Cheltenham festival Day Two: All the odds, tips, action and talking points

Niall McIntyre

One day down…three to go.

We’re not even halfway there.

You might have won money on Tuesday, you might have lost money too but whatever you did at all, maybe you didn’t even have a bet, a wise person once said that, on Cheltenham week, of all weeks, it’s not money in the bank until Friday evening, when the track has emptied.

There’s a long way to go yet. Today is Day Two, Champion Chase Day.

You can keep up to date with all the action, tips and talking points from Cheltenham Day Two in our live-blog below.

Looking back now, Day One was a certified thriller. It was one of the best days of racing you could imagine.

It all kicked off in breath-taking fashion for the men of the moment, trainer Barry Connell and his young jockey Michael O’Sullivan. Connell told everyone that would listen that his horse Marine Nationale wouldn’t be beaten and well, if you listened, then you won.

The six-year-old put in a peerless display to pass Facile Vega after the last before skating up the famous hill. These were amazing scenes for jockey and trainer.

But the best was yet to come.

There had been so much talk about Constitution Hill but talk doesn’t win you Champion Hurdles. Saying that, this horse could have sat down for a cup of tea and a chat after the last and he’d still have won doing handstands.

Nicky Henderson’s wonderhorse destroyed respected sorts like State Man and Vauban – and, having barely come out of third gear, it’s fair to say it now that he really does look like one of the best we’ve ever seen.

He’s one of the best we’ve ever seen but Honeysuckle is one of the toughest we’ve ever seen.

Henry De Bromhead and connections made a wise decision to dodge Constitution Hill – and their hero delivered a Cheltenham fairytale in her last ever run. The magnificent mare showed guts aplenty to pass Love Envoi up the run-in to send Cheltenham into delirium.

After the tough year that they’ve had, it was great to see the De Bromheads in the winners enclosure. It certainly felt like there was a young man smiling down.