Top jockey, top trainer and GB v Ireland: how it looks after day two

The 2022 Cheltenham Festival produced memorable moments and plenty of drama on the second day, which was headlined by the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

After the opening day of this year's festival, Nicky Henderson was the leading trainer and Nico de Boinville was leading jockey as the pair had scored two victories. Across the seven races, Britain held a narrow 4-3 advantage heading into day two.

What happened on day two?

Ahead of racing, the main talking point was the ground as continuous rainfall hit and the going was described as good to soft before being changed to soft just ten minutes prior to the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. In the opener, Sir Gerhard, under Paul Townend, justified favouritism to land an 80th festival winner for Willie Mullins.

With the ground causing problems for some, leading contender Bravemansgame was withdrawn from the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase. This resulted in the Venetia Williams-trained L'Homme Presse, under Charlie Deutsch, securing Britain's first winner of the day.

Commander Of Fleet caused a huge shock to land the Coral Cupunder Shane Fitzgerald, as Cullentra trainer Gordon Elliott saddled his first winner on his return to Cheltenham.

Energumene leads Irish charge

A dramatic Champion Chase followed and so did the Irish domination as Energumene and Paul Townend handed Willie Mullins a maiden victory in the race, and his second winner of the day. The race was dubbed as a rematch for Energumene and Shishkin, who battled it out in the Clarence House at Ascot in January, but that soon ended as the latter was pulled up by Nico de Boinville at the halfway mark. Chacun Pour Soi unseated Patrick Mullins shortly after, and it was left to Energumene to bolt up the Cheltenham hill.

Tiger shows one last fight

The Glenfarclas Chase almost provided a fairytale ending as Tiger Roll, who was running his last race after a stellar career, finished second to stablemate Delta Work. It was Gordon Elliott's second of the afternoon as he saddled a 1-2 to give the Irish a firm hold in the battle for the Prestbury Cup.

Britain bounced back in the Grand Annual as Global Citizen won for the partnership of Kielan Woods and Ben Pauling. However, it was Willie Mullins who had the final say of the day when Facile Vega scored in the Champion Bumper to seal a treble for the Irish trainer.

Leading jockey

2 Paul Townend
2 Nico de Boinville
2 Patrick Mullins
1 Jack Kennedy
1 Charlie Deutsch
1 Shane Fitzgerald
1 Tom Cannon
1 Derek Fox
1 Rachael Blackmore
1 Mark Walsh
1 Kielan Woods

Leading trainer

4 Willie Mullins
2 Gordon Elliott
2 Nicky Henderson
1 Alan King
1 Ben Pauling
1 Venetia Williams
1 Lucinda Russell
1 Henry de Bromhead
1 Padraig Roche

Prestbury Cup

Britain 6

(Today's winners)

L'Homme Presse (Brown Advisory)
Global Citizen (Grand Annual)

Ireland 8

Sir Gerhard (Ballymore)
Commander Of Fleet (Coral Cup)
Energumene (Champion Chase)
Delta Work (Glenfarclas)
Facile Vega (Champion Bumper)

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