Day two of the Cheltenham Festival, a chance to see the best horse in training strut his stuff in the the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Douvan has a lofty but deserved reputation and is looking to win at his third straight festival. If he does oblige, it will be his 15th victory on the bounce. He is exceptional and much like Altior on Tuesday his presence has scared away much of the opposition. Although to call them opposition doesn’t do justice to Douvan’s supremacy. Just enjoy him, a truly special horse.
The card opens with the Neptune Investments Novices Hurdle. This is traditionally the best of the novice hurdles, won by the likes of Faugheen and Istabraq in the past, although the Supreme probably edges it in very recent years.
Neon Wolf deservedly tops the market, but at a bigger price Consul de Thaix catches the eye. He is still a maiden but he has been beaten by Brain Power on his last two runs and the experience of the hustle and bustle in a big field handicap last time will stand him well. He may not win but appeals as an each way selection in a race that may be more open than the market suggests.
Nicky Henderson trains the favourite for the RSA Chase in the shape of Might Bite, who was an unlucky faller at Christmas he has won easily since but he may prefer a flatter track.
His stablemate Whisper has more kinks than a tangled hose but he was a very talented hurdler and his jockey Davy Russell is the perfect partner for a tricky horse. He’s an each way selection and might just nick this getting a patient ride.
The Coral Cup is the first handicap hurdle of the week. Handicaps are often a chance for smaller yards to compete at Cheltenham. Trainers have to carefully campaign their horses to ensure they display enough of their ability to get into the race but conceal enough to have a chance to actually win. Peregrine Run fits the bill, he’s an improving young horse who won over course and distance in November and the horses he beat are running in open company this week.
Enda Bolger has a reputation as the king of the banks, he got the race on a technicality months after the fact last year, but he hasn’t actually won the race on the day since 2009. He’ll be itching to put that right in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase and is mob handed to do so.
At the prices Auvergnat appeals, he is only seven, a baby in cross country terms, he’s had a look at the course already, albeit an unsuccessful one, but he’s been well talked up at a few Cheltenham previews, he’ll be well schooled and at around 8/1 is a solid each way play in a race where literally anything can happen.
A handicap hurdle for four-year-olds probably doesn’t sufficiently honour the great Fred Winter, but that’s the penultimate race on day two. Paul Nicholls has dominated this in recent years but it could be another for Nicky Henderson with Domperignon du Lys. Any juvenile can be forgiven a bad run as was the case at Cheltenham in December. He has won since and appeals at a double figure price.
Ireland have to win the Wetherby’s Champion bumper, they invented the race just to give us a chance during the lean years. Carter McKay is all the rage but Somehow was a very impressive winner last time and finished second to Cilaos Emery on debut. A victory would be a magic occasion for mother and daughter combination Jessica and Kate Harrington.
