Champion Chase day and the comeback kid Sprinter Sacre got the biggest cheer of the week with success in the feature of Day Two.
5.30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper
1st 3 Ballyandy 5/1
2nd 5 Battleford 25/1
3rd 2 Bacardys (FR) 16/1
The last race of day two needed a photo finish to settle it as Sam Twiston Davies held on for a winner for his father Nigel. A well-judged run towards the end had the victor conserving his energy as he just caught Battleford on the line. Spirit of Kayf had done all the early work, but when it got the last few furlongs, Battleford lacked the killer instinct to get the win and was pipped into second.
4.50 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
1st 14 Diego Du Charmil (FR) 13/2
2nd 8 Romain De Senam (FR) 20/1
3rd 16 Coo Star Sivola (FR) 16/1
4th 15 Missy Tata (FR) 10/1
A 1-2 for Paul Nicholls in the penultimate race of the day in a thrilling finish. His mounts left it late after Coo Star Sivola looked to have done enough from early on, but Sam Twiston-Davies had the patience to hang on and push for the line. Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty took heavy falls at the last, but thankfully both men are ok.
4.10 Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase)
1st 1 Any Currency (IRE) 11/1
2nd 7 Josies Orders (IRE) 15/8 f
3rd 4 Bless The Wings (IRE) 33/1
13 year-olds aren’t meant to win at Cheltenham, but tell that to Aidan Coleman, who guided Any Currency to a popular win in the endurance test that is the Glenfarclas Chase.
Valadom had done all the running and along with seven other horses had broken away from the enlarged field early on.
The race took its toll and heading for the final three Any Currency had moved into position with Bless The Wings also moving well.
But taking over the last, with Nina Carberry moving a little bit too late, Coleman was able to secure the win with a bit to spare.
3.30 – Queen Mother Champion Chase
1st 9 Sprinter Sacre (FR) 5/1
2nd 10 Un De Sceaux (FR) 4/6 f
3rd 8 Special Tiara 16/1
If Nicky Henderson isn’t a Stone Roses fan, then someone really needs to point him in the direction of ‘I Am The Resurrection’ as Sprinter Sacre made the ultimate comeback this afternoon. The 2013 champion left the pretender Un de Sceaux in his wake as he shifted gears just when Ruby Walsh was pressing on the gas.
But when the former champion went for the gap, the Mullins mount had no answer and with Special Tiara having made all the early running, it was set up for a fairytale finish.
2.50 – Coral Cup
1st 8 Diamond King (IRE) 12/1
2nd 22 Long House Hall (IRE) 16/1
3rd 10 Ubak (FR) 28/1
4th 18 Blazer (FR) 8/1
Just one favourite has won this race in 22 years and that record will stretch into a 23rd after Rock the Kasbah made no impression for punters. Diamond King was carried along for the race until making a late burst to deny Baron Alco the win in a powerful finish. Gordon Elliot’s horse made it another good day for the Irish, but bookies are the big winners again.
2.10 – RSA Chase
1st 1 Blaklion 8/1
2nd 7 Shaneshill (IRE) 16/1
3rd 3 More Of That (IRE) 6/4 f
Ryan Hatch claimed just his second win ever at Cheltenham after a masterful ride on the 8/1 shot Blaklion. All the early running was made by Seeyouatmidnight and Ros des Francs, but when the pressure came on, it was Shaneshill that contested the most.
The final two jumps had at least five horses in contention, but the ante-post favourites of More of That and No More Heroes really never got to the pace of the race.
1.30 – Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle
1st 11 Yorkhill (IRE)3/1
2nd 10 Yanworth11/10 f
3rd 4 Its’afreebee (IRE)33/1
A tactical masterclass from Ruby Walsh helped him to his 49th winner at Cheltenham for Willie Mullins. Yanworth went off the 6/5 on favourite but was held for most of the race by Barry Geraghty. His hesitancy allowed Ruby steal up on the inside from longtime leader Thomas Hobson, and over the last he opened up the lungs to win by a few lengths. Class finish on the inside.
