Sizing Europe win to put punters on top again on Festival day two

It was advantage punters after day one of the Cheltenham Festival and a victory for Sizing Europe at 5/6 in the Queen Mother Champion Chase will ensure they are celebrating again at the end of the second day.

Hurricane Fly’s defeat to Rock On Ruby in the Champion Hurdle was a rare moment of relief to bookmakers as fellow odds-on favourites Sprinter Sacre and Quevega landed the spoils in the Arkle and and David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle respectively.

Overall, Alfie Sherrin’s 14/1 success in the JLT Speciality Handicap was the biggest-priced winner of the day in the Cheltenham odds.

Further joys for punters came as the well-backed Balthazar King won the Cross Country, while Ladbrokes’ special money back offer for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle could not have gone much worse.

All losing win stakes on the horse finishing second were to be refunded and it was the favourite Darlan who chased home victor Cinders and Ashes.

Sizing Europe is the obvious star on day two of the Festival and will easily start as the shortest-priced favourite on the card.

Elsewhere, the money will also be strong for likeable grey Grands Crus as he will aim to prove connections were right to forego a shot at the Cheltenham Gold Cup in order to beat his fellow novices in the RSA Chase.

Grands Crus is 5/4 to win the RSA Chase and retain his unbeaten record over fences.