2005 Day Two Results

02:00 PM Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Rain accompanied the runners during the first race on Wednesday but No Refuge ran on to take the race for the winners of yesterday's opener as Graham Lee, Howard Johnson and Graham Wylie were to visit the winners enclosure again. Always handy in the early stages, No Refuge was settled in midfield but stamina has always been this horse's strong suit and he kept on grimily to deprive Racing Demon inside the distance. The second certainly lost no caste in defeat. Having made good headway inside the final mile, Jim Culloty looked to hold all the aces but the inexperience of Henrietta Knight's gelding became apparent up the hill when he began to jump markedly right as he braced the Cheltenham roar. Connections have suggested that he is very much a chaser in waiting and he will go on from this. Our Ben ran up to his form in ground that was possibly a little on the fast side for him. There will be plenty of staying races for him on both sides of the Irish Sea. Market principals Royal Paradise and Gold Medallist were easy to back in the ring and were ultimately to disappoint. The latter set off at a decent clip but was simply guilty of not being good enough on the day. Royal Paradise, ridden close to the pace, was struggling some way out. James Fanshawe's pair of Revillez and Pole Star were unlucky not to hit the frame having ran two very sound races. They appear horses to keep on the right side of. Ante-post gamble Queen Astrid never threatened to take more than a passing interest in the outcome of this race.

Winning Jockey: G Lee
Unplaced Favourites: Gold Medallist(9/2), Royal Paradise (FR)(9/2)
Non Runners: Stan (NZ)

02:35 PM Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

A reward for a season to forget as Nicky Henderson's Trabolgan showed his class to take the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Chase under Mick Fitzgerald. Held up in mid division, he was asked for his effort at the top of the hill on the second circuit and in spite of a terrible blunder at the penultimate fence, he maintained his momentum and made no mistake at the last to seal victory. Comply Or Die ran a very solid race in defeat. He showed no signs of any jumping frailties on this occasion and kept on gamely to chase the winner when others may have cried enough. Cornish Rebel ran in snatches this afternoon but was a distant third to the two protagonists. Like-A-Butterfly looked as if she would take a hand in proceedings with three to travel but emptied quickly. L'Ami made a couple of errors at vital stages and may have needed it softer than today's conditions to be seen at his best.

Winning Jockey: M A Fitzgerald
Non Runners: King Harald (IRE)

03:15 PM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

A match on paper between Azertyuiop and Moscow Flyer but after Azertyuiop made a bad mistake at the sixth - fortunes for the Irish appeared much brighter and the evergreen eleven-year-old took full advantage to regain the two-mile crown. Always travelling well, this was a near faultless display by Moscow Flyer and only needing the minimal of taps to keep his mind on the job, he winged the last to jump into racing immortality. Well Chief tried his heart out to chase him up the home straight but could not match the winner. Connections will be well pleased that at just six-years-of-age, they have a future champion on their hands. Azertyuiop never had a chance once making his error. He battled on gamely to rally on the run-in for third place but this was an obvious opportunity lost for connections and they will doubtless look at whether today's hold up tactics are in the best interests of the horse. Central House set the race up at a good clip but will be more at home in lesser grade and his part in the race was over after the third last . Oneway was outclassed when the race began in earnest. Venn Ottery and Cenkos did not jump well throughout.

Winning Jockey: B J Geraghty

04:00 PM Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

A race not run at a scorching pace but still typically competitive until Idole First ranged onto the scene to post a 33/1 shock for Alan O'Keefe and Venetia Williams. Held up in the initial stages, he was brought gradually into the contest as they began their decent down the hill with three to travel - the gelding produced beautifully at the last to take victory. The inclement conditions unquestionably played to the strengths of Dancing Bay. He came with every chance to win his race but had no response to the winner when it mattered. Tumbling Dice ran another gutsy race. His style is somewhat agricultural to say the least at times and he ran on stoutly for pressure when asked for maximum effort . Distant Prospect was backed ahead of this contest and having been given a patient ride in the early stages, there was little left when questions were asked. Royaleety, Kasthari and You Owe Me were all towards the head of affairs for the majority of the race but were spent forces when it mattered. Covent Garden was never nearer than his final finishing position and should make up into a decent stayer in time. Sharp Rigging held a handy position as he fell when stepping at the second-last flight. It was impossible to say whether he would have won but was travelling welll enough at the time.

Winning Jockey: A O'Keeffe
Unplaced Favourites: Distant Prospect (IRE)(10/3)
Non Runners: Unleash (USA)

04:40 PM Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateurs' Handicap Chase

A second winner on the day for Trevor Hemmings and Nicky Henderson as Juvigneur overhauled stable-companion Lord Of The River to take the Kim Muir Chase. The French import was always tracking the leaders as the amateurs went off at a fair pace, but he stayed on stoutly after the last under Richard Burton and won this with a bit in hand. Lord Of The River did little wrong in second place. Having led or been prominent throughout the first two-and-a-half miles, he had no answer to a more able rival. Aintree looks on the cards for him. Parsons Legacy ran on well for third. He was hampered earlier in the melee following the exit of The Bushkeeper and Pearly Jack and can be considered an unfortunate loser. Persian Waters ran a blinder given that he has shouldering weight to all off 11st 12lb. He was travelling best of all at the top of the hill but the weight differential eventually came into play. Heart Midoltian made too many errors to be competitive while Indalo surrendered quickly after jumping much too low at his fences. Racecourse gamble Oh Be The Hokey did not jump well in the initial stages and while sheer guts kept him in the race, he probably did not stay three miles round here. Last year's winner Maximise ran a below par race and was soon struggling in rear.

Winning Jockey: Mr R Burton
Straight Forecast: £530.12
Exacta: £541.50
Trifecta: £4698.90
Unplaced Favourites: Oh Be The Hokey (IRE)(9/2)

05:20 PM Weatherbys Champion Bumper NH Flat Race (Grade 1)

The Florida Pearl colours were carried to victory by Missed That as the Irish rejoiced in a thriller to round off matters on Wednesday evening. A controversial start to the race made this something to talk about as Karanja, who was side on to the tapes at the time, unseated Nina Carberry and backers of the well-backed second favourite got no run. Not altogether settled throughout the first mile, Missed That was committed for home by Ruby Walsh from some way out but he did not shirk the issue as he held off the challenges of Rasharrow and latterly De Soto. The third possibly one to follow at this side of the water as this was a phenomenal run only his second start from a horse who probably needs further. Refinement had his chances. He was initially outpaced with a half-mile to travel but plugged on for Kieren Fallon. Eye On The Ball and Clew Bay Cove showed plenty of scope. Beautiful Vision probably needed softer while Lennon was unruly before the start and did not give his true running. The race was run at a sound clip and on the face of it there looks sure to be plenty of future winners.

Winning Jockey: R Walsh