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The Winner’s Enclosure: Irish eyes smiling once again after Day Two

It was another good day for Ireland at Cheltenham, with Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty and Robbie McNamara all triumphing.

Updated at 19.39

AND WE’RE OFF! Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival has been and gone

We were left counting our losses for the second consecutive day after some bad tips and a lack of faith in the favourites resulted in one too many broken dreams.

But who needs cash, after all, when you’ve got the best damn horse racing schedule on the planet right in front of you?

Tweet of the Day

Paddy Power were less than pleased after Sire De Grugy won the Champion Chase, becoming the second favourite to win a big race.

Paddy Power

Get well soon

Bryan Cooper

Irish jockey Bryan Cooper was taken to hospital with a broken leg after falling while riding Clarcam in the Fred Winter.

We wish him a speedy recovery!

And there was sad news elsewhere in the same race, as Irish horse Akdam had to be put down after fracturing a foreleg.

More glory for Walsh and Geraghty

Francis Keogh

Ruby Walsh triumphed in the Neptune Hurdle on Faugheen, while Barry Geraghty also enjoyed success for the second day running with O’Faolains Boy.

It was a good day too for Limerick jockey Robbie McNamara, who won the Cheltenham Bumper on Silver Concorde, having been priced at 16/1, ensuring another great success for Irish trainer Dermot Weld.

Horse Racing - 2014 Cheltenham Festival - Ladies Day - Cheltenham Racecourse PA Wire / Press Association Images PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Rm

 

The big winner: Sire De Grugy

Sire de Grugy recorded a fairytale win as he landed the feature race Queen Mother Champion Chase, giving jockey Jamie Moore his first-ever win at the meeting.

The winner — trained by Moore’s father Gary — rewarded the hairdressing sons of chief owner Steve Preston, who had clubbed together to raise money to buy a horse for him on his 50th birthday five years ago.

In triumphing, the eight-year-old took his winnings for the season alone to £300,000 ($500,000, €360,000).

The big loser: This punter

Tip

This tipster correctly predicted the outcome of every race bar the last one, as Katgary could only take second place.

We could only imagine how this gut-wrenching disappointment upon the final outcome of the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle must have felt. Tough luck dude!

Pics of the day

Tomas O'Leary and Sean O'Brien Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Hold on a second… I recognise you! Tomas O’Leary and Sean O’Brien enjoy some down time at the races.

Elaine Waterworth and Louise Allen Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

(Elaine Waterworth and Louise Allen from Slane, Meath)

As always, there were no shortage of impressive outfits for the fashionistas to admire on Ladies Day at the festival.

Full results:

1.30pm – Neptune Novices’ Hurdle: 1. Faugheen 6-4f, 2. Ballyalton 20-1, 3. Rathvinden 11-2.2.05pm – RSA Chase: 1. O’Faolains Boy 12-1, 2. Smad Place 13-2jf, 3. Morning Assembly 9-1.2.40pm – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle: 1. Whisper 14-1, 2. Get Me Out of Here 12-1, 3. Bayan 11-1.3.20pm – Queen Mother Champion Chase: 1. Sire De Grugy 11-4f, 2. Somersby 4-1, 3. Module 20-1.4pm – Cross Country Chase: 1. Balthazar King 4-1, 2. Any Currency 10-1, 3. Big Shu 3-1f.4.40pm – Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle: 1. Hawk High 33-1, 2. Katgary 8-1, 3. Orgilgo Bay 16-1.5.15pm – Champion Bumper: 1. Silver Concorde 16-1, 2. Shaneshill 7-2f, 3. Joshua Lane 33-1.

Blinkers on, here’s what’s coming up tomorrow

JLT Novices Chase Racecard looks likely to be an exciting race, with no clear favourite, though Ballycasey, Champagne Fever, Felix Yonger and Oscar Whisky are likely to be there or thereabouts.

Dynaste and Benefficient are among those being tipped to prevail in the Ryanair Chase Racecard, while the Ladbrokes World Hurdle should be an equally fascinating encounter.

Additional reporting by AFP

First published at 18.34

As it happened: Cheltenham Festival 2014, Day 2>

Bryan Cooper breaks leg in fall at Cheltenham Festival>

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