CHELTENHAM BREAKFAST: Ireland earn early bragging rights
CHELTENHAM BREAKFAST: All the best tips for Ladies Day with Paddy Power’s CHEAT SHEET to beat the bookies as Ed Chamberlin keeps his ITV job after daring day one bet, while Ireland earn early bragging rights
- Ed Chamberlin put his job on the line on day one with a daring bet… and won!
- Ireland got the better of their British counterparts on the opening day
- Click here for the latest Cheltenham Festival news, schedule and race results
One day down, three to go.
The Cheltenham Festival certainly lived up to expectations on Tuesday, with Constitution Hill stealing the show with a dominant performance in the Champion Hurdle. And there’s so much more still to come.
Every morning Sportsmail will be dishing up a helping of Cheltenham Breakfast, as we take a look at everything happening both on and off the track.
Chamberlin holds on to his ITV job
The velvet-smooth Oli Bell is a key part of ITV’s racing coverage, a man whose views are respected by viewers and industry colleagues alike. All colleagues except Ed Chamberlin, anyway.
Bell told hospitality punters on Tuesday that he fancied outsider The Wolf to win the Ultima but Chamberlin, ITV’s anchorman, was having none of it.
Ed Chamberlin (second left) still has his job after winning a bet on the opening day
In fact, Chamberlin was so adamant that Bell was wrong that he vowed to step down and let his colleague present on ITV on Wednesday if he was proved right. As it was The Wolf finished way back, meaning a smug Chamberlin kept the hosting reins.
Egg on the face at Paddy Power after Jonbon defeat
Paddy Power delivered a dose of generosity to punters back in November when their traders were so impressed by videos emerging of Jonbon in schooling that they paid out on the horse to win the Arkle early.
Fast forward five months and there was very much egg on the faces of the same traders at Power Tower. Nicky Henderson’s charge ran a good race to come home in second but he couldn’t deny 6/5 favourite El Fabiolo victory, meaning the Irish bookies ended up paying out on two horses to win the same race.
An awkward conversation for one or two members of staff has ensued.
READ SPORTSMAIL’S LATEST CHELTENHAM NEWS HERE
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL TIPS – DAY TWO: All the best bets for Wednesday as Energumene and Edwardstone resume rivalries in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, while The Real Whacker can strike for Patrick Neville
FESTIVAL FEVER: England cricketer and racing fan Jonny Bairstow reveals why he ‘loves’ Cheltenham, his favourite memory from previous visits… and his banker bet
BEN KEITH – LORD OF THE RING: We lost out with a single bet of £230,000 on Champion Hurdle hero Constitution Hill… but luckily for us the big hitters DIDN’T come out swinging on first day at Cheltenham
PADDY POWER’S CHELTENHAM CHEAT SHEET: Edwardstone earns expert backing as Mick Fitzgerald reveals his Champion Chase top three on the second day of the Festival
Oliver Sherwood says horses were great therapy during his cancer treatment… as the trainer chases a seventh Cheltenham Festival win with Queens Gamble in the Champion Bumper
PETER SCUDAMORE: Corach Rambler’s win at Cheltenham is up there with my BEST – I have a connection with the horse as I ride him almost every day as an assistant for Lucinda Russell
PADDY POWER’S DAILY CHELTENHAM COLUMN: Our racing icon Ruby Walsh reckons Edwardstone is the one to beat in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, while the central London fanzone promises to be a cracker!
Champion Chase Lowdown: Edwardstone impressed in the Arkle and can strike again on jumping’s biggest stage for trainer Alan King – but rival Energumene is capable of brilliance on his day and is one to watch
Paddy Power tipping big 2024 for El Fabiolo
Sticking with El Fabiolo, and his Arkle win impressed so much that Paddy Power have cut his odds from 6/1 to 3/1 to win next year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.
The six-year-old proved he could handle the big occasion on Tuesday, and may charge to more glory in 2024.
Willie Mullins’s six-year-old appeared to only be getting stronger up the testing Cheltenham hill.
El Fabiolo won on Tuesday and his odds slashed for next year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase
Wednesday’s A23 derby double
Energumene and Editeur Du Gite will line up in Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase with Edwardstone the favourite in the feature race of the day.
And once they’ve crossed the finishing line at Prestbury Park, all eyes will turn to a repeat battle on a different type of turf later in the day.
Energumene, last year’s winner of this race, is owned by Brighton and Hove Albion chairman Tony Bloom, whose high-flying Seagulls host rivals Crystal Palace at the Amex Stadium this evening.
Hoping for a double dose of despair for Bloom will be the Palace-mad Preston Family, who own Editeur Du Gite. Paddy Power price an Energumene/Brighton Win double at just shy of 3/1, with an Eagles victory coupled with success for 5/1 shot Editeur Du Gite a 44/1 shot.
Vaughan at Cheltenham after Yorkshire hearing
England’s 2005 Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan was in the parade ring on Tuesday afternoon taking in the Cheltenham atmosphere.
He appeared in good spirits just days after attending an independent hearing following allegations made by Azeem Rafiq that Vaughan had used racist and/or discriminatory language towards him and three other Asian team-mates at Yorkshire in 2009.
A verdict on Vaughan’s conduct is expected before the end of the month.
Michael Vaughan appeared in good spirits at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday
Ireland earn early bragging rights
Some felt that Britain could challenge Ireland at Cheltenham this year, but it’s the Irish who take a 5-2 lead into Wednesday.
Mullins took the training honours thanks to wins for El Fabiolo and Gaillard Du Mesnil, while Michael O’Sullivan was the star in the saddle after riding Marine Nationale to glory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and steering Jazzy Matty first past the post in the penultimate race of the day.
Trainer Willie Mullins had two winners on the opening day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival
Michael O’Sullivan rode Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty (above) to victory on the first day
Paddy Power’s Pick 5 game delivers day one delight
A fairytale ending for Honeysuckle under Rachael Blackmore and a fairytale day for 315 players of Paddy Power’s daily Pick 5 game.
They successfully picked five winners from five Cheltenham races to win a share of the £50,000 prize pool.
Punters will get another chance to win the free-to-play game, which is available on Paddy Power News, every day this week.
Beat the Bookies on day two – The CHEAT SHEET!
Day one is in the books, and there’s no time to dwell on the past with seven more races set to take place on Wednesday.
You may be struggling with some of your picks on what promises to be another fascinating day of racing, so why not have a look at who our experts are backing?
Mick Fitzgerald, Ruby Walsh, Jane Mangan and Paddy Power offer their tips for day two.
MICK FITZGERALD
13:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, 2m5f
IMPAIRE ET PASSE is a really good horse and should have no trouble stepping up in trip despite winning over two miles at Punchestown last time.
14:10 Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase, 3m
SIR GERHARD was an impressive winner of the Ballymore Hurdle last season he made a winning debut over fences at Gowran Park. I was impressed with him and looks a value bet in this 3m contest.
14:50 Coral Cup Hurdle, 2m5f
LANGER DAN hasn’t had much luck at Cheltenham since runner up to Galopin Des Champs in the Martin Pipe Hurdle two seasons ago. He’s still well handicapped.
15:30 Champion Chase, 1m7f
This race could be set up perfectly for EDWARDSTONE (NAP) to travel in behind the leaders and then pounce before the final fence and stride away to the line.
1. Edwardstone
2. Editeur du Gite
3. Energumene
Edwardstone is earmarked as favourite to clinch the Champion Chase on day two
16:10 Cross-Country SteepleChase, 3m6f
DELTA WORK revelled in the soft conditions last year when beating Tiger Roll and can deny his stable-mate Galvin now.
16:50 Grand Annual Chase, 2m
ELIZIR DE NUTZ has been contesting graded races and has improved with age. He looks a good each-way bet in a competitive field.
17:30 Champion Bumper, 2m
There’s a good back-story to A DREAM TO SHARE and is would be remarkable for his octogenarian trainer John Kiely if he won.
RUBY WALSH
13:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, 2m5f
IMPAIRE ET PASSE is a really good horse and should have no trouble stepping up in trip despite winning over two miles at Punchestown last time.
14:10 Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase, 3m
GERRI COLOMBE has passed every test that’s been thrown at him and there could be more improvement to come. He looks the one to beat.
14:50 Coral Cup Hurdle, 2m5f
CAPTAIN CONBY (Each-Way) carries my money. The ground is against the Mullins’ horses and Icare Allen ran badly last time.
Ruby Walsh is choosing Captain Conby to come out on top in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
15:30 Champion Chase, 1m7f
Last season’s Arkle Chase winner EDWARDSTONE impressed me as the most likely winner despite his defeat last time. Energumene may have lost his old sparkle.
16:10 Cross-Country SteepleChase, 3m6f
DELTA WORK is the one, especially with the rain that has fallen. Franco De Port is an each-way price and will stay.
16:50 Grand Annual Chase, 2m
DINOBLUE has a chance – but that’s all she’s got. I hope she runs well as it would be great to see Luke Dempsey ride another winner at Cheltenham.
17:30 Champion Bumper, 2m
Stayers tend to win this race over the speed horses. I can see FACT TO FILE reversing the Leopardstown form with A Dream To Share.
JANE MANGAN
13:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, 2m5f
Irish trained horses have won eight of the last nine renewals of this race and I’m hopeful that positive trend can continue courtesy of IMPAIRE ET PASSE. He looks a top-class winner in waiting.
14:10 Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase, 3m
I expect Gerri Colombe to be very difficult to beat, I fancy THE REAL WHACKER to go very close. He has track experience, stays extremely well and beat a decent horse when he won the Dipper Chase here.
14:50 Coral Cup Hurdle, 2m5f
Charles Byrnes is the handicap king and RUN FOR OSCAR is a very big danger from his current mark of 147 makes him a big danger in this handicap hurdle. LANGER DAN can hit the places.
15:30 Champion Chase, 1m7f1
A small but select field where the previous year’s Arkle winner have great records. EDWARDSTONE an come out on top against Energumene.
16:10 Cross-Country SteepleChase, 3m6f
Galvin would prefer dry conditions whereas his stablemate and last year’s Grinch DELTA WORK will love the likely softer conditions. The booking of Keith Donoghue is a big asset.
Delta Work has been backed by all three experts to reign victorious in the Cross Country
16:50 Grand Annual Chase, 2m
FINAL ORDERS could still be well handicapped even if he’s won his last seven races.
17:30 Champion Bumper, 2m
I have been extremely impressed with the filly FUN FUN FUN, from her performances at Sligo in October to the Dublin Racing Festival last month. Many of Mullins’ champion bumper winners are not their first string.
PADDY POWER
13:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, 2m5f
The vibes are very strong for IMPAIRE ET PASSE since joining Willie Mullins. That will do me.
14:10 Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase, 3m
GERRI COLOMBE is unbeaten and will improve plenty for this test of stamina. He is my nap on the day.
14:50 Coral Cup Hurdle, 2m5f
I’ll take two each- way against the field. RUN FOR OSCAR has scope of his hurdles mark of 147 while WATCH HOUSE CROSS won a decent race at Naas last November and should appreciate the step up in trip.
15:30 Champion Chase, 1m7f1
EDITEUR DU GITE has been underestimated and there was no fluke about his win over Edwardstone and Energumene last time. He can confirm the form again.
16:10 Cross-Country SteepleChase, 3m6f
GALVIN was fourth in the Gold Cup last season and the drier the ground the better his chance.
16:50 Grand Annual Chase, 2m
BEFORE MIDNIGHT has a fair each-way chance. A dual Cheltenham winner who is back below his last winning handicap mark. First-time cheekpieces could help too.
17:30 Champion Bumper, 2m
NO TIME TO WAIT won at Down Royal but it may have gone under the radar. He’s a big each-way price under Davy Russell.
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