the Feltham behind Tea for Two, one place in front of

DENVER -- Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu had big nights at the plate for Colorado. Still, the struggling Rockies were unable to stop their skid.Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos homered, Bryce Harper doubled in the go-ahead run and the Washington Nationals beat Colorado 5-4 on Monday night.We are dealing with multiple challenges at the same time right now, but the bottom line is you have to win games, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. We are fighting, but we are coming up short.LeMahieu had four hits and Blackmon hit his sixth home run in four games. The outfielder was selected the NL player of the week after leading the majors with seven home runs last week.Yet the Rockies have lost eight of nine.We are battling so hard and we dont have a whole lot to show for it the last couple weeks, LeMahieu said.Werth hit a two-run homer in the third inning off Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa and reached safely three times to extend his on-base streak to a career-best 43 games.The stretch is the longest in the majors this season and it ties Werth with Ryan Zimmerman for the Nationals record.Washingtons bullpen, meanwhile, pitched five scoreless innings. Sammy Solis (2-3) got the win and Colorado-native Mark Melancon needed only four pitches in the ninth for his 34th save in 37 chances.The NL East leaders have won three straight and four of five.Our bullpen came in and bailed each other out, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. Its hard to shut these guys out for the last four or five innings of a ballgame.Nationals ace Max Scherzer allowed seven hits and four runs in four innings.Colorado scored three in a 35-pitch first inning. David Dahl hit a two-run double with the bases loaded and Daniel Descalso added a sacrifice fly.Blackmon made it 4-2 with his homer in the fourth.It would have been nice to get this homestand started off right, LeMahieu said. Scherzer is a really good pitcher and we knew we were in for a battle. We did about as well as we could do off him, putting up four runs in four innings.Daniel Murphy hit an RBI single in the fifth, Ramos connected for a tying homer in the sixth and Harper hit his second double of the night in the seventh to give Washington a 5-4 lead.Jordan Lyles (3-4) took the loss.WITH HONORSBlackmon also led the majors with a .563 batting average and 42 total bases last week. In seven games, he topped the NL with nine RBI and a .600 on-base percentage.Chuck is having a great year, Weiss said. He is one of those guys who just continues to get better and I think that is directly related to his work ethic.TRAINERS ROOMRHP Tyler Chatwood (back spasms) could skip his next start or be placed on the 15-day disabled list, Weiss said. ... 1B Mark Reynolds (hand) had surgery to remove a fractured hook of the hamate bone in his left hand.UP NEXTNationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (8-9, 4.24 ERA) is 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two August starts. He has struck out 12 and walked two in 12 innings.Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (10-6, 5.27) hasnt lost a start since July 2. In his last one, he gave up five runs over five innings in 100-plus-degree heat in Texas.Air Max Clearance . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. Air Max Cheap Outlet China .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. http://www.airmaxcheapoutlet.com/ . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. Air Max Cheap China . Jon Montgomerys gold medal in skeleton at the Whistler Sliding Centre and his subsequent auctioning off of a pitcher of beer in the village square elevated him to folk-hero status. Air Max Wholesale . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator.Sky Sports News HQs Alex Hammond provides a race-by-race guide to Tuesday at the Cheltenham Festival.David Craig and Dale Tempest from Sky Bet look ahead to day one at Cheltenham 1.30 - SKY BET SUPREME NOVICES HURDLEMin looks like being an opening day banker for many but, as Sky Bet are offering money back as a free bet if your horse gets beaten in the opening race on each day of the Festival, it could pay to find a better value alternative. There is much more to come from Min though, who it is expected to appreciate better ground. Nicky Henderson has a couple of good-looking chances, but its Buveur DAir that excites me the most as he has plenty of untapped ability and at the moment the sky looks the limit. Hes a backable price in the market without Min if you want to take that route. Nicky Henderson trains leading Supreme contender Buveur DAir I was hoping to see Moon Racer, but last years Champion Bumper winner has missed the majority of the season after sustaining an injury in November and David Pipe has run out of time to get him to the meeting. 2.10 - RACING POST ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHYDouvan is odds-on and not a hugely attractive betting proposition, but theres nothing else that really catches my eye. Last years Sky Bet Supreme winner is an outstanding jumper and is a straightforward horse to ride. Hes the full package. Hes a lepper as the Irish would say! I wouldnt mind being a pound behind the agent that buys all these good horses from France for the Mullins team. Hes got to be a day one banker.His opposition dont look in the same league, with Vaniteux representing Nicky Henderson. He jumps well too, mind you, and as a race for novices at the Festival we know that anything can happen. He won the Lightning Novices Chase last time out but this will be a different kettle of fish. Sizing John is an each-way price for Henry de Bromhead and he jumps well, but I cant see him reversing placings with Douvan, given clear rounds from both. Each-way Arkle contender The Game Changer is put through his paces on the gallops The Game Changer is interesting wherever he goes for Gordon Elliott, although this is apparently the plan. He has been off since October in order to be freshened up for spring festivals and is entered in this, the County Hurdle and the Grand Annual. He will prefer spring ground but looks an interesting each-way proposition given his favoured conditions on Tuesday. He has had a breathing operation since his last run and is carrying some of my each-way cash. Sky Racing Tickets Fast, secure racing tickets: Exclusive racing offers near you 2.50 - ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASEIn-form Warren Greatrex trains exciting novice Out Sam, who had five entries at the Festival, including in the RSA Chase. He is rated 139 and enough have come out for him to get a run in this. Kruzhlinin can go well for Phillip Hobbs, his rating of 148 looks a winnable mark. He has had two starts for Hobbs, having formerly been with Donald McCain, and won nicely at Kempton last time despite jumping left, so the return to a left-handed track will suit. Holywell won this two years ago off an 8lb lower mark, but was pulled up in the Sky Bet Chase last time out. He needs good ground and is en-route to the Grand National. The promising Out Sam could have a say in the big handicap chase on the opening day 3.30 - STAN JAMES CHAMPION HURDLEWhat an absolute shocker for Willie Mullins when both reigning Champ Faugheen and Arctic Fire were ruled out of the race. While lessening the quality, it has made the race more competitive for us punters. Rich Ricci has forked out £20,000 to add Annie Power to the race, but by my reckoning he can just about stretch to that! She would have been a shoo-in for the Mares Hurdle, providing she avoids a catastrophic mishap like last year, and is still short enough for this after her stroll round Punchestown on her reappearance. She gets weight from the boys though and her reappearance showed us she still has a leg in each corner and that they are moving in the order that God intended. Shes too short for me but it would be a travesty if a mare as good as her never won a race at the Cheltenham Festival.Nichols Canyon never seems to get the credit he deserves, but he has won six Grade 1s. Hes not flashy and therefore not a headline grabber, but hes consistent and talented. He would be one Id get more excited about if he were to run in the World Hurdle. Identity Thief won the Fighting Fifth for Henry De Bromhead and was second to Nichols Canyon at Leopardstown over Christmas. He has only had eight starts, seven over hurdles, and is still improving, but he needs to in order to reverse placings with Nichols Canyon. My Tent Or Yours (left) could go well in an open Champion Hurdle My Tent Or Yours is the horse I tipped up each-way here a few weeks ago and I stand by that suggestion in an open year.ddddddddddddYes, its a big ask to win after almost two years off the track, but the vibes are good. He has decent Festival form having finished second in the Supreme and second to Jezki in this in 2014. He can be keen and thats a worry after such a long layoff, but hell wear a bridle to help that (he will be fitted with a net muzzle - I put one on an old horse of mine once and so effective was it he went sideways everywhere until I took it off!). My Tent Or Yours has had a couple of away days at the sports to help take the fizz out of him. How Nicky Henderson could do with a Grade One winner this season and as the master of all he surveys at the Festival, he could bounce back in style.The New One has the vote of confidence from Sam Twiston-Davies. Hes had problems and his jumping doesnt impress, but hes won plenty and has a great engine. Nigel Twiston-Davies has apparently had a clearer run this season with him but I cant get excited about him. At a decent price another of the supplemented runners could be worth an each-way wager. Lil Rockerfeller is trained by Neil King who has his horses in great heart, and this horse is only 3-4lb off the best in this.4.10 OLBG MARES HURDLEMy favourite horse in training, Vroum Vroum Mag, is favourite for this and surely the others may as well stay at home?! It wont be that straightforward sadly and Ill admit to being a bit blinkered as far as this mare is concerned. But theres no way Ill bet against her, as she has continued to brush her rivals aside with ease. Vroum Vroum Mag is Alexs favourite horse in training 4.50 146th YEAR OF THE NATIONAL HUNT CHASEJonjo ONeills Minella Rocco is the horse AP said he would particularly miss riding when he retired, having ridden him to win both his novice hurdles. Since then, the horse hasnt won, but he was a staying-on second in the Reynoldstown to RSA hope Vyta Du Roc at Ascot over three miles last time out - a much-needed, improved performance. The stable form is some way from being ideal coming into the Festival, but Jonjo targets this meeting and hasnt been running too many in bad ground over the past couple of months, so dont fear if you fancy any of his runners during the week. Jockeyship counts for an awful lot in this and owner JP McManus has claimed Derek OConnor to ride, which is a huge plus. Noble Endeavour looks a solid contender for the National Hunt Chase Ive had a decent each-way bet on Noble Endeavour. Gordon Elliotts seven-year-old has some very strong-looking form and Festival form to boot, as he was only beaten on the nod by Killultagh Vic in the Martin Pipe race last season and is a winner over fences this term. He doesnt look an easy ride, but will have Jamie Codd on board, who is one of the best amateurs, and the horse has loads of ability.Colin Tizzard has his team in great form coming into the meeting and saddles Native River here and the horse is likely to have headgear on to sharpen him up. Southfield Royale cant be left out of equations for Neil Mulholland, who has made his mark at the Festival before. He was second in the Feltham behind Tea for Two, one place in front of Native River. He jumped to his left there, so hopefully Cheltenham will suit, although he is yet to run there. The booking of Nina Carberry is clearly a bonus, for a trainer who has already trained winners at this meeting in his relatively short career. Alex Hammond is joined by Ed Chamberlin to look ahead to an exciting week of racing at the Cheltenham Festival 5.30 CLOSE BROTHERS NOVICES HANDICAP CHASEThis is a really competitive handicap with all the horses not likely to have much between them on ratings. I was on the Sky Bet Cheltenham preview panel in Leeds and trainer Warren Greatrex was really keen on the chances of his Aloomomo, who carries co-top weight. The horse is improving and now runs off a mark of 140.Willows Saviour has a very good record since joining Dan Skelton in 2013. He had a couple of years off, but came back to win two of his three starts over fences including a confidence boost in a small field at Fakenham most recently. He has run in Grade One company this term too and is only rated 138 for his handicap debut over fences.The Paul Nicholls-trained Bouvreuil was second in the Fred Winter last season off 133 and is off 139 for his handicap debut over fences. He started his chasing career in top-flight company in the Henry VIII Novices Chase and was beaten in the Lightning Novices Chase last time, but the trip was on the short side for him there.Also See:Live results serviceFull racecards ￡10 free betGet Sky Sports ' ' '