Cheltenham Festival Live

Good morning and a hot greeting

as our real time coverage of time two during the Festival gets underway.

After a night invested waking up in a cold sweat, screaming 'no' in to the sky while you suffer nightmares about Annie Power, it is the right time to reunite within the seat.

That dramatic autumn apart, it wasn't really a poor day for instructor Willie Mullins or for the majority of the punters down at Prestbury Park and our guy Garry Owen had been undoubtedly up bright and sharp these days, once more brimming over with hope and passion for the day ahead.

We will do have more from him at program in only a second, whenever our live coverage officially gets underway at 12noon.

Our very first post from Garry Owen from the program - we told you he was in good spirits!

"moments out circular two! I had my gumshield knocked-out yesterday but this meeting ain't for Usain you'll need the Lance Armstrong kind. I have told the employer in the Arkle club to place an incident of Krug on ice for me to celebrate Champagne's third Festival triumph #Corkman"

Garry Owen top tip

"when you look at the band with Paddy P Don Poli appearing quite popular 13 to 8 from 7-4 set it till the cattle get home."

And today for a little video interlude - and a treat from William Hill. These clip was grabbed during the production of their new TV advertising with William Hill ambassador AP McCoy. Without having any introduction or description, they played him an audio track, featuring some of their career shows. This Is Actually The result - unedited, because occurred…

"Un Atout 12 from 14 getting cash Simply Ned 16 from 20 one the North I do not think so."

Big competition trends

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Davy Russell more or less manages to carry onto Unique Tiara as they jump when you look at the BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase during Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival in 2014

DAY TWO: Queen Mother Champion Chase trends

* Twenty-nine regarding the final 31 champions had a program and length win to their name or had won over two miles as well as 2 furlongs before.

* Fifteen of final 16 winners had raced no more than four times that period.

* Ten for the last 14 champions had run-in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.

* Fourteen associated with final 15 Arkle Trophy champions to run within competition the following year have got all put at the worst, albeit really the only horse to buck that trend ended up being Simonsig (top) as he missed the Champion Chase through injury in 2014.

* Twelve of last 13 winners had been officially ranked 160 or more and had obtained one quality 1 battle.

* Twenty-two for the final 30 champions had obtained or put within Festival before.

* Thirty-two of this final 33 winners had an SP of no more than 11/1.

* Irish horses have actually won five regarding the last 12 runnings.

* Paul Nicholls has actually saddled four winners and five put athletes since 1999.

Breaking

Champagne Fever may be out of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The recommendations tend to be which he had been hurt in transit - which can be a large loss.

Verification that two-times Festival scorer Champagne Fever suffered a personal injury inside the package this morning. Trained by Willie Mullins and the intended mount of Ruby Walsh, he had already been challenging for favouritism behind Sire De Grugy and Sprinter Sacre in two-mile tournament.

Chris Ison/PA Cable

Existing Event ridden by Ruby Walsh wins the John Haine Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse in 2011

Sheikh Fahad Al Thani has actually bought leading St James's destination Foxhunter Chase fancy Current occasion ahead of Friday's run. The eight-year-old, who is trained by Rose Loxton, was a hunter chase champion at Musselburgh final thirty days and has now in addition arrived two point-to-point victories this season. Current occasion stays in training with Loxton but will carry the Pearl Bloodstock silks on Friday at Cheltenham. Sheikh Fahad has already established one past Festival runner, when Vulcanite completed unplaced in 2012 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Trainer Nicky Henderson with Sprinter Sacre.

Nicky Henderson acknowledges Sprinter Sacre is almost certainly not since brilliant while he was at his peak but seems he could be however adequate to reclaim his top in Betway queen-mother Champion Chase today.

Dazzling when using the two-mile blue riband prize in 2013, Sprinter Sacre has had well-documented problems which held him from the track for more than per year.

"Sprinter Sacre isn't the just like couple of years ago, but he is pretty good, " he stated. "as he is at his most readily useful he was unbeatable. We now have maybe not got the exact same horse, but he could be in knocking distance of it. Nico (de Boinville) which rides him every single day is positive.

"he could be in really sound condition and doing every thing we now have remotely asked of him without killing him.

"I think every person sooo want to see him back while he ended up being therefore special.

"I do not think he'll previously be back to what he was couple of years ago when he had been unbeatable, but he could not need become.