Cheltenham
Fears Cheltenham Day 2 could be CANCELLED with overnight temperatures of MINUS FIVE leaving Champion Chase under threat
THE second day of the Cheltenham Festival is under threat with overnight temperatures set to dip to an arctic MINUS FIVE.
The Prestbury Park course has already been battered by rain, snow and 50mph winds, with conditions turning soft.
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Cheltenham avoided the snowfall which hit parts of Britain last week and officials were hopeful the four-day event would be unaffected by the unseasonal weather.
But the prospect of a frozen course has led to fears Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase card could bite the dust.
Alan King’s Edwardstone and Irish rival Energumene are vying for favouritism in what is one of the standout races of the week.
The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and the Coral Cup are among the other highlights set for the second day of the Festival.
Cheltenham gets underway on Tuesday with superstar hurdler Constitution Hill in action in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at 3:30.
Rachael Blackmore will also star on Honeysuckle for its last ever race in the 4.10 Cross-Country Steeple Chase in
The jockey described Honeysuckle as “unbelievable” and is hoping for one more big day from the mare.
She said: “She is simply an unbelievable mare, and she has been an unbelievable mare for me. She has been incredible for my career.
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“All that she has achieved, and I have been lucky enough to ride her.
“As has been well publicised, this will be her last race and I won’t be looking back. We can do that when it’s over.
“Honeysuckle has given us all the big days that she could have given us so far, the crowds have been brilliant, and I would love her to have one more big day. She deserves it.
“She’s in great form, she still feels like she is very well, she still feels like she has plenty of fight in her.”
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