Cheltenham Festival 2022 LIVE RESULTS: St Patrick's Day horse racing tips, Templegate's NAP, odds, Gold Cup runners
THE CHELTENHAM Festival is rolling on at pace as we look forward to St Patrick's Day Thursday on Day 3.
While it was non-stop rain on Day 2, with horses such as the 2.10 FAV Bravemansgame pulled out because of the conditions.
Though the legendary Tiger Roll was denied a fairytale ending in heartbreaking fashion with stable-mate Delta Work pipping him in the last in the Cross Country Chase.
And we now know the CONFIRMED runners and riders for the prestigious Gold Cup, with the declarations made.
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- Jake Lambourne
Cheltenham Festival news
Champion Chase favourite Shiskin and Cross Country Chase defending champ Tiger Roll missed glory on a dramatic day two.
Now attention switches to the Ryanair Chase, with Allaho the overwhelming favourite, and what could be an incredibly tight Stayers' Hurdle.
Tiger Roll's bid to bow out of the Festival with a record-equalling sixth win was denied by stablemate Delta Work.
The two-time Grand National winner looked on course to successfully defend his crown but was pipped by three quarters of a length.
Meanwhile, Shishkin’s trainer Nicky Henderson says the two-mile specialist's early exit in the Champion Chase was ‘purely ground-related’.
Energumene notched a revenge win after Shishkin pulled up sharply following the eighth fence.
Henderson said: “He simply hates the ground and was never happy."
As for today, Willie Mullins-trained Allaho should repeat his 2021 Ryanair Chase victory.
But this time Paul Townend will be the rider, instead of Rachael Blackmore.
In contrast, the Stayers' Hurdle could hardly be more open.
But Champ, Flooring Porter and Klassical Dream are ones to watch.
- Ian Tuckey
Front up for glory
Love Island star Chris Hughes is not backwards when it comes to naming his top tip for the festival tomorrow.
5.30pm – Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase
FRONTAL ASSAULT
Chris says: My pick looks to be the real stand-out horse in this field.
He’s got some real good form in the book, and horses who he’s finished not too far behind have gone on to further success.
A very worthy favourite. I think at the current price this is a fantastic bet each way as I don’t see him finishing out the places.
- Ian Tuckey
Harry's Imperial barmy
Ex-Tottenham boss and huge racing fan Harry Redknapp reckons you can score with his tip for day three.
4.10pm – Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase
IMPERIAL ALCAZAR
Harry says: Fergal O'Brien is a real shrewd placer of horses and, despite carrying a lot of weight here, I reckon he's found a good spot for this eight-year-old.
He's looked awesome since having wind surgery in April last year and I expect him to win.
- Ian Tuckey
Shishkin exit 'purely ground related'
Shishkin's trainer Nicky Henderson says the favourite's early exit in the Champion Chase was 'purely ground-related'.
Energumene landed a revenge victory after Shishkin pulled up sharply following the eighth fence.
With the ground soft after persistent rain, two-mile specialist Shishkin never looked comfortable and lacked his renowned jumping accuracy.
The going was judged heavy following the big race.
And tonight Henderson stressed of Shishkin: "He simply hates the ground and was never happy.
"He is thankfully home safe and sound."
- Ian Tuckey
Piers' top tip
The Sun's celebrity columnist Piers Morgan never has any hurdles when it comes to speaking his mind.
And here's his pick for tomorrow at Cheltenham.
3.30pm – Stayers' Hurdle: THYME HILL
Piers says: You know, I'm a big believer in the old adage 'horses for courses'.
And that could not be truer for my pick, who has been a superstar at the Festival in the past.
Trained by Philip Hobbs, he was third in the Champion Bumper in 2019 and fourth in the Albert Bartlett a year later.
He didn't race here last year and won at Aintree instead.
I think it will be third time lucky at the Festival.
- Ian Tuckey
Bookmakers fight back
Shishkin’s Champion Chase loss and Commander Of Fleet's 50/1 triumph in the Coral Cup helped the bookies bounce back at Cheltenham.
Energumene won the Champion Chase after Shishkin pulled up.
William Hill spokesperson Tony Kenny said: “When Sir Gerhard and L’Homme Presse went in it was looking like we were in deep trouble, but we’ve clawed a lot of it back since.
“Commander Of Fleet winning the Coral Cup was a fantastic result, while Energumene’s victory in the Champion Chase was another positive outcome.
“Delta Work and Global Citizen were further good ones for us and while we’re probably still slightly behind, things are looking much better than they were a few hours ago.”
- Ian Tuckey
Tiger Roll gets claws into bookies
Tiger Roll narrowly missed a record-equalling sixth Cheltenham victory but still got his claws into the bookies.
The legend bowed out with second place to favourite Delta Work in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.
Paddy Power revealed bookmakers faced a £35million hit had Tiger Roll triumphed – adding to the £500m he’s already cost them over his career.
But as runner-up he actually cost bookies even more.
Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “The irony of Tiger’s defeat is that the horse who earned punters in the region of half a billion pounds over the course of his career has just rubbed additional salt into the wounds of the bookies on his swansong.
“He was short odds to go out on a winning note, and just when we manage to get this brave warrior beaten, it’s the favourite who wins the darned race and costs us even more dough! Happy retirement, big fella.”
- Craig Mahood
Day two results
A dramatic, enthralling day – littered with ups and downs.
Here's the winners from through the card on a mixed day for punters.
1.30 Sir Gerhard 8/11F
2.10 L'Homme Presse 9/4F
2.50 Commander Of Fleet 50/1
3.30 Energumene 5/2
4.10 Delta Work 5/2F
4.50 Global Citizen 28/1
5.30 Facile Vega 15/8F
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
FULL RESULT
1st – Facile Vega 15/8F
2nd – American Mike 5/2
3rd – James's Gate 16/1
4th – Seabank Bistro 18/1
- Craig Mahood
Ireland go clear
Another for the Irish to round off the day.
Though they were always going to win that one.
Britain 6 Ireland 8
- Craig Mahood
Facile Vega wins the Champion Bumper
This looks a superstar of the future.
He drifted in the market too and the ground seemed to put some off.
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
Facile Vega is in third gear but SWOOPS BY American Mike.
Still over a furling and a half to go but this is all over.
It's a matter of 'how far' for the Mullins horse.
And the favourite ROUTS them in the bumper as Facile Vega storms home to win the Champion Bumper.
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
Seabank Bistro in fourth and staying on.
American Mike takes over on the turn but Facile Vega is absolutely tanking along behind him as they turn for home.
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
Houlanbatordechais takes over in the back straight and goes four lengths clear.
Redemption Day prominent as they zigzag in and out the dodgy spots in the turf.
American Mike and Facile Vega moving ominously.
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
Madmansgame taking them along at the head of affairs with just over a mile to travel.
All 20 runners separated by about 12 lengths.
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
AAAAAND THEY'RE OFF IN THE BUMPER!
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
They're all at the start now though.
And the flag is raised as we get set for a start.
- Craig Mahood
Reasons given
Jon Pullin's had a busy day….
He told Racing TV there were some 'false patches' where they took the hurdles out for this bumper.
He said: "At hurdles 5, 6 and 8, we have false patches after taking them out.
“They’ll bypass to the left of those.
“It’s just false patches round the leg holes.”
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
The jockeys do indeed head out to jump aboard as those that headed back to the pre-parade head back out.
It's just a bit of rain, goodness me.
It'll be dark shortly too.
A reminder that the course needed watered earlier.
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
The jockeys all hovering around the clerk of the course.
Jon Pullin with a map of where the jockeys will go for the finale.
They are just about ready to head out to find their mounts….
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
The Irish arent too impressed.
Willie Mullins just said: "What would happen if it was actually heavy? We'd just run through it at home. Sometimes we are too cautious, just get on with it."
Another added: "We run these bumpers at the end of each meetings in Ireland all the time."
- Craig Mahood
5.30 Champion Bumper
The course is being reconfigured due to the ground.
The staff are concerned for about the landing areas of the hurdles and the puddles cause.
Very strange goings on.
- Craig Mahood
BREAKING!
There is a delay to the start of the bumper!
- Craig Mahood
Matt's choice
Matt Chapman opting for another at a good price after the bookies took day two.
Facile Vega and American Mike both look very good but I’m chancing JAMES’S GATE for Willie Mullins and Sean O’Keeffe. The Shantou gelding looked good when hacking up at Punchestown on debut and he might be good enough — or he might not!
- Craig Mahood
Finish with a bang
Templegate has picked out a huge price for the final race 28/1 when selected and now 20/2.
JOYEUX MACHIN looks a huge price in a race that has been won by plenty of horses that were sent off at long odds.
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