Cheltenham - Day 2

Watch replays of today's races at Cheltenham here (Ireland only)

by Barry McEneaney

Review

It was a day to remember for the Walsh family at Cheltenham where Ruby (expectedly) and Katie (unexpectedly) recorded victories on the second day of the Festival.

Father Ted couldn't contain his excitement when Katie partnered Ferdy Murphy's Poker De Sivola to victory in the opener. Ruby was turned over on a couple of fancied rides - notably Master Minded - but his win on Sanctuaire will long be remembered as the mount that took him past Pat Taaffe as the winning-most rider at the Festival.

It's a case of 26 and counting for Ruby.

The battle between bookmakers and punters went the way of the layers for a second consecutive afternoon at Prestbury Park.

Sanctuaire was a well-backed winner of the penultimate race on the card, but the other results went the way of the men in camel coats.

The defeats of Punchestowns, Master Minded, Rite Of Passage, Quel Esprit and Shot From The Hip will have hit many punters hard.

However, followers of Brian Gleeson and this column's selections had a good afternoon. Brian found the winner of the Fred Winter with 9-2F Sanctuaire, while Frawley (14-1) and Kalahari King (9-2) were both placed for those who opted to play the selections each-way.

Two of my own each-way selections managed to win, with Big Zeb (10-1) triumphing in the Queen Mother and Weapons Amnesty (10-1) landing the RSA Chase. The other two each-way selections suffered mixed fortunes, with Kalahari King (9-2) fighting on bravely for third behind Big Zeb, but Manyriverstocross could do no better than seventh in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

With an eye to the future it may be worth bearing in mind that Manyriverstocross was almost brought down by Quel Esprit when that one feel. He lost momentum, several lengths and his rider lost both his irons. I'll be backing this one again at Aintree.

Big Buck's is the banker for tomorrow, but he can be taken on at the price. Tune in to find out the each-way alternative at a Festival where the 'good thing' has been proving anything but.

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5.15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper, 2 miles 1/2 furlong

Shot From The Hip has collapsed in the betting. He's been backed from 8 into 5 on Betfair and from 7-1 into 4-1 with the conventional layers.

Drumbaloo looks a solid contender, while Day Of A Lifetime looks the best of the Mullins team.

They're off.

Cue Card causes an upset in the finale. Al Ferof finished second, while Frawley was third.

1 Cue Card (J Tizzard) 40-1
2 Al Ferof (R Walsh) 8-1
3 Frawley (B J Geraghty) 14-1

Tavern Times finished fourth at 13-2 for those that got on each-way at ¼ odds the first 4.

The Tizzard team's winner was hard to find as four-year-olds have a poor record in this, as do such lightly-raced runners in recent years.

The placed horses were easier to find, but the winner did it well. Shot From The Hip was always going to struggle to justify favouritism after pulling hard in the early stages, but a tough recent race at Leopardstown may have already compromised his chances.

Trainer John Kiely finished second to Shot From The Hip at Leopardstown with Araucaria and it was significant that he opted to reoppose with 20-1 third Frawley rather than that one.

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4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2 miles 1/2 furlong

Another tough betting heat, but Diktalina looks overpriced at 33-1.

Richard Johnson has to be regarded as an interesting booking for Alison Thorpe as they have such a good record together. This one is an improver and boasts winning form at Sandown which has proven crucial in recent years. Fillies have a good record in this race so she is an interesting outsider.

Sanctuaire is a solid favourite for the Walsh-Nicholls team at 9-2.

Fin Vin De Leu races without a hind shoe.

They're off.

Sanctuaire is a facile winner of the Fred Winter. Notus De La Tour claimed second, with Orsippus third and Son Amix fourth.

1 Sanctuaire (R Walsh) 4-1 Fav
2 Notus De La Tour (J W Farrelly) 13-2
3 Orsippus (D J Condon) 33-1
4 Son Amix (B J Cooper) 14-1

Stormy weather finished fifth for those that got on each-way at ¼ odds the first 5.

That win makes Walsh the winning-most Cheltenham jockey of all-time.

The winner looks sure to go on to big things for the Ditcheat team.

Walsh moves on to 26 Festival winners, one more than the previous best set by Pat Taaffe.

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4.00 Coral Cup, 2 miles 5 furlongs

Quantativeeasing is a solid favourite, but I'm happy to oppose him with Sir Harry Ormesher, who should thrive in this big field.

Those high in the weights don't have a great record here, but it could be worth having a miniscule investment on Chicago Grey at 66-1 (90 on Betfair) to buck the trends.

They're off.

Spirit River gives Barry Geraghty a double on the day. He won well from Tullamore Dew, James De Vassy and Micheal Flips.

1 Spirit River (B J Geraghty) 14-1
2 Tullamore Dew (L Treadwell) 80-1
3 James De Vassy (D Jacob) 16-1
4 Micheal Flips (Nick Scholfield) 33-1

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3.20 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, 2 miles

Time to take on Master Minded in race that's superbly framed for each-way way purposes.

Kalahari King is a solid each-way chance, while the talented Big Zeb is more of a win and place shot due to his poor jumping. If he gets round he can win.

Forpadydeplaster has claims, while Well Chief has a small each-way squeak. I can't see Twist Magic staying - he never has before.

They're off.

Big Zeb wins! It finally all comes together for Colm Murphy's charge, Forpadydeplaster is second with Kalahari King back in third.

1 Big Zeb (B J Geraghty) 10-1
2 Forpadydeplasterer (A P McCoy) 10-1
3 Kalahari King (G Lee) 9-2

Having backed the first three home each-way (plus a small e/w on Well Chief), I'm left ruing the fact I didn't combine them in forcasts and tricasts. The CSF paid £90.94, while the tricast paid £509.70. Working and punting don't mix as easy opportunities for massive payouts get missed.

The ground was a bit on the quick side for the favourite.

Barry Geraghty has to be one of the best judges of a horse in the jockey ranks. He could have reunited with Forpadydeplaster, but stayed loyal to Big Zeb. That was a tip in itself.

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2.40 RSA Chase, 3 miles 1/2 furlong

Punchestowns has replaced stablemate Long Run as favourite for the next and it's hardly surprising punters were keen to oppose the clear favourite, given his amateur jockey and flawed statistical profile.

However, he's approaching value now at over 3-1.

My confidence in each-way selection Weapons Amnesty is waning as the Byrnes camp don't appear to be backing him in any meaningful way. That normally spells bad news.

Most punters will be behind for a second day, with the Irish suffering more than their British counterparts.

They're off!

Weapons Amnesty defies the drift on the exchanges to win. The winner returned at 10-1, but had a Betfair SP of 13-1. Burton Port finished second, while Long Run was third.

1 Weapon's Amnesty (D N Russell) 10-1
2 Burton Port (A P McCoy) 9-1
3 Long Run (Mr S Waley-Cohen) 11-4

Apoplectic winning jockey Davy Russell had a right go at Channel 4 oaf John McCririck over the comments he made on the Morning Line about the ride given to Dunguib by Brian O'Connell yesterday.

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2.05 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, 2 miles 5 furlongs

Finding it hard to separate Quel Esprit and Rite Of Passage, although the ground may have gone against the former.

Manyriverstocross looks a danger at a price.

They're off.

Quel Esprit is an early faller and badly hampered Manyriverstocross.

Peddlers Cross wins it from Reve De Sivola to buck major trends in the race. Rite Of Passage came there and had every chance, but his stamina didn't hold out and he faded into third.

1 Peddlers Cross (J M Maguire) 7-1
2 Reve De Sivola (D Jacob) 15-2
3 Rite Of Passage (Mr R P McNamara) 7-2 Fav

Winning rider Jason Maguire is a cousin of Adrian Maguire and has been a revelation this season, but his mount lacked the experience and distance form of the average winner. This was quite an effort from such a lightly-raced sort.

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1.30 140th Year of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, 4 miles

Mobassher could be the one to solve this conundrum given the lively ground.

They're off!

Poker De Sivola wins it for Katie Walsh. Becauseicouldntsee finishes second for Nina Carberry, with Prudent Honour back in third for Derek O'Connor.

A clean sweep for the Irish amateurs and a 1-2 for the girls. It's all in the breeding.

1 Poker De Sivola (Ms K Walsh) 14-1
2 Becauseicouldntsee (Miss N Carberry) 13-2
3 Prudent Honour (Mr M J O'Connor) 40-1

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Pre-race build-up

11.30am Hello, and welcome to our second day of live text commentary on the 2010 Cheltenham Festival.

The bookies were the big winners on day one, with the favourites in the first five races turned over. For the Irish punters, Dunguib's defeat was the biggest blow.

Click here for Day 1 as it happened

Click here to watch some of Day 1's races

Don't forget: the action on day two starts with the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup at 1.30pm.

Live video streaming here on www.rte.ie/racing for users in Ireland, with live audio streaming for users worldwide from RTÉ Radio 1.

A preview of today's Grade 1 action is available here.

Going

11.45 The official going at the course is good, good to soft in places. That's how it appeared to ride yesterday - when it was described as good, good to soft in places - judging on jockey comments and race times. After a dry night, it's a fair bet that it again is riding quicker than the clerk of the course has reported.

Schedule

1.30 140th Year of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, 4 miles
2.05 Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, 2 miles 5 furlongs
2.40 RSA Chase, 3 miles 1/2 furlong
3.20 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, 2 miles
4.00 Coral Cup, 2 miles 5 furlongs
4.40 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2 miles 1/2 furlong
5.15 Weatherbys Champion Bumper, 2 miles 1/2 furlong

Market Movers

12.20 The exchanges have been a hive of activity this morning and the following are the main movers on Betfair:

1.30
Any Currency - 7.86 out to 9.6
Becauseicouldntsee - 12.06 in to 9
Massasoit - 7.14 out to 11.5
Mobaasher - 12.95 in to 9.8
Presenting Forever - 21.43 in to 15
Poker De Sivola - 14.73 out to 17.5
Pennek - 41.08 in to 25

2.05
Quel Esprit - 4.3 out to 5.6
Manyriverstocross - 25 in to 17.5

2.40
Weapons Amnesty - 8.8 out to 11.0
Knockara Beau - 23 out 30

3.20
Well Chief - 38 out to 55

4.00
Wishfull Thinking - 16.5 in to 13.5
Hampshire Express - 32 in to 20
Lake Legend - 15.5 out to 23
James De Vassy - 22 out to 34
Gold Award - 65 in to 30

4.40
Notus De La Tour - 6.4 out to 7.4
Cross Appeal - 28 in to 20

5.15
Dare Me - 36 in to 23
Shannon Spirit - 34 in to 22
Up Ou That - 25 out to 40

Selections

12.50 Tracy Piggott will be joined in the RTÉ studios this afternoon and he's kindly passed on his tips for the day, while my own tips follow Brian's.

Brian Gleeson
1.30 Abbebraney
2.05 Quel Esprit
2.40 Punchestowns
3.20 Kalahari King
4.00 Deutschland
4.40 Sanctuaire
5.15 Frawley

Barry McEneaney
1.30 Mobaasher
2.05 Quel Esprit, Manyriverstocross E/W
2.40 Weapons Amnesty E/W
3.20 Big Zeb (Win & ½ win stake place), Kalahari King E/W
4.00 Sir Harry Ormeshar
4.40 Diktalina
5.15 Drumbaloo

Non-runners

1.05 If you thought Kildonnan or Synchronised would win the 1.30, or fancied Flight Lead in the 2.40 (what's wrong with you?), think again. They've all been scratched from today's card.

Colm Murray Watch

Intrepid RTÉ reporter Colm Murray is at Cheltenham for his favourite four days of the year.

Colm has been on a diet of bread and water for months in an effort to build up his bankroll and only the occasional lime from a concerned colleague has prevented the onset of the dreaded scurvy. Health professionals would have you believe this is a disease of the past, but there's still plenty of it up my way (Monaghan).

He's left no stone unturned in his preparation for the pilgrimage to Prestbury Park, having consumed copious quantities of natural yoghurt to ensure that his stomach is adequately lined for an event that proves a massive test of both liver and wallet.

He was in ebullient form on last night's news bulletin where his happy, shiny, people face was on display, most probably due to the success of Sizing Europe who he has been raving about for months. His fondness for Henry de Bromhead's star is such that a large poster of the beast is pinned to the bulletin board by his desk.

Colm could be the man to follow this week, and those keen to back his tips should be aware that when last seen before leaving Montrose he was sporting a fetching 'I love Elegant Concorde' t-shirt. Dermot Weld's charge runs in the bumper this evening.