Irish eyes were again smiling on Day Two of Cheltenham as Rachael Blackmore reigned supreme in the Queen Mother Champion Chase aboard Captain Guinness but the day belonged to Willie Mullins as he captured his 100th Cheltenham win.
Waiting until the last race of the day, Mullins was left stuck on 99 wins only to see Jalon D'oudaries seal an epic victory in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
And bookmakers were left licking their lips after unbackable favourite El Fabiolo's fall in the Champion Chase.
The day started off with a win for Mullins and Paul Townend as Ballyburn impressed in the Novices' Hurdle.
And Mullins made it 99 wins at the festival just one race later as Fact to File coasted to victory in the Novices' Chase.
Langer Dan became the first horse to successfully defend the Coral Cup while Blackmore took her chance in the Champion Chase.
The Cross Country Chase has sadly been abandoned and will not be run at this year's meeting.
There was a second win of the day for Dan and Harry Skelton with Unexpected Party winning the Grand Handicap Chase just before Mullins made it win number 100.
1:45pm Gallagher Novices' Hurdle
1. Ballyburn
2. Jimmy Du Seuil
2:30pm Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 110y
1. Fact to File
2. Monty's Star
3.15pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
1. Langer Dan
2. Ballyadam
3. Shanbally Kid
4. Lucky Place
5. Franciscan Rock
4pm Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
1. Captain Guinness
2. Gentleman De Mee
4.50 pm Johnny Henderson Grand Handicap Chase
1. Unexpected Party
2. Libberty Hunter
3. Path D'oroux
4. Sa Fureur
5. Gemirande
5:30pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper
1. Jasmin De Vaux
2. Romeo Coolio
3. Jason D'oudairies
4. Sounds Victorious
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Key Events
Day Two concluded
That draws Day Two to a close as Willie Mullins picks up his 100th Cheltenham Festival win. Make sure to check out our Horse Racing section for all the big stories and for all the live action tomorrow.
Patrick Mullins on the special win
"A great privilege to get the 100 for my father. A special moment."
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 13, 2024
Patrick Mullins on Willie Mullins reaching the #CheltenhamFestival 100 Club following Jasmin De Vaux's win in the @weatherbysltd Champion Bumper pic.twitter.com/90a7ahH8bj
The moment Willie Mullins became a centurion
100 Cheltenham Festival winners for Willie Mullins
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 13, 2024
Son Patrick guides Jasmin De Vaux to victory in the @weatherbysltd Champion Bumper pic.twitter.com/yV1fm72L00
Weatherbys Champion Bumper results
1. Jasmin De Vaux
2. Romeo Coolio
3. Jason D'oudairies
4. Sounds Victorious
Willie Mullins makes it a century!
Willie Mullins has won his 100th race at the Cheltenham Festival with Jasmin De Vaux.
We are underway in the final race of the day!
Just one race to go and we are underway.
Odds for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Odds courtesy of Sky Bet
Jalon D’oudairies – 10/3
Jasmin De Vaux – 7/2
The Yellow Clay – 6/1
You Oughta Know – 15/2
Cantico – 8/1
Fluer Au Fusil – 9/1
Teeshan – 11/1
Argento Boy – 16/1
Bill Joyce – 16/1
Romeo Coolio – 18/1
Sixmilebridge- 18/1
C’est Ta Chance – 22/1
Royal Infantry – 25/1
Quebecois – 28/1
Fishery Lane – 66/1
Union Avenue – 66/1
Dirty Den – 66/1
Stavvy – 66/1
Sounds Victorius – 80/1
5:30pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper racecard
1 Argento Boy (IRE) 5 11 7 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins Ireland
2 Bill Joyce (IRE) 5 11 7 Dan Walker Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
3 C'Est Ta Chance (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
4 Cantico (IRE) 5 11 7 Mrs Audrey Turley W. P. Mullins Ireland
5 Celtic Dino (FR) 5 11 7 Walters Plant Hire Ltd Sam Thomas Sam Twiston-Davies
6 Farland (IRE) h 5 11 7 Neil Smith & Alfie Smith Paul Nicholls Freddie Gingell
7 Fishery Lane (FR) 5 11 7 Bryan Drew W. P. Mullins Ireland
8 Jalon d'Oudairies (FR) 5 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
9 Jasmin de Vaux (FR) 5 11 7 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland
10 Kingston Pride (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr O. S. Harris Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
11 Quebecois (FR) 5 11 7 McNeill Family, Stevens,McKenzie&Flowers Paul Nicholls Lorcan Williams
12 Romeo Coolio 5 11 7 KTDA Racing Gordon Elliott Ireland Keith Donoghue
13 Royal Infantry (IRE) 5 11 7 Craig & Laura Buckingham Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
14 Sixmilebridge (IRE) 5 11 7 The Megsons Ben Pauling Kielan Woods
15 Sounds Victorius (IRE) 5 11 7 Bruton Street Partnership W. P. Mullins Ireland
16 Teeshan (IRE) 5 11 7 Mrs Johnny de la Hey Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden
17 The Yellow Clay (IRE) 5 11 7 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jordan Gainford
18 Tripoli Flyer (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr Ismail El Magdoub Fergal O'Brien Paddy Brennan
19 Union Avenue (IRE) 5 11 7 Mr Thomas Gardner James Moffatt Danny McMenamin
20 You Oughta Know (IRE) h 6 11 7 Luke McMahon W. P. Mullins Ireland
21 Fleur Au Fusil (FR) h 6 11 0 P. Reilly/C. Reilly W. P. Mullins Ireland
22 Junta Marvel (FR) 6 11 0 The Turner Family W. P. Mullins Ireland
23 Dirty Den h 4 10 11 Mrs Kate Kenyon & Mr Syd Hosie Syd Hosie Micheal Nolan
24 Stavvy (IRE) 4 10 11 Harlequin Direct Ltd Jane Chapple-Hyam Bryony Frost
Unexpected Party wins
Team Skelton at the double - Unexpected Party lands the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual @DSkeltonRacing | @harryskelton89 | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/9CE5W7t0eB
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 13, 2024
Most backed horses and biggest market movers for Champion Bumper
Most backed today for this race
Jalon Doudairies 16.95%
The Yellow Clay 9.94%
Jasmin De Vaux 9.59%
You Oughta Know 9.53%
Cantico 7.17%
Biggest moves
Jasmin De Vaux from 6/1 into 7/2
Teeshan 17/2 to 14/1
Oddschecker spokesperson, Sam Eaton "Willie Mullins has nine horses in the Champion Bumper as he looks to bring up 100 Festival winners, with Jasmin De Vaux being his best chance."
Johnny Henderson Grand Handicap Chase Result
1. Unexpected Party
2. Libberty Hunter
3. Path D'oroux
4. Sa Fureur
5. Gemirande
Unexpected Party wins the Johnny Henderson Grand Handicap Chase result
Unexpected Party wins the 4.50 at Cheltenham.
We are underway in the Johnny Henderson Grand Handicap Chase
We are underway in the penultimate race of the day.
Odds for Johnny Henderson Grand Handicap Chase
Odds courtesy of Sky Bet
Libberty Hunter – 4/1
Sa Fureur – 5/1
Madara – 11/2
Saint Roi – 6/1
Path D’oroux – 9/1
Maskada – 10/1
Unexpected Party – 10/1
Hardy Du Seuil – 10/1
Solness – 14/1
Harper’s Brook – 14/1
The King Of Prs – 20/1
Triple Trade – 22/1
Calico – 25/1
Gemirande – 28/1
Frere D’armes – 28/1
The Folkes Tiara – 33/1
Johnny Henderson Grand Handicap Chase Racecard
1 Dancing On My Own (IRE) ts 10 12 0 Sean & Bernardine Mulryan Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore
2 Saint Roi (FR) ts 9 11 10 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland Mark Walsh
3 Maskada (FR) 8 11 8 M. K. Mariga Henry de Bromhead Ireland Darragh O'Keeffe
4 Solness (FR) ts 6 11 7 Bronsan Racing Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland J. J. Slevin
5 Sa Fureur (IRE) 7 11 3 Bective Stud Gordon Elliott Ireland Jack Kennedy
6 Madara (FR) ts, p 5 11 1 Bryan Drew and Friends Sophie Leech James Reveley
7 Calico (GER) ts, p 8 11 1 Mr John J Reilly Dan Skelton Tristan Durrell (3)
8 Path d'Oroux (FR) ts, p 7 11 0 French Connection Partnership Gavin Cromwell Ireland Keith Donoghue
9 Harper's Brook (IRE) v 8 10 12 The Megsons Ben Pauling Kielan Woods
10 Libberty Hunter 8 10 11 Mr & Mrs William Rucker Evan Williams Harry Cobden
11 Unexpected Party (FR) ts 9 10 10 O'Reilly MacLennan Tynan Carthy Shanahan Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
12 Triple Trade 8 10 10 SJS Racing Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell
13 Gemirande (FR) 8 10 6 The Bellamy Partnership Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch
14 The Folkes Tiara (IRE) ts 8 10 5 DWPJ Investments Ltd Henry de Bromhead Ireland Jonathan Burke
15 Frere d'Armes (FR) ts, p 7 10 5 Belbroughton Racing Club Dan Skelton Ciaran Gethings
16 Hardy du Seuil (FR) p 7 10 4 The Hardy Souls Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan
17 The King of Prs (IRE) ts, p 6 10 4 Mr Damien Dillon Gavin Cromwell Ireland Sean Flanagan
Bookmakers thankful as El Fabiolo loses
Bookmakers are raising their glasses as the favourites were finally defeated on Cheltenham Day Two.
Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: "What a dramatic Champion Chase! Never did we imagine that El Fabiolo, who went off the shortest priced horse of the meeting, would have been pulled up. But what a result for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore with Captain Guinness romping home and finally giving the trading floor a reason to raise their glasses!
Rachael Blackmore speaks after victory
"He's been knocking on the door in these big races but this is the biggest in his division. It's "@rachaelblackmor with another famous Cheltenham Festival win#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/3vh6BbYBls
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 13, 2024
Rachael Blackmore's winning moment
!!
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 13, 2024
El Fabiolo out early and Edwardstone down late on - and Captain Guinness, with @rachaelblackmor in the saddle, wins it. What an unpredictable race!
Congratulations to @HenrydeBromhead! #CheltenhamFestival | #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/bAwzoxUtZ5
Captain Guinness does it!
Captain Guinness holds on to win!! Gentleman de Mee is in second.
El Fabiolo is out!
The unbackable favourite El Fabiolo is out after hitting the fence hard!
We are underway!
We are underway in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase and could be on the verge of Willie Mullins' 100th Cheltenham winner.
Fact to File 2025 Gold Cup odds
Fact To File makes it an easy double for Willie Mullins in the opening two races of Day Two. |
Nearly ready to go!
We are nearly ready to go for the big one and all eyes are on El Fabiolo
Bookings to take €20m hit if El Fabiolo wins
Bookmakers are set to take a hit of about €20m if El Fabiolo wins the Champion Chase and earns Willie Mullins his 100th Cheltenham win.
Brian O'Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “If Willie Mullins claims a century of victories at the Cheltenham Festival in the Champion Chase, it will mean an industry-wide liability of €15-€20million as a significant amount of accumulators continue to roll onto favourite, El Fabiolo.”
Champion Chase Odds at BoyleSports:
Champion Chase
1/5 El Fabiolo
7/1 Edwardstone
8/1 Captain Guinness
16/1 Gentleman De Mee
40/1 Elixir De Nutz
33/1 Gentleman De Mee
100/1 Funambule Sivola
Robbie Power's thoughts on the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
Captain Guinness was second in the Champion Chase last year to Energumene, it was a disappointing run at Leopardstown at Christmas when he went off favourite, but there were genuine excuses for that happening.
He ran a nice race at the Dublin Racing Festival, he'll improve from that run and I give him a big each-way chance in the race.
Of all the short-priced favourites this week, I'll put my neck on the line and say El Fabiolo is probably the one that I would oppose the most. It's a very strong race with Edwardstone and the change of tactics with him, and if El Fabiolo makes one or two mistakes, it could be a very difficult race for him.
He probably is the best horse in the race, but I wouldn't be rushing to back him at that price.
Most backed horses for Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
No surprises from oddschecker who is the most backed horse in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with bookies favourite El Fabiolo lightyears ahead:
- El Fabiolo - 70.1%
- Edwardstone - 12.97%
- Captain Guinness - 7.86%
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase Race Card
1 Boothill (IRE) ts 9 11 10 Brian & Sandy Lambert Harry Fry Jonathan Burke
2 Captain Guinness (IRE) 9 11 10 Declan Landy Henry de Bromhead Ireland Rachael Blackmore
3 Edwardstone 10 11 10 Robert Abrey & Ian Thurtle Alan King Tom Cannon
4 El Fabiolo (FR) 7 11 10 Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede W. P. Mullins Ireland P. Townend
5 Elixir de Nutz (FR) ts, p 10 11 10 Mr Terry Warner Joe Tizzard Freddie Gingell
6 Funambule Sivola (FR) 9 11 10 My Racing Manager Friends Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch
7 Gentleman de Mee (FR) h,ts 8 11 10 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Ireland Mark Walsh
8 Jonbon (FR) 8 11 10 Mr John P. McManus Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
Langer Dan wins Coral Cup
The first to do it twice!
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 13, 2024
Langer Dan wins back-to-back Coral Cup Handicap Hurdles for @DSkeltonRacing and @harryskelton89#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/pKtcI7y7bs
Coral Cup result
1. Langer Dan
2. Ballyadam
3. Shanbally Kid
4. Lucky Place
5. Franciscan Rock
