Cheltenham Festival LIVE: Latest updates, results, tips, and racecard as Politologue wins Champion Chase
Follow the latest updates from the second day of the Cheltenham Festival as the Queen Mother Champion Chase turns up a shock upset
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from the Cheltenham Festival as day two featured a huge upset in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
With Altior and Chacun Pour Soi absent from the big one on Ladies Day, Defi Du Seuil was expected to breeze to victory and take on the crown as the Champion Chaser, but it proved anything but as Harry Skelton and Politologue stunned the five-horse field to romp away to victory, dealing out a big win for the bookies in the process. The upset followed one of the most thrilling finishes in recent Cheltenham memory as Champ shot between Minella Indo and Allaho to win the RSA Chase, while Dame De Compagnie lived up to expectations by clinching the Coral Cup.
The last of the big-race action sees two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll in action in the Cross Country Steeple Chase at 4:20pm. Follow the live updates below.
Full racecard and results
Tuesday
1:30pm - The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: 1. Shishkin 6-1 2. Abacadabras 11-5 3. Chantry House 15-2
2:10pm - The Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase: 1. Put The Kettle On 16-1 2. Fakir D’Oudairies 3-1 3. Rouge Vif 9-1
2:50pm - The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase: 1. The Conditional 15-2 2. Kildisart 10-1 3. Discorama 11-2 Jt Fav 4. Vindication 11-2 Jt Fav
3:30pm - The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy: 1. Epatante 2/1 Fav 2. Sharjah 16/1 3. Darvar Star 17/2
4:10pm - The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race: 1. Honeysuckle 9/4 2. Benie Des Dieux 4-6 fav 3. Elfile 16/1
4:50pm - The Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase: 1. Imperial Aura 4-1 Jtfav 2. Galvin 4-1 Jtfav 3. Hold The Note 10-1
5:30pm - The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup: 1 Ravenhill 12-1 2 Lord Du Mesnil 11-2 3 Lamanver Pippin 33-1
Wednesday
1:30pm - The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race: 1. Envoi Allen - 4/7 Fav 2. Easy Work - 12/1 3. The Big Getaway - 9/1
2:10pm - The RSA Insurance Novices’ Steeple Chase: 1 Champ - 4-1 2 Minella Indo 3-1 3 Allaho 5-2 Fav
2:50pm - The Coral Cup Hurdle: 1 Dame De Compagnie 5-1 Fav 2 Black Tears 12-1 3 Thosedaysaregone 10-1 4 Cracking Smart 33-1
3:30pm - The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase: 1 Politologue 6-1 2 Dynamite Dollars 7-1 3 Bun Doran 33-1
4:10pm - Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase: 1 Easysland 3-1 2 Tiger Roll 8-11 Fav 3 Out Sam 33-1
4:50pm - The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race: 1 Aramax 15-2 2 Night Edition 16-1 3 Saint D'Oroux 14-1 4 Recent Revelations 14-1
5:30pm - The Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Thursday
1:30pm - The Marsh Novices’ Chase
2:10pm - The Pertemps Network Final
2:50pm - The Ryanair Steeple Chase
3:30pm - The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
4:10pm - The Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate
4:50pm - The Festival Mares Novices’ Hurdle
5:30pm - The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Friday
1:30pm - The JCB Triumph Hurdle
2:10pm - The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race
2:50pm - The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race
3:30pm - The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase
4:10pm - The St James’s Place Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
4:50pm - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase
5:30pm - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
What a fantastically finish from Davy Russell to pick up his first winner of the festival, bagging Gordon Elliott back-to-back wins after he took the National Hunt yesterday evening. Envoi Allen approached the home straight in third place behind The Big Getaway and Easy Work, but bolted for the front between the penultimate and last hurdle to surge in to the lead and breeze to victory. Easy Work took second after eclipsing the long-time leader on the run to the line.
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle result
1. Envoi Allen - 4/7 Fav
2. Easy Work - 12/1
3. The Big Getaway - 9/1
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
Envoi Allen lived up to the hype with a supreme display in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Unbeaten in seven career starts heading into the opening race on day two of the Festival - including in the Champion Bumper last season - the Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old was settled on the inside by Davy Russell.
At one point it looked as if long-time leader The Big Getaway had slipped the field under Paul Townend coming down the hill, with only Rachael Blackmore covering the move on Easywork, who had been keen enough.
But an ice-cool Russell has not gained the experience of over 20 years in the saddle for nothing and began to make ground just before the turn for home.
On the long run to the last the 4-7 favourite quickened impressively and powered four and a quarter lengths clear up the hill. His stablemate Easywork stayed on gamely for second, with The Big Getaway third.
2:10pm - The RSA Insurance Novices’ Steeple Chase
1. Allaho - 10/3
2. Aye Right - 150/1
3. Battleoverdoyen - 12/1
4. Castlebawn West - 110/1
5. Champ - 9/2
6. Copperhead - 11/1
7. Easy Game - 12/1
8. Minella Indo - 3/1
9. Pym - 35/1
10. Slate House - 22/1
RSA Chase
Allaho and Minella Indo are the two fancied her in the RSA Chase, with Willie Mullins hopeful for a first win of the Festival with Allaho, but AP McCoy will be looking on keenly with the fancied Champ running in his famous colours after being named after the great jockey.
RSA Chase
All eyes will be on how Champ jumps today, given it's what has seen him come unstuck recently - especially in his fall at this very racecourse in January this year.
RSA Chase
Minella Indo immediately hits the front alongside Allaho, with the two joint-favourites willing to lead the way.
RSA Chase
Champ finds him challenging for sixth with 16 fences to go, so there's plenty of time left to move up in this long-distance chase.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments