Cheltenham Day Two Results: All the in-play and antepost stories from the Betfair Exchange

Vega wins Champion Bumper in Facile fashion

Touted as one of the best bumper horses for many years, Facile Vega, a son of the super mare Quevega, ran out a very impressive winner of the closing Champion Bumper on day two.

Patrick Mullins stalked his market rival American Mike into the home straight, who himself ran a race full of potential, but the favourite soon put the race to bed, quickening clear in the style of a very good horse, to win very easily and send the punters home happpy.

Champion Bumper Winner: Facile Vega

In-Play High: 3.929/10

BSP: 2.87

Antepost High: 26.025/1

Global springs a suprise in Grand Annual

The Ben Pauling trained Global Citizen sprung a suprise in the Grand Annual, juping soundly at the head off affairs before quickening for home rounding the home turn.

Well backed favourite Andy Dufresne was the only one to challenge from the last, and while he was cutting the gap up the hill the post came in plenty of time for the Kielan Woods-ridden 28/1 outsider.

Grand Annual Chase Winner: Global Citizen

In-play High: 60.059/1

BSP: 31.479

Antepost High: 100.099/1

Tiger so close to one final win

It's not the race for every fan of the sport (looking at you, Tony Calvin) but the Cross Country Chase aruably produced the moment of the day as Tiger Roll so nearly claimed another Festival win, only to be denied close to home by stablemate Delta Work. Tiger was backed at a low of 1.132/15 in-running.

The stable has confirmed that Tiger Roll, twice a Grand National winner and four times a Cheltenham champion, will now be retired.

Cross Country Chase Winner: Delta Work

In-play High: 8.415/2

BSP: 3.83

Antepost High: 9.28/1

Willie a winner again

Energumene landed in the Queen Mother Champion Chase for Willie Mullins after favourite Shishkin just failed to get going in the big one. Third favourite Chacun Pour Soi unseated after Shishkin had been pulled up and Energumene did the rest with relative ease.

Listeners of our Racing...Only Bettor podcast may have been against Shishkin...

Hugh and Kev knew Shishkin wasn't a dead cert...

@hughcahill7 | @kevinblake2011 pic.twitter.com/mqHPJdcTNG

-- Betfair Racing (@BetfairRacing) March 16, 2022

Queen Mother Champion Chase Winner: Energumene

In-play High: 5.04/1

BSP: 3.929/10

Antepost High: 22.021/1

First win up for Elliott with huge outsider

He had seven entered but it was the outsider Commander of Fleet who won the Coral Cup for Gordon Elliott. Sent off at a Betfair Starting Price of 52.5 and hitting 150.0149/1 in-running, the 8yo fought out a classic finish with Fastorslow, denying that one at 1.041/25. Long-time leader Ashdale Bob touched 1.584/7.

Congrats to the 21 Betfair customers who won big on Commander of Fleet!

21 Betfair punters just won £1000+ backing Commander Of Fleet as a single on the Sportsbook!

Were you one of them?!

He hit 55/1 today#CheltenhamWithBetfair pic.twitter.com/0v6SQrIb4c

-- Betfair Racing (@BetfairRacing) March 16, 2022

Coral Cup Winner: Commander of Fleet

In-play High: 150.0149/1

BSP: 52.5

Antepost High: 42.041/1

L'Homme Presse presses home advantage

And another favourite comes home first as L'Homme Presse lands the Brown Advisory Novices Chase. A very solid front-running performance saw the winner untroubled in-running, and brought a first Grade 1 win for Venetia Wiliiams at the Cheltenham Festival. Late faller Farouk D'Alene hit a low of 1.9110/11 in-play.

Brown Advisory Novice Chase Winner: L'Homme Presse

In-play High: 4.216/5

Betfair Starting Price: 3.67267/100

Antepost High: 55.054/1

Sir Gerhard backs up last year's Bumper win

Another Festival favourite obliged in the opener as Sir Gerhard took the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle with relative ease. Willie Mullins' 7yo never traded above 1.8810/11 in-running depite being challenged by last hurdle faller Journey With Me.

Willie has one more favourite on today's card - Facile Vega in the Bumper.

Ballymore Novices Winner: Sir Gerhard

In-play High: 1.8810/11

Betfair Starting Price: 1.855/6

Antepost High: 60.059/1