That's your lot for today ...
A day when Dodging Bullets and Sam Twiston Davies were the easy winners of the Queen Mother Champion Chase began with victory for Irish trainer Dermot Weld as Davy Russell rode Windsor Park to victory in the opener, the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle.
It was the first of two winners on the day for Russell, who also triumphed in the Cross-Country on Rivage D’Or for Irish trainer Tony Martin. An accident at the second last in that particular contest resulted in Racing Post photographer Patrick McCann sustaining a suspected broken leg - we wish him well.
Twiston-Davies also rode a brace of winners, getting the head of the Nicholls-trained Aux Ptits Soins in front of three close rivals in a thrilling climax to the Coral Cup, while the success of Qualando and Nick Schofield made it a treble for the Somerset-based trainer in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Elsewhere, Bryan Cooper and Don Poli won the RSA Chase to keep Willie Mullins from drawing a blank after yesterday’s dream day, while David Pipe got off the mark when Tom Scudamore and Moon Racer won the Champion Bumper.
Meanwhile back in the weigh room, AP McCoy has yet to post a winner on the board at this, his final Festival.
Updated
Weatherby's Champion Bumper result
1 Moon Racer (T Scudamore) 9-2 Fav
2 Modus (T J O’Brien) 33-1
3 Wait For Me (R Johnson) 9-1
23 ran
Also: 16-1 Yanworth 4th
Non Runner: 15
CSF: 169.36
Tricast: 1329.89
Updated
Weatherby's Champion Bumper ...
Vigil leads them up the front with Moon Racer making his move. Moon Racer surges into the lead to win by a length-and-a-half with Tom Scudamore in the saddle for trainer David Pipe.
Weatherby's Champion Bumper ...
Six furlongs to go and Supasundae leads from Vigil and Jetstream Jack ... the field is still tightly packed.
Weatherby's Champion Bumper - they're away ...
After making a pig’s ear of the field’s first attempt to get away, the jockeys are forced to go from a standing start. Supasundae leads them from Au Quart Du Tour after the first half-mile of two miles and 110 yards ... Ghost River missed the start, but is now sitting on the heels of the leading grouped. The field is tightly group as they approach halfway ...
Updated
Racing Post photographer @patrickmccannrp infoms us he believes he has broken his leg in the nasty incident in the cross country chase
— Racing Post (@RacingPost) March 11, 2015
Chris Cook's race preview: Weatherby's Champion Bumper
This was the first Festival race Willie Mullins dominated (he rode the winner once) and he’s still doing it. Somehow we allowed his last two winners to start at 16-1 and 25-1, even though Ruby was on one of them. Willie has just the six runners this time (out of 23). Bordini is favourite and his form would justify that but an awful lot of these are going to be better than they’ve shown so far. Pylonthepressure is a non-runner, but Bellshill has got to be of interest with Ruby jocked up. David Pipe’s Moon Racer heads the home defence and was most impressive winning here in October. The Hobbs yard are apparently keen on their Ascot winner, Wait For Me.
Updated
The Guardian's Head of Fashion writes
This from Imogen Fox: Cheltenham’s furry hat game is strong today. Camilla Parker-Bowles is at the head of this trend rocking a huge fur trimmed number which she has styled with a clash of fabrics. So far we’ve counted silk, velvet, tweet, snakeskin effect and fur all in the one outfit. She’s working her look hard. Elsewhere there is a ton of fur in the enclosure - fake and otherwise. Meanwhile the youthful interpretation of the furry trend at Ladies Day revolves around a floppy felt hat, a double breasted coat, a plump furry collar - all accessoried with a large white wine. It’s a bit Downstairs at Downton via asos.com
Updated
Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle result
1 Qualando (Nick Scholfield) 25-1
2 Bouvreuil (N D Fehily) 14-1
3 The Saint James (P Carberry) 33-1
4 Starchitect (K Renwick) 16-1
22 ran
Also: 13-2 Fav Box Office
CSF: 318.20
Tricast: 11061.52
Updated
Fred Winter ...
Qualando wins another for trainer Paul Nicholls, coming with a late burst under Nick Schofield. Bouvreil made it a one-two for Nicholls and The Saint James was third.
Updated
Fred Winter ...
The field is fairly tightly bunched, but Golden Doyen crashes out at the fifth flight. Stachitect continues in front as they approach the third last, from Gwencily Berbas and Zarib ...
They're off in the Fred Winter ...
The distance is a mite over two miles and Starchitect is making the running ...
Patrick McCann was the stricken photographer ...
He works for the Racing Post and the word from the racecourse is that he sustained a broken leg. Here’s hoping it’s not too bad and he makes a speedy recovery.
Perhaps that photographer wasn’t so lucky after all
This looks nasty - here’s hoping he or she is OK.
VINE: Cameraman at Cheltenham gets absolutely clattered by horse and rail in the 4.00 http://t.co/lvOCVFbZJT pic.twitter.com/9PIyeOGNYv
— SportsJOE.ie (@SportsJOEdotie) March 11, 2015
Updated
Chris Cook's race preview: Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.40)
A handicap featuring horses who have hardly seen a racetrack. Good luck! ‘Shrewd’ Gordon Elliott has two, including the favourite, Hostile Fire, who improved for the fitting of a tongue tie to break his hurdles duck last time. I bet he has more to offer but at the odds I’m more interested in Elliott’s Thunder Zone (20-1), who is without the hood he’s worn the last couple of times. It seems to me that this game sort has slightly surprised the trainer and may have more to offer. Paul Nicholls has run some good horses in this race. His All Yours chased home a classy beast at Kempton last time, while Bouvreuil is interesting at bigger odds in a first-time tongue tie.
A nasty incident at the second last ...
Toutancarmont took out Quantitiveeasing as they jumped the obstacle and the two horses crashed through the rails. A photographer standing nearby had to jump out of the way - I think he avoided being hit and is OK. If so, he is very, very lucky.
Updated
Cross-Country Chase (4.00) result
1 Rivage D’Or (D N Russell) 16-1
2 Any Currency (Aidan Coleman) 7-1
3 Uncle Junior (Mr P W Mullins) 20-1
4 Dogora (Ms K Walsh) 20-1
16 ran
Also: 9-2 Fav Toutancarmont
CSF: 114.22
Tricast: 2288.53
Updated
Cross-Country Chase
Rivage D’or wins the Cross-Country under Davy Russell, for the Irish jockey’s second winner of the day. He wins for trainer Tony Martin and owner Michael O’Leary.
Cross-Country Chase ...
Toutencarmont takes over in front but hits a fence hard. It doesn’t bother him unduly and he continues in front. He takes the sixth from last on the inside, saving himself a lot of ground as he takes a stiff right-hand bend. Toutencarmoint runs into the rail and takes out Quantative Easing. Any Currency leads to the last but is challenged by Rivage D’Or ...
Cross-Country Chase ...
They’re all still standing with 18 obstacles to jump. They negotiate the cheese wedges, named so presumably because they look absolutely nothing like cheeses wedges. Nuage D’Ainay leads, followed by Any Currency, followed by Duke Of Lucca and Sire Collonges. They’ve nine fences to jump and plenty are in with chances. Charingworth isn’t one of them, because he’s unseated ...
They're off in the Cross-Country Chase ...
Apologies in advance for my pitiful attempts to provide a text commentary in this race. I certainly wouldn’t like to be a jockey trying to remember the correct route around this bizarre course of banks, fences, cheese wedges and various other sorts of fences. Jonathan Plouganou, the jockey on French raider Toutancarmont is a big lad, but is riding incredibly short (translation: his stirrups are very high, more like a Flat jockey’s) and his saddle is tiny. Here’s hoping he has good balance.
Racing Post’s excellent French reporter Scott Burton tells me Toutancarmont shd be clear fav here, good enough for me… #Cheltenham
— Greg Wood (@Greg_Wood_) March 11, 2015
Cross-Country Chase (4.00) betting ...
- Duke of Lucca 9-2
- Sire Collonges 11-2
- Toutancarmont 5-1
- Any Currency 13-2
- Quantitiveeasing 8-1
- Chicago Grey 12-1
- Rivage DOr 16-1
18-1 bar. Click on this link to see the Cross-Country betting
Chris Cook's race preview: Cross-Country Chase (4.00)
Once described by a bookmaker as “the race in which they go round and round in circles until the favourite’s in front”, this is sometimes a bit slapsticky and the percentage of runners who have gone the wrong way must be higher for this course than any other. It is quite fun to watch, especially if you’re into schadenfreude, but possibly not the most reliable punting vehicle.
Balthazar King, who does so well in these races, skips the Festival to go straight to the Grand National but his trainer, Philip Hobbs, fields Duke Of Lucca and it is possible that having this one in the yard made it easier to take out The King. Duke Of Lucca has had a couple of spins around here, running fourth to his stablemate at the last Festival and unseating last time when fancied.
Some horses do improve for a bit of experience here. Any Currency is favourite but winning from a career-high handicap mark at the age of 12 is a lot to ask. Toutancarmont tackles similar races in France, where he is mustard (moutarde?), but a first visit here invites caution. Sam Twiston-Davies has been giving out Sire Collonges as his best chance of a Festival winner, when speaking at various preview nights.
Click on this link to see the Cross-Country Chase betting.
Updated
Sprinter Sacre pulled up in the Champion Chase
This from Chris Cook: “Nicky Henderson, trainer of Sprinter Sacre, said after the race: “His heart is OK, but he’ll be scoped. We’ll know more after that.”
Dodging Bullets fires on all cylinders
From Chris Cook: Dodging Bullets has won the Queen Mother Champion Chase on a big day at the Cheltenham Festival for his trainer, Paul Nicholls, and his jockey, Sam Twiston-Davies. The past two winners of this race, Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy, proved disappointing.
Having settled close behind a scorching pace set by Special Tiara, Dodging Bullets battled to the fore in the home straight and kept going under a strong drive. The 11-year-old Somersby, who has still never won a race at Cheltenham, ran a stormer to be second, beaten a length and a quarter at 33-1. Special Tiara showed toughness to keep going in third.
The chances of the other fancied horses unravelled behind those. Mr Mole behaved himself at the start but made mistakes, while Sire De Grugy was held up a fair way off the pace and may have undermined his chance with a couple of ambitious leaps in mid-race.
Sprinter Sacre raced in midfield and did not significantly improve his position. He dropped out as the race developed from the turn for home and was pulled up by Barry Geraghty before the last.
Dodging Bullets was bred by Frankie Dettori, who was present to witness this moment of glory. He surely becomes the first man to have ridden a Derby winner as well as breeding a Festival winner.
“It was quite nerve-wracking, to be honest with you,” he said afterwards. “As I came down the [grandstand] steps, my legs were shaking. I’m off to Kempton now, so, a bit different.
Twiston-Davies was hired as stable jockey by Nicholls last spring and has now delivered two Festival successes for his new employer at the first attempt, having earlier landed the Coral Cup on Aux Ptits Soins.
Nicholls had the keys to this place at one time but recent Festivals have been less productive. This is the first time since 2012 he has had more than one winner. Dodging Bullets is his first Festival winner over fences since Kauto Star’s second Gold Cup in 2009.
The trainer has always maintained that Dodging Bullets has been under-rated, as the winner of both the season’s other major prizes at this two-mile distance, the Tingle Creek and the Clarence House.
Updated
Queen Mother Champion Chase result
1 Dodging Bullets (Sam Twiston-Davies) 9-2
2 Somersby (B Hughes) 33-1
3 Special Tiara (N D Fehily) 18-1
9 ran
Also: 9-4 Fav Sprinter Sacre, 5-2 Sire De Grugy 4th
Non Runners: 1,2
CSF: 120.11
Tricast: 2394.65
Updated
Dodging Bullets wins the Champion Chase ...
Dodging Bullets wins under Sam Twiston Davies for trainer Paul Nicholls. He’s won the Tingle Creek Chase, the Clarence House Chase and now the Champion Chase this season. Somersby was second and Special Tiara was third. Interesting fact: Frankie Dettori bred Dodging Bullets but wasn’t allowed to ride him on the gallops at home by Paul Nicholls.
Updated
Queen Mother Champion Chase ...
Dodging Bullets, Somersby and Special Tiara jump the last three abreast. DODGING BULLETS WINS THE CHAMPION CHASE!!!
Updated
Queen Mother Champion Chase ...
Special Tiara continues to lead, from Somersby, tracked by Dodging Bullets and then Sprinter Sacre ...
Updated
Queen Mother Champion Chase ...
Special Tiara opens a four-length lead as they clear the water jump at high speed, Somersby is second and Dodging Bullets is third. They’re four out ...
Queen Mother Champion Chase - they're off!
They’ve two miles to travel in what could be the best race of the meeting Special Tiara leads them over the first. Sizing Europe is second, Dodging Bullets is third and the rest are bunched behind, apart from Sire De Grugy, who’s a couple of lengths off the pace ....
Ruby Walsh has no ride in this race ...
Interviewed by Mick Fitzgerald in the weighing room, he says that given the choice, he’d ride Dodging Bullets. “I think he’s the form horse and I think he should be favourite,” says Ruby. Shortly before Ruby spoke, Channel 4 interviewed Sire De Grugy’s father-and-son trainer-and-jockey team Gary and Jamie Moore, who won this race last year. They seem fairly bullish about his chances of winning again, with Gary saying that with a bit of luck in running, he expects the horse to win.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.20) betting
- Sprinter Sacre 11-4
- Sire De Grugy 11-4
- Dodging Bullets 9-2
- Mr Mole 7-1
- Simply Ned 14-1
- Special Tiara 20-1
- Sizing Europe 25-1
- Somersby 33-1
Chris Cook's race preview: Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.20)
So here it is, The Race Of The Week, or arguably. Do you like Sprinter Sacre to bounce back from two years of troubles and be his brilliant best again? Are you a Sire De Grugy groupie, still frothing over his handicap success off 172 the other day? Will you tell us, after the event, that Champagne Fever’s incredible Festival form made him the obvious one? Is your faith in Dodging Bullets to do what he has never done and win a major race in spring? Have you decided that Mr Mole is an outstanding talent who will win despite larking around like a two-year-old? That covers everything up to 16-1, so I suppose it will be one of the others. A doctorate in punting goes to anyone who can properly crack this.
The handicapper did a good job there ...
You could have thrown a bed-sheet over the first four over the finish line.
Coral Cup (2.40) result ...
1 Aux Ptits Soins (Sam Twiston-Davies) 9-1
2 Zabana (R C Colgan) 25-1
3 Activial (N D Fehily) 17-2 Fav
4 Taglietelle (P Carberry) 14-1
25 ran
Withdrawn: 26
CSF: 219.82
Tricast: 1996.00
No 26 Barizan (66-1) was withdrawn not under orders. Rule 4 does not
apply.
Updated
Coral Cup ...
Zabana leads them around the final bend and over the last but is headed on the run-in by the difficult-to-type Aux Ptits Sois. Aux Ptits Soins wins by a neck under a fine ride by Sam Twiston-Davies, for trainer Paul Nicholls.
Updated
Coral Cup ...
Dell Arca falls and Ttebob are fallers ... with five to jump Zabana continues to lead them along the back straight on the inside of Shammick Boy and Activial. It’s wide open with three flights of hurdles to jump. Activial is travelling beutifully for Noel Fehily. Zabana leads them over the third last, but they’re queueing up behind him ...
They're off in the Coral Cup (2.40)
Well, all of them except Barizan, who planted himself at the start and refused to run. Lazy ... Zabana leads the field followed by Shammick boy. Bear’s Affair is next, followed by Della Arca. About 15 lengths separates the field. Daneking is last.
Coral Cup (2.40) betting ...
- Aux Ptits Soins 9-1
- Activial 9-1
- Marinero 12-1
- Un Atout 12-1
- Baradari 14-1
- Goodwood Mirage 12-1
- Taglietelle 16-1
- Lac Fontana 14-1
- Dell Arca 16-1
- Vonay De Thaix 16-1
20-1 bar. Click here to see the Coral Cup betting although if you’ve any sense you’ll steer a very wide berth of this bookies’ benefit.
RSA Chase report
Hot favourite Don Poli provided Willie Mullins with his fifth winner of the Festival in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham under Bryan Cooper. Winner of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle 12 months ago and unbeaten in two previous starts over fences, the six-year-old was a 13-8 market leader on his first start since winning at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Despite racing lazily at various stages of the three-mile Grade One, Don Poli responded to Cooper’s urgings and joined Kings Palace for the lead when that horse made a mistake in the back straight. The two of them fought it out coming down the hill before Don Poli asserted from the home turn. Southfield Theatre briefly appeared a major threat jumping the second-last, but Don Poli powered away from the last for a six-length success.
Wounded Warrior, like the winner owned by Gigginstown House Stud, was third.
Cooper, who suffered an awful injury at last season’s Festival, said: “To get a winner this early [in the meeting] is great. I’ve been supported by great people.
“Willie’s done a serious job with this horse. He could be very special.”
Gigginstown supremo Michael O’Leary said: “He always seemed quite comfortable, if anything Bryan had to wake him up. It’s another outstanding training performance by Willie Mullins - the man’s a genius. I have a very good jockey and a great trainer. It’s great not to have to wait until Friday for a winner.”
Asked whether he could be a Gold Cup horse next year, O’Leary added: “I’ll enjoy today, there’s no point planning for next year - that will take care of itself.”
Mullins said: “It was special. It looked like he was idling the whole way up the straight, ears pricked. It looked like he’d have won the four-mile chase after all!
If that’s the best in Ireland and over in England, you’d have to say that [he could be a future Gold Cup horse]. We’re a bit numb. The week has gone way above our expectations.”
Spare a thought for jockey Joe Cornwall
This from Chris Cook: Sara Bradstock, half of the husband and wife team behind Coneygree, has expressed horror over a technical error that put the name of the wrong jockey next to her beloved horse at the final entry stage for Friday’s Gold Cup. The eight-year-old has thrived under Nico De Boinville, who will in fact ride him in the race, but racing’s official entry system, run by Weatherbys, showed the he had been declared to be ridden by the low-profile Joe Cornwall.
“It’s like somebody has hacked into Weatherbys and done it for a laugh but its not funny,” Bradstock said. They [Weatherbys] are saying it was done from our side with our secretary’s passcode but it wasn’t of course.” Bradstock said that Weatherbys had agreed to substitute De Boinville’s name after accepting that the original booking was, in her words, “ridiculous”.
“Anyway, all’s well, the horse is in good order and let’s hope this rain comes,” added Bradstock, who said she “could do without” such last-minute hiccups.
Updated
Chris Cook's race preview: Coral Cup (2.40)
One of those tricky handicaps in which, if you get the winner once a decade, you’re doing well. I favour Hammersly Lake, from the Nicky Henderson yard that won this last year, this one having had a wind op since he last ran and being likely to appreciate the ground. But he’s 18-1, so maybe I’m pushing my luck.
Paul Nicholls has the favourite in Aux Ptits Soins, who has fine form in France but hasn’t run here, so we’re slightly guessing as to how good he is (in sharp contrast to all the other runners, you understand). ‘Shrewd’ Gordon Elliott fields Taglietelle in his first handicap over hurdles, although the last run was a bit offputting.
Aidan O’Brien has Plinth, who must be worth respecting and has been contesting Grade Ones. Tony McCoy is on Goodwood Mirage, who was such hard work in victory at Wetherby in October that the champ popped his collar bone out and had to give up the rest of his rides. (He actually wanted to ride in the next race but was stopped by the course doctor when it was seen that he couldn’t pull his silks off).
RSA Chase result
1 Don Poli (BJ Cooper) 13-8 Fav
2 Southfield Theatre (Sam Twiston-Davies) 13-2
3 Wounded Warrior (P Carberry) 12-1
8 ran
Also: 14-1 Adriana Des Mottes 4th
Non Runner: 6
CSF: 12.31
Tricast: 90.62
Updated
RSA Chase (2.05) ...
It’s neck and neck between Don Poli and Kings Palace as they go around the final bend. Don Poli forges clear before the second last, but Southfield Theatre is fighting back. Don Poli kicks clear at the last to win the RSA Chase at his leisure. Southfield Theatre is second and it’s a photo for third. Another win for Ireland and Willie Mullins, with Bryan Cooper in the saddle. Don Poli wins.
RSA Chase (2.05) ...
AP McCoy is scrubbing away on If In Doubt, while favourite Don Poli goes to the front after a mistake at the fourth last by Kings Palace ...
RSA Chase (2.05) ...
The Young Master is jumping well as he leads by two lengths from Kings Palace, then Southfield Theatre with just over a circuit to travel and 1o fences to jump. Kings Palace edges ahead of The Young Master, Southfield Theatre and Don Poli. Wounded Warrior is a couple lengths further back and Apache Jack is struggling at the back of the field ...
RSA Chase (2.05) - they're off!
The eight horses head off over a trip of three miles and half a furlong. Kings Palace and The Young Master are four lengths clear of Don Poli and Southfield theatre as they jump the fifth. No fallers so far ...
Updated
An outsider to consider?
Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins team up here on a 16-1 shot in Adriana Mottes. With eight horses in the race, is it worth an EW punt for a top three place? I have no idea, but I’m just putting it Out There.
RSA Chase (2.05) betting
- Don Poli 7-4
- Kings Palace 9-2
- The Young Master 5-1
- Southfield Theatre 13-2
- If In Doubt 12-1
- Wounded Warrior 12-1
- Adriana Des Mottes 16-1
- Apache Jack 33-1
Ladbroke's took a pasting ...
They took a bet of £5,000 at 5-1 in the Cheltenham betting ring shortly before the first race.
Updated
Coneygree jockey puzzle
Nico de Boinville will be riding Coneygree in the Gold Cup on Friday surely but on Weatherbys’ official site at present Joe Cornwell is on the horse who will attract a lot of media interest ahead of the feature race of the week.
Updated
Chris Cook’s race preview: RSA Chase (2.05)
A quick recap: You’ll never guess who trains the favourite. I tend to think Don Poli does not deserve to be as short as 2-1 because this is competitive. Although now I come to think if it, he did win a handicap at the last Festival. And it comes to mind that, the last time Mullins won that handicap, he brought the horse back the following year to win this race. Hmm. But Don Poli may be a bit short of toe in this company and there are a handful of good alternatives.
Kings Palace jumps well and has a good record here, except at the last Festival. If In Doubt had stones in hand when he won the Great Yorkshire and Tony McCoy has been lobbying for him to run here instead of in the Midlands National. Southfield Theatre was just pipped in a handicap at the last Festival and is starting to look a better chaser. But the one I like is The Young Master, trained by the very capable Neil Mulholland, who had a winner yesterday. You should have seen what this one did to 17 rivals in the Badger Ales Chase in November. I could hardly believe he was only five. Alas, it was all for nothing, as he wasn’t qualified and shouldn’t have been allowed to run but he was better yet the next day at Ascot. I hope for big things.
Updated
Neptune Novices' Hurdle report
Windsor Park ran out a decisive winner of the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Dermot Weld’s six-year-old was a 9-2 shot having chased home the reopposing 7-2 favourite Nichols Canyon in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, but was ridden far more positively this time by Davy Russell.
The Irish raider cut out the early running before the giant Beast Of Burden went on down the back straight and there were still plenty in with chances running down to the second flight from the finish. Windsor Park quickened back to the front approaching the last and galloped clear up the hill for an impressive three-and-three-quarter-length success.
The patiently-ridden Parlour Games came through for second under Tony McCoy, with Nichols Canyon third. Vyta Du Roc was still in with a chance when he made a serious blunder at the final obstacle.
“All credit to Dermot Weld and his team - he’s a master,” said Russell. “He told me that jumping is his hobby. It’s some hobby, isn’t it? He jumped every hurdle really well and I never had any issue with stamina.”
Weld said: “It’s very enjoyable. I’ve only a few jumpers nowadays. He’s a dual-purpose horse and you’ll see him on the Flat as well. I thought he’d be very hard to beat. I had a lot of confidence in my own horse. He’s done everything right and he’s enjoyed the trip. This was lovely ground for him. He could be entered for a Gold Cup [at Royal Ascot].”
Another winner for Ireland ...
This will be a very popular winner, not least because plenty of people will have backed Windsor Park. Dermot Weld is an incredibly popular Flat trainer, who doesn’t normally send horses to Cheltenham unless they’re in with a good chance of winning, while Davy Russell is simply a top bloke, a genuinely funny and very eccentric character who’s much loved by racing fans everywhere.
Updated
Neptune Novices' Hurdle result
1 Windsor Park (D N Russell) 9-2
2 Parlour Games (A P McCoy) 13-2
3 Nichols Canyon (R Walsh) 7-2 Fav
10 ran
Also: 15-2 Vyta Du Roc 4th
CSF: 32.74
Tricast: 113.07
This was Guardian tipster Chris Cook’s nap of the day, so hats off to him. That’s two from two this Festival so far.
Davy Russell speaks ...
“Dermot Weld told me this is his hobby; training jumpers. Some hobby, isn’t it?”
Neptune Novices' Hurdle
Under Davy Russell Windsor Park jumps clear at the last and wins the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at a canter, capitalising on a terrible blunder from Vyta Du Roc at the last. Dermot Weld notches up his third winner at Cheltenham.
Neptune Novices’ Hurdle ...
Beast Of Burden leads with Nichols Canyon, Warrantor, Vyta Du Roc all going well ...
Neptune Novices' Hurdle ...
On the far side of the course with four hurdles to jump, Beast Of Burden leads by a length from Windsor Park with a two-length lead. Vyta Du Roc is in third ...
Updated
Neptune Novice's Hurdle (1.30) - they're off!
Starter Willie Supple sends them away to a loud roar, with Warrantor making the running, with Beast of Burden second and favourite Nichols Canyon in third place. Windsor Park comes through to lead under Davy Russell, with Warrantor behind him. All 10 runners are on their feet after three flights ...
We have a steamer in the first ...
Beast of Burden, trained by Rebecca Curtis and ridden by Paul Townend is in to 8-1 from 16s (or possibly more).
Updated
Neptune Novices' Hurdle (1.30) betting
- Nichols Canyon 10-3
- Outlander 9-2
- Windsor Park 9-2
- Vyta Du Roc 9-1
- Parlour Games 8-1
- Beast of Burden 9-1
- Ordo Ab Chao 11-1
- 20-1 bar. Click here for all your odds needs
Non-runner alert ...
The Ould Lad is out of the RSA Chase (2.05).
Other non-runners
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.20): No1 Champagne Fever and No2 Clarcam
Champion Bumper (5.15): No15 Pylonthepressure
Chris Cook's Neptune Novices' Hurdle (1.30) preview
With less than 30 minutes before the first race, here’s a recap: Oh look, Willie Mullins has the first two in the betting. This is of course partly because he is an authentic genius and partly because so many big-spending owners have gravitated to him. I’m delighted for him but I can’t help feeling this domination is taking the sport down a dangerous road towards Not Very Competitive City.
Anyway, it’s hard to be sure which is his first string here. Ruby Walsh is on Nichols Canyon but that doesn’t answer the question because the owners of Outlander retain Bryan Cooper, who rides that one. Both keep improving and winning. I tend to think Nichols Canyon has the stronger form but they will probably be clear of the rest over the last and then we’ll see. Or will they? Ah, Windsor Park has been hacking along in their wake and shoots past them both up the hill, loving the extra distance and drier ground. Good old Dermot Weld!
Live-blogging’s Barry Glendenning: “I want to marry her.” Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters
Patrick Mullins will have his first Cheltenham #GoldCup ride on Friday, when he partners last year's runner-up On His Own. #CheltFest
— Cheltenham News 2015 (@CheltenhamFNews) March 11, 2015
Ruby Walsh still perplexed by Annie Power's fall
This from Greg Wood: Ruby Walsh says that he is still mystified by the fall of Annie Power in the Mares’ Hurdle on Tuesday, and does not believe that she jumped the shadow cast by the hurdle in the declining sun.
“I don’t know what happened, I wouldn’t think it was the shadow,” Walsh said on Racing UK. “Every time I’ve ridden her, she’s just done the opposite to what she did yesterday and just kept galloping. She did exactly that first time round so I don’t know why she did what she did, but she did it.
“When it happens like that, you stand up and you want to kick the rail, then kick the hurdle and curse but you can’t, that’s racing. The hurdles are there to be jumped, she didn’t get high enough but thankfully she got up and galloped away.
“As long as you stand up and you’re in one piece, it’s okay. There’s always the next race, you can’t look back although it’s disappointing. You can’t look in the past, you’d never get anywhere.”
Today's non-runners
Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.20): No1 Champagne Fever and No2 Clarcam
Champion Bumper (5.15): No15 Pylonthepressure
Chris Cook's race preview: Champion Bumper (5.15)
This was the first Festival race Willie Mullins dominated (he rode the winner once) and he’s still doing it. Somehow we allowed his last two winners to start at 16-1 and 25-1, even though Ruby was on one of them. Willie has just the seven runners this time (out of 24). Bordini is favourite and his form would justify that but an awful lot of these are going to be better than they’ve shown so far: Bellshill has got to be of interest with Ruby jocked up. David Pipe’s Moon Racer heads the home defence and was most impressive winning here in October. The Hobbs yard are apparently keen on their Ascot winner, Wait For Me.
Chris Cook's race preview: Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle (4.40)
A handicap featuring horses who have hardly seen a racetrack. Good luck! ‘Shrewd’ Gordon Elliott has two, including the favourite, Hostile Fire, who improved for the fitting of a tongue tie to break his hurdles duck last time. I bet he has more to offer but at the odds I’m more interested in Elliott’s Thunder Zone (20-1), who is without the hood he’s worn the last couple of times. It seems to me that this game sort has slightly surprised the trainer and may have more to offer. Paul Nicholls has run some good horses in this race. His All Yours chased home a classy beast at Kempton last time, while Bouvreuil is interesting at bigger odds in a first-time tongue tie.
Chris Cook's race preview: Cross Country Chase (4.00)
Once described by a bookmaker as “the race in which they go round and round in circles until the favourite’s in front”, this is sometimes a bit slapstick and the percentage of runners who have gone the wrong way must be higher for this course than any other. It is quite fun to watch, especially if you’re into schadenfreude, but possibly not the most reliable punting vehicle.
Balthazar King, who does so well in these races, skips the Festival to go straight to the Grand National but his trainer, Philip Hobbs, fields Duke Of Lucca and it is possible that having this one in the yard made it easier to take out The King. Duke Of Lucca has had a couple of spins around here, running fourth to his stablemate at the last Festival and unseating last time when fancied.
Some horses do improve for a bit of experience here. Any Currency is favourite but winning from a career-high handicap mark at the age of 12 is a lot to ask. Toutancarmont tackles similar races in France, where he is mustard (moutarde?), but a first visit here invites caution. Sam Twiston-Davies has been giving out Sire Collonges as his best chance of a Festival winner, when speaking at various preview nights.
Chris Cook's race preview: 3.20 Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.20)
So here it is, The Race Of The Week, or arguably. Do you like Sprinter Sacre to bounce back from two years of troubles and be his brilliant best again? Are you a Sire De Grugy groupie, still frothing over his handicap success off 172 the other day? Will you tell us, after the event, that Champagne Fever’s incredible Festival form made him the obvious one? Is your faith in Dodging Bullets to do what he has never done and win a major race in spring? Have you decided that Mr Mole is an outstanding talent who will win despite larking around like a two-year-old? That covers everything up to 16-1, so I suppose it will be one of the others. A doctorate in punting goes to anyone who can properly crack this.
Updated
AP McCoy-watch ...
The Champ has been running through his book today with Attheraces. He says it will be a “big step up” for If In Doubt in the RSA Chase. He’s “getting a bit fed-up of fancying” Coral Cup mount Goodwood Mirage and Mr Mole “deserves to take his chance” in the Champion Chase. If any of them get AP off the mark this year, at his final Festival as a race-rider, it will surely bring the house down.
Updated
Chris Cook's race preview: Coral Cup (2.40)
One of those tricky handicaps in which, if you get the winner once a decade, you’re doing well. I favour Hammersly Lake, from the Nicky Henderson yard that won this last year, this one having had a wind op since he last ran and being likely to appreciate the ground. But he’s 18-1, so maybe I’m pushing my luck. Paul Nicholls has the favourite in Aux Ptits Soins, who has fine form in France but hasn’t run here, so we’re slightly guessing as to how good he is (in sharp contrast to all the other runners, you understand).
‘Shrewd’ Gordon Elliott fields Taglietelle in his first handicap over hurdles, although the last run was a bit off-putting. Aidan O’Brien has Plinth, who must be worth respecting and has been contesting Grade Ones. Tony McCoy is on Goodwood Mirage, who was such hard work in victory at Wetherby in October that the champ popped his collar bone out and had to give up the rest of his rides. (He actually wanted to ride in the next race but was stopped by the course doctor when it was seen that he couldn’t pull his silks off).
Updated
Going change at Cheltenham
The ground is now officially being described as good, good to soft in places.
Old Course @CheltenhamRaces is now good , good to soft in places.
— Graham Clark (@GrahamClark85) March 11, 2015
Updated
#CheltFest: Champagne Fever ante post bets (before non-runner, no bet) losers; will be deductions to bets struck today before withdrawal
— Cornelius Lysaght (@CorneliusRacing) March 11, 2015
Chris Cook's race preview: RSA Chase (2.05)
You’ll never guess who trains the favourite. I tend to think Don Poli does not deserve to be as short as 2-1 because this is competitive. Although now I come to think if it, he did win a handicap at the last Festival. And it comes to mind that, the last time Mullins won that handicap, he brought the horse back the following year to win this race. Hmm. But Don Poli may be a bit short of toe in this company and there are a handful of good alternatives.
Kings Palace jumps well and has a good record here, except at the last Festival. If In Doubt had stones in hand when he won the Great Yorkshire and Tony McCoy has been lobbying for him to run here instead of in the Midlands National. Southfield Theatre was just pipped in a handicap at the last Festival and is starting to look a better chaser. But the one I like is The Young Master, trained by the very capable Neil Mulholland, who had a winner yesterday. You should have seen what this one did to 17 rivals in the Badger Ales Chase in November. I could hardly believe he was only five. Alas, it was all for nothing, as he wasn’t qualified and shouldn’t have been allowed to run but he was better yet the next day at Ascot. I hope for big things.
Champagne Fever out of Queen Mother Champion Chase
Champagne Fever has been ruled out of the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase this afternoon. The two-times Festival scorer was officially withdrawn after he suffered an injury in his box this morning, with reports suggesting he was bitten by a stablemate.
Champagne Fever, trained by Willie Mullins and the intended mount of Ruby Walsh, had been challenging for favouritism behind Sire De Grugy and Sprinter Sacre in the two-mile championship. In another blow for Mullins, his Champion Bumper hope Pylonthepressure has also been taken out as he is lame.
Updated
Chris Cook's race preview: Neptune Novices' Hurdle (1.30)
Oh look, Willie Mullins has the first two in the betting. This is of course partly because he is an authentic genius and partly because so many big-spending owners have gravitated to him. I’m delighted for him but I can’t help feeling this domination is taking the sport down a dangerous road towards Not Very Competitive City.
Anyway, it’s hard to be sure which is his first string here. Ruby Walsh is on Nichols Canyon but that doesn’t answer the question because the owners of Outlander retain Bryan Cooper, who rides that one. Both keep improving and winning. I tend to think Nichols Canyon has the stronger form but they will probably be clear of the rest over the last and then we’ll see. Or will they? Ah, Windsor Park has been hacking along in their wake and shoots past them both up the hill, loving the extra distance and drier ground. Good old Dermot Weld!
Updated
Greg Wood hits us with his going stick ...
Still no sign of any rain here at Cheltenham, he writes. It seems to be getting a little brighter if anything, but the impressively precise forecast is for “2mm to 3mm of rain between 12.30pm and 3.30pm”. The going remains good-to-soft, good in places on the main track, while it is good, good-to-soft in places on the cross-country course, which is used today for the only time at the meeting.
Here’s Simon Claisse, the clerk of the course: “The times suggested the going description yesterday was spot on. Walking it, the chase course did feel slightly quicker. The forecast at the moment is for some light rain starting around 12.30pm and 1pm and lasting through to mid-afternoon.
“It was quite windy last night and walking it this morning, the ground felt a bit quicker than when I went around at 6pm yesterday evening. The going description could change before we start racing today, depending on whether the rain has come by 1.30pm.
“It looks like we could have another spell of rain, Thursday night into Friday. It could be 4mm to 5mm.”
Today's market movers from William Hill
William Hill’s on-course rep Jon Ivan-Duke has just been around with the firm’s early movers, and no doubt a little relieved after the layers’ narrow escape from a huge payout here on Tuesday, writes Greg Wood. “Bouvreuil, a Pricewise horse in the Racing Post this morning, is 12-1 from 14-1, and Dermot Weld’s Vigil is attracting support in the concluding Bumper, from 10-1 to 8-1. That’s an interesting one as few horses line up for this race twice, but Vigil was fifth last year behind his stablemate Silver Concorde when the market suggested he was the yard’s main hope. The same firm have also cut Don Poli from 2-1 to 7-4 for the RSA Chase, and Sprinter Sacre to 7-2 from 4-1 for the Champion Chase.”
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1.30pm: Nichols Canyon 3-1 from 4-1
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2.05 RSA: Don Poli 7-4 from 2-1
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2.40 Coral Cup: Lac Fontana 16-1 from 20-1
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3.20 Champion Chase: Sprinter Sacre 7-2 from 4-1
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4.00 Cross Country: Toutancarmont 7-1 from 8-1
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4.40 Fred Winter: Bouvreuil 12-1 from 14-1
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5.15 Champion Bumper: Vigil 8-1 from 10-1
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Gold Cup field declared
All 18 horses have stood their ground following the final declaration stage for Friday’s Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Silviniaco Conti is the ante-post favourite for Paul Nicholls and Noel Fehily as he bids to win the blue riband at the third attempt.
Tony McCoy will ride John Kiely’s Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carlingford Lough in what will be his final Gold Cup and he features in an Irish challenge that also includes last year’s winner Lord Windermere, trained by Jim Culloty, the Willie Mullins-trained Djakadam and Noel Meade’s Road To Riches.
Jonjo O’Neill’s dual Festival winner Holywell, Oliver Sherwood’s Many Clouds and Mark Bradstock’s novice Coneygree all have chances in an open renewal.
Gordon Elliott has declared Don Cossack, but he is expected to line up as favourite for the Ryanair Chase on Thursday. PA
Non-runner alert ...
One out of the Champion Chase. Not surprisingly, Clarcam, who watched Un De Sceaux from a distance yesterday, doesn’t line up again this afternoon
Clarcam n/r in Champion Chase @cheltenham
— Patrick Cooney (@patcooney_365) March 11, 2015
Updated
Greg Wood reports from the track with his daily scene setter:
The rain that is forecast for Cheltenham on Ladies’ Day has yet to appear, but no one here seems to be in much doubt that after an overcoat-less afternoon on Tuesday, the macs and umbrellas will be required at some stage. It should not make much difference to the ground, however, which was ideal for racing on Tuesday and could probably do with a little moisture to keep it that way.
The key race this afternoon is the long awaited Festival head-to-head between Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy, the last two winners of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. It is far from a two-horse race, though, and there are at least three other runners, and arguably five, with a chance of taking the prize.
A great deal of the speculation in the run-up to this race has centred around Sprinter Sacre, and whether he is likely to be capable of producing the extraordinary level of form of his second season over fences in 2012-13. This was inevitable given his brilliance two years ago, and also the drama which attached to his first defeat over fences at Kempton in December 2013, when he was pulled up midway through a Grade Two contest with an irregular heartbeat.
Inevitable, but also a little odd, since the answer to the question of whether Sprinter Sacre will ever be quite the horse he was seems quite simple: no. Even Nicky Henderson, his trainer, concedes that, suggesting in one quote this morning only that his stable star is “within knocking distance” of his best.
Even a below-par Sprinter Sacre might be able to win, of course, but winning any race, at the Festival above all, is rarely quite as simple as needing to run to a certain level. Timeform awarded Sprinter Sacre a rating of 192, its highest in the modern era, for his victory here two years ago, so in theory he could run at least a stone below his best and still come home in front.
To produce that level of form, however, every facet of a horse’s physical, mental and physiological makeup still needs to be working in harmony and at maximum efficiency. If it is not, he is unlikely to beat a top-class opponent who is putting it all in from start to finish.
The evidence of Sprinter Sacre’s last two runs, including the second place on his return at Ascot in January when he suffered a minor bleed afterwards suggests that something, somewhere, is not quite right. Sire De Grugy, on the other hand, looked every inch the horse he was last year when he returned to winning form at Chepstow last month.
To my mind, Sire De Grugy should be a clear favourite to beat Sprinter Sacre today, yet he can be backed at 7-2, just half a point shorter than his main rival. Paddy Power, meanwhile, quote 5-6 each of two in a match bet which again does not feel quite right.
The 7-2 about Sire De Grugy is a very fair price for a defending champion with far fewer questions to answer than Sprinter Sacre, and it is quite possible that Champagne Fever, Dodging Bullets or Mr Mole will give him more to think about than the 2013 winner.
Many will take a different view, of course, and 3.20pm is when we get to find out.
Updated
The joy of Twitter. Cheltenham have assured Hunt that Arkle will be moving to a nice new home eventually:
@HuntyCaller he will be moving, once the development is complete, just want to keep him safe and away from lorries/big machines until then.
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 11, 2015
Updated
Has Himself traded down in the new-look Cheltenham? Arkle is a name that will live long in Cheltenham Festival racing history but when they moved his statue in the rejig the the track is getting did they pick the wrong spot? BBC Radio 5 Live commentator John Hunt thinks so:
@CheltenhamRaces deserve immense credit for new layout. BUT this legend deserves a better home, please #Arkle pic.twitter.com/GRFoIDYf6v
— John Hunt (@HuntyCaller) March 11, 2015
Chris Cook’s guide to today’s trainers and owners battles
Top trainers after Day One
Willie Mullins 4
Neil Mulholland 1
Gordon Elliott 1
Rebecca Curtis 1
... suggesting that extraordinary shrewdness is a pre-requisite for Festival success. Mullins had something like the day he must have dreamed of and is (I’m told) the first trainer to have had four Grade One winners on a single Festival day, even if it wasn’t with the horses he may have anticipated. I spoke to an Irish journalist who’d been given 200-1 about 10 Mullins winners at this Festival. There’s a bookie who must be getting twitchy.
Tough days were endured by Britain’s top two jumps trainers. Paul Nicholls didn’t get a place, though he felt that Vibrato Valtat had suffered by actually trying to win the Arkle and getting tired, while other horses were ridden more conservatively and ran past late on. Nicky Henderson got third in the Arkle with Josses Hill and was beaten just a head when Polly Peachum narrowly failed in the mares’ race. He could have had three places on the day if L’Ami Serge had met less trouble.
Top jockeys after Day One
Ruby Walsh 3
Paul Townend 2
Barry Geraghty 1
Mr Jamie Codd 1
Only one win on Day One for British-based jockeys, which is just barely a fair way to describe Barry Geraghty. Ruby Walsh had a great day and a crashing fall and finds himself just one win ahead of his deputy at Mullins’ yard. He must have felt like he’d bent down to pick up a fifty and been given a kick in the bum. But at least he’s in one piece and it seems most unlikely that his winning is over.
Fourth place on Jezki was the best Tony McCoy could manage as his final Festival got under way. That, he believes, is his best chance of the week gone already. Here’s hoping his luck turns.
Updated career standings for Festival wins
Trainers
Nicky Henderson 51
Fulke Walwyn 40
Willie Mullins 37
Paul Nicholls 34
Martin Pipe 34
Mullins climbs two places in a single day!
Jockeys
Ruby Walsh 44
Barry Geraghty 32
Tony McCoy 30
If Ruby keeps going for another four years, what kind of a number is he going to have in this table? (Ugh, bit too close to a maths puzzle, that one)
Today in Ruby Walsh’s world
1.30 Nichols Canyon 4-1
2.05 Adrianna Des Mottes 28-1
2.40 Daneking 25-1
3.20 Champagne Fever 5-1
4.40 Buiseness Sivola 20-1
5.15 Bellshill 16-1
Today from Tony McCoy’s perspective
1.30 Parlour Games 6-1
2.05 If In Doubt 12-1
2.40 Goodwood Mirage 12-1
3.20 Mr Mole 10-1
4.40 Box Office 16-1
5.15 Yanworth 20-1
Three rides at 20-1 or bigger? Geez, Ruby, did you agent take the week off after sorting out Tuesday? Neither man has taken a ride in the cross-country, which is not a race they particularly appreciate, I believe. To put it mildly. Richard Johnson must like it, though, after two wins in three years.
Today’s races and Chris Cook’s tips
1.30 Neptune Novice Hurdle
Windsor Park
2.05 RSA Chase
The Young Master
2.40 Coral Cup
Hammersly Lake
3.20 Queen Mother Champion Chase
Sire De Grugy
4.00 Cross-Country Chase
Duke Of Lucca
4.40 Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
Thunder Zone
5.15 Bumper
Pylonthepressure
Here is our tipster’s in-depth preview for all today’s races
Preamble
How did you feel when Annie Power fell yesterday? According to the papers she cost the bookmakers 10, 20, 40, 50 maybe even £100m (take your pick) but just how unlucky was she and those punters waiting to cash in on the bets they had wagered on the Willie Mullins/Ruby Walsh runners?
Take a look at this piece of footage:
Ms Power clearly jumped the shadow cast by the sun in front of the hurdle. She takes her hurdles low and just clipped the top bar of the flight.
The Champion Chase is the big race today and, arguably, the race of the meeting. The horses are all jostling for position as are all the great the stories behind the runners. Comeback kid Sprinter Sacre winning would be a remarkable feat of training by Nicky Henderson; Preston Family-owned Sire De Grugy was in many ways the best yarn of the week when he won last year; Champagne Fever is from the all-conquering Walsh/Mullins/Rich “beyond my wildest dreams” Ricci camp; Dodging Bullets was bred by Frankie Dettori and he’s going to be there; and, if that wasn’t enough, Mr Mole is ridden by a certain Tony McCoy.
Don’t miss one minute of the action with us. In the meantime, you’re probably wanting details of our tipping competition. Here’s Chris Cook:
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 seven 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 tiebreak purposes.
If you don’t win today, don’t despair. We are running an identical competition on each day of the Festival.
