CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL Day Two is HERE with the Queen Mother Champion Chase as the headline act.
And stick with us here as we bring you the CONFIRMED runners and riders for the prestigious Gold Cup.
On the opening day, Rachael Blackmore sailed to victory in the Champion Hurdle – but suffered a horror fall in the following race.
However, the Irish ace was pictured back on her feet and appears to be ok afterwards.
- Cheltenham Festival FREE BETS – new customer offers
- Race schedule, TV channel and live stream info for the biggest show on turf
- Get £60 in FREE BETS – Get £10 to spend on SIX races with Paddy Power
- Gold Cup 2022 guide – all the latest odds for Friday's showpiece race
Stay up to date with all the latest from Cheltenham Festival in our live blog…
- Craig Mahood
Blackmore factor
Paddy Power report punters are piling in to back a Rachael Blackmore five-timer today – at odds of 231,411/1!
She is on Journey With Me to win the Ballymore Novices Hurdle, Champagne Gold to win the Coral Cup and Envoi Allen to win the Champion Chase , Poker Party to win the Cross Country and Houlanbatordechais land the Champion Bumper.
Rachael Kane, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “There isn’t a person in Ireland who wouldn’t love to see Rachael Blackmore pull this off.
"It might bankrupt the bookies but it’s a potential hit that we would take happily take square on the chin if these bets comes in!”
- Craig Mahood
Market movers
The big movers from ITV.
1.30 Journey with Me 5/1 from 8/1
2.10 Farouk D’Alene 11/1 from 18/1
2.50 Drop The Anchor 15/2 from 10/1
3.30 Envoi Allen 14/1 from 25/1
- Craig Mahood
Have your say
Paul Townend yet to get off the mark, with Rachael Blackmore landing the feature.
Nico de Boinville is leading jockey at the minute after two wins from two rides – and has Shishkin to come today.
- Craig Mahood
Going change! 🚨
Not another one….
It's absolutely CHUCKING it down!
The going is now GOOD TO SOFT all over, changing from good to soft, good in places.
It'll likely be soft ground come the feature in a couple of hours time.
- Craig Mahood
Betting fair
Less than 45 minutes until race number one, so less than 45 minutes to land this offer.
Betfair are offering brand new customers £60 in free bets on day two.
New customers who stake £10 on the 13:30 at Cheltenham will receive £10 for every remaining race on the card – that's £60 in total!
- Craig Mahood
Weather update
The rain isn't stopping.
Clerk of the course, Jon Pullin revealed the course is on the edge of the expected rainfall and there is still uncertainty about how long it will linger…
- Craig Mahood
Non-runners
Just the four don't go so far despite the changing conditions.
2.50 Fair Frontieres – Ask Dillon – Good Risk At All
5.30 Esperti
- Craig Mahood
Tight at the top
William Hill have moved 10/11 for Shishkin to land the Champion Chase.
Energumene now into 3/1 now too as the two at the top just tighten up slightly.
Is that the rain causing it….?
- Craig Mahood
Willie warming up
It was the late show for Willie Mullins but the Irish maestro eventually did hit the board in the final race.
He could make it back-to-back Cheltenham wins by sending out warm favourite Sir Gerhard in the opener.
Concerns about his stamina from elsewhere have been knocked back by Mullins who isn't concerned about rain and insists he has 'a strong chance'.
He said: "Sir Gerhard won a point to point so stamina shouldn’t be an issue.
"He is in great shape and if the forecast rain arrives it won’t be a problem for him. He looks to hold a strong chance."
- Craig Mahood
Scene summed up
A cracking picture as a visual of the current state of affairs with less than 90 minutes to post time.
- Craig Mahood
Going change! 🚨
The rain is getting into the ground now and the going has changed as a result.
It's officially GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES now after being watered and rain.
1.5mm rain has fallen up until 11.30am.
- Craig Mahood
Longshot
How would this help your bank account if it came rolling in?
BEFORE MIDNIGHT (4.50)
He won well here in October and looks on a fair handicap mark.
Currently 12/1…..
- Craig Mahood
Fiver flutter
While here at Sun Racing, we've tried to source a bet that will get you plenty for your money – despite low stakes.
So we've got an each-way lucky 15 and a longshot bet for today's racing
Each-way lucky 15
I AM MAXIMUS (1.30) – He went close in a good race here last time.
GAILLARD DU MESNIL (2.10) – He will show more over this longer distance.
GOWEL ROAD (2.50) – Has won here and is best over this trip.
NUBE NEGRA (3.30) – Second in this 12 months ago and can go close again.
- Craig Mahood
Lunchtime NAP time
A wee snooze before the racing sounds good but in this instant we are all about our man's star tips.
Templegate is back after day one and provides his thoughts on EVERY RACE on day two.
But his best bet of the day?
DROP THE ANCHOR (2.50) was beaten just three lengths in the County Hurdle at last year’s Festival but this longer trip should be more to his liking.
He warmed up with a cracking fifth in a red-hot contest at Leopardstown where he finished ahead of Suprise Package who ran away with the Imperial Cup at the weekend.
- Craig Mahood
Centre stage
Paul Nicholls could have a good start to day two with Bravemansgame looking good in today's second race.
But he is also keen with his runner in the opener and the Betfair ambassador says the rain starting may also help.
He said: "He has won all his three races this season and has looked better each time.
"His record speaks for itself, he is in good shape, we still don't know how good he is and I'm looking forward to seeing how he gets on against the hot favourite Sir Gerhard.
"Stage Star has a great attitude, stays well, and will not mind if the forecast rain turns the ground soft."
- Craig Mahood
Uh oh….
Who'd be a clerk of the course eh?
The rain has started at Cheltenham as racegoers queue to pile into the grandstands already.
Hopefully it doesn't last too long – or alter the ground too much!
Brolly's galore at the entry point Still smiling despite the weather Not bringing an umbrella….. - Craig Mahood
Ahoy matey
Derek Fox is already on the board this week after guiding Corach Rambler to success yesterday.
He teams up on the Lucinda Russell trained Ahoy Senor as the pair do battle with Bravemansgame again, this time in the Brown Advisory at 2.50.
Fox said: "It’s fantastic to be associated with a horse like Ahoy Senor, I’m very lucky to have the ride on him.
“He’s a strong traveller, he’s got a high cruising speed and is straightforward most ways.
"When he first arrived, riding out you thought he was impressive but at that stage you never know how good they’ll turn out.
“After he won at Ayr in his maiden hurdle I remember thinking he was good then he was a big price at Aintree.
“To then go out and win a Grade One in only his second start over hurdles, after that you do think to yourself ‘how high can he go now?’
- Craig Mahood
Don't fancy the odds-on?
And maybe don't fancy him to win?
New William Hill customers can back the odds-on favourite at a whopping 20/1 to finish in the top three of the Grade 1 contest – that's boosted from 1/12!
- Craig Mahood
Champion crowned
The big one sees the rematch we all wanted to see.
Nicky Henderson's Shishkin reopposes the Willie Mullins tank Energumene in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Shishkin got up late to win the Clarence House in a thriller.
This is a slight drop in trip so he'd near to be better today than he was then.
Chacun Pour Soi has reportedly changed habits and did travel well enough – having disappointed in his meetings in England in the past.
Shishkin 4/5
Energumene 3/1
Chacun Pour Soi 13/2
14s bar
- Craig Mahood
Hard afternoon?
Sir Gerhard is easing ever so slightly for today's Ballymore opener.
But he's still odds-on at 8/11 and is a Festival winner from last year.
However, the question mark seems to be his stamina as he steps up markedly in trip today.
Will that prove crucial?
- Craig Mahood
Happy retirement
Tiger Roll has received a giant retirement card ahead of the horse's final race on Wednesday.
The two-time Grand National champion is set to start for one last time at the Cheltenham Festival when he takes to the racecourse to bring the curtain down on a 12-year career.
He will go in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at 4.10pm on Wednesday.
And to mark the historic moment, bookmakers Paddy Power have unveiled a huge 12ft card for Tiger Roll – who won five back-to-back races at Cheltenham.
On the front of the card is a set of hooves with slippers on.
And the message inside reads: "You've earned punters half a billion – and you were worth every penny!
"Put your hooves up, Tiger Roll."
- Craig Mahood
Going change 🚨
Jon Pullin, Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham, revealed he watered the track after a dry day yesterday.
That has left the going for today at GOOD, GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES.
Speaking at 9.30am, he said: “We put on an average of 5mm last night from the two-mile start to the winning post, and also down the hill on the Old Course.
“The forecast for today is still uncertain, with some saying there should be little or no rain – between nought and 2mm – but others saying we could get between 6mm and 8mm.
“We are on the edge of a rain band, but the heavier rain should pass mainly to the east of us. If it did happen to drift over then we could get it nearer to the higher end, but most forecasts are indicating it should be towards the lower end. The temperature should be around 11 to 12 degrees.”
- Craig Mahood
Prestbury Cup
A lead for Britain after day one, thanks in part to Nicky Henderson's double.
Ireland are expected to come roaring back at some point.
And that could possibly be today….
Britain 4 Ireland 3
- Craig Mahood
Market move….
Gumball has been punted in all morning and is now 14/1.
He sat around 25/1 for today's Grand Annual last night….
- Craig Mahood
Huge offer
Shishkin will line up as favourite to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase this afternoon.
And new Sky Bet customers can back Nicky Henderson's leading contender at a whopping 50/1 to win the race – that's boosted from 4/5!
Source: Read Full Article
