Cheltenham live: 17-year-old's chance to shine as he replaces Brennan in Bumper

A 17-year-old amateur jockey who has ridden just seven winners and had only one ride at Cheltenham is in store for arguably the biggest day of his life after picking up the ride on Ask A Honey Bee in the Grade 1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.30) on day two of the festival this afternoon.

Liam Harrison is attached to Fergal O'Brien's Gloucestershire yard and has partnered Ask A Honey Bee to victory at Haydock and Wetherby this season.

Paddy Brennan was due to ride the 33-1 chance but was hurt when falling from the O'Brien-trained Jarveys Plate in yesterday's Northern Trust Company Novices' Handicap Chase.

He hopes to return to action on Thursday or Friday but has given up his rides today.

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They include Champagne Well (now Brian Hughes) in the Coral Cup (2.50), but the spotlight will be thrust on to Harrison, who has enjoyed a winner from his sole ride at Cheltenham.

A graduate from the point-to-point sphere, he partnered one winner from nine mounts last term, but has enjoyed six victories from 40 rides this season.

Ex-jockey Rodi Greene used to coach Harrison and doubts he will be found wanting.

"I know Liam fairly well and this has put him on the spot, but he's done well this year and he'd be pretty cool I think; it won't get to him too much," Greene said.

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2.50
14 Mister Blue Sky

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1 Altior, 3 Chacun Pour Soi

4.10
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"He's had plenty of experience this year and Fergal has given him some good chances, so that's helped his confidence a lot. He's going one way – the right way.

"He probably knows the horse better than anyone and all he has to do is ride a race on him and he'll be fine. He's cool enough to know what he needs to do and I'd have no worries about him riding.

"He's a good kid and he'll be around in 20 years."

Greene, who got to know Harrison during the youngster's brief spell with Neil Mulholland, added: "It's terrible for Paddy, but these things happen and this kid has won twice on the horse so it's the obvious thing. He works for Fergal and he knows how good Liam is, so it's a natural thing to do. He's not going to do anything wrong – I can tell you that."

The Duchess of Cornwall arrives Cheltenham todayCredit: Getty Images

Renton buoyed despite crowd dip

Cheltenham boss Ian Renton took a business-as-usual approach on day two of the festival despite the coronovirus outbreak, which has forced the Premier League to cancel Manchester City's clash with Arsenal tonight.

"We had a fantastic first day here yesterday with seven brilliant races, which reminds us about what the sport is really about," said Renton. "All the measures we put in place were well used by racegoers and we were topping up our hand sanitiser gel stations all day long. The racegoers heeded the advice we gave to ensure that hygiene was kept at a maximum.

"The attendance being down was not a surprise. The last fortnight ticket sales have been very quiet. We had tremendous sales until then and I was delighted to see 60,000 people here yesterday in an atmosphere of such good racing, so it was a good start.

"We have been liaising with the government throughout this; their advice has been extremely helpful. We've been following that advice to the letter and we will continue to do so until the conclusion of the festival."

Richard Johnson: fit to ride todayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Johnson back in action today

Unlike Brennan, Richard Johnson is set to be in action.

He was stood down by the racecourse doctor after being unseated from Brewin'upastorm in the Racing Post Arkle and jarring his hip yesterday, but said he was fine to ride this afternoon.

The champion jockey has three mounts on the card, starting with Honest Vic in the Coral Cup (). He then has Zoffee in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle () and Adrimel in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper ().

Ground now mainly soft

The opening day of the fixture was run on ground described as soft, heavy in places, but the Old course is now soft over hurdles and fences.

On the cross-country course, conditions are described as soft, heavy in places with a dry day forecast.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: "It's been dry overnight and the ground is now soft all over, soft, heavy in places on the cross-country."

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