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
Coral Cup
It's yet another win for the combination of JP McManus, Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty! Their second win of the day and third of the Festival, Dame Du Compagnie came through over the final hurdle to power to the lead and pull clear by a couple of lengths as she crossed the line to win, with Black Tears coming through into second.
Coral Cup
1 Dame De Compagnie (B J Geraghty) 5-1 Fav
2 Black Tears (D N Russell) 12-1
3 Thosedaysaregone (K J Brouder) 10-1
4 Cracking Smart (G Brouder) 33-1
3:30pm - The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase
1. Altior - NON-RUNNER
2. Bun Doran - 40/1
3. Chacun Pour Soi - NON-RUNNER
4. Defi Du Seuil - 1/3
5. Dynamite Dollars - 15/1
6. Politologue - 15/2
7. Sceau Royal - 12/1
Queen Mother Champion Chase
It's all set up to be the Defi Du Seuil show as sadly Altior and Chacun Pour Soi have not made the race, leaving the initial seven-horse field at a depleted five. It's a true shame for such a prestigious race, and given some of the battles we've been treated to over the last few years, it could all fall a bit flat. Then again, you just never know if someone has an upset in them, so look to the Paul Nicholls pair of Politologue and Dynamite Dollars to lead the rest of the pack, with the former finishing runner-up in this race las year. Sceau Royal also has previous pedigree after finishing third last year.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
How great it is to see the legend that is Sprinter Sacre paraded once again in the ring in honour of the 2013 and 2016 triumphs. Off go the field as they start to head down to post.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Both Dynamite Dollars and Politologue are in to 7/1 and Sceau Royal to 10/1, but that is merely betters chasing an unlikely upset. At 2/5, it's hard to look past Defi Du Seuil, who could seal a third win for Barry Geraghty and JP McManus.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Politologue and Bun Doran take the holeshot ahead of Dynamite Dollars, Defi Du Seuil and Sceau Royal brings up the rear.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
All five horses look to be jumping nicely, with Barry Geraghty keeping Defi out wide for the timebeing to avoid any trouble.
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