Mud-splattered and triumphant as he stood on the podium, it had not sunk in for 18-year-old John Gleeson that he had just ridden a winner in his first ever Cheltenham race – even before he sits his Leaving Cert later this year.
Two days down and two to go.
There was a fairytale finale to day two as Leaving Certificate student John Gleeson made his first Cheltenham ride a winning one to provide legendary Waterford trainer John Kiely with his maiden Festival winner on the aptly-named A Dream To Share (7/2).
He may not have the same firepower as his uncle Willie, but trainer Emmet Mullins knows how to get the best out of what he has in his yard, particularly when sending horses to handicaps in Britain.
FLAMBOYANT hotelier Davy Mann is used to turning heads.
Energumene defended his Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase crown in imperious style at Cheltenham - routing the opposition to become the first back-to-back winner of the day two feature since Altior in 20018 and 2019.
Delta Work defended his Glenfarclas Chase title as Gordon Elliott won the Cheltenham Festival cross-country feature for the fifth time in seven years.
There was a fairytale ending to the Honeysuckle story yesterday as the mighty mare finished her career in fitting fashion with a emotionally-fuelled win at the Cheltenham Festival.
Patrick Mullins has predicted that Gaelic Warrior will kick off day two of the Cheltenham Festival in great style for Team Mullins in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (1.30).
The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle will start the second day of the Cheltenham Festival. Eight of the last nine winners were Irish trained.
The mare signed off as if resenting the attention, hind legs tossing out recalcitrant jabs as the noise around her became an animate, living thing.
Constitution Hill, lived up all the hype. Backed into 4/11 favourite, he put up an otherworldly performance to run out one of the easiest winners ever of the Unibet Champion Hurdle and, in terms of ability if not yet accomplishments, put himself up among the greatest jumpers of all time.
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Impaire Et Passe is a big, black, beautiful eye-catching horse. He caught plenty of them when bolting up on his debut in Naas and confirmed the impression when dropped down in trip in the Moscow Flyer. Stepping back up in distance in the Ballymore will suit him well.
Constitution Hill wowed in the Champion Hurdle to justify his superstar status, but there may also be a new king in the saddle after Michael O’Sullivan announced himself on the game’s biggest stage with a sensational 103.5/1 double.
So many golden days, so many legendary stories – but who could have written this one? Rachael Blackmore wanted Honeysuckle to go out on a high with “one more big day”.
All eyes will be on Energumene with Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old bidding to make it back-to-back successes as the Champion Chase headlines day two at Cheltenham.
Michael O’Leary has said he wished his former retained jockey, multiple Grand National winner Davy Russell had “stayed retired”.
I’ve always loved the Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.30), a real test of speed, jumping and accuracy. It’s what proper National Hunt racing is all about.