CHELTENHAM LIVE: Day two (From Swindon Advertiser)

5:30pm

That concludes our live coverage from Cheltenham on day two, which has been a special afternoon for Swindon jockey Wayne Hutchinson and trainer Alan King.

We will be back tomorrow for all the thrills and spills of day three, and make sure to pick up your copy of the Adver tomorrow for reaction to today's events.

Thanks for spending the afternoon with us. 

5:20pm

Briar Hill storms through to win it with Regel Encore second. Waiting for an official third place but it could be either Golantilla or the Liquidator.

5:19pm

This is anyone's race here, with a pack of eight or 10 horses in there.

Sgt Reckless, Union Dues and Regal Encore all there, but here comes Ruby Walsh on Briar Hill.

5:17pm

Vieux Lion Rouge is up there as well, as is Regal Encore.

5:16pm

Kayf Moss takes the early lead

5:16pm

AND THEY'RE OFF

Here we go with the Champion Bumper

5:14pm

Nearly ready for the off in the Bumper

5:11pm

Golantilla has thundered in to become the new 8/1 second favourite.

5:07pm

A huge field for this final race, the Champion Bumper.

Joint favourites currently for this one at 5.15pm, with Regal Encore ridden by AP McCoy and Richard Hughes on Sgt Reckless going currently 15/8 shots. But that market is ever changing.

4:52pm

One more race remaining on today's card, that's the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

4:45pm

Flaxen Flare wins the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle. Destroyed the field down the home straight.

4:44pm

Flaxen Flare is flying home.

4:43pm

Field is starting to thin out.

4:43pm

Angelot Du Berlais leads at halfway.

4:41pm

Habesh is all over the place at the start, Paddy Kennedy is struggling to keep charge of this raw horse.

4:41pm

Fatcatinthehat and Habesh are the early frontrunners.

4:40pm

AND THEY'RE OFF...

The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is off and running.

4:40pm

The runners and riders for the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle are down at the start.

Alan King has McVicar running - here's what he had to say before the race.

"We run McVicar in the Fred Winter Hurdle. He would be a better horse on quicker ground, but he had a nice spin around Lingfield recently and will go there in good nick."

4:38pm

We've got some more words now from Paul Nicholls on the failure of Unioniste in the RSA Chase.

The hotly-fancied favourite slipped down to fourth in the final push.

Nicholls said: "He was always struggling a bit and didn't jump as well as we know he can. 

PAUL NICHOLLS

"Things were happening all a bit quick for him today. Maybe he's not quick enough, maybe he's an out-and-out stayer. He could be the type to take to the Hennessy because he will get stronger."

4:34pm

A little under 10 minutes to go until the start of the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. Who are you plumping for? Tough field to pick out a winner - Paul Nicholls' Saphir Du Rheu is the 6/1 favourite.

4:27pm

Having lost Salden Licht and Bobbyjack to illness and injury respectively earlier this season, that Coral Cup win will be huge for the Alan King yard.

4:26pm

Next up for us here at Cheltenham is the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. We've got local interest in Alan King's McVicar - Wayne Hutchinson will be back onboard just a few minutes after winning the Coral Cup with Medinas.

4:21pm

Alan King was delighted with victory in the Coral Cup with Medinas after a difficult year at his stables.

He said: “It was amazing. I just felt the handicapper had him but he keeps coming back for more. He’s an incredibly tough horse.

“We’ve had a tough season, it’s not been going great, and they’ve been working so hard – from my head lads to my assistants – huge credit to them.”

4:15pm

Wayne Hutchinson brands Medinas a "warrior and a terrier" after claiming the Coral Cup at day two of the Cheltenham Festival.outstanding field.

Hutchinson led Alan King's horse home ahead of stablemate Meister Eckhart and Willie Mullins' Fiveforthree to take the £45,560 prize after outrunning an outstanding field.

He said: “He’s been a great pony. He won off 1.40, he went up eight pound after the Welsh Champion Hurdle and I thought it might have been too much.

WAYNE HUTCHINSON

"He’s such a warrior and a terrier. He probably only stands at 15.1 he has plenty of ability and the heart to go with it.

“It’s horrible for Choc. Fortunately I was going to ride this lad anyway. It’s horrible but it’s part of the sport. I hope my dad had a pound each way on it.”

4:07pm

Jockey Andrew Thornton is delighted for Wayne Hutchinson.

He said: "He works very hard, he's second jockey at Alan King's. He's ridden this a few times before. Wayne was thinking the horse might have gone up too far in the handicap but he's delivered his challenge late and he's strode away."

4:05pm

It's a huge win for Swindon's Wayne Hutchinson and Marlborough's Alan King - they team up to lead Medinas to victory. What a run, what a result.

4:05pm

Black Thunder falls.

4:04pm

Pace picking up as they race for home.

4:04pm

Pedra starting to make a move on the outside.

4:03pm

Steady pace in the Coral Cup. Whole field bunching.

4:02pm

Timesawastin takes over at the front, Meister Eckhart - for Alan King - is third.

4:01pm

Loose Chips into an early lead. Pendra drops right to the back of the field early on.

4:00pm

AND THEY'RE OFF...

A big field get going in the two-mile, five-furlong Coral Cup. Good luck to everyone. Picking a winner in this one is some task. Pendra, ridden by AP McCoy for Charlie Longsdon, starts as a 6-1 favourite.

3:57pm

The horses in the Coral Cup are now heading towards the start. Twenty-seven runners in this fifth race of the day. 

3:56pm

More now from Jim Culloty, the jockey-turned-trainer who with victory with Lord Windemere in the RSA Chase has now one in each capacity at Cheltenham.

He said: "It was a peach of a ride by Davy Russell. He wasn't getting any light and the horse jumped brilliantly - he actually tripped over the road and I thought that it might have cost us.

JIM CULLOTY IN HIS JOCKEY DAYS

"He is a good horse. We took the chance of not running over three miles all season because I didn't want to tire him out - I wanted a horse with experience but hadn't been bottomed - and it has worked."

3:52pm

Ten minutes til the off for the Coral Cup at Cheltenham Our local interested exists in the form of Alan King-trained duo Medinas, ridden by Wayne Hutchinson, and Meister Eckhart.

3:46pm

Swindon jockey Wayne Hutchinson is onboard Medinas in the Coral Cup, which is set to go off in around 15 minutes time.

3:45pm

Alan King is hoping for more success in the Coral Cup. Here's what he had to say about his chances.

He said: "We have two in the Coral Cup, Meister Eckhart and Medinas. Meister Eckhart was fifth in the Albert Bartlett here last year, and he ran a very encouraging first race for us when second to Prospect Wells at levels in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.

ALAN KING

"He worked well on the grass on Saturday and I am very happy with him.

"Medinas won the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las last time and is now 8lb higher. His rating has soared from 125 to 148 this season, so he will find this tougher, but he also seems in good form at home."

3:33pm

So, while the crowd deal out their adulation for Sprinter Sacre - and believe me, they are - let's look forward to the next race.

The Coral Cup is off at 4pm. It's a big field, and plenty of local interest.

3:32pm

Sprinter Sacre went off as the shortest-priced favourite at the Cheltenham Festival since Arkle 50 years ago, and he didn't disappoint.

3:30pm

Barry Geraghty, the jockey onboard Sprinter Sacre, couldn't hand his horse enough praise after winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

"He's an unbelievable horse. He made one mistake on the far side, which is a bit unusual for him, but to beat Sizing Europe the way he did was an amazing performance. He's a class act.

BARRY GERAGHTY

"He's top class. Hopefully he stays and we can have a lot of years and a lot of fun with him. He's a bit of a showman.

3:28pm

Nicky Henderson described watching his star horse Sprinter Sacre win the Queen Mother Champion Chase as the "worst five minutes" of his life.

"That was probably the worst five minutes of my life, but there you go, it's over and it was what we all hoped we'd see," he said.

NICKY HENDERSON

"It does make you speechless because, as everyone saw beforehand, what he does out there is one thing but his whole aura is totally and utterly unique. It's scary.

"It was hell. He's a two-miler, there's no doubt about that. We said we may well go to Punchestown but there are only limited races over two miles."

3:26pm

The official margin of victory for Sprinter Sacre was 19 lengths. Nineteen lengths! Absurd.

3:25pm

3.20PM - QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

1, Sprinter Sacre 1-4f; 2, Sizing Europe 6-1; 3, Wishful Thinking 25-1

3:25pm

Sizing Europe comes home second, but was never getting anywhere near Sprinter Sacre.

3:24pm

Sprinter Sacre wins by an country mile. What a run this is.

3:24pm

Sprinter Sacre is flying clear.

3:23pm

It's now a two-horse race. It's Sprinter Sacre versus Sizing Europe.

3:22pm

Now Sizing Europe hits the front with eight fences down.

3:22pm

Mail De Bievre leads at the sixth.

3:21pm

Somersby falls at the third. Sprinter Sacre avoids getting taken out.

3:21pm

Terrible start for Sanctuaire.

3:21pm

Mick Channon's horse, Somersby, goes over the first in second place.

3:20pm

AND THEY'RE OFF...

So, can anyone beat Sprinter Sacre? Let's find out. The Queen Mother Champion Chase is under way at Cheltenham.

3:19pm

Sprinter Sacre has impressed everyone in the paddock.

3:18pm

The runners in the Queen Mother Champion Chase are being led to the starting line.

3:18pm

Willy Mullins has spoken of his disappointment at seeing Pont Alexandre flop in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

WILLIE MULLINS

He said: "Ruby (Walsh, jockey) said he wasn't traveling from a long way out. Maybe soft ground is the key, but I'm disappointed. We'll probably go to Punchestown."

3:15pm

Nina Carberry, the jockey onboard Tofino Bay who came second in the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase, has been given a seven-day ban after using her whip above the permitted level.

The days when the whip ban apply have yet to be decided.

3:02pm

Just under 20 minutes to go, then, until the big race of the day. Who's your money on?

3:00pm

Ruby Walsh rides Sanctuaire for Paul Nicholls in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

RUBY WALSH

He'll be desperate to start a personal recovery after riding favourites Pont Alexandre and Unioniste well out of contention.

2:58pm

Just in case you aren't aware of Sprinter Sacre's devastating abilities, take a look at this...

2:56pm

It's the big one up next - the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Is Sprinter Sacre unbeatable? If he's going to slip up, surely Sizing Europe is the horse to do it.

2:52pm

Plenty of disappointed faces around the course when Boston Bob fell. He was running well and seemed to be a shoe-in for Willy Mullins' fifth win of the Festival.

2:51pm

Boston Bob, who fell when leading at the last, trotted away from the fence. Jockey Paul Townend is also back up.

2:49pm

Jim Culloty has now ridden and trained a Cheltenham Festival winner.

"Doc Lambe (owner of Lord Windemere) has been waiting a long time for this," he said. "For me it's unbelievable."

2:47pm

Lord Windemere wins the RSA Chase.

2:46pm

Boston Bob falls when leading at the last.

2:45pm

Goulanes increasing the pace at the front.

2:45pm

Theatrical Star backing away and beaten. Unioniste getting a reminder from Ruby Walsh a long way from home.

2:43pm

One circuit left of the RSA Chase. Goulanes leads, Real Milan making ground up the outside. Lord Windemere looks good.

2:42pm

It's not a quick speed so far in the RSA Chase, seems to be a very tactical race.

2:42pm

Goulanes and Houblon Des Obeaux looking good in the early stages.

2:42pm

The entire field have successfully negotiated the first four fences.

2:40pm

Nineteen jumps to negotiate in this one, and Theatrical Star has the early lead.

2:40pm

AND THEY'RE OFF...

The RSA Chase is under way at Cheltenham. It's a classic Nicholls vs Henderson vs Mullins but look our for Lord Windemere, who's being ridden by Jim Culloty - the man who coached Best Mate to his famous Gold Cup wins.

2:36pm

The horses for the RSA Chase are heading down towards the start.

2:34pm

Ladbrokes have introduced The New One at 8-1 for the 2014 Champion Hurdle after his victory in the Neptune Novices Hurdle today.

2:32pm

Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies praised The New One's handler, Wayne Jones, following his victory in the second.

SAM TWISTON-DAVIES

“He was very, very good and showed a good turn of foot," he sai. "A lot of credit goes to Wayne Jones, he looks after him every day. Luckily everything worked out well today."

2:24pm

So, now we build up to the 2.40pm RSA Chase - and there are top contenders from Willy Mullins and Nicky Henderson once again.

Mullins enters Boston Bob, who's hovering around 11-2 at present, while Henderson has Hadrian's Approach at 6-1.

But the favourite is Paul Nicholls' Unioniste. It's three-and-a-half-miles, and it should be a cracker.

2:17pm

Nigel Twiston-Davies only caught the last hurdle of The New One's victory in the Neptune, as he was in the toilets.

"I'm chuffed to bits. We've done the job right. It's what racing is all about, it's what we're waiting for and it worked," he said.

NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES

"I didn't see the race, I was in the loo. I only saw the last hurdle. We knew he was right."

2:15pm

The New One's owner, Sarah Such, was practically giddy at the end of the race.

She said: "I can't speak. We knew he was going to do that. To all the doubters, we did it. I had all the faith in Nige (Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer)."

2:11pm

The New One flies beyond Pont Alexandre to claim victory.

2:10pm

Chatterbox flying up the inside.

2:09pm

Exciting finish to come, with the whole field bunched coming into the final stages.

2:09pm

Pont Alexandre still leads from the front. The New One and Rule The World both looking good.

2:07pm

The field remains relatively close as they go over the fourth flight.

2:06pm

Pont Alexandre goes quickly from the off and leads the pack having gone over two flights.

2:05pm

AND THEY'RE OFF...

The Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle is off and running at the Cheltenham Festival.

2:02pm

Pont Alexandre drifting in slightly on the markets as the horses make their way down to the start for the Neptune.

2:01pm

Tofino Bay evidently made an impression in being ridden to second by Nina Carberry in the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase earlier today.

Ladbrokes have cut his odds from 33-1 to 66-1 for the John Smiths Grand National after his performance today.

1:59pm

More local interest in the Neptune, with Alan King's Two Rockers going off at around 14-1 with most bookies.

Swindon jockey Wayne Hutchinson is onboard, and King thinks his horse has a decent each-way chance.

"Two Rockers is a very promising horse, but he faces a stiff task in the Neptune," he said.

WAYNE HUTCHINSON

"However, he is unbeaten in three races, which included a Grade 2 at Haydock, where he looked impressive.

"He never excites us on the gallops, but he comes alive on the track and we don't really know how good he is. He, too, has a definite each-way chance."

1:56pm

The course today is in good condition and caused Clerk of the Course, Simon Claisse, very few headaches overnight - unlike the sleepless night he had on Monday. 

He said: "There were no problems under the covers this morning despite the temperatures getting down to -5 degrees overnight. It is a sunny morning and we started lifting the covers at 8.30am.

"The ground probably rode a bit faster than the official going description, because of racing on fresh ground, at the start of yesterday's racing but, as the ground opened up during the afternoon, times became a bit slower."

1:53pm

Next up is the 2.05pm Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

Another Willy Mullins horse is favourite - Pont Alexandre - but watch out for Nicky Henderson's Chatterbox. He's slid in from 14-1 to 9-1 on the course.

Remember, Puffin Billy and Sizing Gold are non-runners.

1:47pm

Back In Focus owner Graham Wylie was almost speechless with the ride Patrick Mullins gave his horse to win the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase.

"I cheered him on from the second last to the end but I thought he was cooked two out. He came up the hill really well, he said. "It just shows how good his stamina is, his first time over four miles.

BACK IN FOCUS

"Willy places the horses really well and he gets it right on the big day.

"It's great to have a horse that's good enough to get here, great to have one that places, brilliant to have one that wins."

1:45pm

Willy Mullins claims his fourth win of this year's Cheltenham Festival, closing in quickly on Nicky Henderson's seven victories in 2012.

1:44pm

Patrick Mullins, jockey on board Back In Focus, was delighted with his win.

"This is very special. Over the last I thought I might catch him. He's tough and brave and he's made my job a lot easier.

"It (the going) is perfect for me."

1:39pm

Back In Focus outsprints Tofino Bay to come home the winner.

1:38pm

Rival D'Estreval falls in second.

1:38pm

Highland Lodge leads going into the final stages. Back In Focus and Godsmejudge looking good.

1:37pm

Rose of the Moon has been pulled up. Top Smart is a faller.

1:37pm

Godsmejudge is moving excellently.

1:36pm

Scampi Boy falls. Nasty looking fall for Jack Sherwood.

1:35pm

One lap of the course to go. Back In Focus looking very, very good in third.

1:34pm

The field is starting to get strung out with a little under two circuits of the course remaining.

1:33pm

Drawn N Drank is struggling to keep up early on, with two circuits of the course still to go.

1:32pm

Tofino Bay, with Nina Carberry on board, is coasting nicely at the front.

1:32pm

The 16 runners all clear the first five fences. Gentle pace, as expected, for the four-mile race.

1:31pm

A sluggish start for favourite Back in Focus, but you wouldn't want to write off a Willy Mullins horse at this year's Festival.

1:30pm

ANDY THEY'RE OFF...

The 1.30pm John Oaksey National Hunt Chase - the longest race of this year's Cheltenham Festival - is under way.

Good luck everyone.

1:27pm

The field is approaching the start for the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase - the 1.30pm first at day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

1:26pm

Alan King believes Godsmejudge has a good chance of victory in the first race, the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase.

He said: "The National Hunt Chase looks the perfect race for Godsmejudge. He has done nothing but improve this season and should relish this four miles as stamina is his strong suit.

GODSMEJUDGE

"He won't mind the soft ground either, and I am delighted that we have been able to snap up Nico de Boinville, who has impressed me with his riding and came down last week to pop the horse over a few fences.

"There are a couple rated higher than us, but Godsmejudge has a good each-way chance."

1:18pm

We've got big local interest in the first here at Cheltenham. Marlborough trainer Alan King has Godsmejudge, currently hovering around 7/1 at most outlets, in with a chance.

ALAN KING

Nick de Boinville is onboard.

1:15pm

1:14pm

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is reported to be present at the Cheltenham Festival today.

SIR ALEX FERGUSON

The 71-year-old is said to have arrived at the racecourse earlier onboard a helicopter.

Ferguson has one runner competing today, with Im Fraam Govan going in the 5.15pm Champion Bumper.

1:12pm

1:10pm

Nicky Hendersen's Seven Barrows stable is expected to have a bif Festival, and the trainer got off to a terrific start on day one with two victories.

Today his star horse, Sprinter Sacre, is expected to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase - with bookies offering prices as short as 1-5 in places.

NICKY HENDERSON

Henderson said: “Today’s going to be the tester. I think he’s coming to the point where anything bar a spectacular performance isn’t going to suffice. There are pitfalls everywhere.

1:07pm

Some non-runners for you to start with.

In the 2.05pm Neptune Investment Management Novice Hurdle, there are two non-starters.

Number four, Puffin Billy, and number six, Sizing Gold, fail to make the start line.

In the 5.15pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper, Johnny Og - number 20 - misses out.

1:05pm

The big race of the day comes at 3.20pm, when Lambourn trainer Nicky Henderson's star horse Sprinter Sacre looks to add the Queen Mother Champion Chase to his seven race wins.

SPINTER SACRE

But there are another six high-calibre races to look forward to as well, starting at 1.30pm with the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase.

1:02pm

Good afternoon ladies and gents and welcome to day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

Stick with us throughout the day as we bring you all the latest from the world's most famous jump racing jamboree.