Cheltenham Festival LIVE tips and results: Meetmebythesea wins Jack Richards’ Handicap ahead of 2.40pm Mares’ Hurdle – UK Times

Gold Dancer has no answer and Ben Jones steers Meetmebythesea past the groundstand and is cheered home!

Meetmebythesea leaps over the last in first place and lands cleaner than Gold Dancer, is he away up the hill?

Meetmebythesea continues to lead the way but jumps right alongside Regent’s Stroll and Gold Dancer.

Slade Steel has dropped away.

Kiss Well and Wingmen and making their moves…

Kiss Will moves up to fifth about a nose of the front four as the field spreads out across the course.

Meetmebytheseas is the new narrow leader with Slade Steel hanging on his shoulder and up to second.

He’s not there for long as Gold Dancer pushes forward once more.

Gold Dancer looks comfortable at the front and sets a steady 29mph pace.

Meetmebythesea is happy to sit off him with Slade Steel and Regent’s Stroll jostling with each other for position.

Behind them there’s a battle between Kiss Will and Wingmen.

Meetmebythesea is the early leader though he’s quickly caught and overtaken by Gold Dancer.

Slade Steel sits third with Regent’s Stroll right next to him.

Onto race two and the attempt of Slade Steel to earn another win at the Festival.

Last year he, and Rachael Blackmore, provided thrills but can he do so again without her riding?

He’s currently the second favourite, behind Jordans Cross, but that puts him in a decent position ahead of the start.

Here are the latest odds for the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

• Jordans Cross – 4/1
• Regent’s Stroll – 5/1
• Slade Steel – 6/1
• Stencil – 15/2
• Meetmebythesea – 8/1
• Kiss Will – 9/1
• Wingmen – 10/1
• The Bluesman – 10/1
• Kdeux Saint Fray – 16/1
• King Alexander – 22/1
• Ol Man Dingle – 25/1
• Western Knight – 25/1
• Ben Solo – 25/1
• Where’s My Jet – 28/1
• Gold Dancer – 33/1
• Moon Rocket – 50/1
• Intense Approach – 50/1
• Dr Eggman – 66/1

Here’s the reaction from White Noise’s trainer Kim Bailey, speaking to ITV:

White Noise trainer Mat Nicholls, told BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: “We couldn’t understand why she should be such a big price. The new course was always going to suit her.

“Things have been going well and she is a smart mare. That surprised me as well!

“It is special for him [Kim Bailey] and the pair of us. John Perriss [White Noise owner] has been the biggest supporter of ours for a long, long time.”