That's your lot for today ...
AP McCoy finally got his first winner on the board, winning the Ryanair Chase with an aggressive pillar-to-post ride on Uxizandre for trainer Alan King. It was one of three start-to-finish victories along with Ruby Walsh’s win on the astonishing Vautour in the JLT Novices Chase and Gavin Sheehan’s frontrunning ride on Cole Harden in the feature race of the day, the World Hurdle.
Elsewhere, there were victories for Andrew Tinkler and Call The Cops in the Pertemps Hurdle, Darna and David Bass in the Plate Handicap Chase and Jamie Codd and The Package in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Champion Chase. Tune in tomorrow for some red hot Gold Cup action.
Another winner for David Pipe
He won the last race yesterday and has prevailed in the last race today too. That’s also amateur rider Jamie Codd’s second win of this Festival, having won the Toby Balding National Hunt Chase on Tuesday.
Updated
Whoever backed Champagne James into 4s must have hoped for a slightly more attacking approach to the race
— chris cook (@claimsfive) March 12, 2015
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase result
1 The Package (Mr J J Codd) 9-1
2 Bless The Wings (Ms N Carberry) 28-1
3 Buddy Bolero (Mr K E Power) 20-1
4 Grand Vision (Mr M Legg) 11-1
24 ran
Also: 4-1 Fav Champagne James
CSF: 241.73
Tricast: 4896.68
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir ...
Sixty Something falls when going for home and brings down three others, leaving The Package and Standing Ovation in front. The Package pulls clear to win at a canter, prompting mass celebrations in Guardian Towers. I’ve been backing that beast for years. The Package wins the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir under a fine ride by Jamie Codd.
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir ...
Standing Ovation leads from Sixty Something with a circuit to go and the field is well strung out. Sixty Something makes a bad mistake as they pass the stands but remains in front. The Nephew is prominent and Guess Again is travelling well. No he isn’t - he’s just fallen. Champagne James is making good progress from the back of the field. The Package is also nicely placed ...
They're off in the Kim Muir ...
Standing Ovation leads over the first fence, with the favourite Champagne James stone last as he leaps it. Standing Ovation leads, followed by the The Nephew and Sixty Something. Bennbens unseats his jockey and Champagne James remains the back-marker ...
Champagne James leads the betting in the last ...
Katie Walsh rides the 4-1 favourite. Gold Bullet (8-1), The Package (9-1), Grand Vision (12-1), The Ould Lad (14-1) are his main rivals in the market.
Chris Cook’s race preview: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (3m) 4.40
A tricky handicap for horses loaded with stamina, this has sometimes been an interesting pointer to future Grand National types. Only amateurs can ride and Mr Codd, who won such a race here on Tuesday, is back, on The Package. He’s run well at a few Festivals and has blinkers on for the first time, which may help, but he’s on the old side at 12.
The fav is Gold Bullett, whose chasing career amounts to three unconvincing starts so far but someone clearly likes him and he has top amateur Derek O’Connor on top. Katie Walsh riders her father’s Champagne James, who should improve for the extra distance but will need to. Guess Again is interesting on his first start since joining Tony Martin from David Pipe.
Chris Cook on AP McCoy's winner earlier this afternoon
Tony McCoy finally got a winner at what will be his final Cheltenham Festival when landing the Ryanair Trophy on Uxizandre on Day Three. The chestnut was rather unfancied at 16-1, accounting for the less than rapturous reception from the stands as he asserted on the run-in but the crowd quickly showed their appreciation for his jockey, who was cheered and applauded all the way back to the winner’s enclosure.
“I would love to say it’s a relief, but I actually got such a thrill riding him,” McCoy said. “I was actually thinking I wouldn’t mind riding the horse in next year’s Champion Chase.
“He ran away with me for a mile and a half and I thought he would never keep it up, but I was quite happy coming down the hill, he kept looking at the television camera on his inside and I thought he had saved a bit for himself. It’s nice. Cheltenham is about winning isn’t?”
For that reason, McCoy must have had a frustrating time of it as his first 13 mounts of the Festival met with defeat. But he finally broke his duck for the week in a race in which he was never headed and never looked threatened.
“The thrill this horse gave me, I’ll miss riding horses like this, the ones that run away with you and jump like stags. It has to happen at some point. It’s a bit sad, but we will worry about it this time next year.”
It had been a modest season to this point for Uxizandre, last seen unseating Barry Geraghty at Newbury. That, as it happens, was the race which prompted McCoy to announce his imminent retirement, when he achieved his 200th success of the season.
The day’s other big race, the World Hurdle, was also won by a horse who made all, Cole Harden scoring at 14-1 for the trainer Warren Greatrex and the jockey Gavin Sheehan, a promising young man who is among those tipped to benefit from the imminent departure of McCoy.
Updated
Should have seen the progressive curve in Darna's Cheltenham form: Fell, beaten 30 lengths, beaten 19 lengths ... WIN!
— chris cook (@claimsfive) March 12, 2015
Plate Handicap Chase result
1 Darna (D Bass) 33-1
2 Monetaire (T Scudamore) 11-2 Fav
3 Rawnaq (A E Lynch) 25-1
4 Buywise (Paul Moloney) 15-2
23 ran
Non Runner: 23
CSF: 181.78
Tricast: 4690.83
Updated
Plate Handicap Chase ...
Champion Court and Make A Track continue to battle in front with Hollow Penny in third and Darna looking dangerous. Darna hangs on to beat Monetaire and Rawnaq. Darna wins the Plate Handicap Chase at 33-1, ridden by David Bass for trainer Kim Bailey. That’s Bailey’s first Festival winner since 1999.
Plate Handicap Chase ...
Make A Track and Champion Court lollop along in front followed by Aupcharlie. Hollow Penny is upsides him buty nods on landing at the fourth from home ...
Plate Handicap Chase ...
Kings Lad veers off course after ploughing through the first fence, causing Daryl Jacob to lose his reins/steering wheel. Champiopn Court leads the field, which is fairly well bunched. Make A Track is second, Aupcharlie is third with nine to jump ...
They're away in the Plate Handicap Chase
The trip is two miles and five furlongs and there are over 20 runners, so don’t be expecting a text commentary masterclass. We certainly didn’t get a starting masterclass, with Robbie Supple calling the horses back because they didn’t approach the line as slowly as he would have liked. They go off at the second attempt, from a standing start. That seemed like a lot of unnecessary faff to me, but I suppose Supple, a former jockey, knows what he’s doing ...
Memory Lane: The Cheltenham Festival
Steven Bloor from our picture desk has compiled this excellent gallery of Cheltenham down through the years for your viewing pleasure. Click on this link to have a look.
Cole Harden wins the World Hurdle
Cole Harden made every yard of the running to win the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham for Warren Greatrex and Gavin Sheehan.
Allowed an easy time of things at the head of affairs, the six-year-old looked a sitting duck as all the market leaders stacked up behind him.
However, having had a breathing operation after his last run, Sheehan had saved plenty for the famous hill and a good leap at the last kept him three lengths clear.
Paul Nicholls’ Saphir Du Rheu gave chase but he was three and a quarter lengths down at the line, with his stablemate Zarkandar the same distance back in third after a jolting mistake at the second-last cost him any chance of victory.
It was a first Festival success for trainer and jockey, coming at 16-1. “We’ve just won a Grade One and beat the best, so we’re here, aren’t we?” said Greatrex, who burst into tears as he saw his charge cross the finish line in front. ““If you’re going to break your duck [at Cheltenham], you may as well do it in a big one.”
Jockey Gavin Sheehan was equally pleased: “It’s pretty special - very, very special,” he said. “Warren got me psyched up before the race. With fractions, you can’t get them right all the time but you can only feel what your horse is giving and he gave me an exceptional ride. His jumping was brilliant. He was very quick and did everything right. I was very nervous coming down the hill, I was holding on to him and wondering if I should send him on. Then I turned into the straight and he kept picking up and I was like ‘where is everybody’ but when I saw the line, it meant everything.”
Updated
Noel Fehily speaks ...
Looking very despondent, Zarkander’s jockey says he thinks he would have won if his mount hadn’t clattered the second last hurdle while tanking along. Fehily made a great recovery to even stay in the saddle after Zarkander blundered through the obstacle and the horse needed a breather before running on to finish third by six lengths. “You’d be hard pushed to say he definitely would have won, but he might have won,” says Jim McGrath on Channel 4.
Chris Cook’s race preview: Plate Handicap Chase (2m 5f) 4.00
A tricky handicap traditionally won every other year by David Pipe, who trains Monetaire. This one has a suspiciously similar profile to Pipe’s previous winners but the trainer only won this race last year so perhaps it can’t be his turn yet. Buywise has done lots of winning although there have also been a couple of disappointments round here. Un Ace is an unexposed novice with Tony McCoy aboard which must make him of interest. Caid Du Berlais, from the Paul Nicholls yard, won a big race here in November and still does not seem to have too much weight to carry.
World Hurdle result
1 Cole Harden (G Sheehan) 14-1
2 Saphir Du Rheu (Sam Twiston-Davies) 5-1 Fav
3 Zarkandar (N D Fehily) 6-1
16 ran
Also: 14-1 At Fishers Cross 4th
Non Runner: 6
CSF: 77.69
Tricast: 476.83
World Hurdle ...
Cole Harden leads by two lengths over the second last, where Zarkander makes a terrible blunder. Cole Harden leads over the last pursued by Saphir Du Rheu, but the leader finds plenty in the tank to become the third horse this afternoon to lead from start to finish. Gavin Sheehan rides his first Festival winner and it was an excellent display of frontrunning. Hats off to him. Cole Harden wins the World Hurdle for trainer Warren Greatrex.
World Hurdle ...
Cole Harden raps the top of the hurdle six from home and makes a mess of the next one too. He’s still in front, leading from Reve Di Sivola, Seeyouatmidnight and En Temps Pour Tout. They’ve two left to jump ...
World Hurdle ...
Cole Harden leads from Reve Di Sivola, followed by Seeyouatmidnight, Jetson, Un Temps Pour Tout, Saphir Du Rheu. They’ve six hurdles to jump ...
They're off in the World Hurdle ...
Cole Harden and Reve Di Sivola make the running as the field set on their three-mile trip. See You At Midnight is in third and Jetson is fourth ...
Davy Russell watch ...
The popular Irishman rides Jetson in this race and is going for a remarkable six consecutive Festival wins from six rides, having ridden a double on his two mounts yesterday, missed the day before through - I think – suspension and booted home a treble on the final day last year. Jetson is 14-1.
World Hurdle (3.20) betting
- Saphir Du Rheu 11-2
- Zarkander 7-1
- Lieutenant Colonel 8-1
- Whisper 8-1
- Un Temps Pour Tout 10-1
- Monksland 12-1
- Abbyssial 12-1
14-1 bar. Click on the link to view the betting
Chris Cook's race preview: World Hurdle (3m) 3.20
Paul Nicholls, who used to win this every year with Big Buck’s, has had the top two in the betting here for a while. Saphir Du Rheu is like Big Buck’s, returning to hurdles after the chasing career went a bit skew-iff, and he won the best trial for this round Cheltenham in January. Good old Zarkandar is back but I tend to think he’ll get outpaced by something. Lieutenant Colonel has won back to back Grade Ones in Ireland, with Jetson chasing him home both times, so you’d think they may finish together again. Whisper has had a quiet campaign but could be up to this level if properly fit for Nicky Henderson.
McCoy gets a winner on Uxizandre
Tony McCoy ensured he would not leave his final Cheltenham Festival empty handed when Uxizandre led from pillar to post in the Ryanair Chase.
McCoy did not seem to fancy his chances much pre-race, but Alan King’s seven-year-old put in some spectacular leaps on the way round. He built up a sizeable advantage before McCoy gave him a breather coming down the hill and the challengers stacked up.
Last year’s runner-up Hidden Cyclone, the favourite Don Cossack, Eduard and Johns Spirit had chances, but Nicky Henderson’s mare Ma Filleule looked the biggest danger. McCoy had saved plenty, though, and Uxizandre (16-1) kept up the gallop to win by five lengths. Don Cossack was three and a quarter lengths behind Ma Filleule in third.
“I would love to say it’s a relief, but I actually got such a thrill riding him,” says McCoy. “I was actually thinking I wouldn’t mind riding the horse in next year’s Champion Chase. He ran away with me for a mile and a half and I thought he would never keep it up, but I was quite happy coming down the hill, he kept looking at the television camera on his inside and I thought he had saved a bit for himself.”
Uxizandre unseated Barry Geraghty in the race that prompted AP McCoy to announce his retirement
— chris cook (@claimsfive) March 12, 2015
AP McCoy speaks ...
“I’d love to say I’m relieved, but I was actually thinking I’d love to ride him in the Champion Chase next year,” he says to Channel 4’s Rishi Persaud. “He [the horse] was looking at the television camera on his inside all the way around, so I knew he had a bit more if he was able to look around and take in things like that.”
When Rishi asks AP if he’s thinking of changing his mind about retiring, he says he isn’t and says “it’s a bit sad, but sure we’ll worry about that next year”. He goes on to pay tribute to JP McManus and his wife Maureen, who own Uxizandre.
Updated
Ryanair Chase result ...
1 Uxizandre (A P McCoy) 16-1
2 Ma Filleule (B J Geraghty) 5-1
3 Don Cossack (B J Cooper) 5-2 Fav
14 ran
Also: 16-1 Eduard 4th
Ryanair Chase ....
Uxizandre and AP McCoy lead over the last fence and hold on to win. After leading from pillar to post, Uxizandre wins the Ryanair Chase for AP McCoy! That was a very aggressive ride and a wonderful round of jumping.
Ryanair chase ...
Normally so reliable over fences, Uxizandre is jumping brilliantly and leads the pack by about five lengths as they approach four out. Hidden Cyclone is second, Eduard is nicely placed behind him and Don cossack is under pressure, Two to jump ...
They're off in the Ryanair Chase ...
Two miles and five furlongs is the trip and AP McCoy leads the way on Uxizandre, who is wearing a visor. Behind him, Balder Success hits the second fence hard, but Wayne Hutchinson manages to stay on board. Uxizandre leads the strung-out field setting a strong pace, Hiodden Cyclone is second, Hidden Cyclone is third and the favourite Don Cossack is in fourth. Towards the back of the field, Balder Succes is being scrubbed along. They’ve eight to jump ...
RT @paddypower: Bookies preparing for this Don Cossack gamble: #CheltMental pic.twitter.com/39ZMEHTlAW
— Cheltenham News 2015 (@CheltenhamFNews) March 12, 2015
Andrew Tinkler speaks ...
The winning jockey had this to say of his winning steed in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle: ““He proved at Doncaster that he stayed, so I was happy to keep him handy,” said Tinkler. “Getting a position in a race like this is important and you need a horse to hold that position. There were a couple of times he couldn’t see his hurdles, but he executed them well and I could not have asked for a more willing or straightforward partner. He really bounces off that good, sound surface.”
Ryanair Chase betting
- Don Cossack 5-2
- Ma Filleuie 6-1
- Balder Succes 15-2
- Johns Spirit 8-1
- Hidden Cyclone 10-1
- Taquin Du Seuil 14-1
- Foxrock 14-1
- Uxizandre 14-1
- 16-1 bar. Click on the link to view the betting market.
Updated
Chris Cook's race preview: Ryanair Chase (2.40)
Here is a contest for chasers who are too slow for the Queen Mother and lack the stamina for the Gold Cup, an intermediate prize created in the spirit of doling out rosettes to as many of the kids as possible. Ah, but it’s earned its place at the Festival with some right thrillers and this could be another. Gordon Elliott, who I think may have been surprised not to get a winner yesterday, has the fav in Don Cossack, who has won his last three and now looks worth his place in the top class. He fell in last year’s RSA but it rather looks as though the best horses in that race hit the deck (others: Many Clouds, Le Bec, Black Thunder).
Ma Filleule runs for Nicky Henderson but has three lengths to make up on Balder Succes and it’s not clear to me why she should do it. Balder Succes is such a likeable beast, learning to be good over fences and perfectly suited by this distance. I still think he’s under-rated but this will tell us a lot. In fairness, he has managed to lose the jockey on all three previous visits to Cheltenham and you could worry about that . . . especially if you were the jockey today, Wayne Hutchinson . . . but I honestly think that would be unnecessary. Foxrock is a surprise entrant and has to prove he has the pace for this, having seemed more of a stayer.
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle result
1 Call The Cops (A Tinkler) 9-1
2 Unique De Cotte (T Scudamore) 14-1
3 The Tourard Man (W Hutchinson) 20-1
4 Henryville (Mr W Biddick) 50-1
23 ran
Also: 15-2 Fav Regal Encore
Non Runner: 4
CSF: 105.64
Tricast: 2468.06
Updated
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle result
1 Call The Cops (A Tinkler) 9-1
2 Unique De Cotte (T Scudamore) 14-1
23 ran
Also: 15-2 Fav Regal Encore
Non Runner: 4
Full placings to follow shortly
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle ...
Brother Brian leads from Call The Cops and Unique De Cotte ... Henryville comes with a run as they take the final hurdle and set off up the hill ... Call The Cops wins for jockey Andrew Tinkler and trainer Nicky Henderson. Call The Cops wins the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle.
Updated
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle ...
Bygones Sovereign comes under pressure and is passed by Brother Brian and AP McCoy is making his move on Regal Encore ...
Pertemps Handicap Hurdle ...
Bygones Sovereign continues to lead the field, but has only by about half a length from Brother Brian, Junction Fourteen and Trustan Times, Call The Cops and Unique De Cotte ... they’ve three to jump and plenty are still in with chances ...
They're away in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle ...
Three miles is the trip and they’ve 12 obstacles to negotiate. Bygones Sovreign sets off about 10 lengths in front, as is his wont. Junction Fourteen leads the chasing posse ... about 40 lengths separate the strung out field as Bygones Sovreign sets a blistering pace ...
Pertemps Network Final betting
- Edeymi 8-1
- Regal Encore 8-1
- Brother Brian 10-1
- Call The Cops 10-1
- Big Easy 11-1
- Dawaian 12-1
- Unique De Cotte 14-1
- Trustan Times 16-1
- Join The Clan 16-1
20-1 bar. Click on the link to see the market.
Stunning win for Vautour, best performance of the week by a mile. Just a shame all the stars are from same yard - massive problem for sport
— James Knight (@jamesaknight) March 12, 2015
AP McCoy assess his chances in the next ...
JLT Novices' Chase report
Vautour bounced right back to his brilliant best to win the JLT Novices’ Chase by a wide margin at the Cheltenham Festival.
An impressive winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old had a question to answer having been beaten at Christmas, but the market vibes were strong.
He never missed a beat under Ruby Walsh and put in some spectacular leaps on the way round, having the rest of the field in trouble from some way out.
Stablemate Valseur Lido briefly looked a threat, along with Apache Stronghold and Ptit Zig, but Vautour sprinted clear off the home turn and the 6-4 favourite put 15 lengths distance between himself and the rest.
Apache Stronghold just upheld the form with Valseur Lido from the Flogas Chase, but in truth there was only one in it. “He wasn’t right at Christmas, but from the first time we started schooling him I was taken with him,” said Walsh.“This lad has it all. He was going his own speed - I’m taken with him. There’s some summer dreaming to be done with this one.”
Vautour’s owner Rich Ricci said: “I can’t ever remember seeing a novice jump like that at Cheltenham. He’s a different horse round here, for some reason. It was unbelievable, breathtaking, actually. We’ll step up in distance next season and see where we go.”
Chris Cook’s race preview: Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (3m) 2.05
One of them tricky handicap things, this one over the extreme distance (for hurdlers) of three miles. Call The Cops looked all class when returning from an absence to score at Doncaster the other day and he may give Nicky Henderson a first Festival win of the week. Or perhaps it will be Tony McCoy getting off the mark, thanks to Regal Encore, who seemed to relish the extra distance last time. Edeymi did not impress the Musselburgh stewards, who sought to reassure themselves that his rider had made every effort to finish as close as he could (they noted his explanations and acted no further). Three years ago, he was a close second in a Festival handicap and it would be no surprise if Tony Martin got him to go one better.
Ruby milks the warm applause
Having extolled the virtues of his mount in his post-race interview (quotes to follow shortly), a beaming Ruby Walsh salutes the crowd as he and Vautour are led past the stand and back to the winners’ closure. That was Willie Mullins’ sixth and most impressive win of the week. This horse could be a future Gold Cup winner. His lad, Dermot, certainly thinks so: “Easily,” he says, when asked by Rishi Persaud if he thinks he could win the big one some day.
JLT Novices' Chase result
1 Vautour (R Walsh) 6-4 Fav
2 Apache Stronghold (P Carberry) 7-1
3 Valseur Lido (B J Cooper) 9-2
8 ran
Also: 8-1 Irish Saint 4th
Non Runner: 7
CSF: 12.10
Tricast: 36.89
Updated
JLT Novices' Chase ...
Vautour jumps the final two fences superbly to hose up by about 30 lengths. That was incredible display of jumping asnd it’s small wonder Ruby Walsh stood in his spirits and punched the air as he crossed the line. Vautour wins the opener for trainer Willie Mullins.
JLT Novices' Chase ...
Vautour is jumpingbeautifully, with Irish Saint alongside him. They’ve a tow length lead over Valseur Lido and Ptit Zig, who lead the tightly bunched chasing posse. Irish Saint and Ptit Zig make mistakes at the fourth from home,losing ground and leaving Vataur five or six lengths clear ...
Updated
They're away in the JLT Novices' Chase(1.30) ...
The tapes go up, they’ve two-and-a-half-miles to run and Irish Saint leads them to the first fence alongside Vautour. Vautour makes the running with Ruby Walsh keeping a tight hold on his reins, Irish Saint is second and Valseur Lido is third, followed by Ptit Zig, Splash Of Ginge as they make their way past the grandstand with 10 fences to jump ...
JLT Novices' Chase betting
- Vautour 6-4
- Vaiseur Lido 9-2
- Ptit Zig 5-1
- Apache Strongfold 6-1
- Irish Saint 12-1
- Splash of Ginge 16-1
- Colour Squadron 20-1
40-1 bar. Click on the link to view the betting.
Chris Cook marks your card for tomorrow's Gold Cup
Our man with the frazzled expression, well thumbed form book and luminous highlighter pen presents his horse-by-horse guide to the competitors in tomorrow’s Gold Cup. Click on the link to see what he thinks.
Incredible from snapper Patrick McCann
McCann is the photographer who sustained a badly broken leg after being accidentally clattered by Nina Carberry’s mount Quantativeeasing after horse and rider were forced through the rails after the second last fence.
A consummate pro, McCann kept shooting until the very last second. He was due to undergo an operation on his leg today and we wish him all the very best.
Nina Carberry and Quantitativeeasing are forced towards the rail after the second last #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/hL9HC0CUhB
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) March 12, 2015
Nina Carberry takes action to try and stay in the cross-country chase #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/v5FV4JzGNs
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) March 12, 2015
Quantitativeeasing smashes through the rail and out of the race #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/lrOPbfxPkD
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) March 12, 2015
Blimey, John Cooper Clarke has just turned up at Cheltenham.
— Bruce Millington (@brucemillington) March 12, 2015
Chris Cook’s race preview: JLT Novice Chase (2m 4f) 1.30
Here is a contest for novices who are too slow for the Arkle and lack the stamina for the RSA, an intermediate prize created four years ago in the spirit of doling out rosettes to as many of the kids as possible. Vautour ought to be hard to beat and not just because he’s trained by WIllie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh. He bolted up in last year’s Supreme, looking like the next year’s Champion Hurdler, and it’s a surprise to find him being a chaser instead. He has had one blip so far but still looks pretty good. Ptit Zig from the Paul Nicholls yard offers sturdy opposition and he is not to be blamed for falling in a race against more experienced types last time. After Nicholls’s return to form yesterday, this looks an exciting head to head.
Great Britain 6-8 Ireland
On Channel 4, Nick Luck, Jim McGrath and Graham Cunningham are discussing Great Britain’s chances of reeling in and passing the Irish before close of play tomorrow. Nick Luck has money on the Irish, but isn’t confident. His colleagues reckon he’ll be OK.
Channel 4's Jim McGrath previews the World Hurdle
AP McCoy watch ...
The Champ has been talking to Attheraces and cut the kind of forlorn figure we’ve come to upset when he’s not yet booted home a winner. He does not sound especially optimistic about his chances of getting off the mark today either.
On Colour Squadron in the first: It would be “a miracle if he won”.
On Regal Encorein the Pertemps: “He’s got a chance, a squeak but no more than that”.
On Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase: “Pretty disappointing on his last two runs, might have a bit of a squeak”.
On At Fishers Cross in the World Hurdle: “He has been very disappointing ... but maybe worth a little bit each way”.
On Un Ace in the Plate: “I think he’s got a squeak in a competitive race ... I hope he’s got a chance”.
McCoy has five rides on his last ever day of Festival action tomorrow, including Carlingford Lough in the Gold Cup.
He also rides Princely Conn in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle and Fletchers Flyer in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, but he rates the Nicky Henderson-trained Hargam as his leading chance of a victory in the Triumph. “Hargam is probably my best chance of riding a winner this week so I would like the weather to stay nice,” he said. Sadly for AP, the gods seem to be conspiring against him, as overnight rain is forecast at Cheltenham.
Chris Cook's race preview: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (3m) 4.40
A tricky handicap for horses loaded with stamina, this has sometimes been an interesting pointer to future Grand National types. Only amateurs can ride and Mr Codd, who won such a race here on Tuesday, is back, on The Package. He’s run well at a few Festivals and has blinkers on for the first time, which may help, but he’s on the old side at 12.
The fav is Gold Bullett, whose chasing career amounts to three unconvincing starts so far but someone clearly likes him and he has top amateur Derek O’Connor on top. Katie Walsh riders her father’s Champagne James, who should improve for the extra distance but will need to. Guess Again is interesting on his first start since joining Tony Martin from David Pipe.
Updated
Greg Wood hits us with his going stick ...
The going on the hurdles course has now quickened to good, rather than the good, good-to-soft that continues to prevail on the chase course. With rain forecast later, however, there could be a further change before the Gold Cup card tomorrow.
“The track is in good shape,” Simon Claisse, the clerk of the course, said. “The rain we were forecast yesterday didn’t materialise and it’s been a dry night. The New course is just that little bit quicker [than the Old course].
“The reason is probably because we don’t water this course in October and November so we’ve been on the ground we’re going to be on today and tomorrow since last March. The New course is a slightly bigger circuit around Prestbury Par and they actually turn into the home straight from further down the hill so it’s a longer run-in to the line up the hill [and] there are plenty of people who say it’s a more testing circuit.
“We didn’t measure any rainfall yesterday but it is forecast to come in this evening and last through most of the early hours of tomorrow. It could hang around until tomorrow lunchtime as it’s coming in from west to east and then back again. We’re forecast to get anything between five to 12 millimetres so the ground could well be good-to-soft or soft if we get the upper end of that in the next 24 hours.”
Updated
Chris Cook's race preview: Plate Handicap Chase (2m 5f) 4.00
A tricky handicap traditionally won every other year by David Pipe, who trains Monetaire. This one has a suspiciously similar profile to Pipe’s previous winners but the trainer only won this race last year so perhaps it can’t be his turn yet. Buywise has done lots of winning although there have also been a couple of disappointments round here. Un Ace is an unexposed novice with Tony McCoy aboard which must make him of interest. Caid Du Berlais, from the Paul Nicholls yard, won a big race here in November and still does not seem to have too much weight to carry.
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Chris Cook's race preview: World Hurdle (3m) 3.20
Paul Nicholls, who used to win this every year with Big Buck’s, has had the top two in the betting here for a while. Saphir Du Rheu is like Big Buck’s, returning to hurdles after the chasing career went a bit skew-iff, and he won the best trial for this round Cheltenham in January.
Good old Zarkandar is back but I tend to think he’ll get outpaced by something. Lieutenant Colonel has won back to back Grade Ones in Ireland, with Jetson chasing him home both times, so you’d think they may finish together again. Whisper has had a quiet campaign but could be up to this level if properly fit for Nicky Henderson.
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Chris Cook race preview: Ryanair Chase (2m 5f) 2.40
Here is a contest for chasers who are too slow for the Queen Mother and lack the stamina for the Gold Cup, an intermediate prize created in the spirit of doling out rosettes to as many of the kids as possible. Ah, but it’s earned its place at the Festival with some right thrillers and this could be another. Gordon Elliott, who I think may have been surprised not to get a winner yesterday, has the fav in Don Cossack, who has won his last three and now looks worth his place in the top class. He fell in last year’s RSA but it rather looks as though the best horses in that race hit the deck (others: Many Clouds, Le Bec, Black Thunder).
Ma Filleule runs for Nicky Henderson but has three lengths to make up on Balder Succes and it’s not clear to me why she should do it. Balder Succes is such a likeable beast, learning to be good over fences and perfectly suited by this distance. I still think he’s under-rated but this will tell us a lot. In fairness, he has managed to lose the jockey on all three previous visits to Cheltenham and you could worry about that ... especially if you were the jockey today, Wayne Hutchinson ... but I honestly think that would be unnecessary. Foxrock is a surprise entrant and has to prove he has the pace for this, having seemed more of a stayer.
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Chris Cook's race preview: Pertemps Handicap Hurdle (3m) 2.05
One of them tricky handicap things, this one over the extreme distance (for hurdlers) of three miles. Call The Cops looked all class when returning from an absence to score at Doncaster the other day and he may give Nicky Henderson a first Festival win of the week. Or perhaps it will be Tony McCoy getting off the mark, thanks to Regal Encore, who seemed to relish the extra distance last time. Edeymi did not impress the Musselburgh stewards, who sought to reassure themselves that his rider had made every effort to finish as close as he could (they noted his explanations and acted no further). Three years ago, he was a close second in a Festival handicap and it would be no surprise if Tony Martin got him to go one better.
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Chris Cook's race preview: JLT Novice Chase (2m 4f) 1.30
Here is a contest for novices who are too slow for the Arkle and lack the stamina for the RSA, an intermediate prize created four years ago in the spirit of doling out rosettes to as many of the kids as possible. Vautour ought to be hard to beat and not just because he’s trained by WIllie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh. He bolted up in last year’s Supreme, looking like the next year’s Champion Hurdler, and it’s a surprise to find him being a chaser instead. He has had one blip so far but still looks pretty good. Ptit Zig from the Paul Nicholls yard offers sturdy opposition and he is not to be blamed for falling in a race against more experienced types last time. After Nicholls’s return to form yesterday, this looks an exciting head to head.
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Greg Wood sets the scene for Day Three
There are three Grade Ones on the card at Cheltenham this afternoon, backed up by two of the most fiendishly challenging handicaps of the season, and yet this is, by common consent, the weakest day of the week.
It is a sign of how far this track and the Festival meeting have come since the ambitious move from three days to four back in 2005 that even with just the six races, the Thursday card is not merely a space-filler ahead of tomorrow’s Gold Cup. Nor is it necessarily the obvious barrier that it might have been to the long-term ambition of a sell-out crowd on every day of the meeting. It has as many Grade Ones as tomorrow’s card, and with the attendance on the first two days of this year’s Festival sharply up, it could soon become the best option for anyone in the market for a day out during Festival week.
Staying hurdlers will never get the pulse racing quite like the chasers, of course, but there is more scope for multiple winners in the World Hurdle than in any of the other feature events and the crowds love to see the veterans coming back year after year. This year’s race has the feel of marking the start of a new era, with the six-year-old Saphir Du Rheu, whose route towards staying hurdling has been notably similar to that of the same owner’s Big Buck’s a few seasons ago, vying for favouritism with his stablemate Zarkandar, the Triumph Hurdle winner from four years ago.
The declared field also includes two five-year-olds and five more six-year-olds, including Lieutenant Colonel, who has a live chance to give Sandra Hughes a first winner at the meeting less than four months after the death of her father Dessie, a Festival legend as both a jockey and a trainer.
The Ryanair Chase is fiercely competitive too, and a rare Grade One this week in which Willie Mullins does not field the favourite, although the Irish contingent, currently on eight winners for the week, will still hope to pick up the prize via Don Cossack, Foxrock or Hidden Cyclone.
The action moves onto the New course for the last two days of the Festival, and the going is currently good, good-to-soft in places with the weather forecast to be mostly dry until late afternoon. Some forecasts suggest there will be plenty of rain overnight, however, which could make for some interesting moves in the Gold Cup market ahead of tomorrow’s big race.
Gold Cup day ground likely to be slower with rain forecast.
Simon Claisse says between 5mm and 12mm of rain forecast to hit @CheltenhamRaces tonight into tomorrow. Hard to be specific - on the fringes
— Andy Stephens (@StevoGG) March 12, 2015
Don Poli, yesterday’s RSA Chase winner, how good is he? Everyone’s talking about him being a Gold Cup winner of the future
Don Poli's new @Timeform1948 rating is c160p - highest for RSA winner since Denman (then c161p) back in 2006/7
— Phil Turner (@castellmai) March 12, 2015
Geraghty reveals Sprinter Sacre had breathing problem
Barry Geraghty believes Sprinter Sacre’s main issue is with his wind after the former champion chaser was pulled up in the Queen Mother at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
The 2013 winner had shown plenty of promise on his long-awaited comeback at Ascot, but despite trainer Nicky Henderson and Geraghty believing he was in better shape heading to the Festival, he was pulled up before the last.
“I knew going down the back his wind wasn’t quite right,” the jockey told on At The Races. “I’d say wind is his big issue. He’s in good health. I believe there was a trace of blood [after his scope] but it’s not that significant.
“We’ll just have to see what can be done. I knew coming down the hill I was in trouble. I would have pulled up before the second-last but I had horses on my outside that I would have interfered with.
“He wasn’t in a distressed state, I was just being cautious but he had no more to give and wasn’t going to impact on the places. Maybe there’s hope, maybe there isn’t, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
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This just in: Tony McCoy is confirmed as riding Ned Buntline in the lucky last at Cheltenham on Friday. The money will be piling on that one if the jockey hasn’t had a winner by then. As it has in the build-up to the race, now renamed in honour of the retiring jockey.
AP McCoy is on Neds Buntline in the Grand Annual rather than Eastlake #CheltenhamFestival
— Terry Norman (@tjnnorman) March 12, 2015
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Don’t forget that the action switches at the Cheltenham Festival from the Old to the New (stiffer) course today.
Cheltenham: Racing switches to New Course, from Old, for Thur/Fri. Dry forecast until late afternoon Going is GOOD, GOOD TO SOFT PLACES
— Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) March 12, 2015
Davy Russell is the jockey to watch at the Festival. Here’s Chris Cook on why:
But never mind Walsh and McCoy, here’s Davy Russell’s, er, ride
3.20 Jetson 16-1
In case you missed it, Davy Russell’s double yesterday gave him FIVE (5) consecutive winning rides at the Cheltenham Festival. That’s because he didn’t ride on Tuesday but had a treble from three rides on the last day of the 2014 meeting, including the Gold Cup on Lord Windermere. Five on the bounce, then, an extraordinary achievement. And yet Russell might only have two more rides at this Festival, on Jetson and Lord Windermere back in the big race. If he wins both of those, I say we name the place after him.
McCoy’s mounts include two who have become committed non-winners, Colour Squadron and At Fishers Cross. The latter has had problems since a terrific novice season. Colour Squadron, however, looks like a complete pig; he hasso much ability but always finds another horse to hide behind. He started favourite six times out of seven at one point but lost the lot and is now 0/10 over fences. He is just the kind of horse who will stick his benighted neck out, now that he’s 28-1.
Davy himself was well pleased, as he reported on his Twitter feed
@_Davy_Russel_ Well done lad. pic.twitter.com/JjKIDid8et
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) March 12, 2015
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Looking at those stats, it’s interesting that Tony McCoy is poised to ride Un Ace in the 4.00 today for trainer Kim Bailey. This runner has had a wind operation since he last ran wind will love the prevailing conditions. Chris Forwood has unearthed some useful stats too, on the McCoy/Bailey partnership over the years.
Interesting stats: @kimbaileyracing and @AP_McCoy http://t.co/TkXEnfYvst
— Chris Forwood (@CForwood) March 12, 2015
More numbers for you to digest from Chris Cook’s mighty abacus
Top jockeys after Day Two
Ruby Walsh 3
Paul Townend 2
Sam Twiston-Davies 2
Davy Russell 2
Barry Geraghty 1
Mr Jamie Codd 1
Bryan Cooper 1
Nick Scholfield 1
Tom Scudamore 1
Those good mates Sam Twiston-Davies and Nick Scholfield had three between them on Day Two, while Davy Russell notched an impressive double. Top-jockey honours appear wide open, as neither of the top two added to their tally.
Updated career standings for Festival wins
Trainers
Nicky Henderson 51
Fulke Walwyn 40
Willie Mullins 38
Paul Nicholls 37
Martin Pipe 34
Nicholls claws back to within one of Mullins.
Jockeys
Ruby Walsh 44
Barry Geraghty 32
Tony McCoy 30
Ruby Walsh’s select handful
1.30 Vautour 2-1
2.40 Ballycasey 28-1
3.20 Abbyssial 16-1
Tony McCoy’s clutch of longshots
1.30 Colour Squadron 28-1
2.05 Regal Encore 10-1
2.40 Uxizandre 20-1
3.20 At Fishers Cross 33-1
4.00 Un Ace 9-1
Chris Cook has been crunching the stats as usual overnight (when does he manage to sleep?)
Top trainers after Day Two
Willie Mullins 5 wins
Paul Nicholls 3
David Pipe 1
Tony Martin 1
Neil Mulholland 1
Gordon Elliott 1
Rebecca Curtis 1
Dermot Weld 1
Paul Nicholls struck back in a big way, with three winners as Willie Mullins could add only one to his first-day haul. Nicholls hasn’t had that many winners at one Festival for four years and we are, of course, only at halfway. That same fact could mean that Mullins is on course for 10 winners this week, which, you may remember, was backed by one of my press-room colleagues at 200-1. Nicky Henderson is still waiting for his first winner, having had no better than a fourth on Day Two, when his Sprinter Sacre appeared to confirm that he just can’t do it any more.
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Latest on Sprinter Sacre. Will the once great horse be retired? Barry Geraghty has revealed that some blood was found in a scope on the chaser after he was pulled up in the Champion Chase yesterday.
.@BarryJGeraghty tells @AtTheRaces "a trace of blood" was found after Sprinter Sacre was scoped, but said "it's not that significant".
— PA Stables (@PA_Stables) March 12, 2015
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Tullow Tank out of the JLT Chase
The Tullow Tank has been declared a non-runner in the JLT Novice Chase this afternoon. Sandra Hughes’ two-times Grade One scorer has an infection. Favourite for the JLT is Vautour, with Ptig Zig next best in the market.
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Best wishes to Patrick McCann. He was the photographer who was standing next to the fence in the Cross-Country Chase at Cheltenham yesterday and ended up with a broken leg after Toutancarmont dived violently to his left and took Quantitativeeasing out. If you haven’t seen the action here it is. Those of a sensitive disposition look away now!
Our photographer @patrickmccannrp broke his leg in this nasty incident but is in good spirits considering https://t.co/x0bLl3TxiH
— Bruce Millington (@brucemillington) March 11, 2015
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You need winners? Don’t we all.
Chris Cook has written a full race-by-race preview which you can find here.
Today’s races and our tips
1.30 JLT Novice Chase
Vautour 2-1
2.05 Pertemps Handicap Hurdle
Regal Encore 10-1
2.40 Ryanair Chase
Balder Succes 8-1
3.20 World Hurdle
Lieutenant Colonel 9-1
4.00 Plate Handicap Chase
Monetaire 7-1
4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir
Champagne James 10-1
Preamble
The bookmakers are reporting carnage on day one and just getting the worse of the skirmishes on day two after Dodging Bullets fired in for yesterday’s Champion Chase. The World Hurdle is the main attraction today but, if anything, the Ryanair Chase if the classier contest. But sometimes the eye-catching performances do not come in the feature contests and that was true yesterday after future-Gold-Cup-winner-if-ever-I-saw-one Don Poli won the RSA Chase. Today, there are plenty of potential top-notchers in the other races, especially in the opener in which Vautour, Ptit Zig and Valseur Lido line up. Join us here throughout the day for all the latest news and action.
The William Hill Cheltenham Festival tipping competition
You could win a £50 bet from William Hill by proving your tipping prowess on today’s races. All you have to do is give us your selections for all of today’s races at Cheltenham. As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional stakes of £1 at starting price on each tip. Non-runners count as losers. Please post all your tips in a single posting, using the comment facility below, before the first race at 1.30pm.
There are six races at Cheltenham today and you must post a single selection for each race. Our usual terms and conditions, which you can read here, will apply, except that this will be a strictly one-day thing. If we get a tie after all the races have been run, the winner will be the one who posted their tips earliest out of those with the highest score. If an entrant has to repost their selections because of a non-runner, we will use the time of their later posting for tie-break purposes. If you don’t win today, don’t despair. You’ll have one more chance on Friday.
