09:00 It has been a dry night in the Cotswolds and the going remains Good, Good to Firm in places, with a going stick reading of 8.1

There is currently one non-runner.

The forecast is for a chilly day so, after yesterday, definitely a day for the thermals.

Racing gets underway at 14:05.

12:21 Good afternoon from a sunny but chilly Cheltenham.

There are now four non-runners, details on the right.

The press room is a bit more lively than it was yesterday but still very quiet considering the fare on offer, presumably the press room at Newmarket is a tad busier.

13:12 Another non-runner, Russian Flag in the second with travel problems.

14:22 Well a cracking finish to our opening contest with a classic battle up the hill and, quel surprise, Ruby Walsh win “his” race on the even money favourite Aiteen Thirtythree.

Virtually making all he was challenged and briefly headed on the run in by Paul Carberry on Supercede but Walsh managed to get back in front to win by a length.

Supercede ran a different race tactically, settled in rear and he looked in trouble stuck behind  slowing runners as they began the descent down the hill. Once he managed to get daylight he ran on well and was the only challenger to the eventual winner, although mayhem at the second last did have an impact on the finish.

14:35 Race two is the zeturf.com Handicap Chase, an extended 2m 4f contest with 17 lining up.

Geanako looks edgy in the parade ring and I wonder if the problems of this once decent horse are in his head.

Private Be and Cossack Dancer were both on their toes.

14:58 For the second contest running the second last had an influence in the contest as we lost Frosted Grape, Gwanako and Oiseau de Nuit, the latter sending Joe Tizzard out of the side door in the most spectacular manner.

Frosted Grape had led the contest from flag fall, going arguably a suicidal pace, until just before her fall, when the cavalry were charging.

Cossack Dancer and Edgbriar had been second and third for most of the contest, with Cossack Dancer fading as they began the descent for home.

Edgbriar was effectively left in front after the melee two out, joined by Chainbar, who had tracked the leaders.

The pair battled strongly up the hill, with Edgbriar eventually getting the edge by half a length over his 40/1 rival.

Free World made good late progress to finish third, with You’re The Top similarly making good late progress for fourth.

Neither of the joint favourites Classic Swain or Passato were ever in the contest.

15:08 Our feature race is the sportingbet.com Hurdle over the extended two miles, with eight going to post.

The only negative is Royal Mix getting slightly on his toes, the remainder all look very nice, with Dark Ranger, Gilded Age and, notably, Barizan catching the eye.

15:31 By no stretch of the imagination was this an exciting finish, as Clerk’s Choice won this contest as he pleased, coming home 21 lengths clear under Tom Molloy.

Favourite Barizan had assumed his usual front running position, opening up a healthy lead by half way.

He had been joined by My Brother Sylvest for the first half of the contest but the challenger found the pace far too hot and was soon in rear.

Beginning the descent down the hill Barizan still had a good lead with market rival Royal Mix, Utimate and Clerk’s Choice line abreast in second spot.

By the time they reached the bottom of the hill Clerk’s Choice had run on and was on the front runners quarters.

Lining up for home he swept in front and McCoy was unable to elicit any response from the favourite, who looked a spent force.

As Clerk’s Choice forged clear to an emphatic win, Barizan found market rival Royal mix on his quarters and the next view McCoy was the backside of his friend Ruby Walsh pulling away on Royal Mix to claim second spot.  

15:41 Quality as opposed to quantity as just seven go to post for the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices’ Chase, an extended three mile contest.

Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping the referee does not add too much injury time at half time, so he can watch his Picture This compete, and he is indeed a picture, lovely and relaxed. Also looking good is Billie Magern, Ollie’s brother.

16:08 The Irish really love to come and plunder the prizes at the Festival here in March, but it seems they are also happy to plunder the races here at the “smaller” meetings.

So it was that Gordon Elliott and Paul Carberry launched a successful attack on this Novices’ Chase, with Chicago Grey.

Settled in rear, with Billie Magern assuming his usual front running position, Carberry made progress as they came down the hill, sweeping into the lead as they turned for home and coming up the hill unchallenged for a six length victory.

It looked as though Billie Magern would hold on for the runners-up spot, until that is Ruby Walsh finally managed to galvanize the favourite Picture This into action and they powered up the hill to grab second spot by a neck over Billie Magern.

16:16 After a couple of small field contests we have 17 going to post for the 2m 5f Racing With Style Handicap Hurdle.

16:42 This is turning out to be a good day for Gordon Elliot and Paul Carberry as for the second race in a row they sweep from off the pace to claim the spoils. Although it has to be said it was a tad closer this time with judge Katie Boon having to call for the camera to split Russian War and Is It Me.

In contrast to the winners relatively late swoop, Is It me was with the pace throughout, sharing the pace with Benedict Spirit and Dingat.

Son Of Flicka moved into a challenging position as they came down the hill, but it was Secret Tune who led as they turned for home and they were almost four abreast crossing the last and the charge up the hill began.

16:53 Our final race over obstacles is the 2m Klienworth Benson Novices’Chase, with six going to post.

17:14 Well the Elliott / Carberry treble dream lived until the first open ditch where the partnership came apart, no real surprise as the jumping had been sketchy to that point. Both horse and rider came back OK.

Kotkidy set the early pace, with Captive Audience and Kilmurry forming the next rank, whilst Ruby Walsh settled the favourite, Ghizao, in fouth spot.

By the top of the hill it was all change as Joe Tizzard took Kilmurry into the lead after which he was never going to see another rival.

Ghizao was his only serious rival but Walsh was never going to get a serious shot at the leader, who came home eleven lengths clear of the ineffectual favourite.    

17:27 The Champange Lanson Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race brings the meeting to a close with eight chasing the money in the extended 2 mile contest.

17:50 Well another cracking finish to our final race and it must have been greeted by the noisiest crowd of the two days.

Teaforthree set the pace, accompanied by Sybarite, one of the joint favourites.

The other joint favourite, Dark Lover, and the fancied Lets Get serious were settled near the rear.

Turning for home Teaforthree and Sybarite still had the advantage, with little between them.

However both Lets Get Serious and Dark Lover came with late charges to guarantee an exciting finish.

As it was, Nicky Henderson’s Lets Get Serious had the better turn of foot and he managed to get the better of Dark Lover by 2½ lengths.

The duo left the front running pair flat footed and they came home seven lengths in arrears, with Sybarite winning that private battle.

17:53 That’s it from the Cheltenham Showcase, the season has begun.

Our jump racing coverage continues tomorrow when we are in Sunbury for Kempton’s first jump meeting of the season.

Until then good afternoon.

 Return to race archive:

Non-Runners

The time in brackets is the time the horse was officially declared a non-runner.

SC - Self Certificate
VC - Vet's Certificate

Non-runners

14:05
9 Run With The Wind (not eaten up - SC 11:09)

14:40
14 Russian Flag (travel - 13:11)

15:50
8 Wayward Prince (going - 10:56)

16:25
6 Extreme Conviction (blood analysis not normal - SC 07:02)

17:35
7 Sir Benfro (other - 12:12)

Results

14:05 Novices Hurdle 3m 1f 110yds

14:40 Handicap Chase 2m 4f 110yds

15:15 Hurdle 2m 110yds

15:50 Novices' Chase 3m 110yds

16:25 Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f

17:00 Novices' Chase 2m

17:35 Open NH Flat 2m 110yds