Cheltenham Festival 2022 Day Two: Review and Results

A Queen Mother Champion Chase win for Energumene and a brave but ultimately unsuccessful farewell from Tiger Roll were the highlights of a rain-soaked day two at Cheltenham.
Energumene ridden by Paul Townend (centre) on their way to winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.Energumene ridden by Paul Townend (centre) on their way to winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Energumene ridden by Paul Townend (centre) on their way to winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.

The duel between Shishkin and Energumene had dominated the build-up to day two and it was the latter that avenged a Clarence House Chase defeat inflicted by the pre-race favourite at Ascot earlier this year.

With the ground becoming increasingly heavy, Shishkin struggled to make an impact and 5/2 shot Energumene was ridden home with ease by Paul Townend to give Willie Mullins a first Champion Chase triumph.

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After the race, Mullins commented: “He probably has more speed than we thought, at Ascot we felt after the race we should have waited rather than make all.

“That was the only plan I could come up with to turn the tables on Shishkin.

“It was a bit of an anti-climax for the neutrals but it was more nerve-wracking for me because you could see he was travelling the whole way.”

Festival legend Tiger Roll came close to rounding off a remarkable career with a stunning win in the Cross Country Chase.

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After drifting in the betting with conditions working against him, the two-time Grand National winner came close to defying the odds as he put in a dogged and determined performance before finishing three quarters of a length behind stablemate Delta Work.

Delta Work ridden by Jack Kennedy (right) goes on to win The Glenfarclas Chase ahead of Tiger Roll ridden by Davy Russell who finished second during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.Delta Work ridden by Jack Kennedy (right) goes on to win The Glenfarclas Chase ahead of Tiger Roll ridden by Davy Russell who finished second during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Delta Work ridden by Jack Kennedy (right) goes on to win The Glenfarclas Chase ahead of Tiger Roll ridden by Davy Russell who finished second during day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.

The day had got underway with an impressive win from favourite Sir Gerhard won the Novice’s Hurdle by three and a half lengths and another heavily backed horse claimed the Novice’s Chase as L’Homme Presse saw off Ahoy Senor,

There was a big shock in the Coral Cup as 50/1 shot Commander of Fleet edged to a win ahead of 18/1-rated Fastorslow to give Shane Fitzgerald a first ever festival win.

An outsider also took the honours in the Grand Annual Chase as Kielan Woods rode 28/1 shot Global Citizen home to a three-length win over pre-race favourite Andy Dufresne.

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And the day was rounded off with a delayed start to the Champion Bumper as Willie Mullins saw Facile Vega give him his third winner of the afternoon and his 12th in the race.

The full results for day two of the festival can be found below:

1.30pm: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Result

1st Sir Gerhard 8/11F

2nd Three Stripe Life 8/1

3rd Whatdeawant 18/1

2.10pm: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Result

1st L’Homme Presse 4/1F

2nd Ahoy Senor 15/2

3rd Gaillard Du Mesnil 11/1

2.50pm: Coral Cup Result

1st Commander of Fleet 50/1

2nd Fastorslow 18/1

3rd Ashdale Bob 14/1

4th Camprond 10/1

3.30pm: Queen Mother Champion Chase Result

1st Energumene 5/2

2nd Funambule Sivola 40/1

3rd Envoi Allen 10/1

4.10pm: Cross Country Chase Result

1st Delta Work 5/2f

2nd Tiger Roll 3/1

3rd Plan of Attack 25/1

4th Diesel D’Allier 12/1

1st Global Citizen 28/1

2nd Andy Dufrusne 10/3f

3rd Frero Banbou 6/1

4th Editeur Du Gite 15/2

1st Facile Vega 15/8f

2nd American Mike 5/2

3rd James’s Gate 16/1

4th Seabank Bistro 18/1

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