Whistle jacket
Cheltenham Still Smiling on us
Not everyone emerged unscathed on Day 2.
Firstly there was drama for favourite No Drama This End after a false start and then not getting a good jump when they had to do a standing start and he blew this and got left behind and in the end Cobden called it quits and pulled the horse up. This left a great opening for our (admittedly fourth) pick King Rasko Grey to break through and get another Mullins-Townend winner. Act of Innocence 10/1 was second and Zeus Power 50/1 third.
One wonders why they can't use starting gates in jumps races – it always seems such a muddle and stories like the above are all too common.
Romeo Coolio unfortunately found this race one too many after his recent efforts and did not make the frame. However another of our fourth picks Kitzbuhel managed to keep his jockey in the saddle – Harry Cobden that is – and romped away to finish ahead of Mullins stablemate Final Demand. Salver on 25/1 was third.
And then we had a very happy result in the Queen Mum when it was definitely his time for Il Etait Temps who showed Libberty Hunter 50/1 a clean set of heels as that horse grabbed second from a tiring L'Eau du Sud. Hot favourite started off and was in the lead until he made a bad jump and then another not too good jump and after a third bad jump was eased off, leaving the coast clear for his little grey stablemate who sat comfortably just off the pace until the last turn and then he let loose with a lovely run despite a slight knuckle on the last but he had time to recover and win by a clear margin.
Thursday's card is a busy one with the 5 first races being graded races. The Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle has 22 runners and here there looks to be a potential thriller between Bambino Fever 6/5 for Mullins Townend and Outlook Outflow 4/1 for Elliott-Walsh. As they will be very short priced we have a couple of roughies – Manganese on 30/1 for Max Conley and David Bass who has a 4/4 record and La Conquiere 16/1 for Snowden-Sheehan as the connections have won this in the past.
The Novices' Listed Chase is Gr 2 with 19 runners and is quite open with Sixmilebridge probably favourite on 9/2 and that looks good to us. Regent's Stroll is on 6/1 for Nicholls – Cobden, Slade Steel 9/1 for de Bromhead-O'Keefe and our roughie here is King Alexander on 25/1.
The Mares' Hurdle is Gr 1 with only 7 running so we will stick with the market leaders Wodhooh 8/11 for Elliott-Kennedy and Jade de Grungy 9/4 Mullins-Townend.
The Stayers' Hurdle Gr 1 has 11 starters and none of them from the Mullins stable!
This should be Gordon Elliott's turn as he saddle Teahupoo and legus up Jack Kennedy – they are on 10/3. Kabral du Mathan is 4/1 for the Skeltons and last year's winner Bob Olinger is on 7/1 for de Bromhead – O'Keefe.
And last of the graded races the Ryanair Chase sees another great clash between Jonbon and Fact to File. The heart rules in this instance and we are going for Jonbon on 7/2 for Henderson-de Boinville ahead of Fact To File 4/5. We are also putting in Impair Et Passe for Mullins-Townend on 6/1 and Banbridge on 11/2 for Joseph O'Brien and Sean Bowen.
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