Bookmakers edge ahead after defeats for hot fancies Shishkin and Tiger Roll

If punters just edged it on day one, bookmakers held the upper hand on day two of the Cheltenham Festival with defeats for Shishkin and Tiger Roll giving the layers the upper hand.

Bookmakers feared favourites Sir Gerhard, Shishkin, Tiger Roll and Facile Vega at the start of the day but despite Sir Gerhard winning the Ballymore and Facile Vega landing the Champion Bumper, Shishkin and Tiger Roll were both defeated.

"The day started badly for us with victory for the odds-on favourite Sir Gerhard, while L'Homme Presse in the Brown Advisory was another for favourite backers, but the 50-1 success of Commander Of Fleet in the Coral Cup changed the tone of the day, and Shishkin's defeat in the Champion Chase was a hammer blow for his many backers," said Coral's David Stevens.

With the ground turning heavy, there was always the prospect of a surprise result or two and as well as Commander Of Fleet's big-priced triumph in the Coral Cup, 28-1 shot Golbal Citizen defeating warm favourite Andy Dufresne in the Grand Annual was a big result for bookmakers.

Stevens added: "Despite being sent off favourite for the cross-country, Delta Work's victory over his stablemate, the hugely popular Tiger Roll, was a massive result in our favour, and the day got even better with Global Citizen holding off the gambled-on Andy Dufresne in the Grand Annual.

"Facile Vega's Champion Bumper win at least ensured punters ended the day on a high, but at the halfway point of this year's festival we've edged ahead."

Shishkin coming unstuck in the testing ground in the Champion Chase was a big result for Paddy Power and spokesman Paul Binfield said: "Shishkin pulling up was the key moment of the day and meant that punters were going to have a losing day. There's not a lot in it at the halfway stage of the festival and, just like the Prestbury Cup, it still could go either way."

Energumene powers to Champion Chase glory after favourite Shishkin is pulled up

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes also picked out Energumene's Champion Chase win as the pivotal result on day two.

She said: "Getting Shishkin beat was the biggest result for us as multiples fell to the wayside. With victories on both sides, it'll be fascinating to see how day three turns out. One thing we do know is that there will be tough decisions to be made in the opener with Galopin Des Champs and Bob Olinger jousting for favouritism."

Ireland now lead Britain eight wins to six in the Prestbury Cup, while Willie Mullins is 1-6 (from 1-3) favourite with Coral to be crowned top trainer at this year's festival after landing a treble on day two.

Paul Townend is 1-4 to be leading jockey with the same firm after scoring on Sir Gerhard and Energumene on Wednesday.

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