Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Happy Day 2 of Cheltenham.
The horses certainly rallied to the cause Tuesday with chilling performances by Appreciate It, Honeysuckle, Vintage Clouds and others. A whole lot of others plying their trade and trying their best.
Sure, I miss the cold Guinness and my racing friends and the wily bookies and the great green lawn, but I miss the horses the most, the long, sinewy walks of the 2-mile chasers, the deep, soul-searching eyes of the veteran chasers, the sprightly, spring step of the hurdlers, and the one who walks into the parade ring and buckles your knees and sends you scurrying to the bookies and a spot on the lawn just to see it unfold. Yeah, that’s what I miss. A different feel than other years, of course, and I guess I’ll type it again. Surreal.
Day 2 looks like the to-be-continued sequel of the Willie Mullins show. The Irish champion trainer unleashes 13 runners, including four short-priced favorites, at Wednesday’s seven-race platter. The Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and the Grade 1 Betway Queen Mother lead the show.
Race 1. 9:20. The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. Grade 1. $128,500. 2 miles, 5 furlongs.
Novices have all distances these days, here’s option two with a short, select field of seven. Bob Olinger, winner of his last two by 20 1/2 lengths, tries to keep the Rachael Blackmore, Henry De Bromhead train on the tracks. Bravemansgame rides his own win streak of three, by a combined 28 1/2 lengths, for Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls. Bear Ghylls puts his undefeated record on the line for trainer Nicky Martin and jockey Mark Griffiths. And of course, there’s Willie Mullins with the French-bred Gaillard Du Mesnil, dominant winner of his last two.
The Picks: Gaillard Du Mesnil, Bob Olinger, Bravemansgame.
Race 2. 9:55. The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. Grade 1. $180,000. 3 miles, 80 yards.
Another short and select field of six. Remember, no social runners this year. The Mullins show rolls on with seven-time winner Monkfish. Watch his latest, a tour de force in the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase. This should be similar.
The Picks: Monkfish, Eklat De Rire, The Big Breakaway.
Race 3. 10:30. The Coral Cup. Grade 3. $103,000. 2 miles, 5 furlongs.
OK, here’s the end of the short and select fields. Twenty-six rumblers in the rumble pit. Twenty-five pounds separate Thomas Darby at the top and Witness Protection at the bottom. Now, that’s a handicap.
The Picks: Guard Your Dreams, Thomas Darby, Shakem Up’Arry.
Race 4. 11:05. Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. Grade 1. $411,000. 1 mile, 7 furlongs, 199 yards.
Cue the band, the Mullins show rolls on with…Chacun Pour Soi in the feature. Winner of his last four by time-to-make-a-sandwich margins, the French-bred 9-year-old makes his first start at Cheltenham, actually, in Britain. A winner of seven of 11, he’s been flawless this season.
First Flow has been flawless for a while, the 9-year-old upset the Grade 1 Clarence House for David Bass and Kim Bailey, but this is deeper water.
Nubra Negra impressed his trainer, Dan Skelton, so much, he went and bought the stallion Dink. Really.
Last year’s winner, Politologue (left), a 12-time win machine of $1.3 million won’t leave with any cards still to play.
Respect goes to the rest, Cilaos Emery, Greaneteen, Notebook, Rouge Vif, Sceau Royal and Put the Kettle On. Deep, the 10 runners have combined to win 83 races and over $3.5 million. And to think, it’s missing Altior, a four-time winner at the Festival, including two Queen Mothers.
The Picks: Chacun Pour Soi, Rouge Vif, Put The Kettle On.
Race 5. 11:40. Glenfarclas Cross Country. $67,000. 3 miles, 6 furlongs, 37 yards.
Hey, old friend. Tiger Roll returns for his seventh visit to the Cheltenham Festival. Let that sink in for a moment. He’ll like the ground, obviously has the class and experience, if there’s any fire still in the pit. What a star. What a legend.
Easysland handled Tiger Roll last year and returns off a disappointing run over the course in November.
The Picks: Easysland, Tiger Roll, Some Neck.
Race 6. 12:15. The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase. Grade 3. $113,000. 1 mile, 7 furlongs, 199 yards.
Another minefield. A pressured 2 miles. I like a couple bombers in here.
The Picks: On The Slopes, Sizing Pottsie Or Jaune De Somoza.
Race 7. 12:50. Wetherbys Champion Bumper. Grade 1. $77,000. 2 miles, 87 yards.
Mullins goes five deep here, including the favorite Kilcruit, but he’s been known to win this with some of his higher-priced horses. The finale of Day. Now, get back to your usual program.
The Picks: Kilcruit, Sir Gerhard, Super Six.
As far as Tuesday’s picks…
Top choice Metier couldn’t cope with pressing Appreciate It and faded badly in the Supreme. Second-choice Appreciate It was mind-numbingly brilliant, third choice Blue Lord was an unlucky faller at the last.
Top choice Shishkin obliged and second-choice Captain Guinness paid the price for pressuring the pace and wound up third in the Arkle.
Top choice Happygolucky finished second and third choice Vintage Clouds upset the Ultima in his fifth attempt in the race. The 11-year-old stalwart returned a cool $78.60. If you boxed those two, you paid for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a $352.20 score.
Top choice Honeysuckle proved she was a cinch, dominating the Champion Hurdle, which wasn’t a clever pick but certainly prudent. Third choice Sharjah finished second for a $27 exacta if you spread underneath.
Top choice Concertista ran her race but was nipped on the line by the tough Black Tears. Third choice Roksana finished third. Longshot My Sister Sarah loomed and faded. No cashing there.
Struggled in the Boodles with second choice Saint Sam finishing second and top pick Busselton and third choice Youmdor retreating early. Sean Flanagan shocked the world with a $153.20 return aboard Jeff Kidder for the iconic Noel Meade.
In the finale, top choice Next Destination finished second while third choice Galvin won, if you boxed those, you picked up $31.40.
All in all, not bad, with Vintage Clouds saving the day.
Enjoy today’s card – sport at its best.
