Afternoon all and welcome to our coverage of Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival.

Nicky Henderson and Henry De Bromhead were the leading trainers celebrating on the opening day while there were big race triumphs to savour as well for jockeys Barry Geraghty and Rachael Blackmore.

Who’ll be victorious today? It all starts at 1.30pm.

The big news this morning is that Chacun Pour Soi is a non-runner in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. With the 2018 and 2019 winner Altior also ruled out yesterday, that dilutes what did look a cracking contest between that pair and Defi Du Seuil, the clear favourite now.

• Chacun Pour Soi misses Queen Mother Champion Chase

Here’s the rundown on what is in store today:

• 1.30pm: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – Envoi Allen is the heavy favourite to succeed here for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell.

• 2.10pm: RSA Chase - Can Minella Indo repeat last year’s Cheltenham success for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore?

• 2.50pm: Coral Cup – A wide open contest here, the 2019 winning trainer Nicky Henderson has the potential favourite in Dame De Compagnie.

• 3.30pm: Queen Mother Champion Chase – The big race of the day and it’s all about the Defi Du Seuil here after the two other main challengers have been ruled out.
• 4.10pm: Cross-Country Chase – The Grand National and Cheltenham hero Tiger Roll is back chasing more glory.

• 4.50pm: Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – Shane Lowry is part of the syndicate that owns contender Theatre of War, trained by Gavin Cromwell here.

• 5.30pm: Champion Bumper – Willie and Patrick Mullins have the favourite here with Appreciate It.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Ten minutes to the off in the Ballymore and many people’s banker of the meeting, Envoi Allen is showing no signs of softening at around 4/6 or 8/13 depending on where you do your shopping.

Sporting John, trained by Philip Hobbs and ridden by Barry Geraghty, leads the British challenge to Envoi Allen. Of the bigger each-way prices, there are quite few people who fancy Longhouse Poet to outrun his odds of 16/1 for last year’s winning team of Martin Brassil and Mark Walsh.

The runners are just down at the start and ready to go in the Ballymore.

They’re off in the Ballymore!

The Big Getaway leads them back onto the racecourse proper in the early stages of the 2m5f trip. Shakem Up’Arry and Easywork in behind, but not much between the lot.

Envoi Allen sits fourth at the moment. Sporting John, the second-favourite, is being worked a fraction harder than some of the others.

Four out and The Big Getaway leads from Easywork. No move from Envoi Allen yet.

Big Getaway leads Easywork as they turn for home. Envoi Allen chasing to close the gap in third.

Envoi Allen wins the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle!

So the festival banker for many delivers, great start to the day for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell. Easywork ran well to finish second with The Big Getaway in third.

Here’s the official result from the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle:

• 1. Envoi Allen (4/7 fav)
• 2. Easywork (12/1)
• 3. The Big Getaway (9/1)

Interesting stuff from Gordon Elliott.

Here’s how Envoi Allen claimed success in the opener.

1/1111-1111

Envoi Allen - what a monster! @gelliott_racing @ballymore @CPStudOfficial #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/7xdFfBmIn7

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 11, 2020

Davy Russell celebrates winning on board Envoi Allen Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Next up is the RSA Chase with Champ, Allaho, Cooperhead and Minella Indo some of the leading contenders for this one. They’re off at 2.10pm.

It’s Champ for AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh with Mick Fitzgerald going for Minella Indo here.

Ten in all in the field here:

1. Allaho
2. Aye Right
3. Battleoverdoyen
4. Castlebawn West
5. Champ
6. Copperhead
7. Easy Game
8. Minella Indo
9. Pym
10. Slate House

Some big name recent winners of this in Topofthegame (2019), Presenting Percy (2018) and Might Bite (2017).

Back in 2012 there was glory for Bob’s Worth in the RSA Chase before going on to win the Gold Cup the following year.

And they’re off in the RSA Chase!

Minella Indo makes the early running ahead of Allaho.

Still a long way to go as Allaho leads for Paul Townend ahead of Minella Indo and Copperhaead.

They’re heading out on the final circuit now, Allaho still setting the pace ahead of Minella Indo.

Battleoverdoyen and Copperhead moving into contention now.

They’re turning to the third last, Allaho still in front.

They’re turning for home, Allaho ahead of Minella Indo, Champ in third.

And Champ wins the RSA Chase!

What a dramatic finale! It looked like a straight battle between Minella Indo and Allaho but Champ bolted up at the finish!

Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson combine again for a big success on the back of yesterday’s Champion Hurdle triumph.

Here’s the full result of the RSA Chase:

• 1. Champ (4/1)
• 2. Minella Indo (3/1)
• 3. Allaho (5/2 fav)

Unbelievable!

Champ by name, Champ by nature.

What a remarkable finish to the RSA! @BarryJGeraghty @sevenbarrows #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/RDuzn0cGJ1

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 11, 2020

Here’s an indication of how much of a comeback win that was from Champ.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Next up at 2.50pm is the Coral Handicap Hurdle with 24 set to race and Dame De Compagnie the favourite for the Geraghty-Henderson combo.

And they’re off in the Coral Cup. 

They’re turning away from the stands with Top Moon and Alfa Mix dictating it.

Heading to the third last, Alfa Mix just ahead.

Turning for home, Honest Vic takes on Alfa Mix.

Dame De Compagnie wins the Coral Cup!

More glory for Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson, the winning partnership of the day!

Black Tears ran excellently for Davy Russell and Gordon Elliott in second, then Thosedaysaregone back in third.

Here’s the official result from the Coral Cup:

• 1. Dame De Compagnie (5/1 fav)
• 2. Black Tears (12/1)
• 3. Thosedaysaregone (10/1)
• 4. Cracking Smart (33/1)

So next it’s the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the feature race of the day at 3.30pm.

Just the five runners now:

1. Defi Du Seuil
2. Dynamite Dollars
3. Politologue
4. Sceau Royal
5. Bun Doran

No Altior, no Chacun Pour Soi and that leaves Defi Du Seuil as the overwhelming favourite.

The jockey in the spotlight is on board as well with Barry Geraghty having two wins already today. Trainer Philip Hobbs has seen this horse claim two Festival victors with the Triumph in 2017 and the JLT in 2019.

Any chance of Defi being stopped for a third success then?

And they’re off in the Queen Mother Champion Chase!

Bun Doran out into the lead with Politologue, Defi back in fourth.

They move away from the stands with Politologue leading, all five still involved.

Defi Du Seuil in a pack of three with Bun Doran and Dynamite Dollars. Sceau Royal back in fifth.

Politologue still leading with Defi Du Seuil starting to make a move.

They’re moving to the second last.

Politologue out in front!

Looks like there’s going to be a big shock here!

And Politologue wins the Champion Chase!

There’s the big shock of the day! Harry Skelton steers Politologue to glory ahead of Dynamite Dollars. Defi Du Seuil could not counter.

Second last year, Politologue goes one better in the 2020 Queen Mother Champion Chase.

So here’s the official result of the Champion Chase:

• 1. Politologue (6/1)
• 2. Dynamite Dollars (7/1)

Massive upset there when you consider that a couple of days ago all the talk about this race revolved around Altior, Chacun Pour Soi and Defi Du Seuil.

Instead it’s Paul Nicholls who has trained the winner with Politologue.

Next up we have the Cross-Country Chase and it’s all about the favourite here, the great Tiger Roll.

So can Tiger Roll be stopped here? Easysland and 2018 Gold Cup runner-up Might Bite are others of interest.

And they’re off in the Cross Country Chase! 

Arlequin DAllier with Derek O’Connor on board leading so far from Kingswell Theatre.

They’ve nearly completed the first of three circuits.

Tiger Roll in a battle for fourth at present.

Arlequin DAllier still leading the way, Tiger Roll in seventh now.

Yanworth a faller there.

20 of the 30 fences have been completed.

Easysland in front now, Tiger Roll moving on the outside.

Arlequin DAllier has been pulled up.

Easysland shows the way, Tiger Roll in third.

Four from the finish, Easysland from Tiger Roll, a few lengths back.

Easysland still has the lead.

And it’s Easysland from Tiger Roll.

Easysland wins the Cross Country Chase from Tiger Roll!

It’s another victory for JP McManus and a first French success in this race.

So here’s the official result from the Cross-Country Chase:

• 1. Easysland (3/1)
• 2. Tiger Roll (8/11 fav)
• 3. Out Sam (33/1)

Jockey Keith O’Donoghue there saying the heavy ground just went against Tiger Roll.

🇫🇷 Victory for France in the Glenfarclas Cross Country! 🇫🇷

Rising star Easysland brings up a fantastic seven-timer and remains unbeaten at the track with a commanding success.

The legendary Tiger Roll goes out on his shield in second 👏 #CheltenhamFestival @davidcottin pic.twitter.com/Ss6XETxEDU

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 11, 2020

Green light for Tiger Roll’s Grand National bid it seems.

Tiger Roll - all systems go for the Grand National, says @gelliott_racing @LydiaHislop #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/J2T8ywYQcv

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 11, 2020

And the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle is up next.

Palladium goes off the 5/1 favourite and they’re off in the penultimate race of the day.

Palladium is pulled up with three to go.

Aramax wins the Juvenile Handicap Hurdle!

Mark Walsh the winning jockey with Tom Scudamore in second on Night Edition.

Just one more race to come then today, the bumper at 5.30pm.

And they’re off in the Bumper at Cheltenham.

Ferny Hollow wins the Bumper for Willie Mullins!

Appreciate It back in second in the final race on Day 2 of the festival.

We've been here before - Willie Mullins strikes in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper!

Ferny Hollow leads home Appreciate It for a stable 1-2 in the day-two finale 👏 #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/BhnuSkGm23

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 11, 2020

So that’s all from Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival. A four-timer for JP McManus today, Barry Geraghty again commands the headlines for the jockeys and Paul Nicholls celebrates in the Champion Chase with Politologue. Thanks for joining us.