Relief unites the punters at Cheltenham

The first victory of day two of this year’s Cheltenham Festival came early. Very early. It was 6.10am when the phone buzzed into action. Normally this is an unwelcome development. Not yesterday. Not when the news was the wind that had threatened the card has receded sufficiently to allow racing go ahead.

After a positive precautionary inspection, we were good to go. Fast forward seven and a bit hours and we are off and running, in front of an attendance of 59,209. Top Irish trainer Gordon Elliott had endured a tormenting Tuesday, and the opening race didn’t improve his mood as 3-1 favourite Battleoverdoyen failed to land a blow. Other Irish eyes were smiling, though, as City Island, ridden by Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle hero Mark Walsh, gave his Kildare trainer Martin Brassil his first Festival success.