Day two of the Cheltenham festival was one that was devoted to the memory of Michael O’Sullivan.
Both horses involved in O’Sullivan’s 2023 Cheltenham Double, Marine National and Jazzy Matty, had the upper hand in the Champion Chase and the Grand Annual Chase. Their victories arrive slightly less than a month after his tragic death due to injuries in a fall in Thurles.
With O’Sullivan’s tragic death still at the forefront of the spirit of everyone in the Horse Racing community, attention in terms of events about Cheltenham’s fences will be aimed at the Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase.
Card
1.20 – Mares Novices’ Hurdle
The most recent addition to the festival calendar, which was run for the first time in 2016, hopes to restore Willie Mullins his dominance of this race.
Mullins trained the first five winners, but the last four editions were won by four different trainers. Mullins passed a barren run at that time, but has seven runners in this. Aurora Vega (9-1) is his best chance, but Sixandahalf is the 3-1 favorite.
2.00 – Jack Richards Novices’ Chase
Re-introduced in the program for this year after initially from 2005 to 2020, 13-2 Nurburgring is the favorite for Joseph Patrick O’Brien. However, Caldwell Potter (16-1) is the only winner of grade 1 in the 20-person field, making him a considerable chance of trainer Paul Nicholls.
2.40 – Pertemps Handicap Hurdle
Seen as something of a stepping stone for younger horses with designs on larger and better things in Jump Racing, Nico de Boinville hopes to bounce back from his disappointment on board Jonbon in the Chase Champion. He drives Jeriko du Reponet on 15-2.
3.20 – Ryanair Chase
Run more than two miles and four Furlongs, this is the most important race for horses whose ideal distance falls somewhere between that of the Chase and the Gold Cup champion. The fact that the fact of Mullins is to submit is the 5-4 favorite, but 7-1 Protektorat wants to win for the second consecutive year for Jockey Harry Skelton and trainer than Skelton.
4.00 – Stayers’ Hurdle
Thursday is one of the long -distance lenders when tackling these three miles of degrees 1 competition. Teahupoo (13-8) is the favorite to prevail as he did in 2024 for Gordon Elliott, who also has the second favorite in the Wallpark (6-1). Lucky Place (7-1) offers the Boinville another chance to pay for his disappointment on Wednesday.
4.40 – Festival Place Handicap
This handicap pursuit has often proved to be a springboard up to degree 1 success. Last year’s winner Shakem Up’arry (18-1) is in the field, only 9-2 favorite Jagwar won in Cheltenham in January.
5.20 – Kim Muir Handicap Chase
A long-distance race limited to amateur jockeys offers the opportunity for another emotional victory, while the brother of Michael O’Sullivan Alan drives 5-1 favorite in the air during his debut in Cheltenham.
Weather
The weather is reasonable for Thursday. There will be partially cloudy circumstances with a highlight of seven degrees Celsius.
How to look
In the UK you can view all races on ITV Racing and Racing TV. Racing TV is available via Sky and Virgin Media.
If you are not close to a TV set, you can stream the event via ITV Racing and Racing TV.
