Cheltenham Update 18/1 winner & 66/1 second

El Fabiolo may have fluffed his lines in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival pulling up soon after the fifth fence following a mistake. However, it was still another terrific day for Willie Mullins and everyone at Closutton. Ballyburn and Fact To File lived up to expectations in the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle and Brown Advisory Novices' Chase respectively producing superb performances, while Jasmin De Vaux provided Mullins with his 100th winner at the Cheltenham Festival in the bumper. 

Ballyburn was particularly impressive in the opening novice hurdle quickening away in the homestraight before staying on strongly to record a thirteen lengths win. While the Champion Hurdle was touted as a possible target next season, the former pointer looks made for fences and will hopefully embark on a chasing career in the Autumn. He is a hugely exciting prospect. 

Congratulations to Declan Phelan who included the first three home in the bumper in his Irish Pointers section in One Jump Ahead. That is no mean feat with Jasmin De Vaux, Romeo Coolio and Jalon D'Oudairies taking gold, silver and bronze. 

Romeo Coolio was recommended ante-post at 16/1 in the November Update and Gordon Elliott's gelding ran a cracker. The Kayf Tara gelding didn't enjoy the smoothest preparation during the winter but he stepped forward from his win at Fairyhouse in January with a terrific run. Given a beautiful waiting ride by Keith Donoghue, the five year old made good headway coming down the hill before making his challenge once turning for home. Having fended off stablemate Jalon D'Oudairies, he found the Mullins runner a length and three quarters too strong. He remains a smashing prospect for hurdles and fences in due course.

As far as the OJA Cheltenham Festival Update is concerned on day two, it was another successful afternoon. Jimmy Du Seuil (66/1) was recommended each-way and the ex-French gelding didn't let us down staying on well in second in the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle. While no match for Ballyburn, he travelled well and was clear second best. 

Libberty Hunter ran well filling the same position in the Grand Annual - the first four home were all novices - finding Unexpected Party two and a quarter lengths too good. Evan Williams' gelding jumped well and held every chance looking the most likely winner approaching the second last. If one was to be hyper critical, I wish his regular rider Adam Wedge had been on board. 

Last but certainly not least, on page 39 of the Update, the unraced British Camp (18/1) was recommended for the one mile three novice stakes at Kempton. Andrew Balding spoke favourably about the son of Lope De Vega colt when I interviewed the head of Kingsclere this month. Ridden by Kevin Stott, the Qatar Racing owned runner led in the shadow of the post and is a fine prospect. 

Thank you once again to those clients who emailed on Wednesday - British Camp was the icing on the cake. It has been an excellent couple of days.