Cheltenham 2010 News
Last Updated:- Monday, 15 March, 2010 11:39
Eight rivals stand between Master Minded and a third consecutive Queen Mother Champion Chase victory.
Paul Nicholls' runner decimated his rivals in 2008, whilst he had to work a little harder to beat Well Chief by seven lengths last season.
The David Pipe-trained rival challenges again, while Nicholls also saddles Twist Magic, a faller at the second-last in last years renewal.
Last year's Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer taks his chance as does Kalahari King.
Willie Mullins runs Golden Silver, whilst another of last years fallers, Big Zeb, also has another attempt.
Oh Crick and Mahogany Blaze are the other contenders.
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After the recent “will they, won’t they” scares both Binocular and Solwhit are amongst the dozen final entries for Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson’s Binocular makes the final line-up, following his third 12 months ago after overcoming a recent fitness scare that had potentially ruled him out of the contest. Henderson also runs last years winner Punjabi and Zaynar.
Solwhit will also take his chance having recovered from a dirty scope last week
Noel Meade’s Go Native heads the field and is in line for a £1million bonus from betting firm WBX.com if triumphant after landing the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and then the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.
Jumbo Rio, Won In The Dark and Raise Your Heart also making the journey over from Ireland are the other Irish contenders.
Paul Nicholls challenge is headed by the 2009 runner-up Celestial Halo.
Khyber Kim, Merdermit and Starluck are the other contenders in an open contest.
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Day three of The Festival features two Grade One championship races - the Ladbrokes World Hurdle (3.20pm) and the Ryanair Chase (2.40pm).
Big Buck’s was an impressive winner of the 2009 World Hurdle and he heads the 16 confirmations for the three-mile event this time around. Trained by Paul Nicholls, the seven-year-old has won both his outings this season.
Howard Johnson saddled the great Inglis Drever to a record three victories in the World Hurdle he hopes Tidal Bay can emulate his illustrious former stable mate.
Tidal Bay Arkle Novices’ Chase in 2008.
Other possible starters include last year’s third Powerstation, one of seven possible runners from Ireland that also includes the 2006 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition, who has scored in Grade Two company over hurdles on his last two outings.
A total of 18 horses have stood their ground in the Ryanair Chase, with half of those trained in Ireland. Among the Irish-trained contingent is Tranquil Sea, who registered a major victory at Cheltenham earlier this season when winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open in November.
The current market leader in the Ryanair Chase is Poquelin, from the stable of champion trainer Paul Nicholls and runner-up to Tranquil Sea in the Paddy Power Gold Cup when conceding 2lb to that rival. The seven-year-old subsequently landed the Boylesports.com Gold Cup over the course and distance on December 12.
The Queen went close to enjoying a winner at The Festival when Barbers Shop was runner-up in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase two years ago and the same horse is set to carry the Royal silks in the Ryanair Chase, having finished third behind Kauto Star on his latest appearance in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Voy Por Ustedes is a regular at The Festival, having taken the Arkle Trophy in 2006 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase the following season. Last year, he was the two-length runner-up to Imperial Commander in the Ryanair Chase and could attempt to go one better this year, while Schindlers Hunt, third 12 months ago, is another possible starter.
Day three of The Festival kicks off with the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase (1.30pm) for which there are 62 acceptors, followed by the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (2.05pm), where the 66 acceptors include last year’s victor Kayf Aramis.
Also on Thursday’s six-race card are the Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase (4.00pm, 54 confirmations) and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Handicap Chase, for amateur riders, which has attracted 64 acceptors.
Thursday concludes with the Festival Ladies Charity Sweepstake in aid of Cancer Research UK. The flat race, run over one mile and five furlongs, takes place at 5.15pm.
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Binocular has been confirmed as a runner in Tuesday’s Champion Hurdle after being given a workout on Friday.
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Sam Thomas will miss next week's Cheltenham Festival after suffering cracked vertebrae in a fall on the gallops on Thursday morning.
Thomas sustained back and neck injuries and was airlifted to Royal United Hospital in Bath following the accident.
It has been reported on Thursday evening that his injuries are not as serious as first believed and Thomas is able to walk, talk and move his arms and legs.
Thomas rode Denman to victory in the 2008 Gold Cup.
His rides at the Festival this year included the Paul Nicholls trained Tricky Trickster in the Gold Cup and Tom George's (for whom he is stable jockey) Tell Massini, current favourite for the Albert Bartlett.
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The acceptors for the seven races on day two of The Festival have been announced with Master Minded, seeking to become only the second horse to win the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase three times, among 14 entries remaining in the contest (due off at 3.20pm).
Trained by Paul Nicholls, the seven-year-old won by 19 lengths in 2008 and by seven lengths from Well Chief in 2009. Nicholls is also set to be represented by Twist Magic, a Grade One scorer on his latest two starts.
Forpadydeplasterer winner of last years Arkle over the course and distance is also entered. He was last seen finishing 15 lengths second to Twist Magic on unsuitably soft ground in Sandown’s Tingle Creek Chase on December 5.
The Irish-trained contingent of five also includes Big Zeb, who got within a head of Master Minded at last year’s Punchestown Festival, the 2006 hero Newmill, as well as the useful Willie Mullins-trained pair of Golden Silver and Barker.
Wednesday kicks off with the 140th Year Of The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup (1.30pm), which has attracted 27 acceptors, while Rite Of Passage, trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld, is a clear favourite for the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (2.05pm), for which he is one of 34 going forward.
The RSA Chase (2.40pm) has 17 horses still. Nicky Henderson, the most successful current trainer at The Festival, looks to hold the aces with Long Run, Punchestowns and Burton Port, the first two being Grade One winners this season and Burton Port a Grade Two scorer at Ascot last time out, while other leading contenders include Weird Al, unbeaten over fences and a winner twice at Cheltenham already this season, and Diamond Harry, who showed high-class form over hurdles and has won his two starts over fences.
The handicap action on Wednesday consists of the Coral Cup (4.00pm), always an ultra-competitive affair which has attracted 75 acceptors, and the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (4.40pm), for which 65 four-year-olds go forward.
Day two of The Festival concludes with the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.15pm). Since its inception in 1992, Irish-trained horses have won 14 of the 17 runnings and that dominance could well continue as they account for 14 of the remaining 28 entries in the extended two-mile contest. Among the Irish-trained contenders are Elegant Concorde and Hidden Universe, the two market leaders who both hail from the Dermot Weld yard.
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Cheltenham Racecourse have announced that this year’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, on Tuesday, March 16, will be the last under the sponsorship banner of the world-leading paper packaging group. The company has sponsored the race since 1991 in an era that has included the career of Istabraq, one of the most dominant hurdlers of modern times.
Reflecting on two decades of sponsorship at Cheltenham, Gary McGann, Group Chief Executive of Smurfit Kappa, said: “The Smurfit Kappa Group is pleased to have fully honoured its sponsorship commitment to the Champion Hurdle. We have enjoyed the excellent working relationship with the Cheltenham management team and we wish them every success in finding a suitable future sponsor for this famous event.”
Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham’s Managing Director, added: “It has been a joy to have the support of Smurfit Kappa for so many years. Sir Michael Smurfit, a great friend to racing, was initially the driving force behind the deal and it was appropriate that he had a runner in the first Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in 1991.
“It wasn’t until 1998 that the great Istabraq became the first Irish winner of the race under the Smurfit banner, and since then, Irish-trained horses have won on a further six occasions.
“On behalf of everyone at Cheltenham, I’d like to express our huge gratitude to Smurfit Kappa for everything the company has done to promote this great race.”
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The acceptors for the six races on the opening day of the Festival have been announced.
The day one feature is the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (3.20pm), for which 17 horses stand their ground. Defending champion Punjabi is one of three entries for trainer Nicky Henderson along with Binocular, who finished third 12 months ago, and Zaynar, winner of the 2009 Triumph Hurdle.
Irish-trained horses account for 10 of the 17 entries remaining in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and include last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle victor Go Native and Solwhit, who headed the ante-post market in the past few weeks but is now facing a battle to make the final line-up following a dirty scope at the weekend.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is set to be represented by last year’s runner-up Celestial Halo while Khyber Kim, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, will attempt to maintain his 100 per cent record at Cheltenham this season.
Final declarations for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle take place on Sunday, , while the remaining five races on Tuesday have 24-hour declarations on Monday, March 15.
The Festival gets underway with the traditional curtain-raiser, the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.30pm), for which there are 34 acceptors, headed by Dunguib. The seven-year-old, triumphant in the 2009 Champion Bumper and unbeaten over hurdles.
The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy (2.05pm) has 17 possible starters at the six-day confirmation stage. Currently heading them is Captain Cee Bee, trained in Ireland by Eddie Harty and seeking a second success at The Festival following his victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle two years ago. Another leading Irish contender is Sizing Europe and the former top-class hurdler is unbeaten in four starts over fences. Henrietta Knight has entered Somersby, who finished third to Go Native at The Festival last year and is unbeaten in both his outings over fences so far.
The handicap action consists of the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (2.40pm), for which there 55 acceptors and the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeplechase (4.00pm) over Cheltenham’s unique Cross Country course. All of the previous five renewals of this race have fallen to horses trained in Ireland, with four of those going to horses owned by J P McManus and trained by Enda Bolger. Irish-trained horses account for 12 of the 25 acceptors with five hailing from the Bolger stable including Garde Champetre, the winner for the past two years as well as L’Ami and Drombeag, the second and third in 2009.
Day one of The Festival draws to a close with the third running of the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle (4.40pm), for which there are 21 entries including Quevega, the 14-length victor in 2009.
Fallon "U-turn" - Kieren Fallon changes his mind and will not ride Old McDonald in Festival bumper. Paul Carberry replaces him
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The 2010 Champion Hurdle "curse" seems to be staying around as Solwhit now becomes a doubt for the highlight of the opening day. The Charles Byrne trained gelding, one of the favourites for the contest has "scoped dirty". The horse has been put on a course of antibiotics and a final decision as to his participation is expected to be made later in the week.
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Previous winner Sublimity is to miss the Champion Hurdle after sustaining a leg injury. He has a suspensory injury which will need up to three months rest.
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Punchestowns has suffered a setback after pulling a shoe off in training, however Binocular may still run in the Champion Hurdle after an examination has found no problem with the gelding.
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Paul Nicholls Taranis will miss both the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and the John Smith's Grand National.
The nine-year-old has met with a training setback.
Winner The 2007 Ryanair Chase, he made a winning return in the Argento Chase at Cheltenham in January, having been off for two years with a leg injury. It is believed the current setback is not believed to be leg related.
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Ticket sales for this years Festival are going well and Friday will be a sell-out with no tickets being available on the day. The Best Mate and Grandstand enclosures are sold out and there are only 2,500 Club Enclosure tickets remaining.
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The weights for the Cheltenham Festival handicaps have been revealed at Cheltenham Racecourse.
The handicappers have admitted framing the weights for the novice contests has been particularly tricky due to the lack of form as a result of the bad weather and what form there is being on soft ground, where good ground is predicted for the Festival.
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Alan King has confirmed the news, expected by many in the industry, that Mille Chief will miss the JCB Triumph Hurdle. However an injury scare meant he missed his intended engagement llast weekend and King hinted it would be unlikely his star would make the Festival.
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Cheltenham fancy Whiteoak, one of Donald McCains stable stars has been retired.
The mare won the inaugural David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at the 2008 Cheltenham Festival and finished 12th in the Champion Hurdle 12 months later.
In a statement to Racing UK McCain said, "Unfortunately Whiteoak has picked up a minor injury. We had her scanned late yesterday evening and have just received the results.
"I wanted to let everybody know that she will not run again this year. Having spoken to the owners, it has been decided that she should go to stud to be covered in the spring.
"She has been a fantastic servant to the yard but I have never known a horse put so much into her work and her niggles have finally caught up with her."
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Speaking on At The Races, trainer Philip Fenton has confirmed Dunguib will not be taking part in the Champion Hurdle, where he still holds an entry, and he will be aimed at the Supreme Novices'.
Fenton said, "If he jumped a little bit slicker at Leopardstown we might have considered the Champion Hurdle after that but on his performance that day, and his jumping part of it, we decided to stick to the novice route.
"I wouldn't by any means call it an ordinary Champion Hurdle, there are lots of good horses there, and that's why we're sticking to the original plan.
"The Supreme Novices' Hurdle is where we're going and we have tunnel vision about it now. That's his race."
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Irish handler Dermot Weld has confirmed that both Elegant Concorde and Hidden Universe are on course for the Bumper.
Nicky Henderson has confirmed his veteran Caracciola will by-pass the Festival and will, once again, be aimed at the flat.
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Tony McCoy is to ride Forpaddydeplasterer in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
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Imperial Commander, considered by many to be the main threat to the apparent Nicholls stranglehold on the Gold Cup, had a racecourse workout after racing at Kempton on Saturday.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and rider Paddy Brennan both said they were happy with the workout.
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Several Cheltenham fancies, including Tranquil Sea will be having their final pre-Festival races at Leopardstown on Sunday.
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A question mark hangs over Mille Chief’s participation in the Triumph Hurdle.
Alan King's promising star was due to run at Kempton today but was withdrawn having found to be lame.
The injury now appears to be worse than initially thought hence the Festival doubts.
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Entries for the handicap races have been announced, with the weights set to be revealed next Wednesday.
Kieran Fallon is to ride Old McDonald in the Champion Bumper
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Paul Nicholls has hosted a media open day in the run-up to the Cheltenham Festival at which he parade some 25 horses including Kauto Star and Denman who are, once again, going head to head again in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Nicholls plans to run five horses in blue riband contest, with Taranis, Tricky Trickster and My Will joining the two stable stars. What A Friend, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, will be targeted instead at Aintree and Punchestown and will only run in the Gold Cup if one of the other contenders fails to make the race.
Nichols was not too despondent following Denman’s unseating of Tony McCoy in the Aon Chase at Newbury, “Horses are not going to win every time. I was very happy with his run apart from the mistake he made four out where he slipped on landing. He would have won otherwise.
“I have looked at the recordings and he was in exactly the same place in the AON as he was when he won the Hennessy. If he had made the same mistake in the Hennessy, he would not have won the Hennessy. He was nowhere near ready the other day and that will have woken him up. You don’t want them at their very best in trial races.
“If you had seen him do a racecourse gallop at Exeter before the Hennessy, you would not have thought he’d win an egg and spoon race, let alone the Hennessy. Those sorts of days bring them along.
“Since Newbury, we have got a different horse. He has been tanking along and he worked great this morning - he will have three weeks of seriously hard graft now. Anyone who writes him off, writes him off at their peril.”
The handler had short shrift with those questioning the decision to give the Denman ride to McCoy, “All this nonsense about whether Tony McCoy is capable of riding him is the biggest load of twaddle I have heard in all my years in racing. He is champion jockey and will ride him well in the Gold Cup. He was unlucky the other day.”
Turning to the reigning champion Kauto Star, he commented, “He is well forward in his coat. As last year, once he had won the King George we decided that he did not need to run again before the Gold Cup. He goes really well when he is very, very fit and very, very fresh.
“He improved a lot from the Betfair Chase to the King George. Ruby (Walsh) said Kauto Star needed it at Haydock and he was phenomenal again at Kempton. I think the King George was as good a run as he has ever put up.
“He looks fantastic - we are very, very happy with his progress. He did a nice bit of work this morning and it is now a question of fine tuning him.
“Ruby came over on Saturday and schooled him and the other main Cheltenham challengers. He was happy with them.”
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Just under three weeks until the beginning of the Festival and the latest acceptors for the Grade One novice events and the National Hunt Chase have been revealed.
The traditionalo curtain raiser is the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, where 66 remain, headed by last years Champion Bumper winner Dunguib. Dunguib looks like going off a very short priced favourite with his main rivals looking to be Rite Of Passage, Menorah and Get Me Out Of Here.
Although Rite Of Passage, third to Dunguib last year, has the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday as his main target and he is one of 69 acceptors for that event.
The championship contest for four-year-old hurdlers is the JCB Triumph Hurdle on Friday,
March 19, for which 51 contenders go forward. With Irish raiders Alaivan and Carlito Brigante the top contenders.
Also taking place on Friday is the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. Prime contenders amongst the 61 acceptors for this event are Najafand Tell Massini, twice a winner at Cheltenham already this season.
In the chase division 36 remain in the The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy on the Tuesday with the Feltham Chase winner Long Run potentially facing the 2008 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle scorer Captain Cee Bee and Sizing Europe.
However Long Run’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, has made no secret that the five-year-old’s much more likely target is the RSA Chase on Wednesday where a total of 34 horses remain engaged.
Also taking place on Wednesday is the National Hunt Chase, for which there are 52 horses going forward.
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Keith Reveley’s Tazbar will miss the RSA Chase after suffering a tendon injury. The injury is described as being “slight” but it will mean the promising chaser misses the remainder of the season
Nick Williams has expressed concerns about the chances of Diamond Harry winning the RSA Chase, based on his recent performance at Newbury, where his jumping was far from fluent. Williams also says he if far from convinced that impressive Haydock winner Me Voci should head for the Triumph Hurdle, he sees the gelding as being a chaser rather than hurdler.
Edward O’Grady has said Tranquil Sea will now go to the Festival without a prep run, following the abandonment of Sunday’s meeting at Naas.
Alan King has confirmed Katchit will be running in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
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The participation of the first Australian-trained Cheltenham entry, Gorge, looks to be in doubt following an injury scare according to trainer Anthony Cosgriff.
Speaking to the Racing Post the trainer said, "We are not making any big decisions at this stage, but obviously a problem this close to the Festival is very concerning for us.
"At the moment he would be odds-against for Cheltenham. He has a problem and we are now ascertaining how serious it is. We aren't giving up on Cheltenham, but the problem could be serious."
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Nicky Henderson has suffered his second Champion Hurdle setback in 24 hours after Zaynar was beaten at odds of 1/14, in what should have been a routine run at Kelso.
The victor was Howard Johnson's Quwetwo, a progressive sort who does not hold a Festival entry and will be switched to chasing next season.
Bookmakers reacted by lengthening Zaynar's odds for the Champion Hurdle, now generally available at 8/1.
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Binocular is to miss the Cheltenham festival after picking up a muscle injury.
The one time favourite for the Champion Hurdle had a lacklustre start to the season before winning a minor contest at Sandown earlier this month.
It is expected he will be out for the remainder of the season.
Nicky Henderson has confirmed that Petit Robin will be aimed at the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase.
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Venetia Williams Mobaasher is on course for a fourth Festival appearance after winning at Plumpton on Monday.
The seven-year-old who is two from four after switching to the larger obstackes could be aimed at either the RAS Chase or the National Hunt Cup.
Another Monday winner who looks to be Festival bound is Ferdy Murphy’s Poker De Sivola, a fortunate winner at Catterick after Vforvictory fell at the last. His likely target is either the Kim Muir or National Hunt Cup.
Nina Carberry will ride Dun Doire in the Christie Foxhunter Chase.
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Owner Robert Waley-Cohen has confirmed that Saturday's Kingmaker winner Lon Run will be aimed at the RSA Chase as opposed to the Ryanair Chase.
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Dubbed Super Saturday there were several top Festival contenders on display at Newbury and Warwick.
First up was Diamond Harry who put up an average, rather than spectacular, display of jumping in claiming the toteplacepot Novices’ Chase at Newbury. He will need to improve on his jumping if he is to win the RSA Chase at the Festival.
Next up was Long Run at in the totesport.com Kingmaker Chase at Warwick. Like Diamond Harry the jumping has scope for some improvement but he was possibly distracted by the front running King Edmund’s propensity to jump right. Connections are undecided if he will run in the RSA Chase or The Arkle with ground conditions being the deciding factor.
The Aon Chase at Newbury was the next big contest with Denman being ridden by AP McCoy for the first time (a controversial decision in some quarters).
For most of the contest “The Tank” jumped fluently. He made a uncharacteristic blunder four out but worse was to come three out when he made another blunder, this time unshipping McCoy.
To rub salt into McCoy’s wounds and to fan the flames of discussion Sam Thomas, who has previously ridden Denman, stayed on Winterwood at Warwick just 10 minutes later. The Winterwood blunder was far worse than Denman’s and not only did the horse stay on his feet but Thomas not only kept the partnership in tact but rallied the horse to grab victory from a seemingly impossible situation.
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Sit Harry Ormesher, a winner at Doncaster last Saturday, will run in the Coral Cup according to trainer Alan King. He is likely to be joined in the contest by stablemate Saticon.
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Trainer Paul Nolan has stated it is only 50-50 that Irish Hennessy winner Joncol will run at Cheltenham. If he does go to Cheltenham then the Ryanair will be the target.
However Nolan has stated his preferred target is the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown.
Willie Mullins trainer of the Hennessy runner-up Cooldine has confirmed his charge heads straight to the Gold Cup.
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In the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown there was a mini-shock as the Paul Nolan trained Joncol battled past Cooldine in the final 100 yards of the contest.
Schindlers Hunt was a close third and may well have won had he not made a mistake at the last.
As a result both Joncol and Schindlers Hunt have seen their price cut for the Ryanair, whilst Cooldine is generally unchanged for the Gold Cup.
Also at Leopardstown Dunguib took his fourth straight win of the season and was cut to odds-on to win the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which is still his target according to trainer Philip Fenton.
Despite the trainers comments Paddy Power are offering 4/1, with a run, for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
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AP McCoy is to take the ride on Denman in the Gold Cup after Ruby Walsh decided to stick with Kauto Star. McCoy will also partner Denman in his expected appearance at Newbury on 13th February.
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Forpadydeplasterer, winner of last year’s Arkle, will miss the Festival after becoming lame. He is now likely to be aimed for the Punchestown Festival in April.
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Trainer Nicky Henderson had mixed fortunes with his Cheltenham contenders at Sandown on Saturday.
First up was Binocular who hardly broke sweat in winning the opening contest, although AP McCoy warned the horse is still not back to his very best.
Recent import, According, by contrast was a major disappointment finishing a tailed off last after looking the likely winner down the back straight.
Meanwhile Punchestowns gave his supporters a major fright, nearly coming down half way, but he recovered and came home with a comfortable victory.
Meanwhile Kalahari King was shortened for the Champion Chase after defying top weight in the Blue Square Handicap Chase at Doncaster.
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Cheltenham Racecourse have announced the opening race of The Festival, on Tuesday, March 16, will this year be called the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The race is being sponsored by the Stewart family, headed by Andy Stewart, the well-known businessman and owner.
One of Andy’s sons, Paul, suffered a severe spinal injury in a snowboarding accident in December, 2008. He was paralysed from the waist down and initially told by doctors that he would never walk again. However, pioneering treatment in the UK and in Miami has seen Paul progress to the stage where he can now get around with only a walking stick.
Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research around the world to develop reliable treatments for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck. Every year more than 800 people in the UK and Ireland are paralysed following an injury to their spinal cord. Spinal Research raises money to fund research into clinical treatments as well as vital basic scientific research. Thanks to this work, the treatment of paralysis is improving all the time and some therapies can now, in some cases, help restore movement and feeling, in the process transforming the lives of paralysed people.
Commenting on his support of this historic race, Andy Stewart said: “For obvious reasons this is a cause close to my heart, and a high-profile sponsorship seemed a great opportunity to increase awareness of Spinal Research and highlight the great work that it does for victims of spinal injuries.
“We are holding a Racing Legends Dinner at the Jumeirah Carlton Hotel in London on Tuesday, April 6, which I’m hoping will add a significant sum to the charity’s coffers. Many people involved in racing have experienced spinal accidents and we are committed to continue the quest to help, understand and to seek a cure.”
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Solwhit has moved to the head of the Champion Hurdle betting after taking the Irish version at Leopardstown .
Celestial Hero made the early running but had to cede the lead after three out as Solwhit, Donnas Palm and Sublimity all breezed past with the latter named hitting the front initially.
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Defending champion Big Buck’s heads 35 entries for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. Paul Nicholls’ charge defeated the Nicky Henderson-trained Punchestowns to win the 2009 renewal of the three-mile contest and has been in great form this season, winning the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle from Lough Derg and the Grade One Long Walk Hurdle from Karabak, both at Newbury.
Nick Williams has entered Diamond Harry, who was third in the Long Walk Hurdle, whilst the progressive Lie Forrit also has an entry.
The Henry Daly-trained Mighty Man, runner-up to Inglis Drever in the 2007, filled that same berth behind Big Buck’s in the John Smith’s Liverpol Hurdle at Aintree last term.
A 12-strong Irish entry features the Edward O’Grady-trained Torphichen and Jumbo Rio, as well as the Mouse Morris trained War Of Attrition.
Cape Tribulation has been entered by Malcolm Jefferson and the trainer is considering his options, the runner also holds an entry in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle two days earlier.
Other notable entries include 2008 Champion Hurdle winner Katchit and the same season’s Champion Bumper hero Cousin Vinny, as well as the high-class but unpredictable Tidal Bay from the Howard Johnson yard.
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21 of the 34 entries for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle are Irish.
Heading the challenge from across the Irish Sea is the Noel Meade-trained Go Native, winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season. The seven-year-old has already the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November and the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton the following month, beating Starluck, who also holds a Champion Hurdle entry.
Solwhit was third behind Go Native at Newcastle butbeat the 2007 Champion Hurdle victor Sublimity in the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle. Both horses are set to re-oppose in this weekend’s Irish Champion Hurdle, where they could meet the progressive Donnas Palm, who landed the Grade Two Tara Hurdle on his latest appearance.
Voler La Vedette has been forced to miss her intended engagement in the Irish Champion Hurdle but the talented six-year-old, a 13-length winner over Go Native in a Grade Three Hurdle at Down Royal in November, may bid to become the first mare to land the Champion Hurdle since Flakey Dove in 1994.
A trio of entries from the stable of Willie Mullins includes last season’s David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle winner Quevega, while Philip Fenton has given an entry to the exciting novice Dunguib.
The home defence is set to be headed by last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner Zaynar, who has posted two impressive Grade Two victories so far this season.
A horse with a 100 per cent record at Cheltenham this season is Khyber Kim, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. The eight-year-old came with a tremendous run from way off the pace to land the Greatwood Hurdle at The Open in November and then successfully stepped up in class to land one of the leading trials for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, the Boylesports.com International, in December when he had Celestial Halo, Medermit, Punjabi and Ebadiyan in arrears. If successful on March 16, Khyber Kim would collect a £200,000 bonus from Boylesports for winning both the Boylesports.com International and the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
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Master Minded heads the 24 entries for the One Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, aiming to become only the second horse to win the £320,000 two-mile championship three times, following Badsworth Boy in the 1980s.
The seven-year-old is one of five entries for champion Jump trainer Paul Nicholls along with Free World, I’msingingtheblues, Takeroc and Twist Magic.
A strong Irish entry of seven includes the 2009 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy victor Forpadydepasterer as well as Big Zeb, who was travelling well when falling four out last year, the 2006 victor Newmill and Tranquil Sea, already a winner at Cheltenham this season following his victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on November 14.
The smart novice chaser Sizing Europe has also been given an entry.
Well Chief, the 2004 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy victor and twice runner-up in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, has been entered by David Pipe.
Voy Por Ustedes is no stranger to Festival glory having captured both the 2006 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy and the 2007 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase. Alan King’s charge has been entered once more for the latter contest and is also one of 43 entries for the Grade One Ryanair Chase, in which he finished second last year as the odds-on favourite.
The Sir Robert Ogden-owned nine-year-old was sixth on his latest start in the Grade One Lexus Chase over three miles at Leopardstown on December 29. King is yet to decide whether his charge will contest the two-mile Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase or the Ryanair Chase, staged over an extra five furlongs and worth a record £250,000 in 2010.
The Barbury Castle trainer revealed today: “Voy Por Ustedes came back A-one from his run in Ireland and in all likelihood will go to the Game Spirit Chase (two miles & a furlong) at Newbury next month.
We will have a look at our options based on what he does there.
“We have given him entries in both the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase, so at this stage he could go for either race.”
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43 runners have been entered for the Ryanair chase amongst them are the Queen’s Barbers Shop, the 2008 RSA Chase victor Albertas Run and Poquelin, successful over the course and distance in the Boylepsorts.com Gold Cup last month.
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Kauto Star, looking for a third win, heads the entries for this yearstotesport.com Cheltenham Gold Cup.
There are only 27 entries for the Blue Riband event, the lowest in recent years, which will take place on Friday 19th March.
Kauto Star is bidding bid to emulate Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate in claiming a third victory in the £475,000 Grade One contest.
His chief rival this season looks once again to be stable-companion Denman, who had his rival seven lengths in arrears when winning the 2008 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and took the runner-up spot in last year’s contest after an interrupted preparation. On his only appearance so far this season, the 10-year produced one of the great weight-carrying performances of modern times to land the Grade Three Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury in November.
A strong hand for the champion trainer, bidding to become the first handler to win four successive totesport Cheltenham Gold Cups since Basil Briscoe (1932-35), may also include the Hennessy Gold Cup runner-up What A Friend, who has gone on to Grade One success in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown for partowner Sir Alex Ferguson.
Other notable contenders include Imperial Commander, who took the Grade One Ryanair Chase at The Festival last season and went down by a nose to Kauto Star in the Grade One Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in November.
The Irish challenge of eight is headed by the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Cooldine, successful in last season’s Grade One RSA Chase, and the unexposed Glencove Marina.
Trainer Mark Bradstock is considering letting his star chaser Carrurthers take on the very best after finishing fourth in the RSA Chase at The Festival in 2009 and was a comfortable winner on his latest start at Newbury last month.
For full entry details click here