The second day of the Cheltenham Festival was a dedicated memory to Michael O’Sullivan.
Both horses involved in O’Sullivan’s Double Cheltenham, 2023 Cheltenham, Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty, prevailed with Chase champion and Grand Yeport Chase. Their victories come just less than a month after his tragic death from injuries to a fall in Thurles.
With the tragic passage of O’Sullivan still in the forefront of the mind of all the Horse Racing community, attention in terms of events above Cheltenham fences will focus on the obstacle of parameters and the Ryanair Chase.
Card
1.20 – Hurdle of Mares Novices
The most recent addition to the festival’s diary, first executed in 2016, trainer Willie Mullins will hope to restore his dominance in this fight.
Mullins trained the first five winners, but the last four versions have won by four different trainers. Mullins has undergone a barren path at that time, but has seven runners in it. Aurora Vega (9-1) is his best shot, but Sixandahalf is 3-1 favorite.
2.00 – Chase Jack Richards Novices
Review on the program for the current year that has been initially executed from 2005 to 2020, 13-2 NURBURGRING is the favorite for Joseph Patrick O’Brien. However, Caldwell Potter (16-1) is the only one winner 1 in the 20-Strong field, making him a decent opportunity for trainer Paul Nicholls.
2.40 – handicap handicap handdle
Considering a step for the younger horses with designs in bigger and better things in jumping races, Nico de Boinville will hope to bounce from his frustration in Jonbon to Chase champion. Ride 15-2 favorite Jeriko du Reponet.
3.20 – Ryanair Chase
Run over two miles and four furlongs, this is the top horses for which the ideal distance falls somewhere between chase champion and the Gold Cup. The Mullins event in the archive is 5-4 favorite, but 7-1 Protektorat aims to win for the second consecutive year for Jockey Harry Skelton and trainer Dan Skelton.
4.00 – obstacle of parameters
Thursday belongs to long-distance traders as they face this three-mile 1 mile competition. Teahupoo (13-8) is the favorite as it did in 2024 for Gordon Elliott, who also has the second favorite in Takaktas (6-1). Lucky Place (7-1) provides another opportunity for De Boinville to atone for his frustration on Wednesday.
4.40 – Handicap Festival
This handicap chase has often proved a springboard for Grade 1 success. The winner of last year Shakem up’arry (18-1) is in the field, but 9-2 beloved Jagwar won at Cheltenham in January.
5.20 – Kim Muir Handicap Chase
A long-distance race confined to amateurs Jockeys provides the opportunity for another emotional victory, such as Michael’s brother O’Sullivan Alan Rides 5-1 Favorite Walking in the air on Cheltenham’s debut.
Weather
The weather is fair for Thursday. There will be partially cloudy conditions with high seven degrees Celsius.
How to watch
In the UK, you can watch all the matches on ITV Racing and Racing TV. Racing TV is available through Sky and Virgin Media.
If you are not close to a TV, you can broadcast the event via ITV Racing and Racing TV.
