Cheltenham Day 2: Kiely, Gleeson and Houlihan all chase a dream
Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival is upon us with the feature race of Wednesday’s card being the Queen Mother Champion Chase which goes to post at 15:30 over a distance of two miles.
Henry De Bromhead, Niall Houlihan, John Kiely and John Gleeson are all in with a chance of glory at Prestbury Park this afternoon, on what could be a historic day for Waterford’s equine experts.
The Irish currently lead the Prestbury Cup standings 5-2 after a great day yesterday, with Michael O’Sullivan sitting in the top jockey table and Willie Mullins occupying the top trainer seat.
It promises to be another cracking day of action with plenty of local interest, and it all gets underway again from 1.30pm.
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (1:30): The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is run over 2m 5f and the current market favourite is the Willie Mullins-trained Impaire Et Passe, who was a taking winner of the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Hurdle at Punchestown earlier in the season. The Closutton maestro holds a strong hand in the race, with Tramore winner Gaelic Warrior and Lawlor’s of Naas Grade 1 victor Champ Kiely also prominent in the market. The Barry Connell-trained Good Land was a Grade 1 winner at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and bids to complete the second part of a double for the trainer after Marine Nationale’s success in the Supreme Hurdle yesterday. Challow Hurdle winner Hermes Allen is the best of the British, as he remains unbeaten for the Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden partnership.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (14:10): There is another short-priced Irish favourite at the top of the market in the Brown Advisory, coming in the form of the Gordon Elliott-trained Gerri Colombe. The Cullentra trainer got off the mark at this year’s festival with Jazzy Matty’s win in the Boodles yesterday, and Gerri Colombe was most recently a winner of the Scilly Isles at Sandown as well as the Grade 1 Faugheen Chase at Limerick’s Christmas Festival. Dual Festival winner Sir Gerhard leads the Mullins team on just his second start over fences, but has won the Champion Bumper and Ballymore in the past. The Real Whacker will hope to take his opportunity for Patrick Neville having won the Dipper on New Year’s Day, while Thyme Hill, a runaway victor of the Kauto Star, also takes his place. Henry de Bromhead bloods Amirite, who won his debut over fences at Fairyhouse back in October.
Coral Cup (14:50): There could be as many as 28 runners in the Coral Cup, with Charles Byrne’s Run For Oscar currently heading the betting. Irish horses dominate the picture with HMS Seahorse, Beacon Edge and An Epic Song also fancied, with De Bromhead represented by Watch House Cross, who was a fair fifth at Leopardstown over Christmas. The British challenge is headed by Langer Dan for Dan Skelton, while Philip Hobbs’ Camprond has also fallen to a lowly mark.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (15:30): The day’s feature race sees a superb clash in store with Dungarvan jockey Niall Houlihan hoping he can repeat his Clarence House success over last year’s Champion Chaser, Energumene, and last year’s Arkle winner, Edwardstone. Houlihan rides the Gary Moore-trained Editeur Du Gite, who has become somewhat of a course specialist, and the race could well prove to be a fascinating renewal of the clash from Trials Day. Henry de Bromhead is represented by Captain Guinness, who won the Fortria Chase at Navan in November. He finished a credible second in the 2021 Arkle and currently trades at 12/1, with Editeur Du Gite a 9/2 shot.
Cross Country Chase (16:10): The Cross Country Chase pits stablemates Delta Work and Galvin up against one another at the head of the betting for Gordon Elliott, with the race often a good indicator for the Aintree Grand National in April. Delta Work won this race last year when seeing off Tiger Roll in the home straight, but Davy Russell has opted to ride Galvin, with Keith Donoghue aboard the current favourite. Henry De Bromhead has two runners in the race, including last year’s third Plan Of Attack, the mount of Darragh O’Keeffe. Gin On Lime will also command respect with her 7lb mares allowance on what is her first try over the 3m 6f trip. Back On The Lash has twice won on Trials Day for Martin Keighley and will be hoping to go one better at the festival this time out with Sean Bowen aboard.
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual (16:50): The day’s second handicap will have 22 runners and the favourite is likely to be the Gavin Cromwell-trained Final Orders, winner of his last five starts over various trips and conditions. Dinoblue and Andy Dufresne will run in the JP McManus green and gold silks, while there are four points of local interest - all coming from the Knockeen stables. Ben Harvey will take five lbs off Couer Sublime, while Rachael Blackmore rides the Gigginstown-owned Epson Du Houx. Darragh O’Keeffe is booked to ride the Tim Duggan winner Maskada, while JJ Slevin is in on board Dancing On My Own. Third Time Lucki for Dan Skelton and Joe Tizzard’s Elixir De Nutz lead the British contingent.
Champion Bumper (17:30): The Champion Bumper represents a significant point of local interest with 18-year-old Ardmore jockey John Gleeson set to ride the John Kiely-trained A Dream To Share, who currently vies for favouritism with Willie Mullins’ Fact To File, a horse he got the better of at the Dublin Racing Festival. 85-year-old trainer Kiely is making the trip to the Cotswolds, as he hopes his horse maintains his unbeaten record, though soft ground remains an unknown. Willie Mullins has ten runners among the 24-strong field, which also contains Gordon Elliott’s Better Days Ahead and King Of Kingsfield, as well as John McConnell’s Encanto Bruno and Thomas Mullins’ Fascile Mode. The best of the British comes in the shape of Oliver Sherwood’s Queens Gamble and the Alan King hopeful Favour And Fortune. The winner of the race won by A Dream To Share has gone on to win the Champion Bumper in three of the past four seasons.
