The going
remains SOFT on all courses under the frost covers.
Simon
Claisse, Head of Racing, South West Region & Cheltenham's Clerk of the
Course, said today at 1pm: "There are forecast to be occasional wintry
showers tonight. These showers are only expected to amount to one millimetre of
rain.
"We
did not get any rain yesterday or overnight, and there has been none so far
today.
"During
The Festival itself, we are expecting the odd shower but nothing significant.
"I
think The Festival should start with soft going tomorrow, but I am guessing
because I won't know until the frost covers are lifted and that process will
start as late as possible tomorrow - 10am.
"The
lifting of the covers on the Old Course (used for racing on Tuesday and
Wednesday) has to be complete by 1.15pm but should be finished before then.
"I
will then walk the course to assess the going. The lowest temperature we are
forecast tonight and tomorrow morning is minus six degrees Celsius."
SIX TO
TAKE ON SPRINTER SACRE IN QUEEN MOTHER
Sprinter
Sacre heads a final field of seven for the Sportingbet Queen Mother
Champion Chase following the final declarations for Wednesday's feature race.
Last
year's winner Finian's Rainbow will not return to defend his crown but the 2011
winner Sizing Europe has been declared after trainer Henry de Bromhead
opted to run his stable star in the two-mile event as opposed to Thursday's
Ryanair Chase.
The
supplemented Mail De Bievre stands his ground as does Somersby who
will be running at his fifth consecutive Cheltenham Festival. The field is made
up of the trio of Sanctuaire, Tataniano and Wishfull Thinking,who
fell in the race last year.
The final
declarations for the remainder of Tuesday's card have also come through and a
total of 12 horses have been confirmed for the William Hill Supreme Novices'
Hurdle, headed by current favourite My Tent Or Yours. Owner J P McManus
is likely to be responsible for the first two in the market after Jezki
stood his ground whilst last year's Weatherbys Champion Bumper winner Champagne
Fever has also been declared. However, the well-fancied Melodic Rendezvous
misses the race after scoping badly.
A total
of seven horses stand their ground in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase
with Simonsig and Overturn set to do battle in one of the most
eagerly-anticipated clashes of the week. The Irish-trained pair of Arvika
Ligeonnaire and Baily Green have also been confirmed to run whilst
the field is completed by His Excellency, Majala and the Lucinda
Russell-trained Tap Night.
Quevega will
face 18 rivals as she bids to emulate the great Golden Miller in winning at
five consecutive Festivals. Willie Mullins' mare has taken the OLBG Mares'
Hurdle for the past four years and bookmakers make her odds-on once again to
land the spoils. Her main rivals Une Artiste (winner of last year's Fred
Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle) and Kentford Grey Lady both line up
against her whilst David Pipe has also declared Swing Bowler, a daugher
of Cheltenham specialist Lady Cricket.
Enda
Bolger has won four renewals of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
and he is responsible for two of the final field of 16 in the shape of Arabella
Boy (Nina Carberry) and Freneys Well (Richie McLernon). Last year's
winner Balthazar King has not been declared but the 2011 winner Sizing
Australia has alongside the 2010 victor A New Story as have the
Willie Mullins-trained pair of Uncle Junior (Patrick Mullins) and Shakervilz
(Katie Walsh).
The
biggest fields of the day unsurprisingly come in the two most competitive
handicaps with a maximum field of 24 set to line-up for the JLT Specialty Chase
whilst 20, also a maximum, have been declared for the Rewards4Racing Novices'
Handicap Chase. Quartz de Thaix heads the weights for the former with
the Colin Tizzard-trained Golden Chieftain the last horse to sneak in
the race at the bottom of the handicap. Last year's runner-up Fruity
O'Rooney stands his ground as does the ante-post favourite Our Mick
but Cantlow is a notable absentee though Paul Webber's gelding does hold other
entries later on in the week.
Rajdhani
Express carries top-weight in the Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase
with Tim Vaughan's Saved By John the last horse to get a run in that
particular race. Ante-post favourite Colour Squadron stands his ground
as does the 2011 Coral Cup winner Carlito Brigante.
Tuesday's
Eliminations
JLT
Specialty Chase: Battle Group, De Boitron, Thegreatjohnbrownie, Billie Magern,
Mountainous, No Secrets, Ballyoliver, Time For Spring, Pentiffic, Glenquest,
Lively Baron, Prophete de Guye, Riguez Dancer, Plein Pouvoir, Bescot Springs.
Glenfarclas
Cross Country Handicap Chase: Dashing George, Pentiffic, Gullible
Gordon, Shalimar Fromentro, Triggerman, Victrix Gale, Midnight Haze, Paco Jack,
Drawn N Drank, Northern Alliance, Doctor Pat, Clear Hills.
Rewards4Racing
Novices' Handicap Chase: Kingsmere, Rouge Et Blanc, Eastlake, Yurok,
Battle Group, Urgence d'Estruval, Kealigolane, Saphir River, Mountainous, Toner
d'Oudairies, Ballypatrick, Nobunga, Escort'men, Sustainability, Top Smart,
Bennys Mist, Arbeo, Saoirse Dun, Clouded Thoughts, Megastar, Sew On Target,
Please Talk, Gores Island.
TUESDAY'S
DECLARED RUNNERS
1:30pm
William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle (12), 2m 110yds, Grade 1
1 Cause
of Causes (USA) Gordon Elliott, Ireland 11st 7lb Davy Condon
2
Champagne Fever (IRE) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 11st 7lb R.
Walsh
3
Cheltenian (FR) Philip Hobbs 11st 7lb Richard Johnson
4 Dodging
Bullets Paul Nicholls 11st 7lb Daryl Jacob
5 Fire
King (Sheepskin C/P) Daniel Steele 11st 7lb Liam
Treadwell
6 Jezki
(IRE) Mrs J. Harrington, Ireland 11st 7lb Robbie Power
7 My Tent
Or Yours (IRE) Nicky Henderson 11st 7lb A. P. McCoy
8
Ostentation (Hood) Alastair Lidderdale 11st 7lb Will
Kennedy
9 Pique
Sous (FR) (Tongue Strap) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 11st 7lb Paul
Townend
10 Puffin
Billy (IRE) Oliver Sherwood 11st 7lb Leighton Aspell
11 River
Maigue (IRE) Nicky Henderson 11st 7lb Barry Geraghty
12 Un
Atout (FR) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 11st 7lb Davy Russell
2.05pm
Racing Post Arkle (7), 2m, Grade 1
1 Arvika
Ligeonniere (FR) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 11st 7lb R.
Walsh
2 Baily Green
(IRE) (Tongue Strap) M. F. Morris, Ireland 11st 7lb D. J.
Casey
3 His
Excellency (IRE) (Blinkers) David Pipe 11st 7lb Tom
Scudamore
4 Majala
(FR) (Tongue Strap) Tom George 11st 7lb Paddy Brennan
5
Overturn (IRE) Donald McCain 11st 7lb Jason Maguire
6
Simonsig Nicky Henderson 11st 7lb Barry Geraghty
7 Tap
Night (USA) Lucinda Russell 11st 7lb A. P. McCoy
2:40pm
JLT Specialty Handicap Chase (24 - 15 eliminations), 3m 110yds, Grade 3
1 Quartz
de Thaix (FR) Venetia Williams 11st 12lb Aidan Coleman
2
Midnight Chase (Tongue Strap) Neil Mulholland 11st 11lb Dougie Costello
3 Planet
of Sound (Tongue Strap) Philip Hobbs 11st 9lb Richard Johnson
4 Cloudy
Too (IRE) Sue Smith 11st 5lb Wayne Hutchinson
5 The
Package (Tongue Strap) David Pipe 11st 5lb Timmy Murphy
6 Hey Big
Spender (IRE) (Tongue Strap) Colin Tizzard 11st 4lb Joe Tizzard
7 Our
Mick Donald McCain 11st 4lb Jason Maguire
8 Nadiya
de La Vega (FR) (Sheepskin C/P) Nicky Henderson 11st 3lb A. P. McCoy
9
Quantitativeeasing (IRE) Nicky Henderson 11st 3lb Barry Geraghty
10
Knockara Beau (IRE) (Tongue Strap) George Charlton 11st 1lb Paddy Brennan
11 Tour
des Champs (FR) Nigel Twiston-Davies 10st 12lb Sam Twiston-Davies
12 Merry
King (IRE) (Sheepskin C/P) Jonjo O'Neill 10st 12lb Richie McLernon
13 Fruity
O'Rooney (Sheepskin C/P) Gary Moore 10st 12lb Jamie Moore
14
Jadanli (IRE) (Sheepskin C/P) Paul John Gilligan, Ireland 10st 11lb A. E. Lynch
15 Tenor
Nivernais (FR) (Sheepskin C/P) Venetia Williams 10st 11lb Robert Dunne (3)
16 Pete
The Feat (IRE) Charlie Longsdon 10st 10lb Noel Fehily
17 Loch
Ba (IRE) Mick Channon 10st 10lb Dominic Elsworth
18 Nuts N
Bolts (Tongue Strap) Lucinda Russell 10st 8lb Peter Buchanan
19 Poole
Master David Pipe 10st 7lb Tom Scudamore
20
Monkerty Tunkerty Miss Jessica Westwood 10st 7lb Will Kennedy
21
Tullamore Dew (IRE) (Tongue Strap) Nick Gifford 10st 6lb Tom Cannon (3)
22 White
Star Line (IRE) D. T. Hughes, Ireland 10st 5lb Bryan J. Cooper
23
Summery Justice (IRE) Venetia Williams 10st 5lb Liam Treadwell
24 Golden
Chieftain (IRE) (Tongue Strap, Sheepskin C/P) Colin Tizzard 10st 5lb Brendan
Powell (3)
Eliminated:
Battle Group, De Boitron (FR), Thegreatjohnbrowne (IRE), Billie Magern,
Mountainous (IRE), No Secrets (IRE), Ballyoliver, Time For Spring (IRE),
Pentiffic (NZ), Glenquest (IRE), Lively Baron (IRE), Prophete de Guye (FR),
Riguez Dancer, Plein Pouvoir (FR), Bescot Springs (IRE)
3:20pm
Stan James Champion Hurdle (9), 2m 110yds, Grade 1
1 Balder
Succes (FR) Alan King 11st 10lb Wayne Hutchinson
2
Binocular (FR) Nicky Henderson11st 10lb A. P. McCoy
3 Cinders
And Ashes Donald McCain11st 10lb Jason Maguire
4
Countrywide Flame John Quinn 11st 10lb Denis O'Regan
5
Grandouet (FR) Nicky Henderson11st 10lb Barry Geraghty
6
Hurricane Fly (IRE) W. P. Mullins, Ireland11st 10lb R. Walsh
7 Khyber
Kim Nicky Henderson 11st 10lb Paddy Brennan
8 Rock On
Ruby (IRE) (Blinkers, Tongue Strap) Harry Fry 11st 10lb Noel Fehily
9
Zarkandar (IRE) Paul Nicholls11st 10lb Daryl Jacob
4.00pm
Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeple Chase (16 - 12 eliminations), 3m 7f
1 Uncle
Junior (IRE) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 11st 12lb Mr P. W.
Mullins
2 Outlaw
Pete (IRE) John Halley, Ireland 11st 2lb Mr Josh Halley
(7)
3
Bostons Angel (IRE) Mrs J. Harrington, Ireland 11st 0lb
Robbie Power
4 Sizing
Australia (IRE) (Sheepskin C/P) Henry de Bromhead, Ireland 10st
11lb A. E. Lynch
5
Arabella Boy (IRE) Enda Bolger, Ireland 10st 9lb Miss N.
Carberry
6
Passato (GER) (Tongue Strap, Sheepskin C/P) Jo Davis 10st 7lb
Timmy Murphy
7
Saddlers Storm (IRE) A. J. Martin, Ireland 10st 6lb Paul
Carberry
8 Big Shu
(IRE) (Tongue Strap) Peter Maher, Ireland 10st 5lb B. M.
Cash
9 A New
Story (IRE) M. Hourigan, Ireland 10st 4lb A. P. Heskin
(3)
10 Any
Currency (IRE) (Eyeshields, Tongue Strap) Martin Keighley 10st
2lb Ian Popham (3)
11
Freneys Well (Sheepskin C/P) Enda Bolger, Ireland 10st 1lb
Richie McLernon
12
Shakervilz (FR) (Sheepskin C/P) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 10st
0lb Ms K. Walsh
13 Leac
An Scail (IRE) Joanne Foste r 10st 0lb Samantha Drake
(7)
14 Sacree
Tiepy (FR) (Tongue Strap) Emmanuel Clayeux, France 10st 0lb
James Reveley
15 Wedger
Pardy (IRE) (Blinkers) Kim Bailey 10st 0lb Miss J. Coward
(7)
16 Double
Dizzy (Tongue Strap) Bob Buckler 10st 0lb Andrew Glassonbury
Eliminated:
Dashing George (IRE), Pentiffic (NZ), Gullible Gordon (IRE), Shalimar Fromentro
(FR), Triggerman, Victrix Gale (IRE), Midnight Haze, Paco Jack (IRE), Drawn N
Drank (IRE), Northern Alliance (IRE), Doctor Pat (IRE), Clear Hills (IRE)
4.40pm
OLBG Mares' Hurdle (19), 2m 4f, Grade 2
1
Alasi Paul Webber 11st 5lb Dominic Elsworth
2 Kauto
Shiny (FR) Tom George 11st 5lb Paddy Brennan
3 Mae's
Choice (IRE) Gordon Elliott, Ireland 11st 5lb Paul
Carberry
4 Quevega
(FR) W. P. Mullins, Ireland 11st 5lb R. Walsh
5 Shadow
Eile (IRE) Mrs D. A. Love, Ireland 11st 5lb Andrew J.
McNamara
6 She
Ranks Me (IRE) (Sheepskin C/P) Donald McCain 11st 5lb Jason
Maguire
7 Sirene
d'Ainay (FR) (Tongue Strap) Emmanuel Clayeux, France 11st 5lb
Jonathan Plouganou
8 Une
Artiste (FR) Nicky Henderson 11st 5lb Barry Geraghty
9 Cloudy
Spirit Reg Hollinshead 11st 0lb
10 Epee
Celeste (FR) Michael Chapman 11st 0lb Gerard Galligan
11
Kaffie Kim Bailey 11st 0lb Sam Twiston-Davies
12
Kentford Grey Lady Emma Lavelle 11st 0lb Noel Fehily
13 Lady
Kathleen Paul Webber 11st 0lb Denis O'Regan
14 Miss
Milborne Jamie Snowden 11st 0lb Harry Skelton
15
Prima Porta Evan Williams 11st 0lb Paul Moloney
16 Shop
Dj (IRE) (Tongue Strap) Peter Fahey, Ireland 11st 0lb A. P.
Crowe
17 Stone
Light (FR) Venetia Williams 11st 0lb Aidan Coleman
18
Swincombe Flame (Tongue Strap) Nick Williams 11st 0lb Daryl
Jacob
19 Swing
Bowler David Pipe 11st 0lb Timmy Murphy
5.15pm
Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase (20 - 23 eliminations), 2m 4f 110yds,
Listed Race
1
Rajdhani Express Nicky Henderson 11st 12lb Mr S. Waley-Cohen
(5)
2
Kruzhlinin (GER) Donald McCain 11st 12lb Jason Maguire
3 Colour
Squadron (IRE) Philip Hobbs 11st 11lb A. P. McCoy
4 Klepht
(IRE) (Tongue Strap) Thomas Mullins, Ireland 11st 11lb Paul
Townend
5
Ackertac (IRE) (Blinkers) Nigel Twiston-Davies 11st 9lb Sam
Twiston-Davies
6
Vulcanite (IRE) (Tongue Strap) Charlie Longsdon 11st 9lb
Richard Johnson
7 Carlito
Brigante (IRE) (Tongue Strap, Sheepskin C/P) Gordon Elliott,
Ireland 11st 9lb Davy Russell
8
Shangani (USA) Venetia Williams 11st 9lb Aidan Coleman
9
Fourjacks Tim Easterby 11st 7lb Brian Harding
10 The
Druids Nephew (IRE) Andy Turnell 11st 7lb Tom Scudamore
11
Forgotten Gold (IRE) Tom George 11st 7lb
12
Bobowen (IRE) Dr Richard Newland 11st 7lb Nick
Scholfield
13 Ohio
Gold (IRE) (Tongue Strap) Colin Tizzard 11st 6lb Joe
Tizzard
14
Restless Harry (Blinkers) Robin Dickin 11st 6lb Henry
Oliver
15
Howard's Legacy (IRE) Venetia Williams 11st 6lb (5lb ex) Liam
Treadwell
16 Johns
Spirit (IRE) Jonjo O'Neill 11st 5lb Richie McLernon
17 Hazy
Tom (IRE) Charlie Longsdon 11st 5lb Noel Fehily
18
Nataani (IRE) (Blinkers, Tongue Strap) Jo Davis 11st 5lb
Timmy Murphy
19
Arthur's Pass Tom George 11st 5lb (5lb ex) Paddy
Brennan
20 Saved
By John (IRE) (Tongue Strap) Tim Vaughan 11st 4lb Michael
Byrne (3)
Eliminated:
Kingsmere, Rouge Et Blanc (FR), Eastlake (IRE), Yurok (IRE), Battle Group,
Urgence d'Estruval (FR), Kealigolane (IRE), Saphir River (FR), Mountainous
(IRE), Toner d'Oudairies (FR), Ballypatrick (IRE), Nobunaga, Escort'men (FR),
Sustainability (IRE), Top Smart, Bennys Mist (IRE), Arbeo (IRE), Saoirse Dun
(IRE), Clouded Thoughts (IRE), Megastar, Sew On Target (IRE)
DECLARED
RUNNERS FOR WEDNESDAY'S SPORTINGBET QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
1) Mail
de Bievre (FR) Tom George 8-11-10 Paddy Brennan
2)
Sanctuaire (FR) Paul Nicholls 7-11-10 Ruby Walsh
3) Sizing
Europe (IRE) Henry de Bromhead, Ireland 11-11-10 Andrew Lynch
4)
Somersby (IRE) (Sheepskin C/P) Mick Channon 9-11-10 Dominic Elsworth
5)
Sprinter Sacre (FR) Nicky Henderson 7-11-10 Barry Geraghty
6)
Tataniano (FR) Richard Rowe 9-11-10 Andrew Thornton
7)
Wishfull Thinking (Tongue Strap) Philip Hobbs 10-11-10 Richard Johnson
SPRINTER'S
TASK JUST GOT HARDER AS EUROPE LINES UP
Sprinter
Sacre's bid to extend his unbeaten run in Wednesday's Sportingbet Queen Mother
Champion Chase has been made more challenging by the declaration of perennial
Irish raider Sizing Europe.
The Henry
De Bromhead-trained 11-year-old has been in sparkling form this season and has
a fine Cheltenham Festival record, having won the Racing Post Arkle Trophy in
2010 and the Queen Mum in 2011. He was also second in the race last year.
A bid for
Thursday's Ryanair Chase over two miles and five furlongs was an option for the
Sizing Europe team, but De Bromhead and owners Ann and Alan Potts have plumped
for the shorter race. Yet following news of Sizing Europe's target the race
sponsors reacted by easing him from 5/1 to 11/2.
At
Cheltenham this morning, after exercising his Festival runners in the centre of
the course, De Bromhead said: "We made a decision late last night
[Sunday]. The horses travelled over yesterday and they all seem fine.
"Sizing
Europe has been out, stretched his legs and had a peck of grass and seems very
happy with life. The ground is fine - soft is ideal."
De
Bromhead has also declared Sizing Australia for tomorrow's Glenfarclas
Cross-Country Chase, on Wednesday he plans to run Sizing Gold in the Neptune
Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, while on Thursday he hopes to be
represented by Berties Dream in the Pertemps Final.
ACE BUYER
KEEPS MULLINS' TEAM ON THE FESTIVAL MAP
Behind
every great racehorse trainer there's a five-star scout, or in the case of
trainer Willie Mullins two scouts in the shape of Harold Kirk and Pierre
Boulard.
The pair
act as Mullins' eyes and ears away from the racecourse, seeking out the raw
material that keeps Ireland's champion trainer at the head of his profession,
representing him at sales and bidding for horses either privately or at public
auction. The results have been spectacular, as a list of Mullins' runners at
this week's Cheltenhan Festival verify.
Arriving
at Cheltenham the day before this year's Festival kicks off, Kirk, from Lisburn
in Northern Ireland, was asked to name some of this week's runners with which
he has been associated, and he said: "Sticking to the key horses they
would include Hurricane Fly, Ballycasey, Pont Alexandre, Champagne
Fever and Pique Sous. If we could have just the one winner I would
have to ask for Hurricane Fly [in the Stan James Champion Hurdle]. He wasn't
100% last year, so I would love to see him regain the championship and put to
bed all the doubters.
"Pont
Alexandre [Neptune Investment Novices' Hurdle] and Ballycasey [Albert Bartlett
Novices' Hurdle] are very exciting, but they are prospective chasers with many
big days ahead."
On a
bitterly cold morning at Cheltenham Kirk was in situ early, and said:
"I've been a regular at the Festival for 10 years, but I've been working
with Willie for at least 25. He's successful because he works hard, is
dedicated, calm in a crisis and he gives everyone around him confidence. He
also has good staff."
Mullins'
strike rate with bumper horses is an indication of Kirk and Boulard's eye for
talent, but it seems the best of this year's crop may not be at the Festival
for Wednesday's Weatherbys Champion Bumper. Kirk said: "A couple of very
good horses have picked up minor injuries, but I expect there will be three
runners from the yard. Patrick [Mullins, Willie's son] will ride Union Dues,
Andrew Lynch will be on Sizing Tennessee, and Ruby [Walsh] will
be on Briar Hill. Patrick will also ride Back In Focus in the
[John Oaksey] National Hunt Chase - he's a very good horse."
While a
market remains for 'store' horses - unbroken youngsters who are stored at grass
until ready to begin training - and breeze-up horses who are unraced but broken
in and show their paces before going through a sales ring, the biggest prices
are currently being paid for horses that have proved some ability with one or
two runs in a point-to-point, bumper or maiden hurdle. They must also have
pedigree and physical substance.
Kirk
said: "Willie started off buying and making store horses, but most of the
bigger owners now want a ready-made horse. There's a snowball effect, because
those horses have been successful - the more winners a trainer has the more
owners they attract, the more owners they attract the more horses they train.
"Willie
never rests on his laurels. He's always planning at least a year ahead. He
doesn't panic when things go wrong, but nor does he wrap good horses in cotton
wool. There's pressure this week, but it's good pressure."
GROUND
CONCERNS FOR ELLIOTT
Gordon
Elliott, who currently lies third in the Irish National Hunt trainers'
championship, has 13 possible starters at The Festival this year with Carlito
Brigante, who won here two years ago in the Grade Three Coral Cup and Cause
Of Causes, a declared runner for tomorrow's Grade One William Hill Supreme
Novices Hurdle, appearing to be his two best chances.
Elliott
said: "I only got in last night and I am just about to go out and walk the
course. The ground would be a worry for my horses - the more it dries out the
better.
"I
am looking forward to this year with Carlito Brigante - he is declared for the
Listed Rewards4Racing Novices' Handicap Chase tomorrow."
Elliott
had two winners at The Festival in 2011 and holds a good record at Cheltenham,
with a 12% strike rate at the course overall.
The
trainer continued: "My best result here would be two years ago with
Carlito Brigante (Coral Cup) and Chicago Grey (who won the National Hunt Chase
in 2011 and is entered in this year's John Smith's Grand National at Aintree).
"I
am not sure about the handicaps yet, I only have Romanesco in the Kim
Muir and Nina (Carberry) is going to ride him. Bonisland is entered in
several but I don't think he is going to get in, as to the others we will see
later today."
CHELTENHAM
IN NUMBERS (1)
£3,805,000
Record prize money on offer for 27 races over four days.
£600,000,000
Estimated amount that will be wagered during the week.
£400,000
Record prize money for the Stan James Champion Hurdle, the opening
day's richest prize.
£7 million
Estimated gate receipts for the week
£1.5 million
Withdrawn from cashpoints at the course in 2012
220,000
Pints of Guinness that will be drunk
2,072
Record number of original entries for this year's Festival.
650
Helicopter landings at the course during the meeting
27
Number of races over four days
12
Number of Grade One contests at the meeting.
9
The number of winning favourites from 27 races at last year's
Festival: Quevega, Sprinter Sacre, Hunt Ball, Teaforthree, Simonsig, Riverside
Theatre, Bug Buck's, Salut Flo and Sunnyhill Boy.
13
The record number of Irish-trained winners, in 2011.
CHELTENHAM IN NUMBERS (2)
1
Number of horses to have regained the Champion Hurdle, Comedy of
Errors in 1975. Binocular and Hurricane Fly will bid to emulate him tomorrow.
12
Number of horses to have won consecutive Champion Hurdles. Rock On
Ruby will try to join them tomorrow.
46
Record number of winners for Nicky Henderson
28
Years since Nicky Henderson's first Festival winner, See You Then
in the 1985 Champion Hurdle
20
The number of different races Nicky Henderson has won.
9
Number of times Nicky Henderson has been the meeting's leading or
joint-leading trainer.
7
Record number of winners for Nicky Henderson last year.
32
Number of winners for Paul Nicholls at the Festival
14
Years since Paul Nicholls' first festival winner, Flagship
Uberalles in the 1999 Arkle Trophy.
14
The number of different races Paul Nicholls has
won.
6
Number of times Ruby Walsh has been Cheltenham champion in 9 years
5
Record for a sequence of victories in a Festival race, Golden
Miller in the Gold Cup from 1932-1936. Quevega will bid to match it tomorrow in
the OLBG Mares' Hurdle.
WHAT'S IN
A NAME?
MY TENT
OR YOURS (William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle)
Was
cleverly named as the result of a newspaper competition. He is by Desert Prince
out of Spartan Girl.
RIVER
MAIGUE (William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle)
The
'river of the plain' rises in the Ballyhoura Mountains in Co Cork and flows
north through Croom and Adare in Co Limerick to join the Shannon estuary. Known
for its trout fishing.
PIQUE
SOUS (William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle)
French
for 'penny pincher'.
UN ATOUT
(William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle)
French
for 'a trump'.
SIMONSIG
(Racing Post Arkle Chase)
Wine
estate near Stellenbosch, South Africa's premier wine region, named for its
views of the majestic Simonsberg mountains. Founded in 1964 by the Malan
family, of French Hugenot origin three centuries ago.
PLANET OF
SOUND (JLT Specialty Chase)
Name of a
track on the album Trompe Le Monde, by the US alternative rock band The Pixies.
WHITE
STAR LINE (JLT Specialty Chase)
British
shipping line, grimly best remembered for its flagship Titanic, which sank in
April 1912. The company merged with its chief rival Cunard in 1934.
CINDERS
AND ASHES (Champion Hurdle)
Exclamation
of alarm or excitement often used by Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends in
the Railway Series books by the Reverend W V Awdry.
UNCLE
JUNIOR (Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase)
Character
in the gangster TV series The Sopranos, the dementia-suffering uncle of
eponymous mob boss Tony. Played by Dominic Chianese.
FRENEYS
WELL (Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase)
Captain
James Freney was an 18th century highwayman from Co Kilkenny
who eventually won a pardon for grassing on his criminal associates. His
eponymous well is near Graignamanagh.
SIZING
AUSTRALIA (Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase)
A company
name, one division of his owner's global mining empire. A sizing machine
reduces ore-bearing rock to manageable pieces.
LEAC AN
SCIAL (Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase)
Irish for
'stone in the shadow'.
CARLITO
BRIGANTE (Rewards4Racing Chase)
Main character in the 1993 film Carlito's Way, about a Puerto
Rican drug baron trying to reform after a spell in prison.
WHAT
MAKES OVERTURN SPECIAL?
Overturn, with his versatility, durability and trademark zest for
racing, has become a public favourite. He is a well-fancied second favourite to
live up to his name against the odds-on shot Simonsig in tomorrow's Racing Post
Arkle Trophy. The gelding's trainer Donald McCain, who has described him
as "a magic horse", has loved him from the first moment he saw him.
"I first saw him on the Flat at Salisbury when he beat one of
my owners' runners into second place after rallying and getting back into the
lead inside the final furlong. I thought he showed the most fantastic tough
attitude and I noticed soon afterwards that he was entered in Doncaster Sales.
We bought him there for £75,000.
"The first two or three times we ran him he was actually
disappointing after our hopes about what we thought he could do. He got beat
off a mark of 95 at Doncaster and I know I was making a terrible bad job of him
for whatever reason. But we tidied his wind up and changed the way we rode him
and it was like somebody had flicked a switch. He became a different animal.
"He first made me proud when he won the Galway Hurdle. People
said firstly, English-trained horses didn't go over there and win big Irish
handicaps and secondly, horses didn't carry the massive top-weight he had to
victory and thirdly, he couldn't make all the running and win. And he did all
three.
"Enthusiastic is the first word I'd use to describe him.
Every single day he comes out of his box wanting to get on with life and his
job, and he just makes you smile. The only time I've seen him shattered was
after the Champion Hurdle last year, but he came out the next morning wanting
to go again.
"At the races, he's just glad to be there. He can't get
enough of his job. He has been on the go since he was a yearling and we keep
expecting him to cry enough at some point, but he just thrives on it all.
"He has such a step to him he almost goose-steps to the
gallops. He knows what he wants to do and goes out every day and does it, then
spends the afternoon in one of the pens relaxing. He's so energetic in his work
he's happy to just let himself switch off and gaze into the distance.
"After what he'd done for us on the Flat and over hurdles the
thought of asking him to jump fences was quite frightening and we did quite a
lot of soul-searching, almost looking for reasons not to. If he had made one
mistake at home we wouldn't have gone on with it. But the first day he schooled
he did at home what he does at the track. He was just brilliant."
Nine-year-old Overturn (born 22-4-2004) has run 40 times, ridden
by 14 different jockeys, for 14 wins, 16 places and earnings of £701,170.
He is ridden and looked after at home at Bankhouse Stables in
Cheshire by Steve "Rooney" Fowles.
He is the first horse to win the two top races run at Newcastle,
on the Flat the
Northumberland Plate in June 2010 and over hurdles the Fighting
Fifth in November 2011.
He and jockey Jason Maguire carried the Olympic torch through
Chester in May last year before lighting the flame at the racecourse in front
of a crowd of 25,000.
Overturn, by high-class Flat sire Barathea, was foaled in Ireland,
but his family background is British. He is out of the Kris mare Kristal
Bridge, bred by Peter Harris - who gave up his bloodstock interests two years
ago after nearly 40 years' involvement as owner, breeder and trainer - at
Pendley Farm in Hertfordshire. Kristal Bridge is out of one of Harris's
foundation mares, Connaught Bridge, who was acquired as a three-year-old in
1979 after she had won the Yorkshire Oaks and Nassau Stakes, both now Group One
contests, and before she beat Oaks runner-up Bonnie Isle at Kempton. She became
dam of seven winners, including Dorothea Brooke, herself dam of the two
high-class juveniles Primo Valentino (Middle Park Stakes) and Dora Carrington
(Cherry Hinton Stakes).
WILLIAM
HILL TO PAY OUT ON FIRST FIVE IN SUPREME NOVICES'
Despite one of the smallest fields for decades (12 runners) set to
line-up in tomorrow's William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle, sponsors William
Hill will still continue with their offer of 1/4 odds 1,2,3,4,5 in
the opening race of the Festival.
Long-time favourite My Tent or Yours heads the betting at
15/8 favourite, ahead of Irish raider Jezki (9/2), and Paul Nicholls' Dodging
Bullets (8/1). The sponsors report good money for Champagne Fever,
who has been cut to 6/1 (from 9/1) following the declarations this morning.
Kate Miller, spokeswoman for William Hill, said: ''We're as
excited for the first race as every punter in the land, so we're happy to
commit to our each-way offer of first five places and continue this through to
the start of the race. William Hill punters can get a payout for almost 50% of
the field in the opening race - surely there's no better way to start
Cheltenham?''
William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle - sponsors bet: 15/8 My Tent
Or Yours; 9/2 Jezki, 6 (from 9) Champagne Fever,Un Atout; 8 Dodging
Bullets; 11 (from 14) Puffin Billy; 14 River Maigue; 20 Cheltenian,
Pique Sous; 25 Cause Of Causes, 100 Fire King; 200 Ostentation
1/4 1,2,3,4,5
SPRINTER SACRE RED-HOT FAVOURITE WITH QUEEN
MOTHER SPONSORS
Sprinter Sacre is the 2/7 favourite with Queen Mother
Champion Chase sponsors Sportingbet following the final declarations for the
race in which seven horses will go to post. Sizing Europe is next in the
market at 11/2 with the supplemented Mail De Bievre a 14/1 shot.
"Punters have found it impossible to take on Sprinter Sacre
in the ante-post market but the decision to run Sizing Europe means that he
will have at least one market rival who could give him something to think
about," said Sportingbet spokesman Russ Wiseman.
Wishfull Thinking is next in the market at 22/1
and it's 25/1 bar that quartet.
Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase - sponsors bet: 2/7 Sprinter
Sacre; 11/2 Sizing Europe; 14 Mail De Bievre; 22 Wishfull
Thinking; 25 Sanctuaire; 28 Somersby; 100 Tataniano.
1/4
1-2
SPONSORS EXPECT SUPPORT FOR FLY'S CHAMPION
RIVALS
Hurricane Fly is currently the 2/1 favourite Stan James
for tomorrow's Champion Hurdle but the sponsors expect plenty of support for
his rivals ahead of the big race.
Zarkandar is second in the market at 4/1 with last
year's winner Rock On Ruby just behind him at 9/2. Grandouet is a
15/2 shot with 2010 winner Binocular currently priced up at 9/1.
"Hurricane Fly hasn't been hugely popular with the punters of
late although the softening ground should aid his cause," said Stan James
spokesman Rory Jiwani.
"Zarkandar should relish the conditions and we expect plenty
of support for Paul Nicholls' runner at 4/1."
Stan James Champion Hurdle - sponsors bet: 2
Hurricane Fly; 4 Zarkandar; 9/2 Rock On Ruby; 15/2
Grandouet; 9 Binocular; 14 Cinders And Ashes; 16
Countrywide Flame; 40 Khyber Kim; 66 Balder Succes.
1/4 1-2-3
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