PHOTO GALLERY

Cheltenham Festival Day Two

Race 1 – The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Wednesday 15 March 2017

Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) The view across the racecourse to Cleeve Hill; it was reported to be the second hottest day in recorded Festival history! 15 March 2017	Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Heading to the start; Skipthecuddles ... the tongue-less horse (T: Graeme McPherson; J: Kielan Woods) 15 March 2017
Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Heading to the start; Brelade (T: Gordon Elliott; J: Jack Kennedy) 15 March 2017	Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Heading to the start; Consul De Thaix (T: Nicky Henderson; J: Mark Walsh) 15 March 2017
Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Heading to the start; Keeper Hill (T: Warren Greatrex; J: Gavin Sheehan) 15 March 2017	Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Heading to the start; Neon Wolf (T: Harry Fry; J: Noel Fehily) 15 March 2017
Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Heading to the start; Livelovelaugh (T: Willie Mullins; J: Danny Mullins) 15 March 2017	Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) The runners head over the fourth flight, led by Willoughby Court 15 March 2017
Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Heading up the hill with one circuit to go 15 March 2017	Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) Heading over the last flight 15 March 2017
Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) The finish; Willoughby Court and Neon Wolf battle to the line 15 March 2017	Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) The runners return; last-placed Shattered Love (left) (T: Gordon Elliott; J: Bryan Cooper), and 10th-placed Livelovelaugh (T: Willie Mullins; J: Danny Mullins), also Poetic Rhythm 15 March 2017
Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) The runners return; 5th-placed Kemboy (front) (T: Willie Mullins; J: David Mullins), and 4th-placed Burbank (T: Nicky Henderson; J: Jeremiah McGrath) 15 March 2017	Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) The runners return; 8th-placed Skipthecuddles (left) (T: Graeme McPherson; J: Kielan Woods), 7th-placed Keeper Hill (right) (T: Warren Greatrex; J: Gavin Sheehan), also runner-up Neon Wolf and 6th-placed Brelade 15 March 2017
Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) The runners return; 3rd-placed Messire Des Obeaux (T: Alan King; J: Daryl Jacob) 15 March 2017	Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) The winner returns; Willoughby Court (T: Ben Pauling (left); J: David Bass) 15 March 2017
Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) The winner returns; Willoughby Court (T: Ben Pauling; J: David Bass) 15 March 2017	Race 1: The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) The Winners’ Enclosure on the big screen; Willoughby Court returns triumphant (T: Ben Pauling; J: David Bass) 15 March 2017
Postscript At the time of writing, there were two sad postscripts to this race, one of which happened during the running of it, the other in August 2017. Firstly, Consul De Thaix suffered a fatal injury at the 5th flight; he died instantly after breaking his neck. His jockey Mark Walsh was also injured. In August, Neon Wolf sustained a life ending injury when in his stable: https://www.racingpost.com/news/news/fry-star-neon-wolf-put-down-after-tendon-injury/297722