Cheltenham Festival 2024 Live: Horse racing updates, results, latest news, betting tips and more on Day Two as Fact To File and Ballyburn win for Willie Mullins

… Doddiethegreat would be quite the horse to cheer home.

Owned by Honeysuckle’s owner Kenny Alexander, he’s named in honour of Doddie Weir, and every bit of prize money he earns is being raised to help fight Motor Neurone’s Disease.

Nico De Boinville will be onboard this afternoon.

1. Ballyadam – Rachael Blackmore
2. Maxxum – NON-RUNNER
3. Da Capo Glory – D Allen
4. Beacon Edge – Danny Gilligan
5. First Street – NON-RUNNER
6. Might I – Jonathan Burke
7. Brazil – Aidan Kelly
8. Finest Evermore – Brian Hayes
9. Mark Of Gold – Rob Hargreaves
10. Langer Dan – Harry Skelton
11. Jigoro – Jack Kennedy
12. Sa Majeste – Mark Walsh
13. Western Fold – Sam Ewing
14. Built By Ballymore – J. J Slevin
15. Benson – Ryan Mania
16. Franciscan Rock – Ricky Doyle
17. Lucky Place – James Bowen
18. Guard Your Dreams – Sam Twiston-Davies
19. Shanbally Kid – Michael O’Sullivan
20. Lombron – Danny Mullins
21. Doddiethegreat – Nico de Boinville
22. Rambo T – Gavin Sheehan
23. Supreme Gift – NON-RUNNER
24. Black Bamboo – Sean Flanagan
25. Zannadabad – NON-RUNNER

His horse’s win moves him just one shy of the magic 100.

Quite the opposite of our last slender field with a punchy 21 runners – although it could have been far bigger, but for four non-runners.

A rare race where Mullins superiority is far from assured, but his Sa Majeste – with Mark Walsh on board – can’t be ruled out in the nicely open contest.

Built By Ballymore is Paddy Power’s favourite as things stand, off the back of a commanding win at Punchestown in January in his last run-out.

Might I has also caught the… eye… and could finally provide the British breakthrough courtesy of trainer Harry Fry. He’s Lizzie Kelly’s pick to claim the prize just after our 3.15pm start.

• Built By Ballymore – 7/2
• Sa Majeste – 11/2
• Ballyadam – 17/2
• Langer Dan – 8/1
• Doddiethegreat – 8/1
• Jigoro – 11/1
• Might I – 12/1
• Shanbally Kid – 12/1
• Brazil – 20/1
• Guard Your Dreams – 20/1
• Black Bamboo – 14/1
• Da Capo Glory – 22.1
• Western Fold – 25/1
• Lucky Place – 20/1
• Mark Of Gold – 30/1
• Beacon Edge – 30/1
• Rambo T – 30/1
• Finest Evermore – 100/1
• Benson – 70/1
• Lombron – 50/1
• Franciscan Rock – 70/1

I wanted to go, and needed enough gallop.

Everything felt very laboured from the first circuit.

I’ll speak to the boss. Might consider Punchestown.

He jumped and travelled so well, he took me down the hill, I didn’t want to go too soon.

This is a class horse now. The decision to go straight to fences was class.

Hopefully we have a good one on our hands.

… his jockeys are listening!

Fact To File is his 75th Cheltenham winner, a tally not to be sniffed at.

He was on his toes a bit before, and I think Mark did a great job to get him settled, and he’ll learn a lot from the race. It’s a relief.

It’s all in front of him. He’s vindicated.

1. Fact To File
2. Monty’s Star
3. Giovinco

A 99th winner for Willie Mullins! That was a strong finish from Mark Walsh, and another disappointment for the British, with Stay Away Fay being pulled up after travelling so well.

Stay Away Fay falls away on the final turn, while the two at the back Giovinco and Fact To File surge forward – and the latter turns on the after-burners to power away!

A handful of errors sets Jack Kennedy, and with three fences to go, it’s still Sandor Clegane in the lead, but they’re bunching up now as they climb the hill, before dropping downhill.

Monty’s Star is third, but Fact To File is sneaking through now, and beginning to challenge before the final turn.

He knocks into the 10th fence, and stumbles to move back to peg level with Fact To File, still penultimate ahead of Giovinco.

Sandor Clegane claims the lead with seven fences to go, closely tracked by Stay Away Fay.

As the pack climbs up hill, the Paul Nolan-trained horse is caught up by American Mike, behind now by just over a length.

Fact To File and Giovinco are content to sit a little further back going downhill. Sandor Clegane takes the next fence wobblier too.

The Mullins-trained prospect is shrewdly towards the back of the pack, but ahead of Lucinda Russell’s prospect over the second fence.

Monty’s Star and Stay Away Fay continue to lead over the water jump, with Sandor Clegane third.

Stay Away Fay leads the pack as the horses begin the 19-fence charge.

Let battle between Fact To File and Stay Away Fay commence!

You can find the rest of their picks for the day via Cheltenham Confidential, below.

He is fired up, he’s ready to go.

Confidence is high, it always is. We’re just hoping we can get off the mark with our second runner.

Stay Away Fay’s trainer adds:

If he’s good enough, he’s good enough, if he’s not, he’s not.

He’s been taken away swiftly to settle ahead of the race’s start in just under 10 minutes.

Rachael Blackmore has high hopes for her first ride of the day, who is the half-brother of Monalee, who came second in the same race in 2018.

As a reminder, our next race will start 20 minutes later than you might have been expected – it’ll be underway at 2.30pm.

Nicky Henderson’s jockey, understandably, hasn’t much to say after another tepid journey on his horse Jingko Blue.

Ballyburn outclassed the opposition as expected – but in unexpected style.

You can relieve that first race via Mail Sport’s report here.

1. American Mike – Jack Kennedy
2. Fact To File – Mark Walsh
3. Giovinco – Stephen Mulqueen
4. Monty’s Star – Rachael Blackmore
5. Sandor Clegane – Sean O’Keefe
6. Stay Away Fay – Harry Cobden

The field shrinks even more, with Harry Fry’s Boothill the latest to be withdrawn from the centre-piece race.

Six runners, and Mail Sport’s Dominic King thinks there’s no one who can touch the favourite, Fact To File.

But keep an eye on Lizzie Kelly’s pick, Stay Away Fay. The Paul Nicholls-trained pick could be a vital win for the British during a week that seems set to be a veritable green-wash.

As things stand, here are the odds, courtesy of Paddy Power.

• Fact To File – 4/7
• Stay Away Fay – 5/1
• Montys Star – 5/1
• American Mike – 9/1
• Sandor Clegane – 22/1
• Giovinco – 40/1

It’s the first time he’s wowed me.

That was, to me, a Champion Hurdle performance. Really spectacular.

With his size, scope and pedigree, maybe the owners will decide to go chasing with him next year. But really, he could go anywhere.

Mullins also had some kind words for his rival Nicky Henderson.

The unfancied outsider pulled off an excellent strategic race after spending most of the race hanging well back.

With a final price of 50/1 on Paddy Power, fair play to anyone who decided to back him each way!

1. Ballyburn
2. Jimmy Du Seuil
3. Ile Atlantique

That was a fair feeling. I suppose it’s not a big field, but he’s just blown them out the water there.

An exceptional show of power for the standout favourite, with Paul Townend picking his moment with pitch-perfect accuracy to win by a distance that none of his competitors can believe.

A cool and dominant performance, and Mullins-winner number 98.

As they prepare for the third-last, Tony Bloom’s horse opts to now power forward, after Predators Gold loses ground.

Ballyburn remains second, approaching the final hurdle.

Jingko Blue makes yet another mistake over the next hurdle, but has a good stretch to make up the lost time after a skittish jump.

He’s on the inside going into the climb, sitting fourth behind Handstands, and Ballyburn, holding firm in second.

The pack move closer together as they head for the fourth hurdle, but they keep their shape behind Mercurey, who extends his lead after Jingko Blue clatters that hurdle. Not much of a mistake for Henderson’s runner, though.

Mercurey sets the pace, with Ballyburn settled in second as they take the first turn. He’s followed by Jingko Blue, with Handstands keeping a close watch by the rail.

Backmarker is Jimmy Du Seuil.

Up goes the roar as the starters in the Novices’ Hurdle get going, led by Jingko Blue and Mercurey.

Handstands was running in point-to-points in October, and less than six months later, the horse makes his Grade One debut at Cheltenham.

… to suggest the winner of the Novices’ Hurdle will come from Mullins’ yard.

It’s going to be very tough, but (Ile Atlantique) goes in good form, he’s working well at home, and we’ve come in good confidence.

On when he would be ceasing relations with super-agent David Manasseh – who owns standout favourite Ballyburn (and represents six Brighton players):

I think immediately! He assured me all winter he was going to go for the Supreme… and three days ago he declares for the Novices’ Hurdle!

On Brighton’s chances of reaching the very top of international football:

I think winning the Premier League is almost impossible for a club like Brighton, with all the other top teams, and their budgets.

But we keep going, one stage at a time.

1. Ballyburn – Paul Townend
2. Handstands – Harry Cobden
3. Ile Atlantique – P W Mullins
4. Jimmy Du Seuil – Sean O’Keefe
5. Jinko Blue – Nico de Boinville
6. Mercurey – Brian Hayes
7. Predators Gold – Danny Mullins
8. The Grey Man – NON-RUNNER

The horses have taken to the parade ring ahead of the first race in just over 15 minutes – remember, we’re on a tilted schedule – and seeing Ballyburn for the first time today, it’s so hard to see past the horse that could be the shortest-priced winner in this race’s history.

Stablemate Ile Atlantique is his closest rival but… Brighton owner Tony Bloom is unlikely to be cheering home a winner this afternoon.

Last year’s leading jockey claimed his title with five winners and if yesterday’s three suggest the start of a fantastic week, Paul Townend seems primed to blow his competition out of the water this year.

Dominic King reviews a pitch-perfect start for Willie Mullins’ stable jockey, below.

In our first race, we’re losing The Grey Man, and in the Coral Cup, it’s:

• Maxxum
• First Street
• Supreme Gift
• Zanndabad

The really major loss in the Queen Mother Champion Chase is of course Jonbon.

And there’s a not-particularly optimistic state of the union on ITV Racing.

Pundit – and Irishman – Kevin Blake stressed of the runaway winners yesterday:

We’re not perfect in Ireland, but there’s really problems here.

Megan Nicholls added her two-penny’worth, and noted that the sport was suffering – and even suffering due to the smash dominance of Willie Mullins, too:

The panic button is definitely flashing. We all care, we want to get the competitiveness back, not just from Ireland, but from one yard.

I’m hoping over the next few days, I’m not thinking we can catch up – but hopefully we can close the gap.

You can’t argue with an ‘ultimate’ guide – nor should you!

Tuck into a feast offered by our raft of experts to further inform yourself ahead of the state of the day’s action.

On ITV Racing, Mail Sport columnist Ed Chamberlin puts paid to the doubters who might have wondered why a race in rainy England would be cancelled due to a spot of bad weather, showing off the turf by one of the fences.

Believe me when I say this is worth a watch – Mail Sport expert tipster Lizzie Kelly backed four winners yesterday, and her picks today should be more than worthy of note as a result.

She has a particular predilection for Stay Away Fay in the second race of the afternoon – but Dominic is adamant that Fact To File simply cannot be beaten.

Which, if Paddy Power’s odds are anything to go by, should be little more than a processional for rip-roaringly in-form Ballyburn.

Here are the full odds as things stand for the seven-strong field:

• Ballyburn – 4/9
• Ile Atlantique – 13/2
• Predators Gold – 15/2
• Handstands – 14/1
• Jingko Blue – 14/1
• Jimmy Du Seuil – 50/1
• Mercurey – 40/1

The Grey Man is a non-runner.

Mail Sport columnist Ed Chamberlin is preparing for the Cheltenham Roar to sound extra-fiercely should Ballyburn scoop the first win of the day.

You can read his thoughts on the Willie Mullins-trained Novices’ Hurdle pick below.

It was a rotten start to the roiling rivalry for the British, with just one of seven winners yesterday trained on home turf.

The Irish have a romping six to show for an fine start – and last year’s 18-10 rout could soon be topped.

After a barnstorming first day on English soil which saw Gaelic Warrior, State Man, and Lossiemouth triumph, the Irish trainer will be looking to strike quickly with heavily tipped Ballyburn in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle at 1.45pm.

Add to that the hot favourite El Fabiolo in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Mail Sport’s Dominic King’s pick in the Novices’ Chase Fact To File, and Mullins could be keeping a very tight grip on last year’s leading trainer honour this week.

There’s another achievement in the offing today too – Mullins is just three wins away from claiming a staggering 100 Cheltenham victories.

Rachael Blackmore claimed her first win at the Festival in the opening race atop Slade Steel, and will look to duplicate the achievement with her first ride Monty’s Star in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

You can learn more about the former Gold Cup winner’s rides on Wednesday below.

After Cheltenham played host to Zara and Mike Tindall on opening day, the Queen will be in attendance to watch the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Day Two.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase contender will face stiff opposition from runaway favourite El Fabiolo, but he looked in fine fettle this morning under grey skies ahead of the 4pm showpiece race.

Mail Sport’s experts include racing journalist Marcus Townend, National Hunt legend Peter Scudamore, and former Grade One winning jockey Lizzie Kelly…

Should be worth a once-over, I’d say.

After first being unable to bring Constitution to Cheltenham yesterday to defend his Champion Hurdle title, the yard had a disappointing day with only Luccia finding form to finish third in the Champion Hurdle.

As a result, he’s withdrawn Jonbon, First Street, and Kingston from today’s racecard, and also shared that they anticipate declaring further non-runners as the week continues.

‘I hope everybody will appreciate that we have to do this in everybody’s interests,’ his statement read. ‘Particularly the horses’.

Henderson still has Jingko Blue in the Novices’ Hurdle, and Lucky Place, Doddiethegreat in the Novices’ Chase today.

The average height of a jockey may be 5ft 2in, but Jack Andrews and Thomas Costello – who both stand at 6ft 4in, laugh in the face of your stereotypes.

Day One watchers will have had a chance to see Costello in action on Asian Master, and they can catch Andrews – brother of Gina, who rode Mr Vango to third in yesterday’s Novices’ Chase – tomorrow in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase with Bowtogreatness.

You can more about the lofty outliers below.

After yesterday’s going report received an update after the Arkle to make it heavy, soft in places, we’re back soft, heavy in places on Day Two.

Clerk of the Course John Pullin says that this could change, however, after 11 millimetres of rain overnight, and another two to three millimetres of rain moving through before the start of the day.

Day One was a doozy, but if you missed goings on away from the spotlight at Cheltenham, never fear – Mail Sport’s daily Cheltenham Breakfast dispatch will put you right.

You can find today’s iteration of the daily bulletin below.

It was a day for the punters yesterday as a raft of favourites – including Champion Hurdle king State Man – swept home to pay off big.

But would should you be looking to today? Paddy Power’s panel of experts weigh in, below.

Willie Mullins claimed an intention-ladened three winners on the Festival’s opening day, but was denied a chance to take the opener after his two hopefuls Tullyhill and Mystical Power were outclassed by Henry de Bromhead’s Slade Steel with Rachael Blackmore aboard – but the training wizard is far more likely to lay down the gauntlet on Day Two with Ballyburn.

Ballyburn was due to run in yesterday’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdles, but swapped for today’s Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle – and sits atop the heap as the heavy favourite, with Paddy Power offering odds of 4/9.

His closest rival is stablemate Ile Atlantique… and third-favourite Predators Gold, another Mullins horse, but it’s nigh-on impossible to see past the favourite, who won the Grade One Novices’ Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.

Because of the abandonment of the Cross Country Chase, today’s planned fifth race, there’s been some movement in the timetable, and I can now bring you the revised scheduled below.

1. Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle – 1.45pm
2. Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase – 2.30pm
3. Coral Cup Hurdle – 3.15pm
4. Queen Mother Champion Chase – 4.00pm
5. Grand Annual Chase – 4.50pm
6. Champion Bumper – 5.30pm

A little bit more time for Novices’ Hurdle contender Ile Atlantique to make it to the parade ring, then.

Yesterday’s festivities were marred by two fatalities – Highland Hunter succumbed following an accident in the Ultima Handicap Chase, and Oser Partir in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle.

Mail Sport’s Dominic King writes movingly on the dark side of the sport – and the added tragic note leant by Highland Hunter’s close alignment with late jocket Keagan Kirkby – below.

This time concerning Friday’s jewel-in-the-crown race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Heavily fancied Shiskhin has been withdrawn from the race by trainer Nicky Henderson, who in a statement shared an hour ago, said that the horse had ‘shown an unsatisfactory picture on which he couldn’t possibly run’.

Henderson has also withdrawn Champ from the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, and Jonbon has been withdrawn from today’s Champion Chase.

It takes a lot to see a race thrown off the schedule entirely at the Festival, but the waterlogged course for the Cross Country Chase can’t be salvaged this week.

Read Mail Sport’s report on the rare occurence, below.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of Day Two of this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Yesterday and today’s unanticipated downpour has already claimed a casualty today, in the form of the Cross Country Chase – which, rather than being rescheduled for Friday as discussed on Tuesday, will be the first abandoned race at the Festival since it was called off in 2001.

But the rest of our schedule remains unchanged, with six races to look forward to today, including our centrepiece, the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 4.00pm.

But before the Novices’ Hurdle kicks off the day at 1.45pm, we’ll be bringing you all the build-up and news from Prestbury Park on Ladies Day – latterly rebranded as ‘Style Day’.