Cheltenham Festival LIVE: Latest updates, results, tips, and racecard as Politologue wins Champion Chase
Follow the latest updates from the second day of the Cheltenham Festival as the Queen Mother Champion Chase turns up a shock upset
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from the Cheltenham Festival as day two featured a huge upset in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
With Altior and Chacun Pour Soi absent from the big one on Ladies Day, Defi Du Seuil was expected to breeze to victory and take on the crown as the Champion Chaser, but it proved anything but as Harry Skelton and Politologue stunned the five-horse field to romp away to victory, dealing out a big win for the bookies in the process. The upset followed one of the most thrilling finishes in recent Cheltenham memory as Champ shot between Minella Indo and Allaho to win the RSA Chase, while Dame De Compagnie lived up to expectations by clinching the Coral Cup.
The last of the big-race action sees two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll in action in the Cross Country Steeple Chase at 4:20pm. Follow the live updates below.
Full racecard and results
Tuesday
1:30pm - The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: 1. Shishkin 6-1 2. Abacadabras 11-5 3. Chantry House 15-2
2:10pm - The Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase: 1. Put The Kettle On 16-1 2. Fakir D’Oudairies 3-1 3. Rouge Vif 9-1
2:50pm - The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase: 1. The Conditional 15-2 2. Kildisart 10-1 3. Discorama 11-2 Jt Fav 4. Vindication 11-2 Jt Fav
3:30pm - The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy: 1. Epatante 2/1 Fav 2. Sharjah 16/1 3. Darvar Star 17/2
4:10pm - The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race: 1. Honeysuckle 9/4 2. Benie Des Dieux 4-6 fav 3. Elfile 16/1
4:50pm - The Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase: 1. Imperial Aura 4-1 Jtfav 2. Galvin 4-1 Jtfav 3. Hold The Note 10-1
5:30pm - The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup: 1 Ravenhill 12-1 2 Lord Du Mesnil 11-2 3 Lamanver Pippin 33-1
Wednesday
1:30pm - The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race: 1. Envoi Allen - 4/7 Fav 2. Easy Work - 12/1 3. The Big Getaway - 9/1
2:10pm - The RSA Insurance Novices’ Steeple Chase: 1 Champ - 4-1 2 Minella Indo 3-1 3 Allaho 5-2 Fav
2:50pm - The Coral Cup Hurdle: 1 Dame De Compagnie 5-1 Fav 2 Black Tears 12-1 3 Thosedaysaregone 10-1 4 Cracking Smart 33-1
3:30pm - The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase: 1 Politologue 6-1 2 Dynamite Dollars 7-1 3 Bun Doran 33-1
4:10pm - Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase: 1 Easysland 3-1 2 Tiger Roll 8-11 Fav 3 Out Sam 33-1
4:50pm - The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race: 1 Aramax 15-2 2 Night Edition 16-1 3 Saint D'Oroux 14-1 4 Recent Revelations 14-1
5:30pm - The Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Thursday
1:30pm - The Marsh Novices’ Chase
2:10pm - The Pertemps Network Final
2:50pm - The Ryanair Steeple Chase
3:30pm - The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
4:10pm - The Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate
4:50pm - The Festival Mares Novices’ Hurdle
5:30pm - The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Friday
1:30pm - The JCB Triumph Hurdle
2:10pm - The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race
2:50pm - The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race
3:30pm - The Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase
4:10pm - The St James’s Place Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cup
4:50pm - Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase
5:30pm - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
RSA Chase
Allaho looks very calm out in front as the come down the hill for the first time, though all 10 runners are still in the mix.
RSA Chase
Allaho leads them onto the final circuit with nine to jump, still ahead of Minella Indo. Allaho has a poor jump, causing Aye Right to dip behind.
RSA Chase
Champ looks to be struggling with a number of poor jumps down the back straight, though he's still in sixth and in contention. This is hotting up nicely.
RSA Chase
Three from home and Champ tries to move up, as Allaho and Minella Indo resume their battle out in front.
RSA Chase
Two to go, and Champ is into third, but it looks like it's going to be between the final two...
RSA Chase
Minella Indo makes a mess of the last jump, it's between two... but here comes Champ!
What a finish! Champ wins it!
RSA Chase
That was simply incredible from Champ and Barry Geraghty! Minella Indo and Allaho cleared the last neck and neck, but both made a complete hash of it and that gave Geraghty a sniff. Minella Indo looked to be getting the better of it on the race to the line, with Rachael Blackmore eyeing her second victory of the Festival, but between the two came a surging Champ to split them and take a thrilling victory that will be fondly remembered for years to come.
RSA Chase
1 Champ (B J Geraghty) 4-1
2 Minella Indo (Rachael Blackmore) 3-1
3 Allaho (P Townend) 5-2 Fav
RSA Chase
The finish of the Festival so far, watch Champ take a thrilling win in the RSA Chase:
2:50pm - The Coral Cup Hurdle
1. Kilfenora - 40/1
2. Cracking Smart - 33/1
3. Elgantine Du Seui - 16/1
4. Bachasson - 33/1
5. Ballymoy - 50/1
6. Franco De Port - 11/1
7. Top Moon - 16/1
8. Birchdale - 16/1
9. Canardier - 8/1
10. Coko Beach - 40/1
11. Sayo - 100/1
12. Stratum - 16/1
13. Protektorat - 12/1
14. Mister Blue Sky - NON-RUNNER
15. Black Tears - 14/1
16. The Mighty Don - 90/1
17. Traffic Fluide - 25/1
18. Chesterfield - 100/1
19. Alfa Mix - 14/1
20. Champagne Well - 10/1
21. Dame De Compagnie - 5/1
22. Honest Vic - 35/1
23. Thosedaysaregone - 16/1
24. Golan Fortune - 90/1
25. Burrows Edge - 20/1
26. Fagan - 125/1
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