As it happened: Cheltenham Festival day 2 news and reaction
POIGNANT WINNER: Sean Flanagan looks up to the sky on Marine Nationale. Pic: Tom Maher/Inpho
Only 40 minutes after Marine Nationale stormed to the Queen Mother Champion Chase title, Jazzy Matty further honoured the memory of the late Michael O'Sullivan at Cheltenham with a poignant success in the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.
Click here to read how it happened.
State of play at the half-way stage of the Prestbury Cup:
2: Paul Townend.
1: Nico de Boinville, Paddy Wadge, Lorcan Williams, Mark Walsh, Ben Jones, Harry Skelton, Seán O’Keeffe, Danny Mullins, Keith Donoghue, Sean Flanagan, Danny Gilligan, Jody Townend.
5: Willie Mullins.
1: Nicky Henderson, Lucinda Russell, Jeremy Scott, Joseph O’Brien, Rebecca Curtis, Dan Skelton, Gavin Cromwell, Barry Connell, Cian Collins.
Today's results in full:
1.20: Turners Novices’ Hurdle: 1. The New Lion 3-1, 2. The Yellow Clay 5-2, Final Demand 6-4
2.00: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase: 1. Lecky Watson 20-1, 2. Stellar Story 22-1, 3. Better Days Ahead 13-2.
2.40: Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle: 1. Jimmy Du Seuil 16-1, 2. Impose Toi 13-2, 3. Ballyadam 16-1, Beat The Bat 11-2.
3.20: Glenfarclas Cross Country Limited Handicap Chase: 1. Stumptown 5-2, 2. Latenightpass 11-1, 3. Vanillier 15-2, 4. The Goffer 6-1.
4.00: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase: 1. Marine Nationale 5-1, 2. Jonbon 5-6, 3 Captain Guinness 25-1.
4.40: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase: 1. Jazzy Matty 15-1, 2. Unexpected Party 11-2, 3. Midnight It Is 25-1, 4. My Mate Mozzie 13-2.
5.20: Weatherbys Champion Bumper: 1. Bambino Fever 4-1, 2. Heads Up 33-1, 3. Shuttle Diplomacy 66-1.
Champion Bumper result:
1. Bambino Fever 4/1 2f (Jody Townend/Willie Mullins)
2. Heads Up 33/1 (S Bowen/ J McConnell)
3. Shuttle Diplomacy 66/1 (D Meyler/T Cooper)
4. Caballero Cliff 150/1 (B Jones/R Stephens)
Bambino Fever wins the Champion Bumper for Willie Mullins! It's a 14th win for Mullins in the race. Jody Townend, sister of Paul, was on the winner.
Gordon Elliott could be on the lookout for two jockeys on Thursday, after both Jack Kennedy and Sam Ewing were stood down at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
Kennedy only recently returned from his sixth broken leg on March 3 and had his first winner five days later.
He had six rides on Tuesday and had a second and a third from three mounts on Wednesday before failing to come out for his ride in the Cross Country Chase, a race which Ewing, due to have three rides tomorrow, also did not ride in.
Kennedy is scheduled to partner the favourite, Teahupoo, in the Stayers' Hurdle on what will be day three of the Festival.
Elliott said: "Jack is sore. He thought it wouldn't be fair, he wouldn't be able to do the horses justice. We're hoping he'll be OK for the morning. I presume he'll need to pass the doctor.
"Sam is very sore and has gone to get checked out."
They are off in the Champion Bumper.
Kerry native Cian Collins saddled his first Cheltenham Festival winner with Jazzy Matty in the Grand Annual.
"We've been actually talking about it for the last week or so, could it ever happen?" he told Racing TV about Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty - both of the horses which Michael O'Sullivan rode to victory at the 2023 Festival - winning today.
"And I think it's absolutely crazy that it did happen. I said it to Alan O'Sullivan there that things like this don't happen too often. So there's definitely someone looking down on us today.
"He never put a foot wrong anywhere. It was a very easy race to watch when I thought it'd be a very hard race to watch. But never put a foot wrong - traveled, jumped. Danny was unbelievable on him."
It's tight at the top of the market in the Champion Bumper. Gordon Elliot's Kalypsochance and Willie Mullins' Bambino Fever are the 16/5 joint favourites.
The final race of the day is the Champion Bumper. It goes off in 20 minutes.
We all know there is someone very special looking down on us today," Grand Annual-winning jockey Danny Gilligan, referencing Michael O'Sullivan having ridden Jazzy Matty to victory in the 2023 Fred Winter, tells ITV.
"Especially with Marine Nationale going out and winning the (Champion Chase). For this lad to go out and do it too, we all know who's looking down on us today. I had a dream run around, never missed a beat."
Gilligan adds on Racing TV: "That's for Michael."
Grand Annual result:
1. Jazzy Matty 15/2 (Danny Gilligan/Cian Collins)
2. Unexpected Party 11/2f (Harry Skelton/Dan Skelton)
3. Midnight It Is 25/1 (Sean Flanagan/Gavin Cromwell)
4. My Mate Mozzie 13/2 (Darragh O'Keeffe/Gavin Cromwell)
Jazzy Matty wins the Grand Annual! It's a win for Kerry native trainer Cian Collins and jockey Danny Gilligan. Just like Marine Nationale, Michael O'Sullivan rode Jazzy Matty to victory in the 2023 Fred Winter.
Favourite Primoz, who had a poor start at the second time of asking, is last of all.
After a false start, they are now underway in the Grand Annual.
20 go to post in the Grand Annual. Last year's winner, Dan Skelton's Unexpected Party, is 11/2.
Next up on the schedule is the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at 4.40pm.
Sean Flanagan pays tribute to O'Sullivan post-race.
He said: "Hugely emotional for a lot of reasons. His family have obviously have found it very hard. The jockeys in Ireland, the UK and the world have been under a cloud the last few weeks.
"I'm just the man that steered him around today, Michael is the man who made him what he is and he'll never be forgotten for that."
Barry Connell added: "I'd like to say it's very poignant, it's very raw. The whole thing with Michael over the last three or four weeks has been absolutely horrible and my thoughts and prayers are with the family and his friends.
"His girlfriend Charlotte is here, she was with us saddling up the horse. Racing is a great community and everyone has come together for Michael, and this is hopefully a fitting tribute to him."
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Queen Mother Champion Chase result:
1: Marine Nationale (5/1) - Sean Flanagan / Jonbon
2: Jonbon (5/6f) - Nico de Boinville / Nicky Henderson
3: Captain Guinness (25/1) - Rachael Blackmore / Henry de Bromhead
Emotional scenes at Cheltenham as the Champion Chase is won by Marine Nationale!
Following a late Quilixios fall, Marine Nationale - the horse initially made famous by the late Michael O'Sullivan - produces his best in the Queen Mother Champion Chase to win for Barry Connell.
An error from Jonbon sees the favourite fall to the back of the field!
Another false start, but we're underway in the main event!
racing correspondent Tommy Lyons is thinking in similar fashion to Ruby.
"Nicky Henderson’s nine-year-old is on a five-race winning run, having won his last two outings of last season, and added the Shloer Chase, the Tingle Creek, and the Clarence House to his spoils this term.
"On the most recent occasion, he proved far too good for two-time winner of this race Energumene and did so despite jumping out to his left on occasion.
"That was arguably the best performance of his career to date, coming on the back of another top-class effort, and he has little to fear from his seven rivals. If he turns in top form, it will be a huge shock if he fails to deliver."
It's time to turn our attention to the main attraction of the day - The Queen Mother Champion Chase. Can Jonbon succeed at the third time of asking?
Ruby "can't look beyond" the favourite.
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase result:
1: Stumptown (5/2f) - Keith Donoghue / Gavin Cromwell
2: Latenightpass (11/1) - Gina Andrews / T Ellis
3: Vanillier (15/2) - Sean Flanagan / Gavin Cromwell
4: The Goffer (6/1) - Sean Bowen / Gordon Elliott
5: Mister Coffey (11/2) - Nico de Boinville / Nicky Henderson
Favourite Stumptown and Keith Donoghue - yet again - deliver to take Cross Country glory.
After a false start, we're underway in the Cross Country. Vanillier takes the lead early on.
Two jockey alterations for the Cross Country - Derek O'Connor is in for Jack Kennedy aboard Galvin and Sam Twiston-Davies replaces Sam Ewing on Coko Beach.
Ewing is unlikely to ride for the rest of the meeting, Kennedy could be riding again as soon as tomorrow.
Next up is the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.
Here's what Ruby said in his column on Wednesday morning: "Gavin Cromwell has not hidden the regard in which he holds the Cross-Country favourite Stumptown.
"With the assistance of Keith Donoghue, he will be on many shortlists, but I think Gavin also runs one of his biggest dangers in Vanillier.
"He has dropped a bit in the ratings and is set to receive 10lbs from his stablemate. He is a former Albert Bartlett winner who comes here in fine form after a win over the Punchestown banks.
"Blinkers seemed to work the first time, and I hope they have the same effect today."
Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle result:
1: Jimmy Du Seuil (16/1) - Danny Mullins / Willie Mullins
2: Impose Toi (13/2) - Nico de Boinville / Nicky Henderson
3: Ballyadam (16/1) - Rachael Blackmore / Henry de Bromhead
4: Beat The Bat (11/2) - Bryan Carver / Harry Fry
5: Colonel Mustard - Tiernan Power Roche / L Fowler
Winning jockey Mullins said: "Credit goes to Willie Mullins. Coming here, no run this season, prepared for a Handicap like that with no run in a Handicap - it's just great to be a part of that team.
"It was unbelievable. I thought the snow would help his chances and he hit the line very strong. He's a good little pony.
"This is the place we all want to come every year, you don't take any of them [winners] for granted."
Jimmy Du Seuil and Danny Mullins have beaten the field to take the Coral Cup at 16/1.
And we're up and running in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle!
Ruby's take: "The Coral Cup never floated my boat as a jockey, as the dash through the early part of the race always made me feel like I was going faster than my horse could, and then I always seemed to get caught in the traffic jam at the top of the hill.
"For me, it’s the race you need the most luck in to win, and Jimmy Du Seuil has a chance if he has some luck, but Be Aware, for the Skeltons, should be noted, and Bunting is another to side with."
Next up, at 2.40pm, is the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle.
On Ballyburn, Paul Townend said: "It wasn't very enjoyable, from the very start. It's obviously not his run, he did nothing right and we might have to change tactics.
"He made plenty of (mistakes) up until that (at the seventh fence) - it wasn't even that one."
Winning jockey O'Keeffe pays tribute to the late Michael O'Sullivan.
"I'm over the moon! I can't believe it," O'Keeffe told "I was delighted to get the ride on him and thought he had a nice chance. He went out to a big enough price but in fairness I thought if I got him jumping he'd have a big chance.
"Michael O'Sullivan was a big fan of this horse and said he'd always win a big race. He stayed in the house in Cheltenham with us the last few years and he's missed from there this year. He's a very good friend and we'll always miss him."
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase result:
1: Lecky Watson (20/1) - Sean O'Keeffe / Willie Mullins
2: Stellar Story (22/1) - Danny Gilligan / Gordon Elliott
3: Better Days Ahead (13/2) - Jack Kennedy / Gordon Elliott
4: Gorgeous Tom (11/1) - Darragh O'Keeffe / Henry de Bromhead
20/1 Lecky Watson, with Sean O'Keeffe aboard, wins for Willie Mullins!
Mullins' wins his seventh Brown Advisory. Ballyburn was never able to recover after the early mistake.
Ballyburn and Paul Townend with some work to do.
Underway in the second.
Next up is the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at 2pm.
Ruby says Ballyburn is the "one for him".
"The changes to yesterday's National Hunt chase and tomorrow's Turner's Novice Chase have resulted in a much deeper Brown Advisory Novice Chase today. At least five of these could have ended up in the old races, but they are all here to face off against each other.
"Ballyburn was the best of these as a novice hurdler, and I think once he was upped in trip at the Dublin Racing Festival, his jumping held up just fine. I loved how he quickened there from the last to the line, and I hope today's extra three furlongs will make him even better. He is the one for me."
The win gives owner JP McManus his first winner of this race since Istabraq all the way back in 1997.
Trainer Dan Skelton on The New Lion: "He can just do things that others can’t.”
Harry added: "He's got it all. You hope one day in your career you can come across a good one and he's a good one. I'm just delighted he's come here and done it on the day.
"He's taken his time to come to hand but it's a masterful bit of training from Dan."
Turners Novices' Hurdle result:
1: The New Lion (3/1) - Harry Skelton / Dan Skelton
2: The Yellow Clay (5/2) - Jack Kennedy / Gordon Elliott
3: Final Demand (6/4f) - Paul Townend / Willie Mullins
4: Forty Coats (150/1) - Darragh O'Keeffe / Henry de Bromhead
And it's The New Lion, with Harry Skelton aboard that claims Turners Novices' Hurdle!
The Yellow Clay comes home a close second, with Final Demand third. The Challow curse is over.
And we're off in the first!
Darren Norris agrees with Tommy Lyons on the winner of the first. They're both on The New Lion train.
"Challow Novices’ Hurdle winners have a deplorable record in the Grade One Turners Novices' Hurdle but The New Lion can defy that gloomy stat in the opening race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival," Darren writes. "The last 20 Challow winners to line up in the Turners have all been beaten but that curse has to be broken at some point and The New Lion, a top-class prospect in the making, is fancied to be the horse to break it.
"A bumper winner last season, the Dan Skelton-trained six-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles this season, the hat-trick completed by that Challow success at Newbury at Christmas.
"He was visually spectacular that day, beating Wendigo, who won next time out, by four and three-quarter lengths without coming off the bridle."
First up at 1.20pm is the Turners Novices' Hurdle, where Final Demand and The New Lion face off with Ruby and Tommy in opposite corners.
"This afternoon kicks off with a showdown that this place misses a little too often these days, but which will return more frequently: a clash between a British and Irish novice," Ruby says. "Final Demand or The New Lion? Take your pick."
"Which form do you believe is better? Which horse has impressed you more? Which side of the fence are you on? Ireland’s, with Final Demand, or Britain’s with The New Lion. Or are you going to the left of the field and siding with the Yellow Clay?
"There are so many angles here, but I like to stick to a fundamental theory - which is often wrong, but at least it is consistent - and that is to side with who I believe to be the best horse. For me, that is Final Demand, and I hope this contest is run at a strong gallop to bring out the best in him. Kiss Will shouldn’t be forgotten from an each-way point of view."
Ruby and Tommy are in full agreement on Jonbon’s prospects in Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.
"The Champion Chase is the day two highlight, and I can’t look beyond the short-price favourite Jonbon. Unless some unforeseen weather event has engulfed Prestbury Park since I wrote this column, and the place has been soaked in inches of rain, I don't see any rival here who can prevent him from his crowning moment as a two-mile chaser," Ruby wrote in Wednesday's
"I do not buy into his taking a dip at the Festival, but I look back on it and see the signs of decline before he ran here as a novice hurdler and a novice chaser.
"This season, his form has built with each run, and he comes here off the back of an authoritative display in the Clarence House Chase. I think it's a matter of how far he wins, not if he will."
There's plenty more to whet the appetite ahead of another great day of racing with Enda McEvoy keeping us up-to-date on how he is faring after a stormy opening day.
Meanwhile, Colm Greaves talks us through what we learned yesterday, and what we are likely to learn today.
Again, both Tommy and racing editor Darren Norris give us their tips for day two in the Cotswolds.
Watch racing correspondent Tommy Lyons and Ruby Walsh preview Wednesday's action.
They make their cases for Final Demand and The New Lion in the Turner's Novices' Hurdle.
A white layer of snow covers Cheltenham this morning. The bright skies of the early AM have disappeared with visibility now poor amid the downfall.
The going remains remains Good To Soft, however.
Jon Pullin, Cheltenham’s Clerk of the Course, told “We had some fantastic racing yesterday with lots of excitement and are very much looking forward to the same today.
“We had a covering of snow this morning but it turned to sleet as forecast and that should soon disappear."
😂 Actually mental - this is Cheltenham in March.pic.twitter.com/1lyh8mEw8i
— Road To Cheltenham (@RoadCheltenham) March 12, 2025
