Big Buck’s won his fourth World Hurdle, while Sir Des Champs won a titanic Jewson Novices’ Chase

Good morning everybody

10am: Welcome to Day Three of our live Cheltenham Festival blog. Our team of experts – Greg Wood, Chris Cook and Will Hayler – will be at the track, while Barry Glendenning and Tony Paley will bring you all the latest news, tips and gossip on our live blog.

Today’s races and tips

1.30 Jewson Novice Chase
Will Hayler: Peddlers Cross
Top Form: Sir Des Champs (nb)

2.05 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final
Will Hayler: Our Father
Top Form: Across The Bay

2.40 Ryaniar Chase
Will Hayler: Captain Chris
Top Form: Riverside Theatre (nap)

3.20 Ladbrokes World Hurdle
Will Hayler: Oscar Whisky
Top Form: Big Buck’s

4.00 Byrne Group Plate
Will Hayler: Niceonefrankie
Top Form: Niceonefrankie

4.40 Fulke Walywn Kim Muir Chase
Will Hayler: Adams Island
Top Form: Sunnyhillboy

10am: Competition time!

You could win a £50 bet from Betfred by proving your tipping prowess. All you have to do is give us your selections for all of today’s races at Cheltenham.

As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price. Non-runners count as losers.

Please post all your tips in a single posting, using the comment facility below, before the first race at 1.30pm. There are six races at Cheltenham today and you must post a single selection for each race.
Our usual terms and conditions, which you can read here will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing. If we get a tie after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out of those with the highest score. If an entrant has to repost their selections because of a non-runner, we will use the time of their later posting for tiebreak purposes.

If you don’t win today, don’t despair. We are running an identical competition on each day of the Festival. On Friday, the prize will be a £100 bet to mark Betfred’s first sponsorship of the Gold Cup.

Congratulations to Shrewdette, who won our competition on Day Two. She picked Une Artiste (40-1) and Teaforthree (5-1) to finish on +40.

Chris Cook’s World hurdle preview video

Wearing the same elegant pale blue shirt (the bookies haven’t taken it off his back yet) and beige trousers that served him so well in the opening two days of the festival, Guardian deputy racing editor Chris Cook stands before the camera and waggles his hands like a Blackpool pier puppeteer putting on an invisible Punch & Judy show while assessing the runners in this afternoon’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

Today’s market movers

Jewson Novices’ Chase (1.30)
Peddlers Cross 10-3 from 4-1
Sir Des Champs 4-1 from 5-1

Pertemps Final (2.05)
Our Father 5-1 from 6-1
Sergent Guib’s 9-1 from 10-1
Pineau De Re 16-1 from 22-1

Ryanair Chase (2.40)
Captain Chris 11-1 from 14-1
Riverside Theatre 9-2 from 11-2

Byrne Group Plate (4.00)
Hector’s Choice 12-1 from 16-1
Matuhi 20-1 from 33-1
Niceonefrankie 9-1 from 12-1
The Cockney Mackem 18-1 from 25-1

Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Sunnyhillboy 7-1 from 8-1
Summery Justice 14-1 from 20-1

• Prices from William Hill

10.50am: Today’s non-runners

Jewson Novices Chase (2.00)
No6 Imperial Shabra

Ryanair Chase (2.40)
No10 Realt Dubh

Ladbroke World Hurdle (3.20)
No2 Carlo Brigante
No6 King of the Night

Byrne Group Plate (4.00)
No3 Rebel Du Maquis
No4 Jack The Giant
No24 Kilcrea Asla

Kim Muir Challenge Cup (4.40)
No24 The Sawyer

• We will add to this list in the event of any more withdrawals

11.09am: Greg Wood sets the scene for Day Three

For the third day running, the morning mist is sticking around here at Cheltenham, but the sun is due to find its way through later and the ground, which has been watered and is currently described as good, good to soft in places.

The notion of “Festival history” can be a pretty cheap currency at Cheltenham, and it is often attached to achievements that are merely surprising rather than truly historic, but there are two horses on the card today with a chance to get a piece of the 22-carat stuff. Big Buck’s is the obvious one, as he goes for a fourth World Hurdle and his 16th hurdle win in a row, which would equal the all-time record, but there will be plenty of support too for Buena Vista, who will attempt to win the Pertemps Final, a handicap, for the third year running.

There is a precedent for this in Willie Wumpkins, who won the same race three years running from 1979, and his name will still coax a smile of fond recognition from anyone old enough to have seen him do it. Buena Vista would have as much claim as any horse to a statue in his honour if he can complete the hat-trick today, as he has not missed a Festival since finishing sixth to Missed That in the Bumper in 2005, and has also been placed in a Supreme Novice Hurdle, contested an Arkle Trophy and finished second in the Pertemps in 2009 for good measure.

If Buena Vista can get his third win, there is every likelihood that the “history” horses will complete the double, as Big Buck’s is currently an 8-11 chance and while Oscar Whisky represents the red-hot Nicky Henderson yard, he still has plenty to find if he is going to beat the favourite.

Will Hayler peers into his microscope

Each day we look at how the betting for one race has developed over the past few months and today the World Hurdle comes under the microscope (Data supplied by leading odds comparison site Oddschecker.com)

7 April 2011: Big Buck’s wins a third World Hurdle impressively, beating Grands Crus into second. It is his 11th consecutive victory. Bookmakers initially go 2-1 about a fourth win in 2012 but after beating Grands Crus again at Aintree in April 2011 he shortens to 11-10. Oscar Whisky finishes third in the Champion Hurdle, after which connections mention that he will be tackling longer trips in 2012.

Big Bucks 11-10, Grands Crus 6-1, Oscar Whiskey 10-1

24th November 2011: Big Buck’s returns with a bloodless win in Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle. Meanwhile Grands Crus goes chasing. He wins his first two starts and drops out of the World Hurdle picture. Oscar Whisky falls on his first run of the season at Ascot but travels well, with trainer Nicky Henderson saying the horse will improve greatly for run. Thousand Stars wins on his reappearance in Ireland. With stable-companion Hurricane Fly hot favourite for the Champion Hurdle, Thousand Stars emerges as a World Hurdle contender despite concerns about stamina and whether he is good enough to beat Big Buck’s.

Big Bucks 4-6, Oscar Whisky 8-1, Thousand Stars 8-1

Today: Big Buck’s continues his perfect preparation with victories in the Lough Derg Hurdle and Cleeve Hurdle. Following his fall at Ascot, Oscar Whisky wins two races at Cheltenham impressively, underlining his credentials to take on Big Bucks. Willie Mullins sends out four horses in total with Thousand Stars, despite stamina concerns, taking his chance over the longer trip.

Big Bucks 8-11, Oscar Whiskey 5-1, Thousand Stars 10-1

Time for a run …

Well, it might be for Guardian tipster Will Hayler if Mrs Hayler is reading this blog. Chris Cook has just tweeted that “a well-known & pulchritudinous bookies’ rep has just popped over to m’colleague @haylerwill to say she has his watch from last night.”

Damn Twitter and it’s 140-character limit – we want details! With the mystery bookies’ rep as yet unidentified, we’re going to open a book on who it might be: 11-10 Kate Miller (William Hill), 6-4 Lucy Rhodes (William Hill), 6-1 any unnamed Bodugi rep 50-1 Simon Claire (Coral)

11.50am Crunched standout bet at 3-1 in charity race

Will Hayler: Coming to World Hurdle day hoping to get Big Buck’s beaten is a bit like being the ultimate party-pooper, but nevertheless that’s where I’m standing ahead of the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.

I’ve nothing but respect for such a marvellous horse, but the combined weight of the opposition – the likes of Oscar Whisky, Thousand Stars, Dynaste and So Young – surely represents the stiffest opposition that Big Buck’s has faced so far in this race. Oscar Whisky, in particular, has the potential not just to repeat his fine form over shorter trips but to improve upon it.

Anyway, none of the horses I’ve mentioned so far are going to win because the first horse I saw when I arrived this morning was a small, grey gelding trained by Alan King – Smad Place.

Personally, I hadn’t given much consideration to Smad Place up until now, but to borrow a phrase from Cerises on yesterday’s blog, “never mind the formbook, just tell us the horse”.

Cheltenham is a lonely place when you can’t find a winner, especially if that’s what you’re paid to do, but I stand by most of the bets I had yesterday.
Sizing Europe was the right bet at odds-against. Maybe he was unlucky, maybe he wasn’t, but I reckon if you ran that race 100 times, he’d have won more than 50.

But one thing you can’t do at the Festival is give up and there are still ways out of this maze. I’m backing For Non Stop off scratch in a match bet against Cristal Bonus with Sporting Index and I’m sure Niceonefrankie will give us a run for our money in the Kim Muir too.

However, it’s in the charity races that I always seem to do the best and after Lorna Bradburne landed a touch for us aboard Plato 12 months ago, it’s Niall Hannity’s turn to do the same on Crunched today.

With the possible exception of the Charlie Swan horse, Crunched looks a standout on Flat ratings and ex-jockey Hannity has considerably more professional experience of raceriding than the majority of his opposition.

And in case you might be worried that he’s not taking things seriously, he’s lost about three stone over the last eight weeks and tweeted last night of his jealousy that he was watching his mates tuck into a Chinese takeaway without having so much as a prawn cracker.

You can back Crunched at 3-1 with Boylesports and BetVictor. Don’t forget to give some of your winnings to Cancer Research, in support of whom the race is being staged.

12.15pm RSPCA ‘very concerned’ by Cheltenham Festival deaths

The RSPCA have issued a statement on Thursday morning expressing their concern about the five racehorse deaths at Cheltenham so far this week. The RSPCA’s equine consultant, David Muir, said the deaths showed “the unacceptable face of horse racing”, while another RSPCA spokesman expressed continuing concern about whip use by jockeys. You can read Chris Cook’s report here.

Chris Cook’s Jewson Novices’ Chase (1.30) preview

Donald McCain has already had an excellent Festival, with two winners, a second and a third from only nine runners. Now we get to see the best horse in his yard, Peddlers Cross, favourite for the opening race on Day Three.

Peddlers Cross had been expected to challenge Sprinter Sacre in the Arkle on Day One but that plan was finally changed last week after much humming and hawing. McCain was apparently worried that he hadn’t been able to get much schooling into the horse since he was duffed up by that same rival at Christmas and returned home with pulled muscles.

The way Sprinter Sacre won on Tuesday, it is very hard to believe that Peddlers Cross could have beaten him. But he was slick enough on his two previous starts over fences and has run well at the Festival in the past, winning a novice hurdle and then running second in the Champion Hurdle.

His main rival is another Festival winner, Sir Des Champs, who landed a handicap hurdle here last year, beating Son Of Flicka, who won here yesterday. Sir Des Champs is unbeaten in three over fences but would probably lack the raw pace of Peddlers Cross.

Paul Nicholls fields Cristal Bonus, who floated round Kempton last month and must be a threat to all. He was twice well beaten round Cheltenham in hurdle races and must prove that that was more to do with the type of race than any dislike for the track.

Nick Williams is trying to get his first Festival winner with For Non Stop, who won a weak Grade One at Newbury last month. Williams will presumably not be happy to see a big run from Zaynar, who was recently switched from his stable to David Pipe’s, the horse having tried to refuse on his latest start. Three years ago, the grey won the Festival’s Triumph Hurdle for Nicky Henderson but he appears a temperamental sort to say the least.

Let’s not forget the mighty Red Tanber, who is a bit like Hunt Ball (a winner on Day One) in that he has kept winning this season, despite getting more and more weight each time. He still isn’t rated highly enough to get into one of the Festival’s handicaps, so here he is in a Grade Two instead, horribly outclassed. It would be nice to see him run above himself, not least because he is the second Festival mount of the promising Lucy Alexander, five times a winner on him since December.

Market Moves in the Jewson Novices’ Chase

Zaynar 14-1 from 25-1
Peddlers Cross 3-1 from 4-1
Sir Des Champs 7-2 from 5-1

• Prices from William Hill

HBO racing drama runs out of Luck

Those of you who prefer your your racecourse drama to be fictional (it’s cheaper, for a start) will be disappointed to learn that HBO has pulled the plug on it’s big budget horse racing drama Luck.

Featuring Dustin Hoffman in full-on “mumble” mode, Nick Nolte talking in an incomprehenisble “growl”, a Hispanic trainer who talks at 150mph and an actress who speaks in full-on “begorrah, top of de mornin’ to ya” cod Oirish despite being from Thurles in County Tipperary, the series hasn’t been cancelled because it’s impossible to make out what any of the characters are saying, but due to the sad deaths of three horses and the ensuing criticism from animal rights’ campaigners. You can get the full story here. I’ve only seen two episodes thus far and won’t be shedding any tears over its demise, it must be said.

Not long now …

Channel 4 commentator Simon Holt is on the box saying that he’s unable to see the start because of a mist that’s failed to lift from the course, which is bad news for him. Meanwhile in the betting market, Peddlers Cross is 5-2 favourite as the runners and riders head down to the start, Sir Des Champs is 10-3, Cristal Bonus is 13-2 and Zaynar is the springer in the market at 14-1, having been available at 25-1 earlier today.

Jewson Novices’ Chase 2m 4f (1.30)

They’re away for the opening race of the afternoon on a gloomny afternoon at Cheltenham, with Peddlers Crosss making the running from Champion Court and Zaynar and Sir Des Champs … Champion Court and Zaynar pull four or five lenghts clear of Peddlers Cross and Sir De Champs … Peddlers Cross has dropped back to fourth from last and switched from the inside to the outside, possibly because Jason Maguire wants to give him a better view of the fences … into the back straight with nine to jump and Zaynar leads over the water-jump with Champion Court about half a length behind on his outside, Michael Flips is third from Sir Des Champs and Peddlars Cross and Cristal Bonus is struggling badly … four out and Peddlars Cross is being scrubbed along looking beaten … Champion Court leads, stalked by Sir Des Champs …. approaching the second last, Davy Russell makes his move on Sir Des Champs … Sier Des Champs pulls clear on the run in and wins by three lengths from Champion Court, with For Non Stop a well beaten third.

Jewson Novices’ Chase (1.30)

1. Sir Des Champs (DN Russell) 3-1
2. Champion Court (AP Cawley) 8-1
3. For Non Stop (N Fehily) 8-1

10 ran
CSF: £26.27

A potential Gold Cup winner?

SIr Des Champs, owned by Ryanair mandarin Michael O’Leary and trained by Willie Mullins, was undoubtedly the class horse in the race and has already been installed as a 12-1 chance in next year’s Gold Cup. On Channel 4, Mullins has just said that the 2013 Gold Cup is definitely his target.

Chris Cook’s Pertemps Final (2.05) preview

This is just about the trickiest race of the week for punters, the last eight winners having all been 10-1 or bigger and including two at 50-1. The last two runnings were both won by Buena Vista, who was 16-1 in 2010 and 20-1 when he followed up a year later, proving how quickly the betting market latches on.

He’s shorter this time, around 10-1, which probably means he’ll be stuffed. He is, after all, 11 years old and on the senior side for a hurdler, older than any winner of this race since the 13-year-old Willie Wumpkins in 1981. His recent form amounts to very little indeed, but then that was also true a year ago.

He is trained by David Pipe, who has a couple of other onions in this soup, notably Our Father, the favourite. Lightly raced, he won on his handicap debut at Ascot in December and was then put away for this. The runner-up seemed to prove the worth of the form in his next two starts and it was 14 lengths back to the third. Then again, Our Father is 19lb higher in the weights this time, so he better have had a lot in hand that day.

Paul Nicholls gave Sonofvic as his tip of the meeting at several Festival previews. The horse is basically in this race because he has failed over fences this winter but he was unbeaten in two hurdle races before that and a switch back to hurdling worked fairly well for a Nicholls-trained beast who appears later on the card.

Thehillofuisneach was hammered in a Grade Two last time (the heavy going might not have helped) but he was previously unbeaten in three handicaps and, even on an 8lb higher mark, may have more to offer. He comes from the yard of handicap king Jonjo O’Neill, who has won this race three times.

Gordon Elliott knows a bit about handicapping too. He fields Russian War, who beat a big field here in October 2010 and won handicaps at Aintree and Ayr last April. He has since failed to make a chaser but would still be fairly treated judged on those efforts from last spring, if he’s fit to do himself justice after a five-month absence.

Willie Mullins has Sergeant Guibs in this race, a horse who ran a respectable third on his handicap debut on heavy going. Several of his sire’s progeny have coped well with jumps races on good going or faster, so there is every chance he will improve for today’s very different conditions.

At the bottom of the weights, Bellflower Boy appears to be another successful reclamation project for Dr Richard Newland, who trained another nine-year-old to win the 2007 Coral Cup. This one could hardly have been an easier winner on his last two starts at Warwick and should be well suited by the ground.

This from Will Hayler: “@haylerwill Big Buck’s currently ‘asleep in his box’ according to Paul Nicholls. Evidently not letting the big occasion get to him #Cheltenham”

St Patrick’s Thursday?

With the calender seeing to it that Saint Patrick’s Day doesn’t fall during the Festival this year, the racecourse powers that be have clearly decided to take the most rubbish day of the meeting, stick a big green shamrock on it and label it St Patrick’s Thursday in the hope of luring more punters through their gates to drown in stout and wave their knobbly sticks in the air.

Fun by association with the Oirish craic, eh? It’s a cynical ploy, that suggests there might be a few snakes in the Festival marketing department that St Patrick could do with banishing.

Chris Cook has tweeted some very interesting snippets

1. Willie Mullins said he was thinking about the Gold Cup for the winner Sir Des Champs even before the Festival

2 Donald McCain says Peddlers Cross goes back to hurdles and is finished for the season now

3 After poor showing by Cristal Bonus, there must be concern about general form of Paul Nicholls runners. Champion Hurdler Rock On Ruby based in satellite yard

Pertemps Final 3m (2.05)

And they’re off and have jumped a few, with Palace Jester leading from Buena Vista, with Kayf Aramis in third … Palace Jester leads down the back straight with a little under a circuit to go, with Buena Vista coming under a bit of pressure in second, Kayf Aramis is in third and the rest of the field is quite bunched apart from a few stragglers … They’ve just two to jump but a long way to go and Palace Jester comes under pressure from Kayf Aramis who jumps the second last upsides him … approaching the lasdt, Camntlow and Cape Tribulation lead from Catch Me … Cape Tribulation leads up the hill to win under Denis O’Regan from Catch Me in second and Cantlow in third. That was a good patient ride from Denis O’Regan, who breaks a losing streak of 66 Festival rides without a winner.

Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle

1. Cape Tribulation (D O’Regan) 14-1
2. Catch Me (AP McCoy) 14-1
3. Cantlow (D Elsworth) 33-1
4. Houblon Des Obeaux (A Coleman) 33-1

24 ran
CSF: £76.37

Chris Cook’s Ryanair Chase (2.40) preview

Riverside Theatre was well fancied for this race last year but cracked his pelvis while working at home and was on the sidelines until last month. But he returned to action with an impressive win at Ascot beating Medermit by three lengths with Gauvain 20 lengths back in third.

With his trainer, Nicky Henderson, seemingly unable to train a loser this week, you would think Riverside Theatre would be hot to the touch but instead he’s a very backable 5-1. People are, it seems, put off by his fifth-placed finish on his only previous start at Cheltenham, in the 2010 Arkle, when he was seven lengths behind Somersby, the runner-up then and back in the line-up today.

Still, Riverside Theatre fairly bounded up the hill that day and it could fairly be said that the two miles was too short for him. He is much better suited by today’s extra five furlongs and probably will cope perfectly well with the course.

Somersby was in danger of being known only as a ‘nearly’ horse, having finished third, second and fifth at previous Festivals, but he finally got his Grade One win at Ascot in January, battling past Finian’s Rainbow close home. That looks pretty good in light of the runner-up’s success in yesterday’s Champion Chase and today’s extra distance is widely expected to suit Somersby better. He did, however, contrive to be beaten by Gauvain over this trip at Huntingdon in December.

Noble Prince won the Jewson at last year’s Festival but that didn’t look a brilliant race at the time and the form now seems underwhelming. Two defeats to Big Zeb and another to Blazing Tempo this season suggest he may be short of the necessary quality.

That could hardly be said of Albertas Run, winner of this race for the last two years. He also won the RSA Chase at the 2008 Festival and has only been beaten twice in six visits to Cheltenham – in Kauto Star’s second Gold Cup and in the Champion Bumper six years ago. He won his only race so far this season, at Aintree in October, but then strained a ligament in a foreleg and has not been seen since, though he was said to have recovered two months ago.

Captain Chris ought to be a serious contender, having beaten Finian’s Rainbow in last year’s Arkle, and was a very respectable third in the King George. But he jumped violently out to his right round here in January, was pulled up after just eight fences and anything resembling similar antics will make him a no-hoper.

Medermit runs here instead of taking a flyer in the Gold Cup. A reliable grinder, he has beaten on all seven starts at Cheltenham and may be short of pace at this trip on this ground.

Rubi Light was third in this last year as a six-year-old novice, when he travelled well on a surface much faster than he is used to. His form this winter shows he has improved and he has a big chance.

Luck: an addendum

A pal of mine in Ireland has just emailed me the American viewing figures for Luck, which are dismal and provide a far more plausible reason for the HBO series’ demise than the death of three horses. “If it was bringing in 20m viewers an episode they wouldn’t bat an eyelid if three jockeys died,” he says.

Paul Nicholls interviewed on Channel 4

Considering all his horses are running like hairy goats as a result of sickness in his yard (Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby is kept in a satellite yard over 20 miles away from Ditcheat), you could reasonably have expected Alice Plunkett to have asked the Champion Trainer if he fears for Big Buck’s chances at odds-on in the Ryanair Chase. With everyone in racing being so chummy and afraid of upsetting each other, it should go without saying that she didn’t put him on the spot. Which is a shame, because Nicholls is one of the more media friendly trainers around and would almost certainly have given her an honest answer.

Leading actor owns Riverside Theatre

Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt, star of such dramas as Cold Feet, Bloody Sunday and Murphy’s Law, not to mention assorted movies I can’t think of at the moment, is the owner of Riverside Theatre, the favourite in the Ryanair Chase. On Channel 4, he makes all the right noises about it being an honour just to have a horse running at the Festival, and a particular honour to have a horse with a live chance running. For all that, he looks beside himself with nerves, but must be in with a massive chance considering the form Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty are in.

Ryanair Chase 2m 5f (2.40)

The start’s been delayed because the vet’s been asked to come down and have a look at Poquelin, who has blood trickling from his mouth and has been dismounted Daryl Jacob. Poquelin is withdrawn and the remaining 12 runners are riders are sent on their way. Alberta’s Run and AP McCoy make the running early doors from Great Endeavour, Rubi Light and Little Josh … Great Endeavour, Alberta’s Run and Little Josh form a wall of three at the front as they head uphill to the back straight with 10 to jump … Rubi Light and Alberta’s Run diuspute the lead from Great Endeavour, followed by Captain Chris and Little Josh as they go over the water jump … Alberta’s Run takes it up with five to jump from Rubi Light as they approach the top of the hill with Riverside Theatre slowly creeping into contention … Alberta’s Run takes it up again at the third last, from Rubi Light and Riverside Theatre … Alberta’s Run leaps the last like a stag, gaining a length, but Riverside Theatre gets up under Barry Geraghty on his outside to win the race in the closing strides … the drinks are on Jimmy Nesbitt tonight! Alberta’s Run was second and Medermit was third.

Ryanair Chase 2m 5f

1. Riverside Theatre (BJ Geraghty) 7-2 fav
2. Alberta’s Run (AP McCoy) 10-1
3. Medermit (R Thornton) 8-1

12 ran
CSF £36.46

Ryanair Chase post mortem

Wow! That was an epic horse race, with Riverside Theatre digging deep into what are clearly vast reserves of courage to swoop at the death and win under a fine ride from Barry Geraghty, for Nicky Henderson. There’s no shame in defeat for Alberta’s Run who, as Alistair Down says on Channel 4, gets carried out on his shield. The strange thing is that Riverside Theatre never looked a likely winner until the last 50 yards, but still managed to get up on the line. Astounding stuff!

Will Hayler hits us with his going stick

Racing at Cheltenham has moved today from the Old course to the New course and after just two races many punters were talking about the different conditions underfoot. The going is officially ‘good, good to soft in places’ with the track having been extensively watered (including from 6pm to 2am last night) in the (correct) expectation of dry weather.

However, temperatures are not as warm as might have been expected and the fog hanging over the track isn’t encouraging the track to dry out as much as normal. Despite what looked a visibly highly impressive performance by Sir Des Champs in the opener, the time of the race was three seconds slower than last year’s renewal and horses generally considered to prefer softer conditions fought out the finish of the Pertemps Final.

Chris Cook’s World Hurdle (3.20) preview

It’s the Big Buck’s show! The country’s most famous failed chaser has won this race for the past three years and is unbeaten in 15 races since January 2009. He has never been beaten over hurdles in Britain and, even though he has regularly been very short odds indeed, his most faithful followers have cleaned up.

Being champion staying hurdler is not the most glamorous accolade but he has also mopped up more than £1m in prize money and seems as solid as ever this winter. Despite his famous ‘flat’ spot in the final third of his races, he should be extremely difficult to beat.

That said, Oscar Whisky has a real shot at it and is my bet for the race. He also has a high strike-rate (seven wins from 10 over hurdles) and his only defeats came when he fell at Ascot this season when half-fit and when fourth in the Supreme and third in the Champion Hurdle at the past two Festivals.

Today’s race is three furlongs further than he has ever tried but he has shown no sign of being a weak finisher. He settles well, travels well and must have every chance of seeing out the trip on this dry ground. With Nicky Henderson’s runners on fire (literally!), he has a fine chance of causing an upset.

Willie Mullins hurls four outsiders at the race. Mikael D’Haguenet looks like a busted flush again after his defeat last time by Mourad, who also seems exposed as not being quite good enough for this, having been third last year.

Thousand Stars is splendidly game and genuine and could give his supporters a run for their money once more but So Young looks the most appealing of Mullins’ four. He was third in last year’s Neptune, when he may have won with a clean jump at the last. That form looks very solid, since the winner was First Lieutenant (second in yesterday’s RSA) and the runner-up was Rock On Ruby (who won the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday).

If you fancy Big Buck’s, back him now …

He’s available at 5-6 …

World Hurdle 3m (3.20)

They’re away in this three-miler, with Big Buck’s bidding to make Cheltenham history by winning this race for a fourth time. Cross Kennon makes the running, a half-length clear from Five Dream, Mourad and Big Buck’s … Heading towards the downhill run, Cross Kennon and Five Dream tow the field along, followed by Mourad and Big Buck’s … about 10 lengths separates the field, with Voler La Vedette taking up the rear … Cross Kennon and Five Dream continue to lead with six to jump, with Big Buck’s behind them on the rail … with four left to jump, Big Buck’s continues to look comfortable on the rail and draws up alongside Mourad in front … some great jumping here from Big Buck’s, who takes a length out of the field at the third last … there’s two to jump and Ruby Walsh is looking comfortable, but Oscar Whisky and Thousand Stars are bearing down … Ruby shakes up Big Buck’s as they race towards the final flight, prompting Barry Geraghty to get to work on Oscar Whisky … Voler La Vedette looks the biggest threat now … Big Buck’s writes history by holding on to win his fourth World Hurdle, but was made to fight all the way after being given the race of his life by Voler La Vedette …

A breathless Ruby Walsh speaks

“He’s an amazing horse … I guess with the way some of ours were running, you were starting to doubt, but you’d be foolish to doubt this fella … he’s just a great horse, thank God I have him.”

World Hurdle 3m (3.20)

1. Big Buck’s (R Walsh) 5-6fav
2. Voler La Vedette (A Lynch) 20-1
3. Smad Place (R Thornton) 20-1

11 ran
CSF £24.17

World Hurdle post mortem

Big Buck’s won comfortably enough in the end, but was made to work all the way by Voler De Vedette, who was given a canny tactical ride by Andrew Lynch, who put his horse to sleep at the back of the field until they were coming up the hill, then made his move. As the speed horses in the race were dropping away when the distance began to take its toll, Lynch brought his mare up the inside leaving the width of the track between himself and Walsh in the hope that he’d be able catch them napping and mug them. Walsh clocked him, steered Big Buck’s nearer the rail so his horse would have “company” to try to outpace rather than idle alone in front, prompting Lynch to cross to the outside in his bid to leave the width of the track between the horses again. In the end, Big Buck’s class prevailed, but he was made to fight all the way.

Chris Cook’s Byrne Group Plate (4.00) preview

Another of those tricky handicaps, with no winner at less than 12-1 in the past decade while two of them were 33-1 and 66-1.

David Pipe hopes this year’s race will be simpler to solve because he has the 5-1 favourite, Salut Flo, who is such a short price partly because his trainer has repeatedly described him as his bet of the meeting. The horse has only had three races since arriving here from France and was stuffed here in December on his only race in the past two years.

Pipe has had a moderate Festival so far, his 12 runners failing to finish closer than fourth, including the hotpot Grands Crus yesterday. He also runs Notus De La Tour, who looks well treated on the pick of his form from handicap hurdles in the past, and Matuhi, who makes less appeal.

The man of the moment, Nicky Henderson, has been reduced to a single runner because Jack The Giant is lame again. That leaves Giorgio Quercus, whose burden of 11st 1llb is more than has been carried by any winner of this race since 1977.

Paul Nicholls says this is the first time he has had Crack Away Jack in peak condition this winter and the horse is a past Festival winner when trained by Emma Lavelle, though his history of problems and low strike-rate is offputting.

Holmwood Legend won this last year but is 10lb higher now and his recent form is not so encouraging as it was then.

JP McManus owns Finger Onthe Pulse, who won a Festival handicap in 2008 but has poor recent form. He pays Tony McCoy a healthy retainer to ride his horses but has let him off to partner Ferdy Murphy’s Divers, a winner at last year’s Festival. McCoy will not be safe to approach if Finger Onthe Pulse should happen to win.

Murphy also runs Charingworth, the mount of the promising young jockey Lucy Alexander, who got the biggest win of her nascent career when the pair landed the Castleford at Wetherby over Christmas. They’d have won last time out at Ayr, but for Alexander being unseated two out. They have a chance if sticking together this time.

Niceonefrankie is also well treated and gives Venetia Williams a good chance of another Festival handicap success.

More on Riverside Theatre’s Ryanair Chase win

Some said he might bounce, a few more said that Cheltenham is not his track, writes Tom Thurgood. Yet despite not looking the likely winner for more than a bit of the way, Riverside Theatre has got up to win one of the most competitive races of this year’s festival in the Ryanair Chase.

Paddy Power offer 7-1 about this horse winning the King George in December, while William Hill offer 6-1. Boxing Day is a long way away, but that price could feasibly be shorter.

Jimmy Nesbitt’s chaser has won every start at Kempton bar his second in the King George in January 2011 (rescheduled from Boxing Day 2010), while the horse has a flawless record fresh. He could make his seasonal bow in the Kempton showpiece.

Winning rider Barry Geraghty, interviewed after winning the Ryanair, described the run as “a great performance”, adding: “I don’t think I’ve ridden many who are as tough as that.”

Byrne Group Plate 2m 5f (4.00)

Apologies – technical glitches (OK my own bungling incompetence) mean I’ve missed the first half of the race. Thewre’s nine left to drink with Salut Flo in the lead from Divers, tracked by Finger On The Pulse, then Hector’s Choice, who’s just blundered … four to jump and they reach the top of the hill and the heavily supported Salut Flow gets in a bit close and blunders through the fence … Salut Flow is the one to catch two out and meets the last perfectly. He’s four lengths clear of The Cockney Mackem and pulls even further clear to land a huge gamble for the Pipe team under Tom Scudamore.

Byrne Group Plate (4.00)

1. Salut Flow (T Scudamore) 9-2fav
2. The Cockney Mackem (S Twiston-Davies) 10-1
3. Glam Gerry (B Hayes) 33-1
4. Divers (AP McCoy) 8-1

22 ran
CSF £45.61

Chris Cook’s Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir (4.40) preview

A race for amateur riders, this has turned into a significant trial for the following year’s Grand National, being won by Ballabriggs in 2010 and last year by Junior, who is fancied for this year’s Aintree marathon. Unusually for a long-distance handicap chase, the topweights do not seem to be at a disadvantage, in that two of the last three winners have carried 11st 12lb. Clearly, this is a tiny sample and m’colleague Mr Hayler is having none of it.

That’s good news if you like Sunnyhillboy, who has 11st 11lb. He was an unlucky second in a Festival handicap in 2010, when his jockey left it a shade late, and was an early faller when fancied last year. He hasn’t actually won anything since February 2010.

Also well fancied is Up The Beat, who has 11st 12lb. On his handicap debut last time, he was beaten only by Portrait King in a field of 17 and that is no bad effort as Portrait King has since won the Eider from an 18lb higher mark. Up The Beat is 13lb higher this time.

Summery Justice, an eight-year-old with Venetia Williams, is almost certainly well handicapped if able to run to the best of his ability. Alas, setbacks have restricted him to one outing since November 2010, at which point he was being heavily backed for that year’s Welsh National.

Gurtacrue comes from the shrewd yard of Evan Williams and is almost certainly better than he has been able to show so far. He has been raised just 5lb for his latest win at Wincanton. Williams won this race with High Chimes four years ago.

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase 3m 1f (4.40)

The runners and riders have been ordered to take a turn at the start, as two of the riders were facing side on, but they’re sent off eventually. Slippers Percy makes the early running. BecauseIcouldntsee takes up the running, followed by Benbane Head …

Becauseicouldntsee continues to make the running, which is great news for those of us having to type commentaries for this race, Adams Island and Benbane Head are next, followed by Fredo, Startmeup, Your Busy and Slippers Percy … they’re all still standing as they approach the water jump, with Adams Island makes a mistake but stays on his feet … Becauseicouldntsee leads from Benbane Head, Your Busy, Adams Island and Sunnyhillboy …

Becauseicouldntsee continues to lead from Benbane Head as they turn toweards the second last, but Up The Beat is looking a big threat as he creeps up from outside …

The 13-2 favourite Sunnyhillboy forges ahead up the hill to win for jockey Alan Berry and trainer Jonjo O’Neill from Becauseicouldnt See, Exmoor Ranger and Up The Beat.

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (4.40)

1. Sunnyhillboy (Mr AJ Berry) 13-2fav
2. Becauseicouldntsee (Mr RP McNamara) 9-1
3. Exmoor Ranger (Mr J Guerriero) 33-1
4. Up The Beat (Mr WP Mullins) 8-1

23 ran
CSF £60.40

Cynical racing tipster in grumpy mood sensation

“What a joyous result for racing to see Sunnyhillboy miraculously return to form on the big day – just like Alfie Sherrin. Oh I’m so happy,” tweets our man in the press room, Will Hayler.

Trainer Nicky Henderson had a four-timer, including Finian’s Rainbow which prevailed under Barry Geraghty in a controversial finish to the Queen Mother Champion Chase

10.15am: Good morning and welcome to day two of our live Cheltenham Festival blog. It was 1-0 to the punters after day one with two out of the three short-priced favourites collecting on day one yesterday. Our team of experts – Greg Wood, Chris Cook and Will Hayler – will be at the track, while Barry Glendenning and Tony Paley will bring you all the latest news, tips and gossip on our live blog.

Today’s races and tips

1.30 National Hunt Chase

Will Hayler: Universal Soldier; Top Form: Four Commanders

2.05 Neptune Investment Novice Hurdle

Will Hayler: Sous Les Cieux (nap); Top Form: Make Your Mark

2.40 RSA Chase

Will Hayler: Grands Crus (nb): Top Form: Grands Crus

3.20 Queen Mother Champion Chase

Will Hayler: Sizing Europe; Top Form: Sizing Europe (nb)

4.00 Coral Cup

Will Hayler: Abergavenny; Top Form: Dare Me

4.40 Fred Winter Hurdle

Will Hayler: Argocat; Top Form: Vendor (nap)

5.15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Will Hayler: Jezki; Top Form: Village Vic

10am: Competition Time!

You could win a £50 bet from Betfred by proving your tipping prowess on today’s races. All you have to do is give us your selections for all of today’s races at Cheltenham. As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price. Non-runners count as losers.

Please post all your tips in a single posting, using the comment facility below, before the first race at 1.30pm.

There are seven races at Cheltenham today and you must post a single selection for each race. Our usual terms and conditions, which you can read here, will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing. If we get a tie after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out of those with the highest score. If an entrant has to repost their selections because of a non-runner, we will use the time of their later posting for tiebreak purposes.

Congratulations to Fitzroy125, the winner of our competition yesterday. He found five (5!!!) of the seven winners, missing only Rock On Ruby and Alfie Sherrin. Congratulations, Fitzroy125! We will be in touch by email to sort out your prize.

10.37am: I’ll be charting this morning’s market movers shortly. But in the meantime, our racing editor’s Tony Paley has a few suggestions for Cheltenham must-reads:

1. Cheltenham racecourse Everything you need to know from the course’s site, including the race schedule.

2. At The Races guide to the Festival Andy Gibson, Hugh Taylor and Paul Jones are experts in their field and offer sage advice. It’s all here.

3. Timeform Timeform have been going since 1947 and are widely recognised as the leading form experts in the country. Here you get their tips and analysis of every race for free.

4. The Racing Forum Share tips and join in all the debates with other racing fanatics here.

5. Marten Julian Marten Julian has a wealth of experience in this field and there are always nuggets to be found in his racing diary.

6. Mark Howard Mark Howard hails from a similar part of the country to Julian in the Lakes. His day-by-day review is well worth a read.

10.41am: Chris Cook’s Champion Chase preview video

In which the Guardian’s deputy racing editor is hauled before a television camera and ordered to wave his hands about like an irate Italian mafia don in a heated argument while weighing up the chances of the runners in this year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase with the aid of an assortment of colourful special effect … circles.

10.50am From the quill of Guardian tipster Will Hayler

Each day we look at how the betting for one race has developed over the past few months and today The RSA Chase comes under the microscope (Data supplied by leading odds comparison site Oddschecker.com)

12 November: Grands Crus 6-1, Bobs Worth 10-1, First Lieutenant 10-1

Grands Crus makes impressive chasing debut at Cheltenham and is installed as 6-1 favourite ahead of First Lieutenant, who by this stage had already won two Grade Three races and there’s little to choose between the pair. Bobs Worth, still to make his seasonal return, owed his prominent position in the market to his victory in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle the previous season.

29 December: Grands Crus 3-1, Bobs Worth 10-1, First Lieutenant 20-1

Grands Crus hammers Bobs Worth in the Feltham at Kempton and is cut to 3-1, but his odds would surely have been even shorter had David Pipe not also had the alternative option of the Gold Cup to weigh up. First Lieutenant is beaten into third by Last Instalment at Leopardstown and goes out in the betting, but despite that setback, trainer Mouse Morris says he’s happy and that the RSA remains the plan. First Lieutenant is widely supported shortly after.

Today Grands Crus 6-4, Bobs Worth 9-2, First Lieutenant 11-2

Now committed to the race by connections, Grands Crus is an understandably warm favourite. Bobs Worth finished beaten in his prep at Ascot but Nicky Henderson insists that he’s not disappointed with the horse, who underwent a breathing operation after his Kempton defeat.

11am: Updated leading Festival jockey betting from William Hill

Cheltenham Festival Thomas Pink Leading Jockey Award: 4-7 Ruby Walsh, 7-4 Barry Geraghty, 16-1 Jason Maguire, Noel Fehilly, Richard Johnson, 20-1 Robert Thornton, 25-1 AP McCoy

Main movers: Barry Geraghty 7-4 from 11-4, Jason Maguire 16-1 from 20-1, Ruby Walsh 4-7 from 8-15.

11.30am: The eyes have it

Never mind the formbook, we’ll see whether the system of following the first horse I see can return another dividend today, writes Will Hayler. It was Teaforthree, watched eagerly by part-owner Nigel Roddis, who was coming down the ramp as I reached the course this morning. Or maybe it was another horse and Roddis was just being nosey. Perhaps I should have asked.

Teaforthree is one of the best-backed horses so far today and is now a very solid 6-1 chance (even less on Betfair) with most firms.

Grands Crus (RSA Chase) and Sizing Europe (Champion Chase) are also particularly solid favourites with the 13-8 available last night having disappeared about the former and no more odds-against on the latter.

It’s especially important that Grands Crus wins today as I boldly tipped him to my landlady this morning. I’m hoping for an extra rasher on tomorrow’s breakfast plate if he obliges.

Paddy Power market movers

1.30 Soll 7-1 from 8-1
2.40 Grands Crus 11-8 from 13-8
3.20 Sizing Europe 10-11 from Evens
4.00 Get Me Out Of Here 8-1 from 9-1, Silverhand 16-1 from 20-1, Son Of Flicka 20-1 from 40-1
4.40 Gorgeous Sixty 8-1 from 11-1

Latest Gold Cup betting from William Hill

Lucy Rhodes, who along with her equally delightful and helpful William Hill colleague Kate Miller, can be found annually at this time of year pacing the coffee-cup and discarded dinner-plate strewn confines of the Cheltenham press room handing out branded pieces of paper with ante-post odds scribbled on them to largely ungrateful, hungover and crotchety racing journalists, has pinged me a press release with the latest prices on Friday’s Gold Cup.

“Gold Cup big-guns Long Run and Kauto Star are set to lock horns in the Festival’s final-day showpiece when they topped the final declarations, which were published on Wednesday,” it reads. “The reigning champion heads the betting at 7-4 with William Hill, while the rejuvenated Kauto Star is next in line at 7-2. Burton Port is quoted at 7-1 ahead of Midnight Chase (10-1), Weird Al (10-1) and Synchronised (12-1), with the Willie Mullins-trained Quel Esprit quoted at 16-1.

Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup: 7-4 Long Run, 7-2 Kauto Star, 7-1 Burton Port, 10-1 Midnight Chase, Weird Al, 12-1 Synchronised, 16-1 Quel Esprit, 25-1 What A Friend, 33-1 Diamond Harry, 50-1 China Rock, Time For Rupert, 66-1 Carruthers, Knockara Beau, The Giant Bolster, 100-1 The Midnight Club (EW ¼ 1,2,3).

BBC staple Clare Balding tweets: @clarebalding F-f-freezing at Cheltenham today. Where the hell did the sun go?

And this from canny tipster and Sky Sports News presenter Alex Hammond @skysportsAlexH tip of the day is Vendor in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham today.

12pm: Ruby Walsh has just been interviewed on Racing UK

He says he has “no standout rides today” and will be happy to ride one winner. He said his first two rides of the day, Sous Les Cieux (2.05) and Join Together (2.40), are the pick of the bunch but seemed reluctant to choose between them.

Racing UK follow up Ruby’s interview with a chat with Jeremy Kyle who, whatever you think of him and his dreadful television programmes (I met him at Cheltenham the year before last and he was surprisingly charming and interesting to talk to), is a keen racing enthusiast and knows his stuff. His tip of the day is Jezki (5.15), which I’ve already backed.

Some sparky chat below the line

On the subject of Scotsirish, Garde Champetre and Educated Evans, the three horses who were destroyed as a result of injuries sustained on Day One of the Festival, Corvid claims: “It’s a shame no-one has anything to say about the horses that were killed yesterday”, having obviously missed the debate which raged on that very subject yesterday.

Poster Provokieff concurs, suggesting what he or she perceives to be an omerta is “par for the course as far as this disgusting industry is concerned. I doubt if the BBC or Channel 4 will even think it’s worth a mention either,” he continues, evidently having worked himself into such a self-righteous funk that the myriad mentions of the aformentioned equine fatalities on the BBC news, yesterday’s Channel 4 Racing, last night’s Tony Livesy Show debate (BBC Radio 5 Live) and this morning’s Morning Line (C4) bypassed him completely. Nothing like a bit of informed comment, eh? As provokieff himself says: “The human capacity for hypocrisy and self deception never ceases to amaze me.”

Manchester United striker and racehorse breeder Michael Owen has tweeted his picks of the day: @themichaelowen“3 strong fancies today. 2:05 Simonsig 5:15 New Years Eve 6:50 Electric Qatar (my horse) [runs at Kempton].”

Chris Cook’s Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase (1.30) preview

A four-mile race for novice chasers ridden by amateurs, this race sounds like something dreamed up by someone who was bored and wanted to see lots of people falling off. In fact, the standard is often pretty high and recent winners have included Butler’s Cabin, who went on to win an Irish National, and Hot Weld, who later won a Scottish National.

Harry The Viking’s career record reads one second followed by four wins, the last two over fences. When last seen, he scored at Doncaster in December and the runner-up has since shown the form to be solid by winning a valuable race under a bigger weight.

Willie Mullins fields two runners and the betting market clearly finds it hard to choose between the two. Jockey bookings would suggest Allee Garde is the number one, since the trainer’s son, Patrick, gets that ride while Katie Walsh must make do with Soll. In reality, Mullins does not have to choose between the two and may fancy both.

Allee Garde put up a classy bit of form when third in a Grade One at Leopardstown in December. Soll has not kept quite such exalted company but has somehow managed to look more promising against lesser opposition.

Teaforthree is a tough-looking sort and Tony McCoy, who usually rides, is said to be a fan. Obviously, McCoy can’t take part in an amateurs’ race, so the top amateur JT McNamara gets the leg-up. Teaforthree is probably better with some give under foot.

Lively Baron is a tough ride for a professional and Mr R O Harding will do well to keep him interested, while Nina Carberry also has her work cut out on Four Commanders, who is on the young side for this race at the age of six. Since 1989, only one horse younger than seven has won this from 63 who have tried.

12.47pm: Some non-runner news

No3 Ben’s Folly (1.30), No2 Batonnier and No18 The Tracy Shuffle (2.05)

JT McNamara on those Guardian photographs

JT McNamara’s fall from Dancing Tornado was alarming enough to watch in real time. Captured in beautiful still images by the Guardian’s Tom Jenkins, it looks utterly shocking, as you can see here (pics No3, No4 and No5), writes Chris Cook.

Dancing Tornado put one of his front feet right down by the side of McNamara’s head and the jockey briefly had the horse’s leg rammed up against his chin. Amazingly, no injury occurred and McNamara is back here today to ride the fancied Teaforthree in the first race.

“I had no idea until I saw the photographs,” he told me in the weighing room just now. Barely aware of what was happening in the seconds after he hit the ground, he didn’t even feel the horse pass over him.

“It’s all a risk in this game. There’s no point thinking about it.”

McNamara, who has ridden three Festival winners, said his worst injury was a broken hip. He was back in action four months later and all for no fee, since he’s an amateur rider.

1.10pm: Greg Wood sets the scene for today’s racing

The build-up to the Cheltenham Festival is so extended that when it finally arrives, most of us tend to put our heads down and charge straight in, and in the three-day era, the momentum carried you all the way to Gold Cup day. Now there are four days, though, the second afternoon is a chance to ease the foot off the accelerator and enjoy the view, and there will be no more handsome sight at Cheltenham this afternoon than Grands Crus, the favourite for the RSA Chase.

In terms of their public profile, grey horses are like the kid at school who got an A in every exam, captained the football team and took the starring role in the annual show. They are blessed with a certain something that the great majority of their contemporaries do not have, and they exploit it effortlessly.

As a result, Grands Crus is likely to be the “story” horse of the day if he wins the RSA Chase, regardless of what unfolds in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, as it will promise so much for the future. With Kauto Star now 12, and almost certainly running in the Gold Cup for the final time on Friday, the position of “country’s favourite chaser” could soon be vacant, and Grands Crus has both the looks, and hopefully the talent, to put himself at the top of the shortlist.

Victory for David Pipe’s novice would also put the punters into better heart following the defeat of Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle. The money could then roll over onto Sizing Europe, the favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and the bookmakers would again looking nervously at their bottom lines.

Willie Mullins could also get at least one winner on the board, having sent out Quevega for a fourth successive win in the Mares’ Hurdle on Tuesday. He has live chances throughout the card, emphasising the remarkable strength in depth that has gathered in his yard in recent years. He has drifted to 13-8 from 5-4 to be the week’s top trainer, and that still looks a decent bet.

Not long now …

The jockeys have mounted for the first and are cantering down to the start. Good luck with all your bets and enjoy your afternoon’s racing.

Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase (1.30)

They’re away in the longest race of the week, for amateur riders over four miles … Lively Baron and Four Commanders dispute the lead a couple of lengths ahead of Lively Baron … Four Commanders, Teaforthree, Lively Baron and Harry The Viking tow the rest of the field along at a fairly sedate pace as they approach fence No8 of the 25. All 19 runners are still standing, although Robbie McNamara did well to stay on board Daffern Seal at the ninth fence.

No sooner do I type that than Katie Walsh parts company with Soll and Patrick Mullins comes a cropper on Allee Garde, but both jockeys are on their feet and walking away …

With nine fences to jump, the remaining horses are tightly bunched as they embark on the final circuit. Teaforthree and Four Commanders continue to contest the lead, followed by Our Victoria … State Benefit has fallen … Iron Chancellor unseats Robbie Henderson … four Commanders is first over the last fence, but gets pegged pegged back by Teaforthree on the run-in. The favourite, Teaforthree prevails under a fine ride by JT McNamara …

Just three fences to jump and the field is on the descent. Teaforthree leads Four Commanders and Our Victoria continue to make the running, having led from the get-go … Four commanders leads over the last, but gets pegged back by Teaforthree on the run-in. Teaforthree wins the first under JT McNamara, Harry the viking is second and Four Commanders is third.

Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase (1.30) result

1. Teaforthree (Mr JT McNamara) 5-1fav
2. Harry The Viking (Mr W Biddick) 7-1
3. Four Commanders (Miss N Carberry) 10-1

19 runners

Chris Cook’s Neptune Novice Hurdle (2.05pm) preview

Nicky Henderson, a terrific trainer, nevertheless has a poor record in this race, in which all 22 of his runners have been beaten. His two-mile hurdlers are mustard but they do seem to become more vulnerable at longer distances, such as the two and a half of this race.

So do we oppose Simonsig, the Henderson-trained favourite for this race? At 5-2, he is certainly short enough, considering his hurdling was clumsy when he won at Kelso, while his finishing effort was suspect when beaten at Sandown.

Next in the betting is Monksland, unbeaten in two over hurdles and an easy winner over the useful Lyreen Legend when last seen. But there’s a strike against his trainer, too: it’s Noel Meade, whose record at the Festival is famously awful, with just three winners from more than 120 attempts. Of course, one of the three came in this race six years ago, when Meade’s Nicanor beat the mighty Denman.

Willie Mullins fields Sous Les Cieux, who still has a big home reputation despite losing his last two. Make Your Mark, also from the Mullins yard, has his fans, though he seemed to be put in his place last time. Perhaps this return to a sounder surface will help.

Cotton Mill, Felix Younger and Nelson’s Bridge all have winning form and the scope to be better than they have so far shown.

Batonnier is very well thought-of at Alan King’s yard, so it is very bad news for all concerned that he has knocked a joint at home and is a non-runner. Presumably he will be fit again for Aintree but Cheltenham seems to suit him well, so it’s a pity he won’t be here.

A surprise attendee at today’s racing

Despite having a runner at Huntingdon this afternoon, trainer Charlie Brooks has been spotted at Cheltenham, looking as happy as Larry while enjoying a pint of Guinness before the start of racing. The racehorse trainer, who is the husband of former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, missed yesterday’s racing because he was … um, indisposed.

Spare a thought for Max Rushden

The Soccer AM co-presenter and occasional Guardian Football Weekly stand-in host will be kicking himself even harder than usual right now, if he’s watching John and Christine O’Reilly, owners of Teaforthree, collecting their winners’ cheque (£44,970) and shiny trophy.

Soccer AM used to lease the winner of the first race, but passed up the opportunity to buy him outright when given the opportunity to buy him last summer. It looks like Max’s keen eye for talent doesn’t stretch much further than Soccerettes and Hollywood starlets.

Tom Thurgood provides some poiinters for the 2.05

Simonsig is still one of the hype horses of the entire meeting

Leading amateur rider Derek O’Connor revealed that the horse is the best he has ridden at a Festival preview evening in Ireland, while trainer Nicky Henderson and jockey Barry Geraghty are clearly keen.

However, he still went out like a flat tyre after cruising into the straight over 2m4f at Sandown in December. To be fair, he was beaten by a good’un – likely favourite for this race, Fingal Bay, until that horse suffered a setback – so Simonsig has another chance today to showcase his undoubted class and potential.

John Ferguson, former bloodstock advisor to Godolphin supremo Sheikh Mohammed, has had a jolly old time of it during his first season as a trainer, invariably adding colour to fairly dull maiden hurdles, bumpers and juvenile maidens up and down the country with his regally-bred Flat cast-offs – and, more often than not, winning these races.

Cotton Mill has been a real flag-bearer for the yard this season in better company, winning a Grade 2 last time in which the form has been boosted, and he can go well at 8/1.

Neptune Novice Hurdle (2.05pm)

They’re off in the second race of the afternoon, being run over 2m 5f. Fiulin sets off in front, opening a three length lead from Brass Tax and Sunny Legend … Fiulin leads by a length from Cotton Legend, Sunny Legend and Brass Tax. Simonsig is nicely placed on the inside … Balderdash and Natural High have lost touch … Simonsig moves up into third as they jump the fourth from home … Cotton Mill leads from Fiulin with Simonsig the grey nicely poised in behind them … Cotton Mill refuses at the second last, depositing Denis O’Regan into the wing of the hurdle and on to the turf … Simonsig pings the last under Barry Geraghty and eases up the hill to win at his leisure for trainer Nicky Henderson … Felix Yonger was second and Monksland was third.

Neptune Novice Hurdle (2.05pm)

1. Simonsig (Barry Geraghty) 2-1fav
2. Felix Yonger (Paul Townend) 16-1
3. Monksland (Paul Carberry) 11-2

17 ran
CSF £36.42

Neptune Novice Hurdle housekeeping

• That win makes Nicky Henderson the winningmost trainer in Cheltenham Festival history with 41.
• Despite that nasty fall at the second last, when Cotton Mill decided he couldn’t be bothered jumping the hurdle, Denis O’Regan appears to have wounded nothing more than his pride.
• Cottonmill eventually decided to jump the second last without his jockey on board, only to fall again at the last. He’s OK, by all accounts.

Chris Cook’s RSA Chase (2.40) preview

Grands Crus, a smashing grey from David Pipe’s yard, has been so promising in his early runs over fences that connections considered pitching him straight in against the very best in the Gold Cup itself. That, however, is a tough race for novice chasers and it must be the sensible call to go for this race instead, taking on other novices.

And yet punters are still not piling into him as if he were a good thing. His name was not included among the short-priced fancies that bookmakers were said to be so terribly afraid of as Festival week began.

The RSA may not be the Gold Cup but it is hard to win just the same and Grands Crus has two statistical counts against him. Unlike most recent winners of this race, he did not make a quick switch from hurdles to fences, as tends to happen when horses are expected to make good chasers. He spent two full seasons over hurdles and would be the first such horse to win the RSA for more than 20 years. Secondly, he won the Feltham round Kempton, a very different track. No Feltham winner has added the RSA, despite 17 attempts.

Placed horses in the Feltham do, however, sometimes win the RSA, so Bobs Worth is of interest. He had a wind operation after trailing Grands Crus that day and was consequently short of a gallop or two when beaten next time. Unbeaten in three hurdles races at Cheltenham, he beat Rock On Ruby here last year and that looks pretty good in light of what Rock On Ruby did yesterday (he won the Champion Hurdle).

First Lieutenant also beat Rock On Ruby here last year, when winning the Neptune by a short-head. His chasing technique is not totally convincing but a sounder surface may help.

Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh are represented by Join Together, who has won a couple of novice chases here. Still, those races lacked quality and he has a bit to prove.

Willie Mullins’s Call The Police, second to a top-class winner in a Grade One last time, is an interesting outsider.

More on Cottonmill’s escapades

Replays show that, as he approached the second last, Cottonmill swerved left in an attempt to duck around the hurdle, spotted the wing beside and realised he wouldn’t be able to, so cut back inside and put the brakes on, depositing poor Denis O’Regan into the rail and on to the ground on the other side of the obstacle. Asked aftewrwards if he thought he might have won had his horse not decided to make a break for it, the philosophical and visibly fed-up jockey said: “We’ll never know.”

2.25pm: This from Tom Thurgood on the RSA Chase

Grand Crus is the warm favourite for the RSA, but Bobs Worth heads the challengers. Two and a half miles was the furthest distance Bobs Worth had raced before the festival last year, when the decision to contest the three-mile Albert Bartlett led to some question marks. But he won well and now, in comparison to this time a year ago, this creature probably can’t go far enough.

His trainer, Nicky Henderson, told the Racing Post: “He is definitely good enough but he needs the run of the race.”

Will Hayler: luck at first sight

Remember this from our Guardian tipster earlier this morning? “Never mind the formbook, we’ll see whether the system of following the first horse I see can return another dividend today. It was Teaforthree, watched eagerly by part-owner Nigel Roddis, who was coming down the ramp as I reached the course this morning. Or maybe it was another horse and Roddis was just being nosey. Perhaps I should have asked.”

That makes our tipster two for two in the First Horse I See Upon Arriving At The Course Each Morning strategy stakes. Here’s hoping the first one he sees tomorrow morning is a decent 50-1 shot.

RSA Chase (2.40)

They’re off, with 17 fences and two circuits, with Join Together making the pace under Ruby Walsh … over the third, all land safely, with Join Together on the far side of Cannington Brook leading from Bobs Worth. About 10 lengths separate the field … with 12 to jump they’re all still standing, although Cannington Brook blundered under Joe Tizzard, who was forced to hail a cab and did well to stay in the plate … First Lieutenant and Join Together lead from Bobs Worth … Tom Scudamore is sitting quietly on Grands Crus in midfield, although the favourite is pulling his arms out of his shoulders in his bid to get into the race and take on his rivals …

With four to jump Bobs Worth leads from First Lieutenant with Grands Crus tracking them …. Join Together has faded after a couple of jumping errors … coming around the home turn with two to jump, First Liutenant leads from Bobs Worth and Grands Crus is struggling … Bobs Worth wins another for Nicky Henderson under Barry Geraghty, First Lieutenantwas a couple of lengths back in second …. Call The Police was third and hot favourite Grands Prix was badly beaten into fourth. Some respite for the bookies at last!

RSA Chase (2.40)

1. Bobs Worth (BJ Geraghty) 9-2
2. First Lieutenant (Ruby Walsh) 9-2
3. Call The Police (Paul Townend) 20-1

9 ran
CSF £22.26

Chris Cook’s Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.20) preview

At the age of 10, Sizing Europe stands revealed as a true champion two-miler. We had better enjoy it while it lasts because he has already reached the sort of age where pace ebbs away and he’ll face Sprinter Sacre next season.

Still, he is likely to be good enough this time. He beat Big Zeb convincingly in this race last year and again last month. At 11, that rival probably is on the decline.

Finian’s Rainbow is a more plausible threat, though his finishing effort was not the heartiest at last year’s Festival, when Captain Chris went past him on the run-in in the Arkle, or at Ascot last time, when Somersby beat him.

Kauto Stone can be forgiven his Ascot flop last time, when a few of the stable’s horses seemed out of sorts. Still, he was eight lengths behind Sizing Europe in the Tingle Creek in December at Sandown and it is difficult to imagine him turning that around, young though he is.

Wishfull Thinking would be a big price at 16-1 if rediscovering the form that saw him win at Aintree and Punchestown last year. Perhaps he is a spring horse?

Guardian fashionista Imogen Fox gets Downton and dirty

With no official diktat, no orange sticker business, no outlawing of fascinators, the women at Cheltenham Ladies Day have had to resort to good old-fashioned making it-up-as-they-went-along. You’d think that might mean that no over arching trend would emerge, but happily for us fashion analysts there is already a look emerging. Behold: Cheltenham does Downton.

The race-goers are dividing between the Lady Marys and the Lady Granthams, in terms of headgear at least. The Lady Marys are opting for pillbox bases with sprigs of feathers protruding, sometimes teamed with a fur collared coat, whilst the Lady G’s are going all out with the From Russia With Love style fur doughnuts. Chief amongst the Lady Marys is Zara Phillips who chose a small chocolate sponge cake of a hat with some choice brown roses and feathers. This she wore with a sludge coat, nipped in waist and the sort of pointed heeled boots that only a person intimate with SW6 can wear. Other Royals are falling in with the brown theme and are mixing it with the fur trend. Camilla Parker Bowles has chosen a brown fur trimmed hat whilst Princess Anne has gone for a fitted fur hat. Presumably no-one consulted PETA before heading to Cheltenham this morning.

It’s actually not a huge surprise that the Downton look is now odds-on favourite to win out at Ladies Day. When faced with the prospect of trying to look posh enough to fit in in the Club Enclosure what do you do? Middleton is done to death and the closest most people get to posh folk is watching ITV on a Sunday night. Hence the Downton look is front and centre of Ladies Day collective conscience.

Of course there are those who are bucking the trend. So far Carol Voderman is the noteable exception. She’s doing a trilby and Roland Mouret-ish tailoring (in fact it is probably by the dress maestro himself as she is a known fan). Trilbies had lots of airtime in fashion circles last year so I can see where she’s coming from but in the context of attending the races, I can’t help but think of Arthur Daley.

Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.20)

As the sun beats down on the track, the starter gets the fastest chasers in the UK and Ireland off in the day’s big feature race. Sixteen favourites in 52 runners have won this, but there have been 10 odds-on losers, which may worry backers of 4-5 favourite Sizing Europe, the hotpot in this race. Kauto Stone falls at the first …Wishful Thinking falls at the third, dumping Richard Johnson into a post supporting the rail on the landing side … that looked nasty – a photographer got taken out as well … Ruby Walsh is on his feet, Richard Johnson is still down … Sizing Europe leads by two lengths from Finian’s Rainbow … it looks like Richard Johnson is OK, so they won’t be dolling off the last fence … weith three to jump, Sizing Europe leads over the third last with Finian’s Rainbowabout a length behind him … the leading pair swing round the corner for home and they’re being waved around the last … Finian’s Rainbow beats Sizing Europe by a length in an incident-packed race to make it another winner for Barry Geraghty and Nicky Henderson.

Queen Mother Champion Chase post-mortem

That was a total shambles! With Richard Johnson lying injured on the ground after what looked like an awful fall from Wishfull Thinking a circuit previously, the racecourse officials obviously couldn’t decided whether or not to doll off the last fence.

Eventually, at the last second, one barely visible fella standing near the rail waving a little flag sent the jockeys and their mounts around it, causing both contenders to veer right around the final obstacle, bumping into each other like dodgem cars in the process.

Finian’s Rainbow dug in well up the hill and seems to have beaten Sizing Europe fair and square, but favourite backers have every right to be furious with the indecision shown by raccourse officials there. They had three or four minutes to make a decision there, but still made a dog’s breakfast of it.

It should go without saying, what’s most important here is that Richard Johnson, his mount Wishfull Thinking and the spectator (who looked like a press photographer) who got caught up in the fall are all safe and sound.

More on Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson has been stretchered off the course and put in the back of an ambulance, but he looks OK. He’s sitting up, looking around and apparently wanted to walk to the ambulance, but was forbidden from doing so by the medics.

Queen Mother Champion Chase

1. Finian’s Rainbow (BJ Geraghty) 4-1
2. Sizing Europe (AE Lynch) 4-5fav

Eight ran
CSF £8.01

More on that final fence incident

I’m not talking out of my pocket here because I didn’t back him, but there’s no doubt that the course the horses were forced to take due to the indecision by the ground staff inconvenienced Sizing Europe a lot more than it did Finian’s Rainbow. The stewards have apparently reported that “Everything was in order, but the jockeys had their heads down and couldn’t see.”

That’s nonsense and that’s horse-racing stewards for you – pompous, delusional imbeciles who patronise and throw the book at jockeys who do anything wrong, but invariably refuse to accept responsibility for anything that goes wrong when it might make them look bad.

Everything was quite clearly not in order there – the fence wasn’t dolled off and the flagman was standing in against the rail, rather than out in the middle of the course 10 or 15 yards in front of the final fence where he should have been.

Jockeys, horses or spectators could have been killed or badly injured there, but the stewards laughably maintain “everything was in order” and say that two jockeys approaching the last in the fastest jump race on the calender should have been paying more attention. Seriously? Trebles all round, lads.

Chris Cook’s Coral Cup (4.00) preview

Get Me Out Of Here is a wholly admirable beast, even though he doesn’t have many recent wins to his name. It takes a tough, classy and durable animal to keep running well in top-class handicap hurdles, but he has been a reliable contender in such races for two years and was unlucky last time when brought to a halt by Darlan, who fell in front of him at the second-last. Even so, he was only beaten a length and a quarter by Zarkandar. Of course, the down side of all his fine efforts is that he has a lot of weight to carry.

The winner is more likely to come from the clutch of unexposed youngsters at the bottom end of the weights, most notably Balgarry. This is one of a number of ex-French horses who are a potential nightmare for British handicappers. He has raced twice in France and once in Britain, so there is very little evidence on which to assess him and he may have about a stone in hand of his present rating. At Newbury last month, he won by a very easy three lengths from Nampour, who was then second again in the Imperial Cup on Saturday under a bigger weight.

He’s trained by the very shrewd David Pipe, whose three other entrants all have chances, though Consigliere is more of a chaser than a hurdler. Star Of Angels is especially interesting as an each-way shout, having been fourth in this race three years ago. He’s on a marginally lower rating now but seems as good as ever, having scored by three lengths last time.

From the Donald McCain stable that has made such a good start to the week, Son Of Flicka is also interesting at a big price. He’s done nothing all season but was second in a similar race at last year’s Festival.

To add insult to Andrew Lynch’s injury

The stewards have found the time to give Andrew Lynch, the jockey of runner up Sizing Europe, a six-day ban for excessive use of the whip. Because the number of times he’d hit his horse would have been uppermost in his mind on the run-in after that fiasco at the final fence, eh? Oh. What a farce … but the notoriously self-important stewards would be the first to tell you that rules are rules. What-ho chaps.

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (4.00)

They jump away with Son of Flicka setting of in front as they race towards the early stages. Last year’s winner Carlito Brigante is prominent, but Sapphir River has fallen at the second … Star Of Angels and Abergavenney have fallen … with six to jump Balgarry, Golan Way, Shoreacres and Poole Master are all prominent … Feathered Lane has been pulled up … Balgarry leads by two lengths over the third last with Tom Scudamore sitting very still … Son Of Flicka takes over the lead on the wasy to the final flight with Get Me Out Of Here chasing hard … but Son Of Flicka wins under Jason Maguire for Donald McCain from Get Me Out Of Here who finishes second again – the fifth high profile runner-up spot of his career.

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (4.00)

1. Son Of Flicka (J Maguire) 16-1
2. Get Me Out Of Here (AP McCoy) 6-1 jt fav
3. Veiled (D Bass) 25-1
4. Silverhand (P Carberry) 25-1
5. Cockney Trucker (T O’Brien) 66-1

28 ran
CSF: £96.46

Monster gamble landed in the Coral Cup

Despite this being one of the toughest handicaps of the year, Son Of Flicka has landed one of the biggest gambles in Festival history, having been available at 66-1 this morning, only to go off at 16-1.

Chris Cook’s Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.40) preview

Perhaps the trickiest race for punters and handicappers, who must assess the relative merits of 20-odd talented four-year-olds on the basis of almost no evidence. Here are two more ex-French beasts who could embarrass the handicappers, Vendor and Ulck Du Lin.

This is especially true of Vendor, whose best piece of form was in a French Grade One, when he would have been fourth but for falling at the last. The French handicapper is not allowed to take into account runs that end in a fall and the British handicappers appear to have accepted the horse’s French rating without, at first, realising that it ignored his best run. Timeform, who based their rating on the Grade One race, have him about a stone higher in their ratings than the handicapper does.

Ulck Du Lin has a mish-mash of French form which, on the face of it, would not be good enough. But he has joined Paul Nicholls and it would be no surprise if the champion trainer were to have improved him. “We like what we see at home,” the trainer has told this morning’s Racing Post.

Soliwery also has an intriguing profile, running a promising second at Sandown after two starts in France. Unseen since January, he is likely to have improved at Nicky Henderson’s yard and could be a big price at around 33-1, although the trainer seems to feel he’d prefer more cut in the ground.

Dark And Dangerous has been running well in good-quality races and wears a tongue tie for the first time, which may help him find the necessary improvement.

Injured photographer update

The photographer who was injured when Wishfull Thinking and Richard Johnson fell in the Queen Mother Champions Champion Chase is a Frenchman, Jean Charles Somebody-or-other (apologies, but I didn’t get his name) and I’m pleased to report that he hasn’t suffered any serious injury. He has a laceration in his face that needs a couple of stitches and a possible broken nose. He is at once both an incredibly lucky and unlucky man. Richard Johnson and his mount Wishful Thinking have both escaped without injury.

Bad news from Cheltenham

Featherbed Lane, the Philip Hobbs trained horse that fell in the Coral Cup, has had to be destroyed, bringing the tally of equine fatalities at this year’s Festival to four. Abergavenny, another faller in the race, has a serious leg injury that is currently being asssessed.

Tom Thurgood reflects on the Coral Cup

Son Of Flicka notches Donald McCain and Jason Maguire their second win of the festival, but for the runner up Get Me Out Of Here, second is a horribly familiar scenario.

The horse has rolled up to the festival three times, run three good races, and finished second… three times. Get Me Out Of Here last won a race 25 months ago, the race before the first of his three festival defeats, but his consistency has meant that, in those 25 months, he has only been raised one solitary pound in the handicap.

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.40)

After no end of faffing around, the starter eventually letds them go, despite several of the horses having their noses right up on the tapes … the field is separated by about 12 lengths with One Cool Shabra towing them along and Ruby Walsh whipping them in under Gorgeous Sixty … Soliwery is pulled up by Barry Geraghty as Kazlian shoots 10 lengths clear on the approach to the third last flight … two out, Kazlian jumps with a six-length lead from Arnaud and Une Artiste … Une Artiste strikes the front on the run-in and wins under Jerry McGrath to make it a Day Two four-timer for Nicky Henderson at 40-1. Edeymi finished second, Vendor third and Kazlian was fourth.

Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.40)

1. Une Artiste (Jerry McGrath) 40-1
2. Edeymi (Davy Russell) 11-1
3. Vendor (Robert Thornton) 3-1 fav
4. Kazlian (Tom Scudamore) 7-1

24 ran
CSF £415.67

Chris Cook’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.15pm) preview

If the Fred Winter involves a bit of guesswork, the Bumper is a shot in the dark, which is part of the reason that the last two winners returned at 40-1 and 14-1. Another reason is that both were trained in Britain, whereas this race has traditionally been dominated by Irish runners.

Your favourite is New Year’s Eve from the up-and-coming Suffolk yard of John Ferguson. He hacked up by eight lengths at Market Rasen when last seen, though this will be a significantly greater test.

From the Downpatrick yard of Brian Hamilton, Moscow Mannon is the most
fancied Irish raider, though it would arguably be a concern that his best form has been on much softer going. He is the first Festival ride of the 19-year-old amateur Declan Lavery.

Royal Guardsman represents the same trainer/jockey combination of Colin and Joe Tizzard, who won with Cue Card two years ago. He won easily at Ascot in what was thought to be a good race last month. The same race was
won by Sprinter Sacre two years ago.

Willie Mullins has won this six times, though only once since 2005. He fields Champagne Fever and Pique Sous, both of which are high in the betting. The trainer has told today’s Racing Post that Pique Sous is the more likely of the pair to cope with the drying ground.

Cool George is interesting after a facile debut success at Exeter. The runner-up, beaten nine lengths, won next time and was second in a valuable
Listed contest at Sandown on Saturday.

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.15pm)

They’re off in the final race of the day, with Champagne Fever setting the pace … Horatio Hornblower is in second, followed by Moscow Manon, Cool George, Sir Johnson and Clonbanan Lad … as they run downhill, Champagne Fever’s lead is a slender one and he’s being ridden along as New Year’;s Eve looms large over his shoulder … on the run-in, Champagne Fever is driven out and somehow manages to stay in front from start to finish to win by half a length under Patrick Mullins for his father Paddy. New Year’s Eve was second for Barry Geraghty and Pique Sous was third under Ruby Walsh. That was a fine ride by young Patrick Mullins, who looked like a sitting duck as they rounded the final bend, but somehow hung on.

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.15pm)

1. Champagne Fever (Mr PW Mullins) 16-1
2. New Year’s Eve (Barry Geraghty) 9-2 fav
3. Pique Sous (Ruby Walsh) 12-1
4. Moscow Manon (Mr D Lavery) 8-1

20 ran
CSF £82.31

That’s your lot for Day Two. It’s been an eventful afternoon’s racing, tragedy tinged due to the loss of another horse, but hugely successful for trainer Nicky Henderson, who became the winningmost trainer in Festival history by notching up the 41st, 42nd, 43rd and 44th winners of his career.

Pick of the bunch was Finian’s Rainbow, ridden by Barry Geraghty, which won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in controversial circumstances after Wishfull Thinking and Richard Johnson and a visiting French photographer came a cropper on what eventually, after much ineffectual dithering by racecourse, turned out to be the final fence of the race.

Luckily all three emerged fairly unscathed, even if the hapless post-race blustering of the the stewards will have left jockeys, trainers and racegoers wearily shaking their heads at the sad inevitability of such buffoonery.

Anyway, thanks for your time – tune in tomorrow morning for Day Three of the Festival, when the World Hurdle is the feature race of the day.