Cheltenham April Meeting Day Two Recap: Skelton Secures Trainer’s Lead with Inexorable Minniemum, Mullins Defeated
Key Races & Performances
- Mares’ Chase Final: Henry Daly’s Minniemum dominates by seven and a half lengths.
- Mares’ Handicap Chase: Shakeyatailfeather wins for the Skeltons, beating Something Special by four and a quarter lengths.
- Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Chase: Theatre Native storms to a 10-length victory for Henry de Bromhead.
- Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: Jubilee Alpha returns to form, winning by one and three quarter lengths.
Trainer’s Championship Update
Dan Skelton leads Willie Mullins by over £28,000 after winning two out of three major races on Day Two.
Mares’ Chase Final
Minniemum, bred by former jockey Richard Johnson, put in a career-best performance to win the feature race. Trained by Henry Daly, Minniemum jumped neatly and powered to a seven and a half length victory over Sainte Doctor. Johnson, who bred Minniemum, would be delighted with the result and the £30,000 GBB bonus.
The family are great stayers and love good ground basically. She’s edgy but Mighty Man was a fruit loop so it’s no great surprise with the family.– Henry Daly
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Paul Nicholls’ Jubilee Alpha returned to form, winning the Listed Changing Young Lives At Jamie’s Farm Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Sent off at 15/2 for the Dawn Run Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival, Jubilee Alpha finished eighth but bounced back to form dropped in grade and stepped up to two and a half miles.
Skelton’s Double
Trainer Dan Skelton secured a notable win with Shakeyatailfeather in the Holland Cooper Mares’ Handicap Chase. The 2/1 favorite won by four and a quarter lengths, outpacing last year’s winner, Something Special.
Mullins’ Setbacks
Willie Mullins, hoping to catch up in the trainer’s championship, had mixed fortunes. While Mullins’ Lagoon Nebula won the opening KTDA Fillies’ Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, his other runners fell short in key races.
Bumper Finish
In the closing bumper, Poetisa, trained by Toby Bulgin and ridden by Brian Hughes, took the spoils by half a length, beating Sheezer Dancer.
What’s Next in the Trainer’s Championship?
With just one day left of the April meeting at Cheltenham, the trainer’s championship remains in Dan Skelton’s hands. Willie Mullins will need a strong showing to keep his title hopes alive.
More from 247sports.news
Let us know your thoughts on today’s races in the comments below.