Cheltenham Festival 2024 LIVE results: Horse racing updates, latest odds, tips as Mullins claims 100th win

Cheltenham Festival 2024 - LIVE!

Willie Mullins made a perfect start to Day 2 at Cheltenham, before Langer Dan won the Coral Cup for the second year in a row for Harry and Dan Skelton. That came after Mullins had moved to 99 Festival winners, backing up a strong opening day. His favourites delivered early on Wednesday, as Ballyburn cruised to victory in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle and Fact To File delivered in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

There is every chance Mullins reaches his century very soon - El Fabiolo is the one to beat in the feature race of the afternoon, the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Jonbon will not run in that race, as one of a number of horses to be withdrawn by the struggling Nicky Henderson yard.

Delta Work was eyeing a third victory Cross Country Chase, but an inspection on Wednesday morning resulted in the race being abandoned after heavy rainfall on Tuesday. With further showers expected throughout the week, the decision has been made to not reschedule for Friday. Follow all the action from the second day of Cheltenham with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!

Cheltenham Festival latest news

• Jasmin De Vaux seals Mullins 100th Festival win in Champion Bumper

• Unexpected Party surprises in Grand Annual Chase

• Captain Guinness claims Queen Mother Champion Chase

• Langer Dan defends Coral Cup crown

• Fact To File too good in Brown Advisory Novices' Chase

• Ballyburn bolts up in Gallagher Novices' Hurdle

Day 3 tips

18:00 , Alex Young

Back bright and early tomorrow morning for day three.

Please read our tips for Thursday’s racing, here.

17:59 , Alex Young

Thanks for following on today and what a way to end day two, with Willie Mullins making history.

Champion Bumper result

17:40 , Alex Young

1 - Jasmin De Vaux 9/2

2 - Romeo Coolio 18/1

3 - Jalon D'oudairies 3/1

100 up for Willie Mullins!

17:36 , Alex Young

Patrick Mullins rides his dad’s historic runner as Jasmin De Vaux at 9/2 storms up the hill to clinch a remarkable win!

Champion Bumper

17:32 , Alex Young

Underway in the last!

Champion Bumper

17:28 , Alex Young

Jalon D’oudaires heads the market at 3/1, slightly ahead of Jasmin De Vaux at 4s or 5s, depending on the bookie.

The Yellow Clay, at 7s, has had plenty of attention online today but his price has been fairly stable.

17.30 - Champion Bumper

17:18 , Alex Young

Tip - The Yellow Clay E/W

Winning both his four-year-old starts caught the eye of most tipsters on this George Elliott-trained horse. His most recent run out was a disappointing fourth in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown on February 3 but he was badly hampered 2f out, dropped to the rear but then made up an impressive amount of ground late on once he had a free run.

Talent wise, this race is practically the same and if he gets a free run when it matters most, The Yellow Clay can come through to win.

Champion Bumper

17:17 , Alex Young

The final race of the day is the Champion Bumper run just over to miles and with 19 runners.

Grand Annual Chase result

17:01 , Alex Young

1 - Unexpected Party 12/1

2 - Libberty Hunter 6/1

3 - Path D'oroux 10/1

4 - Sa Fureur 4/1

Unexpected Party wins the Grand Annual Chase!

16:57 , Alex Young

Perhaps an unexpected winner at 12/1 as it’s a Skelton double on the day!

16:53 , Alex Young

After a false start, we’re up and running at the second attempt!

16:50 , Alex Young

Almost time, the money has come for Sa Fureur before the off.

16:38 , Alex Young

The penultimate race of the day in the Grand Annual Chase. Saint Roi is the market leader as Willie Mullins continues to look for his 100th festival winner.

16:50pm - Grand Annual Chase

16:31 , Alex Young

Tip - Solness E/W

Listed winner Solness was third last time out at Leopardstown on February 3, Madara was first and Path D'oroux second. Solness is much better off in the weights this time around relative to those opponents but will need to be close up and then force the issue in the home straight to put pressure on the leaders to try to ensure it doesn't turn into a sprint finish.

If he can manage that then he should be guaranteed to place at the very least.

16:26 , Alex Young

Here’s Rachael Blackmore and Captain Guinness.

Willie Mullins on El Fabiolo

16:25 , Alex Young

"He run a cracker. Delighted for Henry and for Rachael. Gentleman De Mee ran a cracker so we are delighted.

"El Fabiolo was low over a couple of the fences and I was very concerned. Disappointing."

Queen Mother Champion Chase result

16:12 , Alex Young

1 - Captain Guinness 17/2

2 - Gentleman De Mee 16/1

3 - Funambule Sivola 100/1

Captain Guinness wins the Queen Mother chase!

16:06 , Alex Young

Runner up last year, winner this.

Remarkable drama as only three finish. The official result to come.

Edwardstone falls!

16:05 , Alex Young

Remarkable! The second fav takes a tumble at the second last, leaving Captain Guinness a free run.

16:04 , Alex Young

Edwardstone and Captain Guinness are pulling clear in the final bend...

El Fabiolo pulled up!

16:03 , Alex Young

El Fabiolo hits a fence hard, lands flat-footed and that’s his race done! Huge groans from the crowd but the bookies will be cheering!

15:59 , Alex Young

Almost time. As much as £3.7million traded on the exchanges for El Fabiolo, according to ITV Sport.

Latest odds: El Fabiolo to complete the treble

15:43 , Alex Young

This is the final leg of the favourites treble, so plenty will be cheering on El Fabiolo - including Willie Mullins looking for his 100th Festival winner.

Latest odds:

El Fabiolo: 1/4

Captain Guinness: 15/2

Edwardstone: 15/2

Gentleman De Mee: 12/1

Elixir De Nutz: 35/1

Funambule Sivola: 100/1

Cheltenham odds via Betfair.

Reaction from Harry Skelton

15:36 , Alex Young

"He's brilliant. This has been 12 months planning.

"To be fair, we got him out on the grass in last few weeks and he has come alive.

"He was getting bumped and banged about out there - he was loving it. The more that happened, the more he thrived.

"He hasn't been in quite as good form this year, but it's happened today."

Huge result for the Skelton yard!

15:31 , Matt Verri

No form at all over the last 12 months, but Langer Dan has delivered again at Cheltenham.

Coral Cup result

15:25 , Matt Verri

1 - Langer Dan 13/2

2 - Ballyadam 13/2

3 - Shanbally Kid 12/1

4 - Lucky Place 25/1

5 - Franciscan Rock 50/1

Langer Dan wins the Coral Cup!

15:21 , Matt Verri

Back-to-back!

Comfortable in the end, as Langer Dan wins this race for the second year on the bounce.

15:21 , Matt Verri

Shanbally Kid moves to the front, Ballyadam just behind.

Langer Dan right there, as they approach the last...

15:19 , Matt Verri

Ballyadam about three from the back, with Built by Ballymore eighth or so in the middle of the pack.

Here comes Ballyadam, Blackmore starting to make a move.

Three to go.

15:18 , Matt Verri

Western Fold and Beacon Edge the two at the front.

All of them over comfortably so far, with six to jump in the Coral Cup.

They're off!

15:15 , Matt Verri

Away in the Coral Cup!

15:13 , Matt Verri

We’ve had nine races so far at the Festival - none have had a particularly tight finish.

Big field here, have to imagine we’ll get a bit more drama. They’re all circling up at the start.

15:09 , Matt Verri

Nicky Henderson still in high spirits, despite the disastrous week he’s enduring.

Says he still wants Sir Gino to run in the Triumph Hurdle tomorrow, but can’t guarantee it.

15:15 - Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

15:04 , Matt Verri

Tip - Might I E/W

With some bookies paying as many as eight places, picking one at a price E/W is clearly the value play and one who could prove handy is Might I.

The eight-year-old gelding has shown some solid form recently and won at Exeter back in November last year, although admittedly that was in a head to head race.

He'll certainly be in contention for an each-way return, especially considering that pretty much a third of the field will be placed.

Latest odds: Big field!

14:55 , Matt Verri

We’ve got 21 runners in the next race, the Coral Cup.

Sa Majeste could well give Willie Mullins his 100th Festival winners.

Latest odds:

Built By Ballymore: 3/1

Langer Dan: 11/2

Sa Majeste: 11/2

Ballyadam: 15/2

Doddiethegreat: 15/2

Jigoro: 11/1

Might I: 12/1

16/1 Bar

Cheltenham odds via Boyle Sports.

Reaction from Mark Walsh

14:48 , Matt Verri

"He jumped and travelled so well, he took me down the hill, I didn't want to go too soon,” the winning jockey tells ITV.

"This is a class horse now. The decision to go straight to fences was class.

"Hopefully we have a good one on our hands."

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase result

14:41 , Matt Verri

1 Fact To File 8/13

2 Monty's Star 13/2

3 Giovinco 40/1

Fact To File wins the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase!

14:37 , Matt Verri

The favourites continue to deliver!

Three of them took the last together, but Fact To File is too strong on the run to home.

Willie Mullins has 99 Cheltenham winners.

14:37 , Matt Verri

Two to jump, Stay Away Fay has dropped right off the pace.

Here comes Fact To File...

14:35 , Matt Verri

And again from American Mike. Jumping far from convincing.

Four to jump, little change in the order. Fact To File yet to make a move.

14:34 , Matt Verri

American Mike very, very nearly goes down. Jack Kennedy just about stays on.

They’re starting to bunch up, about seven lengths or so between the six runners. Eight to go.

14:32 , Matt Verri

Monty’s Star and Stay Away Fay leading them round.

Fact To File second last, with Giovinco at the back of the pack. 13 to jump.

They're off!

14:30 , Matt Verri

Underway in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase!

14:29 , Matt Verri

Right then, the six runners are up at the start.

Can expect Stay Away Fay to push the pace from the off, will it be enough to deny Fact To File though?

Time to find out.

Huge afternoon for Gingell!

14:25 , Matt Verri

The teenager rides Elixir De Nutz in today’s big race at 4pm...

14:30 - The Broadway Novices' Chase

14:18 , Matt Verri

Tip - Stay Away Fay

Fact To File is the clear favourite for this race for Willie Mullins' yard but this is one prize they may be denied. Stay Away Fay was the winner of the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle last year at Cheltenham.

On his last outing at Cheltenham in January, this seven-year-old gelding only managed third after a mistake midway but still finished three and a half lengths from winner Capodanno, a contender for this week's Ryanair Chase, and second place The Real Whacker, entered in the Gold Cup.

Prior to that race he had won twice over 3m this season, and can apply serious pressure to Fact To File and force him to crack.

Latest odds: Mullins to move to 99?

14:12 , Matt Verri

Willie Mullins with 98 Cheltenham winners now and he’s got the favourite in the next race.

Fact To File top of the market for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, coming up in 20 minutes. Here are the latest odds for you...

Fact To File: 5/6

Stay Away Fay: 4/1

Monty’s Star: 5/1

American Mike: 10/1

Sandor Clegane: 20/1

Giovinco: 40/1

Odds via Betway.

"He could be anything"

14:04 , Matt Verri

What next for Ballyburn?

Anything the owners want, says Willie Mullins.

Reaction from Paul Townend

13:58 , Matt Verri

Even the winning jockey was surprised with that run...

Gallagher Novices' Hurdle result

13:54 , Matt Verri

1 Ballyburn 1/2

2 Jimmy Du Seuil 66/1

3 Ile Atlantique 9/2

Ballyburn wins the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle!

13:51 , Matt Verri

Easy as you like!

Strolls away up the hill, wins by a mile. It’s a Mullins 1-2-3-4-5!

13:50 , Matt Verri

Here we go. Ballyburn moves to the front, three lengths clear heading to the last...

13:49 , Matt Verri

Jingko Blue not jumping particularly well, Nico de Boinville having to work hard.

Four to jump and it’s as you were. Mercurey at the front, Ballyburn just behind.

13:47 , Matt Verri

Mercurey leading them round, with Ballyburn a couple of lengths back in second.

All fairly bunched though, with seven to jump.

They're off!

13:45 , Matt Verri

Away in the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle!

13:43 , Matt Verri

Ballyburn’s head is so low on the run up to the start, almost dragging along the ground.

He’s into 1-2 now, would be a huge upset if it’s anything other than a comfortable win.

13:39 , Matt Verri

Horses are in the paddock, about to make their way up towards the start line.

Seven horses, five of them are Mullins’. One of those is Ile Atlantique, who is owned by Brighton’s Tony Bloom.

13:45 - Gallagher Novices Hurdle

13:32 , Matt Verri

Tips: Ballyburn win, Handstands place

Willie Mullins trained Ballyburn won by 25 lengths at Leopardstown on December 29, and second place that day Cleatus Poolaw went on to win next time out.

On his last outing Ballyburn won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on February 4 with ease beating previous Grade 2 winner Slade Steel.

That form makes him the clear choice for the win but with precious little return for the punters.

The only horse that could possibly oppose the incredibly impressive Mullins contingent and earn a valuable place is the five-year-old gelding Handstands, who won a listed race at Huntingdon last time on February 8 against handy opposition and he's reunited with jockey Harry Cobden who rode him to victory on that day.

Hard work at Cheltenham!

13:24 , Matt Verri

No rain today, going is soft, heavy in places... it’s still a bit of a slog!

Don’t expect that to change for the rest of the Festival either, with more rain expected over the next couple of days.

Latest odds: Gallagher Novices' Hurdle

13:15 , Matt Verri

Half an hour or so until we get up and running on Day 2.

Here’s a look at the latest odds for the opening race - all eyes on Ballyburn.

Ballyburn 4/9

Ile Atlantique 6/1

Predators Gold 8/1

Handstands 12/1

Jingko Blue 14/1

Mercurey 40/1

Jimmy Du Seuil 40/1

Odds via DAZN Bet.

Prestbury Cup

13:06 , Matt Verri

It’s not really a contest, is it?

Ireland lead the Prestbury Cup 6-1 after the opening day of the Festival.

Dare say that lead will grow today. And tomorrow. And on Friday.

Mullins everywhere you look...

12:51 , Matt Verri

There are seven runners in today’s opening race, the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle.

Willie Mullins has five of them, including the three at the top of the market.

Jingko Blue runs for Nicky Henderson, but the yard are in no form at all, and so that leaves Handstands for Ben Pauling.

Going to have to be some run to deny Mullins!

Can he upset the odds?

12:40 , Matt Verri

If it’s not El Fabiolo in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, there’s every chance it’s Edwardstone taking victory in the feature race.

He’s ridden by Tom Cannon this afternoon, for trainer Alan King.

ICYMI: More problems for Henderson

12:28 , Matt Verri

Jonbon will not be running in the Queen Mother Champion Chase this afternoon, after Nicky Henderson withdrew a number of his horses.

Real problems for the yard at the worst possible time, with Constitution Hill ruled out of the Festival and Henderson’s horses struggling yesterday.

Since been confirmed that Shishkin will not run in the Gold Cup on Friday.

Mullins: Ballyburn in great shape

12:12 , Matt Verri

Willie Mullins has Ballyburn, a big favourite, in this afternoon’s opener, as Paul Townend eyes his fourth winner of the week already.

“I just thought with his pedigree he might settle nicely in the Gallagher,” Mullins told Sporting Life.

“He goes there in great shape, a banker in a lot of people’s minds for the Festival. He won a point-to-point and with that pedigree he won’t have any problem with this trip.

“If Paul gets him in a nice position and enjoys a bit of luck afterwards that might be all that’s needed. He goes there in great order.”

Later start on Day 2

11:56 , Matt Verri

Reminder that the opening race of the day, the Gallagher Novices Hurdle, has been pushed back to 1:30pm.

That is due to the Cross Country Chase being abandoned after an inspection this morning found the course to still be waterlogged.

First four races of the day will now all take place slightly later, with the final two at 4:50pm and 5:30pm as usual.

Day 1 highlights...

11:46 , Matt Verri

Miss yesterday’s action?

You’re in luck. Here’s the finish to all seven races, as the Irish once again dominated at Prestbury Park.

What could have been...

11:37 , Matt Verri

No Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle yesterday, as State Man delivered for Willie Mullins.

Would Constitution Hill have defended his crown? Owner Michael Buckley certainly thinks so.

Blackmore: Captain Guinness can run a big race

11:21 , Matt Verri

El Fabiolo the big favourite in today’s feature race, the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

However, Rachael Blackmore, winner on Slade Steel for De Bromhead yesterday, believes Captain Guinness can deliver having gone under the radar.

She told Betfair: “Captain Guinness has been in really good order at home. He had a heart issue at Christmas, so he was disappointing there, but he ran much better at the Dublin Racing Festival when he finished third behind El Fabiolo.

“He was great in winning the Fortria Chase on his debut this season. I think that that was one of the best runs of his career to date, and I think that he is back to that sort of form again now.

“He was second in the Champion Chase last year, he was well beaten by the winner Energumene, but he ran well to finish second.

“He's probably a horse that people have forgotten about a little bit, because of his below par run at Leopardstown at Christmas, but there was a reason for that, and I think that he can run a big race here.”

De Bromhead eyes more success

11:10 , Matt Verri

Henry de Bromhead made the perfect start to the Festival, as Slade Steel won yesterday’s opener.

No Minella Indo today, with the Cross Country Chased called off, but De Bromhead is confident his yard are in “good shape” for the rest of the week.

Update on Cheltenham conditions

10:54 , Matt Verri

No rain today at Prestbury Park, so far at least, but that has not been enough to dry out the cross-country course.

Clerk of the course Jon Pullin has been talking about the conditions ahead of this afternoon’s action.

Tip: Queen Mother Champion Chase

10:43 , Matt Verri

El Fabiolo win, Captain Guinness place

El Fabiolo convincingly beat Jonbon, who is a non-runner here, in the Novices' Chase here last year and has continued to go from strength to strength this season and is undefeated.

He won the Leopardstown Dublin Chase on February 4 with ease from Dinoblue, who had previously won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown on December 27, when Captain Guinness disappointed.

Everything points to an El Fabiolo win, but Captain Guinness should benefit from the expected fast running of this race to regain his form and should be up for a place as others tire.

Century for Willie Mullins?

10:24 , Matt Verri

Willie Mullins sits on 97 Cheltenham winners, on the verge of becoming the first trainer to every reach a century.

In Ballyburn, Fact To File and El Fabiolo, he has three favourites running today.

Get the champagne ready...

Skelton brothers: Winning like a drug

10:02 , Matt Verri

When the showjumper Nick Skelton suffered in a fall in 2000, his then teenage son Dan’s first reaction was to run to the spooked horse, rather than his stricken father.

“Working with horses, they sometimes bite you, kick you or you fall off,” says the trainer. “The vast majority of the time, the person that gets bitten, kicked or falls off jumps back up. Dad didn’t.”

Skelton Sr’s neck was broken and he was told he would never ride again. Dan’s brother, Harry, nearly four years his junior, never doubted his father would get back in the saddle, though, and remembers bouncing up and down on his hospital bed when he visited him.

“It never occurred to me how bad it was,” recalls the former champion jockey. “He’s your dad, he’s invincible, he’ll be fine.” Skelton Sr sought far and wide to find a doctor who would finally allow him to get back in the saddle, although he fell off his first time riding properly, before going on to win Olympic gold in 2016; at 58, Britain’s oldest Olympic champion for 104 years.

“He always tells us it’s not what you achieve in a day, a month or a year,” continues Harry. “It’s what you achieve in a lifetime.”

The boys’ father has passed on a drive that both share in their differing roles in the riding world, as well as an obsession for winning. “It’s like a drug,” says Harry. “You just want more.”

Not even partnering for 1,000 winners — a milestone the pair passed in October — is sufficient, nor Harry’s champion jockey title in 2021, nor the stable’s two winners at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Read our full interview here!

Shishkin out of Gold Cup!

09:38 , Matt Verri

It’s turning into a nightmare week for Nicky Henderson.

Shishkin has “shown an unsatisfactory picture” and so will not run in the Gold Cup on Friday.

Recap of Day 1

09:32 , Matt Verri

There were three wins for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend yesterday, as the trusty partnership delivered for partnership.

State Man took the Champion Hurdle, while Gaelic Warrior and Lossiemouth also delivered.

Earlier in the day, Rachael Blackmore rode Slade Steel to victory in the opening race of the Festival.

Day 2 tips

09:10 , Matt Verri

13:45 Gallagher Novices Hurdle: Ballyburn win, Handstands place

14:30 The Broadway Novices' Chase: Stay Away Fay

15:15 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle: Might I E/W.

16:00 Queen Mother Champion Chase: El Fabiolo win, Captain Guinness place

16:50 Jonny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase: Solness E/W

17:30 Champion Bumper: The Yellow Clay E/W

Henderson confirms non-runners

08:57 , Matt Verri

After Constitution Hill dominated the build-up, there was little to lift the mood for the Nicky Henderson yard yesterday.

His horses really struggled, and the trainer has pulled three horses out of today’s action.

Jonbon is a non-runner in the Champion Chase.

Weather update

08:38 , Matt Verri

The going at Cheltenham on Day 2 is soft, heavy in place.

That’s a change from the heavy, soft in places we had for much of yesterday, but a dry night has helped somewhat.

We’re not expecting any rain today.

Revised schedule for Day 2 confirmed

08:27 , Matt Verri

With only six races now taking place today, there has been a slight shift in the timings. Here is how the card is now looking:

1:45pm: Gallaghers Novices Hurdle

2:30pm: Brown Advisory Novices Chase

3:15pm: Coral Cup

4:00pm: Queen Mother Champion Chase

4:50pm: Grand Annual Chase

5:30pm: Champion Bumper

No Cross Country Chase!

08:16 , Matt Verri

It’s been confirmed that the Cross Country Chase has been abandoned, and will not be rescheduled this week.

With further rain forecast, it has been decided that there will not be sufficient improvement in the course.

Inspection to come

08:00 , Matt Verri

Reminder that an inspection will begin very shortly at Cheltenham to decide whether the Cross Country Chase will go ahead today.

Lots of rain in the build-up to the Festival, so that course may not be ready.

If it is pushed back, the race will take place on Friday instead.

Day 2 card in full

07:43 , Matt Verri

1.30pm: Gallaghers Novices Hurdle

2.10pm: Brown Advisory Novices Chase

2.50pm: Coral Cup

3.30pm: Queen Mother Champion Chase

4.10pm: Cross Country Chase

4.50pm: Grand Annual Chase

5.30pm: Champion Bumper

How to watch every Cheltenham race

07:22 , Matt Verri

TV channel: ITV1 will broadcast the first five races for FREE, with coverage beginning at 1pm every day and running until 4.30pm. Preview show 'The Opening Show' will be broadcast on ITV4 from 8.30am to 10am every morning of the meet.

The only place to watch the Festival in its entirety is on Racing TV, which will broadcast all seven races on each day of the meeting. Racing TV is a subscription-based channel available through Sky and Virgin Media and online via its website and app. Build-up coverage starts at 12.30pm GMT every day and coverage concludes after the final race.

Live stream: Racing TV subscribers can stream the action live via the website or app, or cast to their TV, while ITV viewers can do likewise via the ITVX website and app for FREE.

Live coverage: You can also follow all the action right here with us!

Good morning!

07:12 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of the second day at the Cheltenham Festival!

There was plenty to enjoy yesterday and we get to do it all over again, with seven races to come from Prestbury Park.

Another day to remember for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend? Wouldn’t back against it.

We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and then full coverage of every race from Prestbury Park. Stick with us!