Cheltenham Festival Friday wrap ...
Seven times a bridesmaid to Douvan in various two-mile chases, Sizing John finally made some headlines of his own by stepping up in trip winning the Gold Cup for Jessica Harrington under a patient ride for Robbie Power. Chasing’s blue riband event was one of two winners for Harrington and Power on an afternoon when they teamed up to win Festival finale the Grand Annual Chase with Rock The World.
Willie Mullins also secured a double to bring his total for the festival to six winners. Off the track for 14 months, Arctic Fire showed no sign of rustiness when he returned to win the County Handicap Hurdle for Willie Mullins to give jockey Paul Townend the fifth Festival success of his career. The pair notched up a quick-fire double in the following race, the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle with 16-1 shot Penhill briefly sent the trainer top of the Festival trainers’ table.
He couldn’t stay there: JJ Slevin’s victory on board Champagne Classic in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle enabled Gordon Elliott to leapfrog his rival. The pair finished with six winners each, but Elliott prevailed by dint of more second and third place finishes on countback.
In the Foxhunters’ Chase, Bryony Frost hugged the inside rail from pillar to post to win on Pacha De Polder and give Paul Nicholls his only success of the Festival. Frost became the third different woman to triumph at this year’s Festival. Ruby Walsh was leading jockey at the Festival, with nobody able to better the four winners he notched up on Wednesday afternoon. Power was his nearest rival with three.
That’s your lot. Thanks for your time and your company - I’m off for a lie-down until Royal Ascot.
Grand Annual Chase (5.30) result
1 Rock The World (R M Power) 10-1
2 Gardefort (D A Jacob) 20-1
3 Theinval (J McGrath) 9-1
4 Dandridge (D N Russell) 13-2
24 ran
Also: 7-2 Fav Le Prezien
Grand Annual Handicap Chase (5.30) 2m
Croco Bay and Bright New Dawn make the turn with two to jump. Gardefort and Rock The World leap the last. Rock The World storms into the lead and up the hill to win for jockey Robbie Power and Jessica Harrington. It’s a nice little winner to add to their Gold Cup success from earlier this afternoon.
Grand Annual Handicap Chase (5.30) 2m
Croco Bay and Velvet Maker make the running as they continue at a ferocious gallop. Croco Bay, Velvet Maker, Solar Impulse and Bright New Dawn ...
Grand Annual Handicap Chase (5.30) 2m
After one false start, off we go from a standing start in the fast and furious Festival finale featuring 14 fences over two miles. All 24 horses get over the first safely with Croco Bay out in front ...
Grand Annual (5.30) preview
Alas, here’s the Festival closer and a very tricky race in which to get out of trouble if that’s what you need it for. Le Prezien was placed at Grade One level last time and tries to give Paul Nicholls back-to-back winners in this race. Dandridge was runner-up last year and wouldn’t need much more luck to go one better, with the masterful Davy Russell aboard. Rock The World, third last year, has been campaigned with this in mind and has had a wind op since he last ran. From a small Irish yard that won here on Tuesday with Tully East, Velvet Maker will be trying to last longer in front than last year, when he faded from three out.
Gordon Elliott will take the leading trainer trophy
That winner, which his owner Michael O’Leary has just charitably described as “a real surprise because he’s the worst horse we’ve got”, puts Gordon Elliott level with WIllie Mullins in the race to be leading trainer at the Festival. However, because Elliott is ahead on countback (in second and third places) and Mullins doesn’t have a runner in the next race, Elliott cannot be caught and will take the prize.
Updated
Martin Pipe Hurdle (4.50) result
1 Champagne Classic (J J Slevin) 12-1
2 Verni (Thomas Cheesman) 25-1
3 Runfordave (D Meyler) 9-1
4 Coo Star Sivola (Lizzie Kelly) 13-2
23 ran
Also: 9-2 Fav Battleford
Non Runner: 20
CSF: 286.74
Tricast: 2854.83
Martin Pipe Hurdle (4.50) 2m 4f
Champagne Classic takes it up from Verni as they approach the final flight ... Champagne Classic leads them up the hill and wins in the hands of JJ Slevin to put another winner on the board for trainer Gordon Elliott. Champagne Classic wins the Martin Pipe Hurdle.
Martin Pipe Hurdle (4.50) 2m 4f
Coo Star Sivola continues to make the running from Doesyourdogbite but most of the pack remains fairly tightly bunched. Coo Star Sivola from Doesyourdogbite, Champagne Classic, Verni. No Comment is making headway ...
Martin Pipe Hurdle (4.50) 2m 4f
Doesyourdogbite leads the charge but dives at the first, with Coo Star Sivola upsides him ... Gibralfaro is an early faller and brings down Rather Be ... Doesyourdogbite leads from Coo Star Sivola and Verni ...
Martin Pipe Hurdle (4.50) betting
There have been two huge plunges in this race, with small fortunes coming in overnight for Battleford (5-1) and Coo Star Siviola (7-1). In what looks a very open race, No Comment (7-1), Runfordave (8-1) are the only other horses available at single-figure odds.
Pacha De Polder takes the Foxhunter Chase
Pacha Du Polder and Wonderful Charm gave Paul Nicholls a one-two in the St James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup as the Ditcheat trainer finally had his first winner of the week at the Cheltenham Festival.
Fifth under Victoria Pendleton 12 months ago, Bryony Frost took the reins this time and rode a confident race on the 10-year-old. Balnaslow made a brave attempt to make all the running but Pacha Du Polder sneaked up his inside at the final fence and went on from there.
Wonderful Charm came from the clouds to take second place, beaten a neck, with Barrel Of Laughs another neck back in third and On The Fringe fourth after winning the race for the previous two years.
“Everyone always expects plenty this week, it’s been an amazing week,” said Nicholls.
“Saphir Du Rheu in the Gold Cup [fifth] gave me an amazing buzz and for young Bryony to ride him like that is great. She’s Jimmy’s [Frost, Grand National winner] daughter and to give these young girls chances is great.”
Updated
Martin Pipe Hurdle (4.50pm) preview
A fiercely competitive handicap for conditional jockeys. No Comment, unbeaten in three and carrying the JP McManus colours, heads the betting on his handicap debut. Battleford, beaten a nose in the Champion Bumper a year ago, will relish this return to a sound surface.
Runfordave, a wide-margin winner at Clonmel recently, looks like a useful Gordon Elliott improver. From the same yard, Taglietelle is back down to the same mark from which he won at the Grand National meeting a couple of years ago. Doesyourdogbite could appreciate the additional emphasis on stamina here. Dadsintrouble is improving but may need further.
- If you’re still scratching around looking for a winner to get you out of trouble at this stage, you might as well give up, but feel free to view the betting market with Oddschecker.
Foxhunter Chase (4.10) result
1 Pacha Du Polder (Miss B Frost) 16-1
2 Wonderful Charm (Ms K Walsh) 7-2
3 Barel Of Laughs (Mr Alex Edwards) 100-1
23 ran
Also: 11-8 Fav On The Fringe 4th
Non Runner: 1
Tote: win 19.10 places 3.70 2.00 23.50
Tote Exacta: 84.90
CSF: 70.38
Tricast: 5584.58
Foxhunter Chase (4.10) 3m 2f
Pacha Du Polder wins for trainer Paul Nicholls under a brilliant ride around the inside from Bryony Frost. That’s the horse Victoria Pendleton rode in this race last year. With no disrespect to Ms Pendleton, I think he might have won last year with a more experienced jockey on board as he came like a train towards the end. His jockey this year has good pedigree - she’s the daughter of Grand National-winning jockey Jamie Frost.
Updated
Foxhunter Chase (4.10) 3m 2f
Prince Charles hops in the back and Ted goes to follow him, only to be told by security who materialised from nowhere that he’d have to make his own way back ... Balnaslow leaps the last in front, but Pacha Du Polder, Wonderful Charm and Barrel of Laughs swamp him. They’re three abreast but Pacha Du Polder wins by half a length.
Updated
Foxhunter Chase (4.10) 3m 2f
Ted helps his Royal Highness to his feet and they walk over to get a lift back to the weigh room in the back of an ambulance ... Balnaslow continues to lead from Paint The Clouds and Grand Vision with four left to jump ...
Foxhunter Chase (4.10) 3m 2f
So Ted goes over to see who it is and if they’re OK, only to discover it’s Prince Charles, winded and groaning in pain ... Balnaslow leads from Paint The Clouds, Grand Gesture and Ask The Weatherman ...
Foxhunter Chase (4.10) 3m 2f
Balnaslow and Ask The Weatherman continue to make the pace, although the latter’s jumping is looking a bit dodgy ... so anyway, Ted Walsh tells the story of falling in the Foxhunters once and seeing another stricken jockey lying face down in the dirt nearby ... Buckers Bridge has been pulled up ... Balnaslow continues to lead ...
Foxhunter Chase (4.10) 3m 2f
They’re off and running in the amateur equivalent of the Gold Cup, with plenty of jockeys involved who are amateur in all but name ... and a few who probably shouldn’t be let near a horse. Prince Charles rode in this once, don’t you know? Balnaslow leads them over the first couple of fences from Current Event and Ask The Weatherman ...
A non-runner in the Foxhunters
No1: Anseanachai Cliste
What's this all about? #Cheltenham pic.twitter.com/PruBPvWHpi
— James Constantine (@ConstantineBet) March 17, 2017
Foxhunters Chase (4.10) preview
On The Fringe goes for a third consecutive win in this race, having put together an excellent winning run over the past three years. He’ll be sharper for his reappearance defeat behind a good-quality rival. Jamie Codd takes over from the pregnant Nina Carberry in the saddle. Ask The Weatherman is a prolific points winner who looked useful at Wincanton last month, though this is much more demanding.
Salsify is a dual winner of this but the most recent of those was four years ago and he hasn’t run to that level since. Paul Nicholls fields a couple in the disappointing Wonderful Charm and Pacha Du Polder, who ran a mighty race to be fifth under Victoria Pendleton last year. Grand Jesture was runner-up in a Festival handicap two years ago and would be interesting if he could be relied upon to start. Alas, he has refused to race three times. Of course, that kind of history didn’t stop Labaik on opening day.
Updated
Sizing John powers to victory in the Gold Cup, completing the Irish Gold Cup & Cheltenham Gold Cup double #TheFestival pic.twitter.com/C1FsT7Zae9
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 17, 2017
Sizing John wins the Gold Cup
That was a fantastic horse race. Djakadam looked in control with two fences to go, but clattered the second last and quickly ran out of gas. Sizing John led over the last and was able to hold off all challengers on the run-in. Spare a thought for Cue Card, who fell at the exact same fence this time around as he did last year when looking a good thing. Paddy Brennan was hard at work on him this time around, so it’s unlikely he’d have won if he’d stayed on his feet.
Updated
Gold Cup (3.30) result
1 Sizing John (R M Power) 7-1
2 Minella Rocco (N D Fehily) 18-1
3 Native River (R Johnson) 7-2
13 ran
Also: 3-1 Fav Djakadam 4th
Non Runner: 5
CSF: 116.96
Tricast: 521.34
Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f
Sizing John wins a thriller for Irish trainer Jessica Harrington in the more than capable hands of Robbie Power. Minella Rocco was second and Native River was third.
Updated
Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f
Sizing John leads them over the last and holds off his rivals up the run-in. Sizing John wins the Gold Cup!!!
Updated
Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f
Irish Cavalier is pulled up as Native River leads them over the fourth last with Djakadam upsides him. Cuew Card is being scrubbed aloing. Cue Card falls at the same fence that did for him last year. Djakadam and Native River go around the final bend with Sizing John alongside them ...
Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f
Irish Cavalier begins to struggle at the back of the field as Native River leads them along with seven fences to jump. Native River from Champagne West and Djakadam ...
Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f
Champagne West leads from Native River, Djakadam, Bristol De Mai, Sizing John, Cue Card, More of That and Outlander. Bar the faller, they’re all still in with a shout ...
Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f
Tea For Two blunders into the second fence and unseats Lizzie Kelly, for whom there will be no Gold Cup fairytale. Native River leads from Sizing John, More Of That, Outlander, Minella Rocco and Irish Cavalier. Cue Card is in midfield.
Updated
Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f
They’re away and running in the Gold Cup, with Djakadam and Native River challenging each other for favouritism in the betting. Tea For Two was on her toes again, but has gone off with the rest of the field, which is led by Bristol De Mai and Native River ...
Gold Cup (3.30) 3m 2f
The parade past the grandstand has just begun, with Bristol De Mai and Darryl Jacob leading the way. Lizzie Kelly’s mount Tea For Two was on its toes in the parade ring, prompting her jockey to put her finger to her lips and appeal for silence from the spectators in a bid to avoid making the horse even more nervous. He looks well settled now he’s out on the course and on his way to the start.
Intrigue in the Foxhunters ...
Good news for race commentators: Anseanachai Cliste (Irish for The Clever Storyteller) has been withdrawn from the Foxhunters Chase by stewards who, according to Racing UK, are concerned that the horse might have been given something other than food or water ahead of the race. More news on that as we get it.
BREAKING: Anseanachai Cliste is a non-runner in the Foxhunter @CheltenhamRaces #TheFestival
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) March 17, 2017
Penhill defies long odds to win Albert Bartlett
Penhill came from way off the pace to come out on top in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle as Ireland continued to dominate at Cheltenham. Successful with Arctic Fire in the County Hurdle earlier on the card, Willie Mullins was winning his sixth race of the Festival and Paul Townend his second.
Ami Desbois did the donkey work to two out but there were soon just three vying for victory with Penhill, Monalee and Wholestone taking over. The latter was the first to crack and try as Monalee could, Penhill (16-1) held the aces as he powered up the hill to win by three and a half lengths. Wholestone was four lengths away in third.
“He’s a class horse, we kept him wide to get into a rhythm,” said Townend. “I won on him over three miles at Christmas at Limerick on heavy ground and he saw it out really well.”
“I’m over the moon for everyone involved, it was a great ride by Paul and it’s a brilliant horse we have here,” said Penhill’s owner Tony Bloom, chairman of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club. “He was looking good all the way and two out we were expecting him to win, his hurdling was a lot better than it has been and he’s got the pace. Racing over three miles has been the making of him, as it gives him more time for his jumping. I haven’t had many Cheltenham runners, so it is very exciting. I’ve brought a lot of friends and they’re all on at 16 and 20-1.”
Gold Cup (3.30) preview
Willie Mullins is back in form and the betting market seems to believe he’s finally going to win a Gold Cup, having had the runner-up for the last four years and six times in total. His Djakadam is down to 100-30 as I type, taking the position as favourite off Native River. Djakadam has had a clearer run this time than when second for the last two years and perhaps this is a weaker race than those were.
If, as some believe, Colin Tizzard is badly out of form, that would allow you to put a line through the next two in the betting. Native River is a dour stayer who will race prominently and may prove hard to reel in on this ground. Good old Cue Card is back for another go, having fallen at the third-last when cruising last year. Sizing John, the Irish Gold Cup winner, seemed to improve for stepping up in distance, or perhaps it’s just that he didn’t have to race against Douvan any more.
Outlander won Ireland’s other main trail, the Lexus over Christmas. Like Sizing John, his stamina for this test is not assured. More Of That and Minella Rocco represent Jonjo O’Neill and both failed to complete in the Irish Gold Cup. Both have winning form at past Festivals and would get involved if O’Neill has got them back to their peaks for this. The others have a lot of work to do on their known form.
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50) result
1 Penhill (P Townend) 16-1
2 Monalee (D J Mullins) 8-1
3 Wholestone (D A Jacob) 13-2
15 ran
Also: 13-8 Fav Death Duty, 12-1 Constantine Bay 4th
Tote: win 17.00 places 4.00 2.50 2.20
Tote Exacta: 151.90
CSF: 128.09
Tricast: 920.30
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50) 3m
Willie Mullins saddles his sixth winner of the Festival and Penhill gives jockey Paul Townend his second winner of the afternoon.
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50) 3m
Augusta Kate is now struggling at the back of the field, The World’s End falls. Wholestone, Penhill and Monalee jump the last in front. Penhill sweeps into the lead and makes it a quick-fire double for Paul Townend.
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50) 3m
The field regroups with Augusta Kate and Ruby Walsh plodding along at the back of the field with the favourite Death Duty just in front of him. Ami Desbois continues to make the running from Elegant Escape and Step Back. This trio have a lead of about five lengths over Any Drama and Monalee. Augusta Kate makes a little mistake at a hurdle and only has one behind as things stand ....
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50) 3m
Off we go in the gruelling test of stamina that is the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, with Ami Desbois leading the field followed by Step Back, Elegant Escape, Monalee and Any Drama. The field is already strung out like your mum’s washing ...
More Monalee news ...
Perhaps pining for the goat, Monalee has unshipped David Mullins down at the start. Horse and jockey have been reunited and all is well in the world again.
Monalee and Harvey dream team ...
Monalee runs for trainer Henry De Bromhead in the next race and ITV’s cameras have just had a peep into his stable where he’s relaxing with Harvey, a hairy goat who is the horse’s best buddy and doubles up as his travelling companion on racing days. This is not unheard of in horse-racing, although some horses have been known to prefer the company of sheep to goats.
Arctic Fire burns off his rivals in County Hurdle
From PA Sport: Arctic Fire put up a terrific weight-carrying performance to give Willie Mullins a fifth Cheltenham Festival winner of the week in the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle.
Runner-up in the 2015 Champion Hurdle, Arctie Fire (20-1) got up on the run to the line under Paul Townend to snatch the spoils. Wakea held a clear lead up to the final flight where he was swallowed up by the pack, as Arctic Fire came through late to win by a neck from L’Ami Serge. Ozzie The Oscar was another neck away in third and Air Horse One fourth.
“It’s some training performance to get him back after such a long absence,” said Townend. “He had top weight but he had it for a reason and I went out with the mindset to ride him like the best horse and thankfully it paid off. Donagh [Meyler, on Wakea] had a big lead but it’s very hard to do round here, you don’t get that much of a lead without doing a hell of a lot. At that stage I had no choice but to drop in, there was nothing I could do about it.”
Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (2.50) preview
A marathon race for novice hurdlers, this is at the mercy of Death Duty according to the betting market. Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old has a big reputation and is unbeaten in four over hurdles, though he hasn’t yet run over three miles or on such a fast surface.
Perhaps that gives Monalee a chance to turn around their Navan form from December, considering Henry De Bromhead’s runner has since won over three miles and seems likely to prefer this ground. Wholestone has fine course form but comes from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard that seems out of form. Willie Mullins sends Augusta Kate, who was giving Death Duty a race at Naas last time until falling at the last.
County Hurdle (2.10) result
1 Arctic Fire (P Townend) 20-1
2 L’Ami Serge (D A Jacob) 25-1
3 Ozzie The Oscar (T J O’Brien) 50-1
4 Air Horse One (N D Fehily) 10-1
25 ran
Also: 5-1 Fav Ivanovich Gorbatov
Non Runner: 8
Tote: win 25.90 places 5.10 5.80 11.60 2.30
Tote Exacta: 491.30
CSF: 444.41
Tricast: 21744.21
Updated
County Hurdle (2.10) 2m 1f
That’s a brilliant training performance by Willie Mullins to get such a good tune out of a horse after so long off the racecourse.
County Hurdle (2.10) 2m 1f
Wakea leads towards the second last hurdle with a huge lead. Behind him, Ivanovich Gorbatov is leading the charge alongside Ozzie The Oscar ... Ozzie The Oscar leads over the last but Artic Fire and L’Ami Serge pass him on the run-in. Arctic Fire wins under Paul Townend by about a neck carrying top weight after 418 days off the track. Arctic Fire wins the County Hurdle.
County Hurdle (2.10) 2m 1f
Tell Us More already looks under pressure at the back of the field as Wakea opens a lead of about 15 lengths from the chasing posse ...
County Hurdle (2.10) 2m 1f
They’re off and running in the County Hurdle, with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Ivanovich Gorbatov backed off the boards. Ruby Walsh’s mount Renneti, a horse with previous in the form of refusing, didn’t look too much in the mood for racing but has set off with the field after some gentle coaxing from his rider. Wakea leads the field by five lengths from Dominada and Ivanovich Gorbatov ...
County Hurdle (2.10) betting
- Ivanovich Gorbatov 13-2
- North Jill Harvey 6-1
- Wait For Me 10-1
- Witer Escape 10-1
- Air Horse One 10-1
- Renneti 12-1
Some news on Douvan from Chris Cook
Our man in the know has the lowdown on Douvan, who ran and jumped so disappointingly in the Champion Chase on Wednesday. You’d run and jump disappointingly too if you had a fractured pelvis.
Douvan has a stress fracture to his pelvis. Excellent prognosis. May race again in Autumn, with luck
— chris cook (@claimsfive) March 17, 2017
Defi De Seuil cruises home in Triumph Hurdle
From PA Sport: Defi Du Seuil took his 100 per cent record over jumps to six with an impressive victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, the opening race on the last day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Champion jockey Richard Johnson always looked happy on the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding as Mega Fortune, Dinaria Des Obeaux and Evening Hush cut out the running. Defi Du Seuil, wearing the first colours of owner JP McManus, cruised through to challenge at the second-last flight and was switched nearer to the stands rail. The 5-2 favourite soon took command and pulled clear on the run-in to score by five lengths from Mega Fortune, who held Bapaume by a short head for second.
“I was a passenger all the way to be honest, he travelled and jumped,” said Johnson. “At Christmas he shocked me how much speed he had and on the better ground some people thought that was a negative. He’s just improved all year and I can’t believe he’s the same horse I rode at Ffos Las four or five months ago. All credit to Philip, he’s handled him brilliantly all year. He travelled so well and I was just trying not to get there too soon.”
A good run from Ex Patriot
Despite unshipping his rider and bolting before the start, Ex Patriot put in a good performance there to finish fourth. We can only speculate as to how well he’d have done without his pre-race tomfoolery, but I don’t think there’s a hope in hell he’d have caught the winner, who was head and shoulders above the opposition. He might have made the podium, which would have been no mean feat for a 27-year-old trainer saddling her first ever Festival runner.
County Hurdle (2.10) preview
Dan Skelton made his Festival breakthrough in this race a year ago and he has the likely favourite in North Hill Harvey, who has been saved for this since winning the Greatwood here in November. Superb Story, Skelton’s winner last year, had been saved since running second in the Greatwood; why change a good system?
Willie Mullins has a fine record in this, having won it three times in seven years, and his Renneti is interesting, especially after support from an opening 25-1 down to 14s last night. He hasn’t won over hurdles for ages but looks handily treated on several bits of form. The worry would be his reluctance to line up at the start, which will, at the very least, make it difficult for Ruby Walsh to claim anything like a handy early position. Vosne Romanee seems to be improving for that excellent trainer Dr Newland. Winter Escape is highly thought of by Alan King but was desperately disappointing in the Greatwood. Gordon Elliott’s pair, Mick Jazz and Tell Us More, could both be handily weighted.
Triumph Hurdle (1.30) result
1 Defi Du Seuil (R Johnson) 5-2 Fav
2 Mega Fortune (D N Russell) 7-1
3 Bapaume (R Walsh) 10-1
15 ran
Also: 28-1 Ex Patriot 4th
Non Runner: 8
Tote: win 3.30 places 1.70 2.50 3.00
Tote Exacta: 28.60
CSF: 19.36
Tricast: 156.21
Triumph Hurdle (1.30) 2m 1f
Defi Du Seuil hoses up in the Triumph Hurdle with Champion Jockey Richard Johnson getting his second winner of the Festival, this time for the trainer Philip Hobbs. Mega Fortune was second and Bapaume was third.
Updated
Triumph Hurdle (1.30) 2m 1f
Mega Fortune continues to lead as Evening Hush makes a bad mistake at the fourth hurdle from home. Dinaria Des Obeaux and Mega Fortune continue to make the running with Deffi De Seuil making ground. He’s nicely poised as they tackle the turn from home ... Defi Du Seuil moves to the front as they approach the last ... Deffi De Seuil is first over the last and leads by two lengths ... Defi Du Seuil pulls clear to win the Triumph Hurdle.
Updated
Triumph Hurdle (1.30) 2m 1f
They’re away and running in the Triumph Hurdle, with Ex Patriot being allowed to take his chance after being reunited with his jockey. He’s young Irish trainer Ellmarie Holden’s first ever Festival runner, so hopefully he hasn’t been adversely affected by his pre-race adventure. Mega Fortune leads the field, with Dinaria Des Obaux and Soldier In Action almost upsides ...
Triumph Hurdle (1.30) 2m 1f
There’s drama down at the start, where Ex Patriot has parted comp-any with his rider, Rachael Blackmore and cantered off into the sunset. The horse has now been caught and will be checked over by the vet before being allowed to take his chance.
Defi Du Seuil wearing a hood in the paddock that will be removed before the start
— chris cook (@claimsfive) March 17, 2017
Triumph Hurdle (1.30) betting
- Defi Du Seuil 5-2
- Charli Parcs 4-1
- Master Blueyes 15-2
- Landofhopeandglory 9-1
- Bapaume 9-1
- Mega Fortune 11-1
Updated
An interesting revelation from AP McCoy
On ITV’s coverage, their star pundit has just revealed that he schooled More Of That over 10 fences for Jonjo O’Neill about 10 days ago. More interestingly, he said that the trainer offered him the ride in the Gold Cup this afternoon, but after thinking about he turned him down. He may have been joking, but I’m not so sure. Whether or not he’d have made the weight is another story.
Not long now ...
There’s less than half an hour to go until the first race of the afternoon, so if you haven’t entered our tipping competition yet, please do so immediately. You can find the names of all seven winners in the guide below, or on the racing page of today’s Guardian newspaper, which is available in all good newsagents.
Triumph Hurdle (1.30) preview
JP McManus seems to have a stranglehold on this race, which he also won last year. Not only does he have the longstanding favourite, Defi Du Seuil, who has been so imperious in a series of victories, but he has the main challenger in Charli Parcs. The latter has quite an engine but has a nasty habit of losing his position at halfway and must be at risk of getting outpaced at the wrong point of this race.
McManus also has the interesting late gamble, Landofhopeandglory, who is with last year’s winning trainer, Joseph O’Brien, and was fourth in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. Master Blueyes was probably going to beat Charli Parcs when that one fell at Kempton a fortnight ago and he seems on a steep upward curve. Still, it has been a slightly disappointing Festival for his stablemates at Alan King’s yard.
Cheltenham Festival 2017 in pictures ...
Fresh from retaining the award for Specialist Sports Portfolio at the British Sports Journalism Awards in February, horse racing photographer Alan Crowhurst was at Cheltenham to train his lens on this year’s Festival. Enjoy.
Today's non-runners
- 1.30: No8 King Julien
- 2.10: No8 Mick Jazz
- 3.30: No5 Empire of Dirt
The Love The Jumps podcast
In today’s episode, the Love The Jumps team preview preview the Gold Cup with Joe Tizzard, Jonjo O’Neill, Henry De Bromhead, Rich Ricci, Robbie Power, and Ruby Walsh. Plus, Matt Woolston gives his big tips for the day.
Mullins v O'Leary
We’re tracking the relative success this week of Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, a powerful owner in jump racing, and the champion Irish trainer Willie Mullins. The pair of them fell out in September, resulting in about 60 horses being moved to other Irish trainers, though it appears peace has broken out between them. Both men have had productive Festivals, though Mullins can now claim to be doing the better after his three Grade One wins on Thursday.
Their runners today
1.30
- Mullins: Bapaume, Dandy Mag
- O’Leary: Dinaria Des Obeaux
2.10
- Mullins: Arctic Fire, Renneti
- O’Leary: Tell Us More
2.50
- Mullins: C’est Jersey, Penhill, Turcagua, Augusta Kate
- O’Leary: Death Duty
3.30
- Mullins: Djakadam
- O’Leary: Outlander, Empire Of Dirt (likely NR)
4.10
- Mullins: nil
- O’Leary: nil
4.50
- Mullins: Castello Sforza, Battleford
- O’Leary: Champagne Classic
5.30
- Mullins: nil
- O’Leary: The Game Changer
Grand Annual (5.30) preview
Alas, here’s the Festival closer and a very tricky race in which to get out of trouble if that’s what you need it for. Le Prezien was placed at Grade One level last time and tries to give Paul Nicholls back-to-back winners in this race. Dandridge was runner-up last year and wouldn’t need much more luck to go one better, with the masterful Davy Russell aboard. Rock The World, third last year, has been campaigned with this in mind and has had a wind op since he last ran. From a small Irish yard that won here on Tuesday with Tully East, Velvet Maker will be trying to last longer in front than last year, when he faded from three out.
Martin Pipe Hurdle (4.50) preview
A fiercely competitive handicap for conditional jockeys. No Comment, unbeaten in three and carrying the JP McManus colours, heads the betting on his handicap debut. Battleford, beaten a nose in the Champion Bumper a year ago, will relish this return to a sound surface.
Runfordave, a wide-margin winner at Clonmel recently, looks like a useful Gordon Elliott improver. From the same yard, Taglietelle is back down to the same mark from which he won at the Grand National meeting a couple of years ago. Doesyourdogbite could appreciate the additional emphasis on stamina here. Dadsintrouble is improving but may need further.
Foxhunters Chase (4.10) preview
On The Fringe goes for a third consecutive win in this race, having put together an excellent winning run over the past three years. He’ll be sharper for his reappearance defeat behind a good-quality rival. Jamie Codd takes over from the pregnant Nina Carberry in the saddle. Ask The Weatherman is a prolific points winner who looked useful at Wincanton last month, though this is much more demanding.
Salsify is a dual winner of this but the most recent of those was four years ago and he hasn’t run to that level since. Paul Nicholls fields a couple in the disappointing Wonderful Charm and Pacha Du Polder, who ran a mighty race to be fifth under Victoria Pendleton last year. Grand Jesture was runner-up in a Festival handicap two years ago and would be interesting if he could be relied upon to start. Alas, he has refused to race three times. Of course, that kind of history didn’t stop Labaik on opening day.
Gold Cup (3.30) preview
Willie Mullins is back in form and the betting market seems to believe he’s finally going to win a Gold Cup, having had the runner-up for the last four years and six times in total. His Djakadam is down to 100-30 as I type, taking the position as favourite off Native River. Djakadam has had a clearer run this time than when second for the last two years and perhaps this is a weaker race than those were.
If, as some believe, Colin Tizzard is badly out of form, that would allow you to put a line through the next two in the betting. Native River is a dour stayer who will race prominently and may prove hard to reel in on this ground. Good old Cue Card is back for another go, having fallen at the third-last when cruising last year. Sizing John, the Irish Gold Cup winner, seemed to improve for stepping up in distance, or perhaps it’s just that he didn’t have to race against Douvan any more.
Outlander won Ireland’s other main trail, the Lexus over Christmas. Like Sizing John, his stamina for this test is not assured. More Of That and Minella Rocco represent Jonjo O’Neill and both failed to complete in the Irish Gold Cup. Both have winning form at past Festivals and would get involved if O’Neill has got them back to their peaks for this. The others have a lot of work to do on their known form.
Albert Bartlett (2.50) preview
A marathon race for novice hurdlers, this is at the mercy of Death Duty according to the betting market. Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old has a big reputation and is unbeaten in four over hurdles, though he hasn’t yet run over three miles or on such a fast surface.
Perhaps that gives Monalee a chance to turn around their Navan form from December, considering Henry De Bromhead’s runner has since won over three miles and seems likely to prefer this ground. Wholestone has fine course form but comes from the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard that seems out of form. Willie Mullins sends Augusta Kate, who was giving Death Duty a race at Naas last time until falling at the last.
County Hurdle (2.10) preview
Dan Skelton made his Festival breakthrough in this race a year ago and he has the likely favourite in North Hill Harvey, who has been saved for this since winning the Greatwood here in November. Superb Story, Skelton’s winner last year, had been saved since running second in the Greatwood; why change a good system?
Willie Mullins has a fine record in this, having won it three times in seven years, and his Renneti is interesting, especially after support from an opening 25-1 down to 14s last night. He hasn’t won over hurdles for ages but looks handily treated on several bits of form. The worry would be his reluctance to line up at the start, which will, at the very least, make it difficult for Ruby Walsh to claim anything like a handy early position. Vosne Romanee seems to be improving for that excellent trainer Dr Newland. Winter Escape is highly thought of by Alan King but was desperately disappointing in the Greatwood. Gordon Elliott’s pair, Mick Jazz and Tell Us More, could both be handily weighted.
Triumph Hurdle (1.30) preview
JP McManus seems to have a stranglehold on this race, which he also won last year. Not only does he have the longstanding favourite, Defi Du Seuil, who has been so imperious in a series of victories, but he has the main challenger in Charli Parcs. The latter has quite an engine but has a nasty habit of losing his position at halfway and must be at risk of getting outpaced at the wrong point of this race.
McManus also has the interesting late gamble, Landofhopeandglory, who is with last year’s winning trainer, Joseph O’Brien, and was fourth in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot. Master Blueyes was probably going to beat Charli Parcs when that one fell at Kempton a fortnight ago and he seems on a steep upward curve. Still, it has been a slightly disappointing Festival for his stablemates at Alan King’s yard.
Top jockeys after Day Three
- Ruby Walsh 4
- Noel Fehily 2
- Nico De Boinville 2
- Jamie Codd 2
- Bryan Cooper 2
- David Bass 1
- Richard Johnson 1
- Jack Kennedy 1
- Lisa O’Neill 1
- Denis O’Regan 1
- Robbie Power 1
- Tom Scudamore 1
- Davy Russell 1
- Gina Andrews 1
From zero to clear at the top in just one afternoon, Ruby Walsh has turned his week completely around. Aidan Coleman, meanwhile, is knocking at the door until his knuckles bleed; without a Festival winner since 2009, he has had three seconds this week.
Top trainers after Day Three
- Gordon Elliott 5 wins
- Willie Mullins 4
- Nicky Henderson 3
- Henry De Bromhead 1
- Alan Fleming 1
- Jessica Harrington 1
- Ben Pauling 1
- David Pipe 1
- Nick Williams 1
- Noel Meade 1
- Stuart Edmunds 1
- Pat Kelly 1
Willie Mullins rocketed himself into second place and one more win will put him on top, because he’d be ahead of Elliott on a countback of placed horses. Nicky Henderson also fares well on that score, having had five runners-up, more than the top two put together. I’m afraid Paul Nicholls is at risk of his first blank Festival since 2002, the year before Azertyuiop’s Arkle.
Today’s races and our tips
1.30 Triumph Hurdle Defi Du Seuil 9-4
2.10 County Hurdle Mick Jazz 8-1
2.50 Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle Monalee 8-1
3.30 Cheltenham Gold Cup Minella Rocco 20-1
4.10 Foxhunter Chase On The Fringe 7-4
4.50 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Runfordave 10-1
5.30 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Dandridge 9-1
Which would mean a stonking end to the week for JP McManus, since I have him down for three wins, including the Gold Cup and the Triumph Hurdle. I seem to have taken the Gordon Elliott route for both handicap hurdles, so let’s hope that turns out to be a good system. And there’s another five winners for Ireland in there, which would give them 19 for the Festival. Of course, Michael O’Leary says that’s all a load of cobblers ...
Updated
The 32Red Cheltenham Festival tipping competition
Congratulations to aportforsport, who had the first four winners on Thursday to end the day on +21.25. That was enough to hold off goodfellow1 (+18.50), who also combined the high-scoring winners Nichols Canyon and Presenting Percy. Aportforsport, we’ll be in touch by email next week.
You could win a £50 bet from 32Red 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 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.
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Happy St Patrick's Day everyone ...
Green felt hats, knobbly sticks and ungainly bunches of shrubbery dangling from lapels are the order of the day today, as we Irish celebrate St Patrick’s Day on the back of yesterday’s six-timer at the Cheltenham Festival. Today’s feature race is the Gold Cup, the most competitive contest in jump-racing with a whopping £327,462 on offer to the winner.
We’ll be here all day to bring you previews, news updates, tips, results, the best photographs from the course and more on what promises to be another exciting day’s racing. The tapes go up for the first at 1.30pm (GMT) and there are seven in total.
