Cheltenham Day 2 Results

Last Updated 30 Nov 2021 | Commercial content | 18+

Our championship race on day two was the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The event featured some of the best two-milers in Britain and Ireland.

Cheltenham Day Two – Wednesday 17th March

Once again, we had good to soft ground for day two, the same conditions being advertised on the hurdle, chase and cross-country tracks.

We were still racing on the Old Course on day two which meant the pace was at a premium. Despite that fact, however, in the Ballymore and the Brown Advisory, we looked set to see perhaps some of the staying stars of the future including a potential 2022 Gold Cup favourite.

1:20 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Result

Result Runner Starting Price
1st Bob Olinger 6/4F
2nd Gaillard Du Mesnil 9/4
3rd Bravemansgame 4/1
4th Bear Ghylls 15/2
5th Does He Know 50/1
6th Keskonrisk 20/1
7th Optimise Prime 80/1

Despite Bob Olinger’s starting price, nobody could have really foreseen what a week he and Rachael Blackmore would have.

The 6/4 favourite, Bob Olinger was cruising two from home. He rapidly went clear of the opposition between the final two flights before pulling away up the hill. The six-year-old eventually won by a widening 7½ lengths.

Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame was thought to be the real deal, but in finishing third behind the two horses ahead of him in the market it seems that the layers and the punters got this one right.

Cheltenham Day 2 Results

1:55 – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Result

Result Runner Starting Price
1st Monkfish 1/4F
2nd Fiddlerontheroof 40/1
3rd The Big Breakaway 12/1
4th Dickie Diver 33/1
Fell Sporting John 16/1
Unseated Eklat De Rire 10/1

Much as was the case on day one with Appreciate It and Shishkin, the opposition ran scared here. Because of the presence of the very smart Monkfish, only six turned up for the three-mile novice.

Already being backed for next year’s Gold Cup, Monkfish didn’t disappoint here in fairness. He was arguably not as impressive as he was at Leopardstown, but he dominated his opposition all the same.

Not always as fluent as he could have been over his fences, he lost a few lengths at times but still managed to win as a 1/4 shot should. Paul Townend’s mount pulled 6½ lengths clear at the line and is considered a leading fancy for the big one next year.

2:30 – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle Result

Result Runner Starting Price
1st Heaven Help Us 33/1
2nd Craigneiche 17/2
3rd Tea Clipper 33/1
4th Sayo 28/1
5th Janika 33/1
6th Birchdale 12/1
7th Guard Your Dreams 7/1
8th Dans Le Vent 28/1
9th Palmers Hill 33/1
10th Burbank 125/1
11th Monte Cristo 14/1
12th Grand Roi 6/1F
13th Garo De Juilley 66/1
14th Thomas Darby 14/1
15th Saint Sonnet 33/1
16th Koshari 12/1
17th Nelson River 80/1
18th Shakem Up’Arry 28/1
19th Shang Tang 50/1
20th Dysart Diamond 28/1
21st Witness Protection 33/1
22nd Boreham Bill 50/1
23rd Sneaky Getaway 20/1
Fell Blue Sari 14/1
Pulled-Up Our Power 40/1
Pulled-Up Botox Has 17/2

The typically rough and tough to solve Coral Cup was a highlight of the day. 26 runners went charging at the first, though the only faller (Blue Sari) was at the very last flight. Click the following link to have more information about Cheltenham runners.

All the top yards were represented, but it was the name of Paul Hennessy that was etched onto the cup. His Heaven Help Us, a 33/1 shot, was being challenged by Blue Sari before the fall and when left clear romped home to record a valuable 9-length success.

The gamble of the race, Grand Roi, disappointed as did the heavily backed Guard Your Dreams. One for the bookmakers we think!

3:05 – Queen Mother Champion Chase Result

Result Runner Starting Price
1st Put The Kettle On 17/2
2nd Nube Negra 11/1
3rd Chacun Pour Soi 8/13F
4th Greaneteen 50/1
5th Sceau Royal 16/1
6th First Flow 11/1
7th Notebook 22/1
8th Cilaos Emery 12/1
9th Rouge Vif 20/1

For the second year in a row, the Champion Chase will be remembered for the horses who didn’t turn up. Once again Nicky Henderson’s Altior wasn’t here, while there was a last-minute withdrawal too.

At 14:54, a little more than ten minutes before post time, Paul Nicholls’ grey Politologue was withdrawn by the veterinary officer.

This left the race fairly open, and while at 17/2 Put The Kettle On can almost be called an outsider, we should not have been surprised at his win.

True, Chacun Pour Soi looked solid as a favourite, but Henry De Bromhead’s horse has previous. Put The Kettle On is an Arkle winner, so was already proven over two miles in a Cheltenham Grade 1.

His win here was hard-fought, and but for a stumble, at the last, it could have been Nube Negra who was being crowned as the champion chaser of the season.

3:40 – Glenfarclass Cross Country Chase Result

Result Runner Starting Price
1st Tiger Roll 9/2
2nd Easysland EvensF
3rd Some Neck 17/2
4th Alpha Des Obeaux 22/1
5th Out Sam 50/1
6th Hogan’s Height 25/1
Fell Kings Temptation 66/1
Pulled-Up Kingswell Theatre 33/1
Pulled-Up Vivas 100/1
Pulled-Up Artic Pearl 100/1
Pulled-Up Le Breuil 9/1
Pulled-Up Defi Des Carres 28/1
Unseated Balko Des Flos 6/1

For many people, the Cross Country provided the highlight of the day. Tiger Roll, already a two-time Grand National winner and four-time Cheltenham Festival winner, suddenly regained top form to win back his crown.

Always travelling well, the Tiger ultimately took care of French raider Easysland by a yawning 18 lengths. Easysland was the horse who had lowered his colours last year but was no equal this time around.

Despite being only a 9/2 shot, the stewards asked for an explanation regarding Tiger Roll’s return to form. It was noted that a return to this track in spring is what he loves. Boy did he show us all that!

4:15 – Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase Result

Result Runner Starting Price
1st Sky Pirate 14/1
2nd Entoucas 7/1
3rd Ibleo 9/1
4th On The Slopes 16/1
5th Not That Fuisse 11/1
6th Capuccimix 40/1
7th Duc Des Genievres 22/1
8th Amoola Gold 25/1
9th Ashutor 28/1
10th Chosen Mate 7/1
11th Us And Them 14/1
12th Glen Forsa 33/1
13th Bun Doran 33/1
14th Western Miller 125/1
15th Or Jaune De Somoza 25/1
Fell Embittered 9/2F
Pulled-Up Moonlighter 16/1
Pulled-Up Sizing Pottsie 28/1
Pulled-Up Zanza 8/1

There was a desperate finish to the Grand Annual this time around. Sky Pirate, Jonjo O’Neill’s runner, appeared to come into the race smoothly when he hit the front at the last.

Having got there, however, he drifted to the right and had to battle all the way. At the line, Sky Pirate just about got the nod by a short-head from Entoucas of Joseph O’Brien’s. Ibleo was a further 3¾ lengths back in third.

This was a huge win for jockey Nick Scholfield, while Sky Pirate didn’t go unbacked either by the public.

4:50 – Weatherbys Champion Bumper Result

Result Runner Starting Price
1st Sir Gerhard 85/40
2nd Kilcruit 10/11F
3rd Elle Est Belle 16/1
4th Three Stripe Life 10/1
5th Super Six 80/1
6th Grangee 18/1
7th Wonderwall 50/1
8th Ramillies 14/1
9th I Like To Move It 40/1
10th Shearer 50/1
11th Chemical Energy 50/1
12th Cool Jet 50/1
13th Jack’s A Legend 80/1
14th Creggan White Hare 300/1

Willie Mullins had the long-term favourite for this race in Kilcruit, who ultimately did start as the market leader. After Sir Gerhard was removed from Gordon Elliott’s yard, however, Mullins found himself with a stranglehold on this race.

Indeed, with the assistance of Rachael Blackmore in the saddle, it was Mullins’ new recruit who got the job done. Sir Gerhard was sent to the front immediately by Blackmore and the pair never looked back.

Kilcruit, having kept on well in the final half-mile, was only half-a-length away at the line under Paul Townend as the master Mullins recorded a Grade One 1-2.

Leading Jockey

A double on the day for Rachael Blackmore gave her the riding headlines. Her successes on Bob Olinger and Sir Gerhard bookended the card and left her as the top jockey after two days.

Paul Townend was breathing down Blackmore’s neck after landing just the one win. Big-hitters such as Nico de Boinville and Jack Kennedy however had to settle for a blank day on Wednesday. All of that left the jockeys’ table looking like this after two days of the Festival:

Jockey Wins
Rachael Blackmore 3
Jack Kennedy 2
Paul Townend 2
Nico de Boinville 1
Ryan Mania 1
Sean Flanagan 1
Richard Condon 1
Aidan Coleman 1
Keith Donoghue 1
Nick Scholfield 1

Leading Trainer

Irish giants Henry De Bromhead and Willie Mullins each landed doubles on Wednesday. Both trainers took their overall totals to three for the week, with Mullins at this stage remaining as a favourite to land the trainer’s championship.

De Bromhead’s wins with Bob Olinger and in the championship race with Put The Kettle On, as well as Mullins’ successes with Monkfish and Sir Gerhard, left the trainer’s table looking like this after day two:

Trainer Wins
Henry De Bromhead 3
Willie Mullins 3
Denise Foster 2
Nicky Henderson 1
Sue Smith 1
Noel Meade 1
Ian Ferguson 1
Paul Hennessy 1
Jonjo O’Neill 1

Summary of Cheltenham Day Two

Arguably this time, the very best performances of the day didn’t come from where we’d expect. True, the excellent Monkfish landed the odds, but he wasn’t always fluent over his fences in the Brown Advisory.

Bob Olinger, admittedly favourite for the Ballymore, put in a brilliant staying performance in the opening race. One could argue it was better than many expected and he’ll be a real force next season.

Put The Kettle On, already an Arkle winner proved his class in the two-mile division too. With Chacun Pour Soi a fairly disappointing favourite in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, it was left to Henry De Bromhead’s runner and Dan Skelton’s Nube Negra to fight out the big race.

Nube Negra stumbled at a crucial time in this race. Also, he was given three months off before this which is a new fad we don’t think a lot of. Had it not been for these things, he may well have had enough to take the Champion Chase.

We have to give a special mention too to Tiger Roll. Having lost in the Cross Country last year, it seemed his best days were behind him. He wasn’t great when reappearing this season either, but was truly brilliant in recording an 18-length win over Easysland here.

More information about Cheltenham results

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