IT’S LADIES DAY at Cheltenham. So forget about taking it easy with the old betting, this festival comes but once a year and with misty conditions, drama is guaranteed.
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Results
1.30pm – Neptune Novices’ Hurdle: 1. Faugheen 6-4f, 2. Ballyalton 20-1, 3. Rathvinden 11-2.
2.05pm – RSA Chase: 1. O’Faolains Boy 12-1, 2. Smad Place 13-2jf, 3. Morning Assembly 9-1.
2.40pm – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle: 1. Whisper 14-1, 2. Get Me Out of Here 12-1, 3. Bayan 11-1.
3.20pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase: 1. Sire De Grugy 11-4f, 2. Somersby 4-1, 3. Module 20-1.
4pm – Cross Country Chase: 1. Balthazar King 4-1, 2. Any Currency 10-1, 3. Big Shu 3-1f.
4.40pm – Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle: 1. Hawk High 33-1, 2. Katgary 8-1, 3. Orgilgo Bay 16-1.
5.15pm – Champion Bumper: 1. Silver Concorde 16-1, 2. Shaneshill 7-2f, 3. Joshua Lane 33-1.
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A very, very good afternoon to you punters out there.
Hopefully, by now you’ve recovered from yesterday’s losses or re-planted your feet on some good to firm going after winning big on day one.
Either way, it’s time to dig deep and put another euro each way on some nag that an aul’ boy next to you in the pub was a sure thing.
We’re just under an hour away from the opening race of day two, Channel 4′s coverage is on our screens and the famous racecourse is awash with weird hats and famous faces.
Here’s a hat.
And the famous faces come in the shape of Wales and Lions backs Alex Cuthbert and Jonathan Davies.
There’s nothing riding on their game against Scotland this weekend, so sure they might as well have a flutter on their day off.
So here’s what’s ahead of us today, with the mist and fog on the course not having too much of an impact of the good to soft going.
13:30: Neptune Novices’ Hurdle
14:05: RSA Chase
14:40: Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
15:20 Queen Mother Champion Chase
16:00: Cross Country Handicap Chase
16:40: Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
17:15: Champion Bumper
So we’ve got a big day with a whole lot of equine action ahead of us and TheScore.ie liveblog will take you every step of the way.
Before the panic sets in, take a small bit of time to peek through Paul Fennessy’s big betting preview for today.
He fancies 15/2 Bally Green in the Queen Mother Champion chase.
There’s Rugby being interviewed on Channel 4. They ask if he’s greedy for wanting to win so many damn races.
“Is there a bit of greed in all sportspeople? We’re all greedy. AP’s as greedy as hell… yeah, I am a bit greedy.”
Okay, then. The parade ring is starting to bustle and the betting ring is also full of hopeful punters.
It’s almost time for the day’s opening race, the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle.
No doubt about the favourite here: Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins have Faugheen at 11/8 and very few people think anyone will get close to him.
Red Sherlock is second favourite at 9/2, but Mullins looks to have his bases covered here as he also has Rathvinden at 11/2 with Paul Townend on board.
On down the line we have AP McCoy on Cup Final (14/1) and BJ Geraghty is on the 33/1 shot Cocktails at Dawn.
Where’s your money?
The late money is coming in on Lieutenant Colonel each way at 10/1, but they’re off in the first race of the day at Prestbury Park – the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle.
Red Sherlock looking strong in there, but Cole Harden Leads in the early stages with Faugheen well placed.
ON the back straight, Faugheen still third behind Cole Harden and Red Sherlock a little further back.
Four to jump and Cole Harden still leads Faugheen, Red Sherlock still coming strong.
Here comes Faugheen!
Faugheen didn’t jump two of the last three well, but it still has the class to to power on home.
Faugheen wins the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle!
Win number three for Walsh and Mullins.
Here’s the final result:
1. Faugheen 6/4f
2. Ballyalton 20/1
3. Rathvinden 11/2
A seriously good finish from Faugheen, Ruby Walsh said he was taking it quite easy at the end. The second and third last jumps were mis-timed and that gave Cole Harden a brief advantage, but the class under Walsh won out and Faugheen powered clear.
‘Right Jockeys: Out, please!’ comes the call as Barry Geraghty is interviewed in the changing rooms, he’s on O’Faoilains Boy at 8/1 for this one
The RSA Chase
Carlingford Lough is a new favourite for this one at 9/2, AP McCoy’s mount pushing Ruby Walsh and Ballycasey into second favourite at 11/2/
Further down the field of 15 there’s Davy Russell on Morning Assembly at 7/1. This really is a race is up for grabs.
My outside bet here is Tom Scudamore’s mount Gavrey Chambertin – surely worth a shot to place at 20/1.
By the time they come to the the line Ballycasey is back to being joint favourite with Carlingford Lough.
It’s Ruby v AP and they’re off.
The sun is beginning to clear on Prestbury Park and Corrin Wood is the early leader, but the group is tightly bunched in behind with 11 to jump.
Ballycasey well placed now for Walsh, Annacotty and Corrin Wood still lead and we have a faller!
Black Thunder is down
Coming into the last three jumps we have two more fallers, Don Cossack falls and hampers Many Clouds.
O’Faolain’s boy wins the RSA Chase!
A thrilling finish after the last jump as Smad Place hit the front, but Geraghty on O’Faolain’s Boy dug deep and just about edged a thrilling final portion of the race.
1st O’Faolain’s Boy (8/1)
2nd Smad Place (5/1)
3rd Morning Assembly (7/1)
4th Ballycasey (9/2f)
5th Carlingford Lough (11/2)
Meanwhile, Sean O’Brien’s festival is still going strong. Today he met Grand Slam winner Tomas O’Leary.
Stat time!
We’re getting close to the big race of the day, but coming at 14:40…
It’s the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
Davy Condon is on board Bayan, the 10/1 joint favourite alongside Tom Scudamore’s Dell Arca.
A little on down the field, AP McCoy is on Get Me Out of Here at 12/1 and Ruby Walsh is on Indevan at 14/1.
My money’s on Jack Doyle and Vendor at 11/1. Where’s yours?
Dell Arca has been backed into 8/1 favourite and they are off!
Party Rock is the early lead, but with six to jump the field is tightly bunched.
Four to jump now and Son of Flicka is going strong in the lead.
Whisper in hot pursuit, wit Dell Arca not far off. This is wide open with two to jump.
Whisper leads going into the last jump but Get Me Out of here is gaining fast. It’s A PHOTO FINISH!
There’s the official confirmation: Whisper has won the Coral Cup Handicap Chase – Nicky Henderson’s 14/1 shot, just held off AP on get Me Out of here by a nostril.
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle result:
1st: Whisper (14/1)
2nd: Get Me Out of Here (12/1)
3rd: Bayan (11/1)
11 going to the post for the Champion Chase. Arvika Ligeonniere, Baily Green, Captain Conan, Hinterland, Kid Cassidy, Module, Sire De Grugy, Sizing Europe, Somersby, Special Tiara and Wishfull Thinking.
Last year’s brilliant winner Sprinter Sacre is out of action which leaves Sire De Grugy as the favourite here.
Latest Betting: Sire De Grugy 9-4, Captain Conan 11-3, Arvika Ligeonniere 15/2, Kid Cassidy 17-2, Hinterland 9-1, Sizing Europe 10-1, Baily Green 12-1, Somersby 12-1, Special Tiara 12-1, Module 16-1, Wishfull Thinking 14-1.
And they’re off in the Champion Chase.
Special Tiara making the early running.
Arvika Ligeonniere now in front.
Special Tiara, Somersby and Sizing Europe all tracking them.
Captain Conan pulled up in the Champion Chase!
Somersby now ahead.
Baily Green and Hinterland out of the race. Three to jump.
Sire De Grugy hits the front.
Sire De Grugy wins!
The favourite wins it with a terrific finish. Jamie Moore wins for the first time at the festival.
Somersby finishes second with Module in third place.
Here’s the result in full:
1st Sire De Grugy 11/4f
2nd Somersby 4/1
3rd Module 20/1
Next up is the Cross Country Handicap Chase at 4pm.
Balthazar King the favourite here with Big Shu also fancied.
The winner of the Champion Chase – Sire De Grugy.
Latest Betting: Big Shu 7/2, Balthazar King 4/1, Star Neuville 7/1, Love Rory 10/1, Sire Collonges 9/1, Any Currency 10/1, Bishopsfurze 14/1.
And they’re off in the Cross Country Chase.
Sire Collonges running well so far.
Sire Collonges and Any Currency leading with Balthazar King in third.
Any Currency has kicked ahead. Six fences left.
Now Balthazar King goes into the lead, four out.
Two to jump.
Photo finish!
Balthazar King and Any Currency neck and neck.
Balthazar King wins!
Thrilling finish there. Balthazar King kicked for home early on but Any Currency made a huge challenge with Big Shu not far behind either.
Here’s the result in full:
1st Balthazar King 4-1
2nd Any Currency 10-1
3rd Big Shu 3-1f
Nervous times ahead for this punter.
The Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle is next up at 4.40pm.
Dawalan the favourite for the Fred Winter, which is currently underway.
Azza leading the way so far.
Leaders bunching up with two to go.
Hawk High wins it!
Hawk High the 33-1 outsider there.
Here’s the result in full:
1st Hawk High 33-1
2nd Katgary 8-1
3rd Orgilgo Bay 16-1
Balthazar King, the winner earlier of the Cross Country Handicap Chase.
Ready for the last race of the day? It’s the Champion Bumper at 5.15pm.
Black Hercules, Killultagh Vic, Shaneshill and Vigil some of the fancied horses.
Willie Mullins has brilliant record in this race, winning it eight times. He also won it as a jockey back in 1996 on board Wither Or Which.
Off and running for the bumper.
Black Hercules making a great start.
Patrick Mullins on board Black Hercules, who still leads.
Entering the final three quarters of a mile.
Three furlongs left, Black Hercules digging deep.
Vigil and Shaneshill challenging strongly.
Silver Concorde wins!
Black Hercules led from the start but was reeled in with Silver Concorde winning for jockey Robbie McNamara and trainer Dermot Weld.
Shaneshill in second and Joshua Lane in third.
Here’s the result in full:
1st Silver Concorde 16-1
2nd Shaneshill 7-2f
3rd Joshua Lane 33-1
So that’s all from Day 2 at Cheltenham. Thanks for joining in.
