Preview, card and how you can watch

Day Two of the Cheltenham Competition was one devoted to the reminiscence of Michael O’Sullivan.

Each horses concerned in O’Sullivan’s 2023 Cheltenham double, Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty, prevailed within the Champion Chase and the Grand Annual Chase. Their wins coming just below a month after his tragic loss of life from accidents sustained in a fall at Thurles.

With O’Sullivan’s tragic passing nonetheless on the forefront of the thoughts of everybody within the horse racing group, consideration when it comes to occasions over Cheltenham’s fences will probably be centered on the Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase.

Card

1.20 – Mares Novices’ Hurdle 

The latest addition to the Competition calendar, having first been run in 2016, coach Willie Mullins will probably be hoping to re-establish his dominance of this race.

Mullins skilled the primary 5 winners, however the final 4 editions have been gained by 4 completely different trainers. Mullins has endured a barren run in that point, however has seven runners on this one. Aurora Vega (9-1) is his finest shot, however Sixandahalf is the 3-1 favorite.

2.00 – Jack Richards Novices’ Chase

Reintroduced to the programme for this 12 months having initially been run from 2005 to 2020, 13-2 Nurburgring is the favorite for Joseph Patrick O’Brien. Nonetheless, Caldwell Potter (16-1) is the one Grade 1 winner within the 20-strong subject, making him a good probability for coach Paul Nicholls.

2.40 – Pertemps Handicap Hurdle

Seen as one thing of a stepping stone for youthful horses with designs on greater and higher issues in leap racing, Nico De Boinville will probably be hoping to bounce again from his disappointment aboard Jonbon within the Champion Chase. He rides 15-2 favorite Jeriko Du Reponet.

3.20 – Ryanair Chase

Run over two miles and 4 furlongs, that is the premier race for horses whose ideally suited distance falls someplace between that of the Champion Chase and the Gold Cup. Mullins’ Reality to File is the 5-4 favorite, however 7-1 Protektorat is aiming to win for the second successive 12 months for jockey Harry Skelton and coach Dan Skelton.

4.00 – Stayers’ Hurdle

Thursday belongs to the lengthy distance hurdlers as they deal with this three-mile Grade 1 contest. Teahupoo (13-8) is the favorite to prevail as he did in 2024 for Gordon Elliott, who additionally has the second favorite in The Wallpark (6-1). Fortunate Place (7-1) offers one other alternative for De Boinville to atone for his Wednesday disappointment.

4.40 – Competition Place Handicap

This handicap chase has typically proved a springboard to Grade 1 success. Final 12 months’s winner Shakem Up’Arry (18-1) is within the subject, however 9-2 favorite Jagwar gained at Cheltenham again in January.

5.20 – Kim Muir Handicap Chase

An extended distance race restricted to newbie jockeys offers the chance for one more emotional victory as Michael O’Sullivan’s brother Alan rides 5-1 favorite Strolling On Air on his Cheltenham debut.

Climate

The climate is ready honest for Thursday. There will probably be partly cloudy situations with a excessive of seven levels Celsius.

How one can watch

Within the UK, you’ll be able to watch all of the races on ITV Racing and Racing TV. Racing TV is obtainable via Sky and Virgin Media.
Should you’re not close to a TV set, you’ll be able to stream the occasion through ITV Racing and Racing TV.