Cheltenham Festival: Day Two 2023

A solid moment yesterday for Scotland, and a British Prestbury Cup tally scored by Lucinda Russell's returning hero Corach Rambler in the Ultima. For fellow British bearer Nicky Henderson, Jonbon's defeat and Epatante's misfire were more than made up for when Constitution Hill soared nine lengths clear to win the Champion Hurdle in a canter. Indeed, the day was billed somewhat as Constitution Hill's alone. But it soon saw him share the limelight with Henry de Bromhead's hurdling queen, Honeysuckle. She and Rachael Blackmore proved doubters wrong, as they put things right in a fighting finish that left not a dry eye in sight... Good luck trying to keep up that emotion on days Two, Three and Four!

But Day Two is Edwardstone's day. So rudely robbed by Editeur Du Gite in the rescheduled Clarence House, he returns with a vengeance this afternoon. Do we believe the Mullins excuse of white painted fences, thought up in defence of Energumene's poor performance? Nube Negra (for Dan Skelton) isn't without hope of shaking things up in the Queen Mother placings either, having gone well to win the Schloer Chase at the November Meeting. But the Schloer win was in the absence of Edwardstone. And therein lies the rub.