It was a good day for the favourites at Cheltenham on Tuesday with 3 out of 4 winning. Appreciate It destroyed the field in the Supreme Novices beating Ballyadam by 24 lengths while Shishkin won the Arkle by 12 lengths with Eldorado Allen second. In the big race Honeysuckle made it 11 wins in a row beating Sharjah by 6 1/2 lengths and making Jockey Rachel Blackmore the first female to win the Champion Hurdle. The only favourite who didn't win was Concertista who lost the Mares Hurdle to Black Tears by a head in a thrilling finish.
Day 2 at Cheltenham is just as busy as day 1 was with 4 more Grade One's. The first is at 1.20 when 7 line-up for the Ballymore Novices Hurdle. Here three standout. Bravemansgame completed a hat-trick of wins in fine style when he beat Star Gate by 10 lengths in the Challow Novices Hurdle at Newbury last time out and he has a good chance again,Gaillard Du Mesnil has made rapid progress in his three runs over hurdles and was an easy 5 length winner in a grade one at Leopardstown when last seen in early February and he definitely has more to come. The other big horse in the race is Bob Olinger who was a convincing winner of the Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle in January beating Blue Lord by 6 1/2 lengths and he was a 10 length winner when last seen at Gowran Park in March and he will go well again in what will be a fascinating race. The next big race is at 1.55 when 6 start the Brown Advisory Novices Chase and this race is all about one horse. Monkfish won the Albert Bartlett at the festival last year and has improved winning all three starts over fences this season most notably the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown in December and the Flogas Novice Chase also at Leopardstown in February romping home by 11 lengths and he should have no trouble here. The minor places should be fought over by The Big Breakaway and Eklat De Rire but this is Monkfish's to loose. The biggest race of day 2 is at 3.05 when 10 begin the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. Chacun Pour Soi is a top class chaser who made it a hat-trick of wins this season at Leopardstown last month taking the Dublin Chase by 8 lengths and he should make it four here. Notebook won the Poplar Square Chase at Naas by 12 lengths in November but was no match for Chacun Pour Soi in his two grade one runs since but he should be in the mix here as should last years winner Politologue who also captured his second Tingle Creek at Sandown before finishing a very creditable 2nd in the Clarence House at Ascot and should give a good account here. The final grade one of another busy day is at 4.50 when 15 contest the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. This looks like a straight fight between two Willie Mullins horses,Kilcruit was an impressive 12 length winner in the Goffs Future Stars at Leopardstown in February his only run this year and he looks like the one to beat although new stablemate Sir Gerhard has stormed to victory in 2 bumpers at Down Royal and last time out at Navan and he definitely has more to come with Three Stripe Life the other key player. Another fascinating day is in prospect so sit back and enjoy.
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