Cheltenham Festival recap: Tiger Roll and Put The Kettle On star as Irish win six races

Follow all the latest from day two of the Cheltenham Festival here

Tiger Roll ridden by Keith Donoghue on their way to winning the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

• 1.20: Bob Olinger (Rachael Blackmore) 6-4 Fav
• 1.55: Monkfish (Paul Townend) 1-4 Fav
• 2.30: Heaven Help Us (R J Condon) 33-1
• 3.05: Put The Kettle On (Aidan Coleman) 17-2
• 3.40: Tiger Roll (K M Donoghue) 9-2 
• 4.15: Sky Pirate (Nick Scholfield) 14-1 
• 4.50: Sir Gerhard (Rachael Blackmore) 85-40
• Irish winners: 11; British winners: 3
• Leading trainer: Henry de Bromhead, Willie Mullins 3; Denise Foster 2
• Leading jockey: Rachael Blackmore 3; Jack Kennedy, Paul Townend 2 

4.50: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase

Rachael Blackmore on Sir Gerhard celebrates after winning. Picture: INPHO/Mark Cranham

1 Sir Gerhard (Rachael Blackmore) 85-40 

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2 Kilcruit (P Townend) 10-11 Fav 

3 Elle Est Belle (Harry Skelton) 16-1 

14 ran

Sir Gerhard provided both Blackmore and Mullins with their third winners of the meeting in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, on stable debut following his move away from Elliott this month.

The six-year-old extended his unbeaten career record to three under rules, leading throughout in a steadily run race, then stretching clear two furlongs out before having to dig deep to hold the late challenge of odds-on favourite Kilcruit.

He did so by half-a-length, at 85-40, to give owners Cheveley Park Stud their third successive victory in the race – following the triumphs of Ferny Hollow (2020) and Envoi Allen (2019).

4.15: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Sky Pirate ridden by Nick Scholfield jumps a fence during the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Michael Steele/PA

1 Sky Pirate (Nick Scholfield) 14-1 

2 Entoucas (M P Walsh) 7-1 

3 Ibleo (Charlie Deutsch) 9-1 

4 On The Slopes (Tom Cannon) 16-1 

19 ran

Sky Pirate just held the late thrust of Entoucas to land a blow for Britain at last on St Patrick’s Day – in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.

Nick Scholfield was back on board, after missing Sky Pirate’s two mid-winter victories because of injury, and the partnership showed great tenacity to win by a short-head at 14-1.

Entoucas still appeared to be full of running at the last but just could not quite reel in Jonjo O’Neill’s winner in time.

Ibleo stayed on to be almost four lengths further back in third.

Scholfield said: “This horse has been winning – Tom Scudamore and Jonjo (O’Neill jnr) have won on him, and I can’t thank Mr (Martin) Tedham (owner) and Jonjo (senior) enough for giving me the chance today.

“They’re good people – I’m just grateful I got the opportunity. The horse is a star, and Jonjo was adamant that we’d go for this race. The race went perfectly for us, so I’m just grateful to them.”

3.40: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

Keith Donoghue celebrates with Tiger Roll. Picture: INPHO/Francesca Altoft

1 Tiger Roll (K M Donoghue) 9-2 

2 Easysland (Felix de Giles) Evens Fav 

3 Some Neck (R Johnson) 17-2 

13 ran

Irish horses have won all five races at Cheltenham so far on St Patrick's Day after Tiger Roll was an incredible winner at the Festival for the fifth time when reclaiming his Glenfarclas Chase crown in scintillating fashion.

Having hitherto disappointed this season, it seemed the form that had seen him win back-to-back Grand Nationals was in the past.

But back at his favourite track and sent off the 9-2 second-favourite behind his conqueror from last season, Easysland, he looked a lot younger than his 11 years skipping round the cross-country course.

The French challenger briefly closed up and looked threatening, but it soon became apparent that Keith Donoghue had only given Tiger Roll a breather.

He quickly went clear again and rounding the home turn the race was over, with his only danger in front of him – but he skipped the last and powered home by 18 lengths from Easysland, with Some Neck third.

Now in the care of Denise Foster following long-time trainer Gordon Elliott’s well-chronicled ban, Tiger Roll usually runs in this race prior to heading to Aintree for the National, but the decision was taken a few weeks ago to take him out of the race as connections believed his handicap mark was unfair.

Donoghue, a three-time winner of this race too thanks to Tiger Roll, was in awe of the latest performance.

“It’s unbelievable for him to come back and do it again,” he said.

“I’m just speechless – it’s absolutely brilliant. He means everything to me.

“If it wasn’t for this horse, I wouldn’t be riding. It’s as simple as that.

Never underestimate the Tiger – a lot of people underestimated him. We all kept the faith in him – we know the horse he is, and he showed us that today.

“He loved it, and that’s the Tiger we’ve seen at home.

“I’m delighted he showed that on the track today. He’s just a legend.”

3.05: Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Put The Kettle On ridden by Aidan Coleman (right) on their way to winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

1 Put The Kettle On (Aidan Coleman) 17-2 

2 Nube Negra (Harry Skelton) 11-1 

3 Chacun Pour Soi (P Townend) 8-13 Fav 

9 ran

Put The Kettle On continued Henry de Bromhead’s brilliant 2021 Cheltenham Festival with victory in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.

The mare, ridden by Aidan Coleman, followed up her shock success in last year’s Arkle with a battling performance to get the better of Nube Negra – with odds-on favourite Chacun Pour Soi only third.

At least three horses still held a big chance over the last fence – but as Chacun Pour Soi faded up the hill, Put The Kettle On (17-2) ran on decisively to give De Bromhead another major victory after Honeysuckle’s Champion Hurdle triumph on Tuesday.

Nube Negra stayed on to very good effect, from off the pace, but was beaten by half a length, with another length back to Chacun Pour Soi.

Put The Kettle On is the first mare to win the great race – which this year was minus its reigning champion after Politologue had to be withdrawn at almost the last minute on veterinary advice.

It marked the third race in a row won by Cork jockeys, after Paul Townend on Monkfish and Richard Condon on Heaven Help Us, as Ireland swept up the first four races on day two.

Coleman said: “She gave some fantastic jumps – three out, she was all wrong but she just threw herself at it and made ground up.

“It wasn’t ideal – but it’s just testament to her ability.

“She had two horses either side of her, and she just wasn’t getting passed.

“I beat off Chacun Pour Soi, and then Harry (Skelton, on Nube Negra) came – and she went again.

“If I could bottle what she has I wouldn’t have to ride again – I’d sell it, and be a rich man.” 

Coleman insisted all praise should be reserved for Put The Kettle On, not him.

“I don’t want to take any plaudits for this – this mare is just something else,” he said.

“Whether she’s the best or not doesn’t matter – when you’ve got heart as much as she has, I don’t have to do a lot.

“She’d win that race loose if you put my weight in lead on her back – she just wants it that much.

“It was very special – pulling up was nearly emotional, because we all love these horses and we do it day in, day out for them.

“When you ride something that loves it and wants to win as much as this, it’s just a pleasure.

“It brings you back to your roots and why you wanted to get into the game – and that’s the love of the animal.

“You can’t watch this race and the jumps she put in and her attitude at the last and not really appreciate what they do for us.”

2.30: Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Heaven Help Us ridden by Richard Condon after winning the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

1 Heaven Help Us (R J Condon) 33-1 

2 Craigneiche (Tom Cannon) 17-2 

3 Tea Clipper (J J Burke) 33-1 

26 ran

Outsider Heaven Help Us was a runaway winner of the Coral Cup.

Young Cork jockey Richard Condon pulled off a perfect front-running ride, with the help of his 7lb claim, to dominate what is traditionally the most competitive of handicaps from start to finish.

Heaven Help Us, trained by Paul Hennessy, was another success for Ireland – clear almost from the outset, but not at a manic pace in such a big field, and well in control at the last when her nearest pursuer Blue Sari came down.

The 33-1 winner had nine lengths to spare at the line – followed home by Craigneiche, with another outsider Tea Clipper running well to be third, another two and a quarter lengths back.

Condon struggled to take in the victory, but was able to heap praise on the winning trainer.

“I can’t talk today, I’m absolutely speechless,” he said.

“All I can say is Paul Hennessy is a genius. It was actually unbelievable – with all the commotion down at the start (after two false starts), I thought they’d be going a mad gallop.

“But when I landed over the first I had an easy lead all the way to the finishing line.” The mare was a course winner in a maiden hurdle back in October 2019.

Hennessy said: “We took a chance – and wasn’t Richie brilliant? He’s never ridden round here before, and he just took the race by the scruff of the neck.

“She’s just amazing – I can’t describe her.

“We bred her – she was born in Rathbawn, and I’ve raised her. The places she’s taken us is just ridiculous. It’s amazing – she’s my Enable.”

1.55: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

Monkfish ridden by Paul Townend after winning the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

1 Monkfish (P Townend) 1-4 Fav 

2 Fiddlerontheroof (R M Power) 40-1 

3 The Big Breakaway (H Cobden) 12-1 

6 ran

Monkfish maintained his unbeaten record over fences with a comprehensive success in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

A narrow winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival, the Willie Mullins-trained chestnut was the 1-4 favourite to strike gold in the Cotswolds for a second time, having been faultless in three previous chase starts.

It was not entirely plain sailing for odds-on backers, with The Big Breakaway more than matching Monkfish in the jumping department for much of the three-mile contest, before Paul Townend’s mount displayed his superior class to move clear before the home turn.

The presence of the riderless Eklat De Rire, who unseated Rachael Blackmore earlier in the race, will have had Monkfish’s supporters sweating in the home straight, as would a mistake at the final fence.

But it ultimately made no difference to the result, with the giant seven-year-old galloping up the hill to score by six and a half lengths from Fiddlerontheroof.

Townend admitted Monkfish’s win was not faultless.

“It wasn’t foot perfect today, but he’s got the job done – the further I got up the hill the better,” he said.

“Early on in the race we just weren’t on the same wavelength, I suppose.

“It’s a lot of pressure riding these fancied horses – don’t get me wrong, I know how lucky I am to be riding them, but you have to perform on them as well.

“He does things so easily but he’s still maturing, so he takes everything in – there’s plenty to look at out in the country, with the Jeep driving alongside us, plenty of people scattered around the track and the signs everywhere.

“He just looked at everything.” 

Mullins could reflect on a case of all well that ended well after Monkfish had won at the Festival for the second year running.

“He put one in early at the fence going up the hill – he just seemed unsettled,” said the trainer.

“Paul asked him for one or two and got him back into his rhythm, and then he missed another one.

“I don’t want to go through that again – that was probably the most nerve-racking race I’ve ever watched.

“The fact that you’re 4-1 on in a three-mile novice chase going around Cheltenham, it can’t get any more nerve-racking than that.

“So much can go wrong.

“Then there’s only five or six runners, which makes him even more of a certainty. It’s there for him to lose, but it’s great now that he’s got the treble (of Grade One novice chases) – so he looks a smart one for the future anyway.”

Mullins added: “(It was) heart-stopping.

“I’ll have to thank James McCarthy, heart surgeon at the Blackrock clinic last year, for the good job he did on this.

“When he made a mistake at the last – or whatever he did – it’s even harder to watch on the replay.”

1.20: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Bob Olinger ridden by Rachael Blackmore on their way to winning the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture: Tim Goode/PA

1 Bob Olinger (Rachael Blackmore) 6-4 Fav 

2 Gaillard Du Mesnil (P Townend) 9-4 

3 Bravemansgame (H Cobden) 4-1 

7 ran

Champion Hurdle winners Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead were back in the Cheltenham winner’s enclosure again as Bob Olinger took the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – the opening race on day two of the Festival.

Blackmore, who made history on Tuesday as the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle on De Bromhead’s mare Honeysuckle, scored her second success of the meeting on 6-4 favourite Bob Olinger.

On St Patrick’s Day, Willie Mullins’ Gaillard Du Mesnil made it an Irish one-two – but there was no doubting the well-backed winner’s superiority.

Blackmore tracked the pace set by chief British hope Bravemansgame, took over up the Cheltenham hill and was already three lengths clear at the last en route to victory by seven and a half.

Blackmore was impressed as Bob Olinger took his winning sequence to three, and doubled his Grade One tally.

“It’s unbelievable,” she told ITV Racing.

“I’m so delighted for (owner) Brian Acheson and his family – he puts a lot into this game and he’s got a very special horse on his hands now.

“His potential is sky high, I’d say – he was phenomenal there.

“He won a point-to-point for Pat Doyle, and Henry got him then – anyone who’s ever been associated with him has thought an awful lot of him. Winning at Cheltenham is what it’s all about. and he’s done that now.

“There’ll be plenty of big days in him hopefully, but it’s just fantastic for everyone in the yard.”