You’ve survived Day One, and as you emerge into the daylight, blurry-eyed and blinking, your wallet rejoicing (or recovering) from the previous day’s events, it’s time to prepare for round two and a battle of wits against the bookmakers. The stakes are higher than the heels, whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, there’s something special about the style and sophistication of Day Two, Ladies Day. Designer dresses, signature suits, sartorial socks and the mesmerising millinery parade is ready to party the day away. 2018 Festival flashback – Betbright Prestbury Cup standings: GB 5 IRE 9 As the adoring crowds looked on, Nicky Henderson captured his 60th Festival success and the biggest prize of Day Two, taking the Grade One Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase with the awesome Altior. Patricia Pugh’s eight-year-old soared over the fences in the two-mile championship in the hands of Nico de Boinville. “It’s strange that Altior has come around so soon after Sprinter Sacre,” Henderson said. “This horse is very, very good. We will never forget Sprinter, who tugged at heartstrings in a way this horse might never do, but if he wins again he might.” Irish trainer, Gordon Elliott was immediately off the mark on Wednesday when Gigginstown House Stud’s Samcro lived up to the hype and won the Grade One Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. Six-year-old Samcro responded to Jack Kennedy’s urgings and strode away to score by two and three-quarter lengths. Elliott also collared the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase with the diminutive Tiger Roll, ridden by Keith Donoghue on this occasion, before going on to win the Randox Health Grand National a month later. It was Tiger Roll’s third Festival victory and a particularly emotional first Festival win for Donoghue, who said: “I missed the ride on Labaik here last year because I couldn’t do the weight. That was very hard to take. But this definitely makes up for it. I’ve given up three or four times because of my weight, but Gordon always pulls me back.” Not to be outdone by the young pretender to his Irish trainer’s title, Willie Mullins fired in two bullseyes of his own. Mark Walsh took the Coral Cup with 20 –1 shot Bleu Berry, and Katie Walsh scored a third Festival win when riding the Mullins-trained mare Relegate to victory in the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
It’s time to prepare for round two and a battle of wits against the bookmakers
Ladies Day Day Two
13March
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