ELLIOTT WILL BE CELEBRATING HIS TREBLE TONIGHT
  
Veneer Of Charm's victory in the Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle gave trainer Gordon Elliott a 468.8/1 Ladies Day treble - and takes him to a total of 17 Festival winners. 
 
The 33/1 shot, who was ridden by Jack Kennedy, beat Style De Garde by three lengths.
 
Elliott said: "It's been a brilliant day - I can't believe it.
 
"Veneer Of Charm has been a great servant; we bought him as a fun horse on the advice of [journalist] Ryan McElligott - so all thanks go to him. We struggled to get an owner for him for a bit and Martin Wasylocha bought him.
 
"It's great for him - he's been an owner with me since I started and is one of the owners who has been with me the longest, except for Stephen O'Connor who owns Bless The Wings. This is something Martin dreams about so to give him a Cheltenham winner is unbelievable.
 
"I thought the ground, being so tacky, might not suit the horse, to be honest. We thought Mitchouka was the main one, but he got badly hampered. Jack got a lovely position on Veneer Of Charm. The horse looked a bit green but even if he never wins again, it is job done. He's well enough handicapped on the Flat so he could be a horse you see on the Flat for a bit of craic this summer."
 
Asked how it felt to have a Festival treble, Elliott replied: "Last night I was trying to get a Ryanair flight home [after a winnerless day], and I was in bed by half past nine. It won't be the same tonight!"
 
VENEER LAUNCHES CHARM OFFENSIVE FOR KENNEDY
 
Jack Kennedy registered his second victory on day two of the Cheltenham Festival following 33/1 shot Veneer Of Charm's impressive success in the G3 Boodles Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle.
 
Trained by Gordon Elliott, registering a 468.8/1 treble on the day (Sacmro, Ballymore Novices' Hurdle & Tiger Roll, Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase), the four-year-old son of Fast Company quickened up smartly after the final flight to score by three lengths from the Nicky Henderson-trained Style De Garde (12/1) in second.
 
15/2 favourite Nube Negra, trained by Dan Skelton was a length behind in third, with Colin Tizzard's Padlyourowncanoe (33/1) a further two and three-quarter lengths behind in fourth.
 
Kennedy landing a 57.1/1 double following Samcro's (8/11 favourite) victory in the the G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (8/11 favourite), was landing his third winner at The Festival in total and commented: "I thought I was on the second string (Mitchouka pulled up) but the yard thought this lad had a chance.
 
"He had a look at the final flight and was running around, so he probably had a bit left.
 
"I thought we went very hard early on, my lad was going as fast he could early on without me forcing him and he jumped well. He got into a nice position down the back straight and has done it well.
 
"He has a turn of foot and that definitely played into his hands - I'm delighted."
 
4.50pm Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
         
1 VENEER OF CHARM (Martin Wasylocha) Gordon Elliott IRE 4-11-00 Jack Kennedy 33/1
2 STYLE DE GARDE (Highclere Thoroughbred Racing) Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 12/1
3 NUBE NEGRA (T Spraggett) Dan Skelton 4-11-06 Harry Skelton 15/2 fav
4 PADLEYOUROWNCANOE (Kevin Corcoran, Aaron Pierce, Chris Weare) 4-11-03 Tom Scudamore 33/1
 
Distances: 3, 1, 2¾
Tote Win: £46.30      Places: £7.70, £4.60, £2.20, £5.60 Exacta: £642.10
 
Gordon Elliott - 17th winner at The Festival
Jack Kennedy - 3rd winner at The Festival
 
BetBright Cup - standings after 13 races
Ireland 8
Britain 5

 
NICO AND HARRY LIKE THEIR BOODLES BEAUTIES
 
Ireland's winning run on day two of The Festival continued when Veneer Of Charm completed a 468/1 treble for trainer Gordon Elliott.
 
The 33/1 winner scored by three lengths, a length and two lengths from Style De Garde (12/1) and Nube Negra (15/2 f), with Padleyourowncanoe (33/1) in fourth.
 
Nico De Boinville, who rode the runner-up for trainer Nicky Henderson, wore the colours of Highclere Racing. De Boinville said: "I would say the winner was slightly better handicapped than us, but our horse has run well off that weight [11st 8lb]. He's run a fine race, and probably back to the form he showed when winning at Newbury in December.
 
"He handles that ground, which is nice to know, and he's going to be some horse next season."
 
Harry Skelton, who rode Nube Negra for his trainer/brother Dan, was similarly enthusiastic about the horse's prospects. He said: "He travelled really well, and probably too well, but the problem was that they didn't go quite quick enough. He's a really nice horse and one for next season - he'll have a summer out at grass, and has the size to make him a horse to look forward to.
 
"The ground may have blunted his chances, but it was the same for everyone, and he's certainly run well."