Update winner @ 14/1 & 3rd @ 25/1

Willie Mullins dominated day two of the Cheltenham Festival with three Grade 1 winners, including Il Etait Temps (5/2) in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Tipped by Declan Phelan in the OJA Festival Update, the eight year old had underperformed in three previous visits to Cheltenham but he gained his seventh Grade 1 victory with a runaway success under Paul Townend. Stablemate and short price favourite Majborough overcame a sluggish start before leading entering the final circuit. Having jumped well during the first half of the contest, he made a mistake at the ninth and another bad error followed at the third last. A spent force soon afterwards, he trailed in a well beaten seventh. Outside Libberty Hunter stayed on strongly to grab second position ten lengths behind the facile winner.

Earlier on the card, Kitzbuhel jumped superbly before fending off stable companion Final Demand to gain a hard fought win in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. The grey had won the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton before falling early on in the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown. Partnered by Harry Cobden, the ex-French gelding was always to the fore and is a strong stayer. 

Thankfully, it was a much better day for followers of the Cheltenham Festival Update with Jingko Blue (advised @ 14/1) landing a significant gamble in the BetMGM Cup off a mark of 144. The seven year old was always to the fore and took charge with over a circuit to run. Dictating matters under James Bowen, Nicky Henderson's runner kicked away on the final bend and never looked in danger thereafter. A six lengths scorer, he was providing the Seven Barrows team with their fifth win in the valuable event since 2010. 

Break My Soul (advised @ 25/1) ran a belter in the Grand Annual Chase finishing third behind 66/1 winner Martator. Ian Donoghue's mare was having only her fifth run over fences but she jumped slickly throughout and was still on the bridle coming down the hill. Holding every chance turning for home, she kept on well and was beaten less than a length. The other selection Ballysax Hank got too far back and was set an impossible task. Despite staying on in sixth, Gavin Cromwell's charge never threatened the principals. 

Finally, Keep Him Company was disappointing in the bumper in keeping with many of the runners from Cullentra. Jack Kennedy's mount appeared to be moving well coming down the hill but got left behind once the tempo lifted. On a positive note, the runner-up Mets Ta Ceinture (14/1) received a favourable mention with the ex-French filly running very well in second. Hopefully, some clients supported her each-way at fancy prices.

For the second day running, a number of the starts were ragged and numerous horses lost any chance the moment the tapes went up. At least half a dozen horses hadn't even got on the track by the time the front runners set off in the BetMGM Cup. It paid to be handy and those in rear never had a chance of getting involved.