THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 14-17 MARCH 2023
DAY TWO
I f Day One of The Cheltenham Festival is about setting the scene for four extraordinary days of racing, Day Two delivers sensational sport – at speed… While you have to be both quick and classy to come out on top in a Champion Hurdle, there can be no doubt that Wednesday’s Grade One Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase offers a speed test like no other. Run over a distance of two miles, it requires a perfect blend of speed and an ability to be inch-perfect when negotiating each of the 13 fences at pace on Cheltenham’s Old Course. The race provides a checklist that few can master, and as such, we regularly see horses coming back to retain or even regain their crown. Indeed, famous multiple winners of the trophy include legends of the sport like Altior, Sprinter Sacre, Master Minded, Moscow Flyer and Viking Flagship. This year’s renewal saw a new name added to that illustrious roll of honour in the form of the Willie Mullins-trained Energumene, who made up for his absence in last year’s Arkle Trophy with a phenomenal success. The only disappointment was the early departure of rival Shishkin, though that certainly
out on his shield, finishing a battling second to stablemate Delta Work and being welcomed back to a cheer from the winner’s enclosure befitting that of a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. In a way it was appropriate that Tiger Roll was beaten by a horse carrying the same colours as his. Owner Michael O’Leary was quick to pay tribute to a superstar of the sport and said: “He will now have a very long and well-earned retirement. He has given us so many great days. He has won here five times, finished second twice and won two Grand Nationals.” The supporting card on the Wednesday is stunning, too, and begins with back-to-back Grade One contests, with the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. Both races are renowned for producing stars of the future – a theme that continues to the finale, the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper. One thing is for certain – as Wednesday draws to a close and we reach the half-way stage of The Festival, it’s as much about looking forward to two more days of extraordinary racing as it is looking back at the 14 thrilling races we have already enjoyed.
sets things up for next year. Pre-race favourite Shishkin had got the better of Energumene at Ascot earlier in the season, and the latter’s jockey, Paul Townend, has hinted that we could be on the cusp of one of the great Jump racing rivalries. Of his own horse, he said: “He is top-class, I think. I thought to be involved in the race at Ascot was exceptional, bar the result on our behalf, but they are two proper horses and they will meet again. For now, though, it’s magic.” Meanwhile, it is impossible to talk about Day Two without mentioning horseracing’s poster boy, Tiger Roll, who bowed out at this year’s Festival. He may be best known to the British public as a two-time Randox Grand National winner, but the legend of the track has won at an astonishing five Cheltenham Festivals. Three of those victories came in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase in 2018, 2019 and 2021, and it was also the scene of his swansong. Staged on Cheltenham’s unique Cross Country Course, it is a race that has produced as many high-class winners as it has stories. And while Tiger ultimately fell just short of a triumphant farewell, he was carried
Energumene’s jockey, Paul Townend, has hinted that we could be on the cusp of one of the great Jump racing rivalries
52 KALENDAR
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