Cheltenham Festival 2017 day two as it happened: Douvan in shock Queen Mother defeat to Special Tiara

Re-live the second day of the Cheltenham Festival

Ruby Walsh will ride Douvan in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham (Getty)

Day two of the Cheltenham Festival is headlined by the Queen Mother Champions Chase as Douvan returns to Prestbury Park, 12 months after his dominant display in the Arkle. Both Gordon Elliott and Nicky Henderson will hope to build on their impressive first day results, while Willie Mullins is yet to get off the mark. Follow the live action here.

Wednesday’s racecard and results:

• 13:30 – Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle - 1 Willoughby Court (D Bass) 14-1, 2 Neon Wolf (N D Fehily) 2-1 Fav , 3 Messire Des Obeaux (D A Jacob) 8-1
• 14:10 – RSA Novices’ Chase - 1 Might Bite (Nico de Boinville) 7-2 Fav, 2 Whisper (D N Russell) 9-2 , 3 Bellshill (R Walsh) 5-1
• 14:50 – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle - 1 Supasundae (R Power) 16-1, 2 Taquin Du Seuil (Aidan Coleman) 12-1, 3 Who Dares Wins (Wayne Hutchinson) 33-1, 4 Monksland (D Meyler) 66-1
• 15:30 – Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase - 1 Special Tiara (N D Fehily) 11-1, 2 Fox Norton (Aidan Coleman) 7-1, 3 Sir Valentino (P J Brennan) 33-1
• 16:10 – Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase) - 1 Flying Tiger (R Johnson) 33-1, 2 Divin Bere (N D Fehily) 9-2 Fav, 3 Nietzsche (Danny Cook) 12-1 
• 17:30 – Weatherbys Champion Bumber - 1 Fayonagh (Mr J J Codd) 7-1, 2 Debuchet (D E Mullins) 10-1, 3 Claimantakinforgan (Nico de Boinville) 22-1 

Follow the live action below...

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Preview...

Tips:

13.30 Neon Wolf

14.10 Alpha Des Obeaux

14.50 Tombstone

15.30 Douvan

16.10 Cantlow

16.50 Dino Velvet

17.30 Carter McKay

Where can I watch it?

The Cheltenham Festival will be shown live on ITV from 13:00. You can also follow the action with The Independent’s live blog here.

[15 March 2017 13:19 · Charles Reynolds]

 

Dan Stead

@Steady_23

If yesterday's anything to go by I should steer clear of the horses I fancy! Going for Willoughby Court EW in the first #CheltenhamFestival

1:16 PM - 15 Mar 2017

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[15 March 2017 13:20 · Charles Reynolds]

[15 March 2017 13:22 · Charles Reynolds]

Neon Wolf is 15/8 favourite. Bacardys is 4/1, Shattered Love 9/1, Messire Des Obeaux 10/1 and Willoughby Court 14/1.

[15 March 2017 13:26 · Charles Reynolds]

Four minutes until the first race of the day...

[15 March 2017 13:31 · Charles Reynolds]

Horses out on the track now...

[15 March 2017 13:31 · Charles Reynolds]

And they're off!

[15 March 2017 13:33 · Charles Reynolds]

Willougby Court leading out proceedings at the moment, from the De Dollar Man. Fairly gentle pace so far. 

Whole field intact with six fences still to jump. Neon Wolf well placed in fourth. Consul De Thaix has fallen with five to jump and that's been bad news for Bacardys who was sent to the back of the field as a result.

Willougby Court still leading, Neon Wolf well placed...

[15 March 2017 13:37 · Charles Reynolds]

Willougby Court wins! 

[15 March 2017 13:38 · Charles Reynolds]

That was incredibly close, Willougby Court first past the post, but there is a chance that there might be an enquiry with Neon Wolf slightly inconvenienced in the run in down the home straight.

[15 March 2017 13:38 · Charles Reynolds]

Neon Wolf second