beat Annie Power (!) in the World Hurdle two years ago and is unbeaten in two spins over fences this season. He hasn’t been tried in Graded company over fences but the quality is still likely to be there. No More Heroes has won two Grade Ones over fences and showed he could cope with Cheltenham when a close third over hurdles last season. Seeyouatmidnight seems rather disrespected on 12-1 for a horse with his win-rate who won round here on New Year’s Day.
Preview: Neptune Novice Hurdle (1.30)
Here’s a big chance for Alan King, who had just one runner on Day One. He fields Yanworth, a very exciting young talent, unbeaten in four over hurdles. His Cheltenham record is already good, as he hosed up here on Trials Day in January and was a staying-on fourth after traffic trouble in the Champion Bumper last year. Willie Mullins (three winners in the past eight years) has four strong contenders, notably Yorkhill, though he’ll meet a very different surface to the one on which he won the Tolworth. His A Toi Phil is improving rapidly. Yala Enki is a game front-runner but the expectation is that he’ll be swamped at the home turn here.
We set the scene for Day Two
The ground will be riding faster on the second day at Cheltenham, where the official going is now good, and good-to-soft only in places. There has been the faintest sprinkle of rain this morning, but nothing that we will notice and everything is in place for what could be one of the most memorable days even this storied racecourse has seen.
Of course, every day here has the potential to be memorable, and one of the joys of this meeting from a journalist’s point of view is that a story can arrive from anywhere, without even a second’s notice. But there is nothing quite like a returning hero’s last hurrah to bring Cheltenham to the boil, and the meeting of Sprinter Sacre and Un De Sceaux in the Queen Mother Champion Chase could be a classic example.
Nicky Henderson, Sprinter Sacre’s trainer, does not need a great deal of prompting to turn dewy-eyed in the winner’s enclosure, but he will have every excuse for a good old blub if the 2013 Champion Chase winner can take the race again three years on, and about 65,000 of us will join in. It would be a huge personal triumph for Henderson too, the pinnacle of an outstanding career, given the heart problems that interrupted Sprinter Sacre’s career in late 2013 and his apparently irreversible decline when he was pulled up in this race last year.
He has looked more like the old Sprinter Sacre in two runs this year, but even Henderson acknowledges that the dominating form of three years ago is gone for good. But there might still be enough of the old fire there for one last triumph at Cheltenham, and Sprinter Sacre is, according to Timeform at least, still just about the horse to beat.
He will have his hands full with Un De Sceaux, however, and Willie Mullins’s runner seems sure to start at odds-on, even if there is a wave of sentimental support for Sprinter Sacre. There is a real chance of a duel in the sun between the explosive winner of last year’s Arkle Trophy and the old warrior with a point to prove, and that is before you consider Sire De Grugy and Dodging Bullets, the winners here in 2014 and 2015 respectively. The potential is there for a race that will be remembered for many years to come, and 3.30 is the moment to be in front of a screen if at all possible.
The betting for the big race is as competitive as always here, with just a three per cent margin at best prices this morning, and while the bookmakers are not throwing around offers with quite the abandon of the opening day, there is value to be had throughout the card, and a few hours yet to track it down.
Top jockeys after Day One
- Ruby Walsh 3
- Nico De Boinville 1
- Brian Hughes 1
- Mr Derek O’Connor 1
- Tom Scudamore 1
Barry Geraghty, 0/2 so far, kicks off Day Two with the first two favourites, Yanworth and More Of That. Richard Johnson’s best finish so far has been third on Fox Norton in the Arkle. Balthazar King in the cross-country looks like his best chance on Day Two.
Top trainers after Day One
- Willie Mullins 3 wins
- Nicky Henderson 1
- Jonjo O’Neill 1
- David Pipe 1
- Ian Williams 1
Paul Nicholls has yet to score, though his Bouvreuil led on the run-in in yesterday’s final race. His Day Two hand looks a lot stronger than what he came here with on Day One. The same could be said of Gordon Elliott, who has managed a couple of fourth places so far.
Updated
Today’s races and our tips
1.30 Neptune Novice Hurdle A Toi Phil 8-1
2.10 RSA Chase No More Heroes 5-2
2.50 Coral Cup Politologue 10-1
3.30 Queen Mother Champion Chase Un De Sceaux 4-5
4.10 Cross-country Chase Josies Orders 3-1
4.50 Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle Coo Star Sivola 25-1
5.30 Champion Bumper Castello Sforza 12-1
There’s another three winners in there for Willie Mullins if these tips prove accurate, albeit not with his most obvious runners, since he has more fancied entrants than A Toi Phil and Castello Sforza. A Toi Phil and No More Heroes would get things off to a flier for the Gigginstown operation and for Bryan Cooper, who didn’t finish in the first three at any point on Day One. Josies Orders would mean another cross-country success for Enda Bolger. Can you believe he hasn’t won this race since 2009? Me neither. Victory for Coo Star Sivola would mean we’re once again talking about Lizzie Kelly, the 5lb claimer who has won both the Feltham and the Betfair Hurdle this season.
The BetVictor Cheltenham Festival tipping competition
Congratulations to intelligentlaying, who won yesterday’s competition on a final score of +24.67, holding off deardamian (+21.92), who had a really excellent five winners out of seven. Intelligentlaying, we’ll be in touch by email before the end of the week.
You could win a £50 bet from BetVictor 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.
Our man walking the course hits us with his going stick
Anyone betting on Cheltenham today should be aware that the official going description has been changed twice since the last race yesterday. Having been ‘Good to soft, soft in places’ during racing, it became ‘Good to soft, good in places’ last night. Now, after a dry and windy night, it is ‘Good, good to soft in places’.
Or, in a nutshell, the famous course is drying out with each passing hour. There has been Scotch mist for the last hour or so but it can’t have had a significant effect on the going.
Those who analyse race-times were impressed by some of yesterday’s action and suggested that, as early as the Supreme, the going might already have been ‘Good’ all the way around. Any horse that needs soft going will struggle on this surface.
It's Day Two at the Cheltenham Festival
Following a splendid afternoon’s racing that was undeniably marred by the sickening and sad deaths of three horses, it’s time for Round Two. First things first - here’s hoping all runners and riders return unscathed on a day when the Queen Mother Champion Chase is the feature attraction. Unsurprisingly, Willie Mullins saddles the current odds-on favourite in Un De Sceaux, which will be ridden by Ruby Walsh, who already has three winners on the board. With our crack racing team of Greg Wood and Chris Cook on the course, we’ll be bringing you previews, betting updates, weather and going reports, results, reaction and any breaking news regarding naughty footballers as the day unfolds. Get your selections in for our tipping competition and the very best of luck to anyone taking on the bookmakers today.
