That’s all from me for today, but I’ll be back tomorrow - and we’ll have another tipping competition up and running. I’ll leave you with Chris Cook’s Champion Hurdle report. Be lucky.
5.30 National Hunt Chase result
1 Ravenhill 12-1 (JJ Codd)
2 Lord Du Mesnil 11-2 (S Waley-Cohen)
3 Lamanver Pippin 33-1 (W Biddick)
4 Forza Milan 12-1 (Derek O’Connor)
Jamie Codd: the best amateur since the IT guy in the Office.
The main man - Jamie Codd strikes again!
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 10, 2020
The brilliant amateur steers Ravenhill to glory in the National Hunt Chase. Gordon Elliott off the mark for the week! #CheltenhamFestival @CoddJJ @gelliott_racing pic.twitter.com/4btLcd2bhr
Ravenhill wins the National Hunt Chase!
Jamie Codd runs a superb race, coming from the back of the pack to outlast long-time leader Lord Du Mesnil. That’s a first win of the Festival for trainer Gordon Elliott, too. I think Lamanver Pippin came home third, but awaiting official confirmation.
Updated
Ravenhill and Lord Du Mesnil are neck-and-neck at the last, but Ravenhill gets a better jump. Behind them, Carefully Selected falls to end his comeback charge!
Lord Du Mesnil is slowing up, with Ravenhill closing the gap and Carefully Selected powering up to third ...
Lord Du Mesnil now leads Newtide by four or five lengths, with Lamanver Pippin third over the last open ditch. Three to jump ...
Carefully Selected is down in seventh as they take on the last lap, with Lord Du Mesnil still leading and Ravenhill getting into contention. And Springfield Fox is down!
Heading down the hill, 14 of 23 fences cleared, and the leading pair are unchanged. Lamanver Pippin and Ocean Cove are making moves behind them ...
Lord Du Mesnil leads over the open ditch, ahead of Springfield Fox, but the pack are closing, led by Newtide and Forza Milan. It’s not a belting pace so far ...
Lord Du Mesnil edges into the lead, with The Hollow Ginge going well on the inside. Newtide up to fourth, no fallers so far ...
Springfield Fox and Smoking Gun make the early running, with Newtide well-placed and Carefully Selected a little further back.
One more race! The National Hunt Chase is on
This could be an attritional battle over three miles and five furlongs. It’s a slightly reduced field, compared to previous years.
5.30 National Hunt Chase latest odds
Carefully Selected – 5/4
Lord Du Mesnil – 5/1
Springfield Fox – 7/1
Ravenhill – 12/1
Newtide – 12/1
Forza Milan – 12/1
Lamanver Pippin – 28/1
The Hollow Ginge – 28/1
Smoking Gun – 33/1
Ocean Cove – 33/1 (my e/w pick)
Redzor – 100/1
Anteros – 250/1
Clondaw Clan – 300/1
Some Can Dance – 250/1
4.50 Novices' Handicap Chase result
1 Imperial Aura (David Bass) 4-1 Jt Fav
2 Galvin (D N Russell) 4-1 Jt Fav
3 Hold The Note (J J Burke) 10-1
4 Whatmore (T J O’Brien) 14-1
20 ran
Non Runner: 13
Some reaction from trainer Kim Bailey after getting his first win of the week:
"This is why we do it."
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 10, 2020
An emotional @kimbaileyracing speaks to @LydiaHislop after Festival glory with Imperial Aura @Imperial_Racing #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Gc3K2LJDep
And Rachael Blackmore after her victory in the Mares’ Hurdle:
"When it all works out, it's some kick." @rachaelblackmor is absolutely delighted after victory aboard the "special" Honeysuckle at @CheltenhamRaces #CheltenhamFestival @LydiaHislop
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 10, 2020
Results ➡ https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/WeR01lVCQ0
In case you missed it earlier, here’s Chris Cook’s Champion Hurdle report:
5.30 National Hunt Chase preview
This odd race, a marathon novice chase for amateur riders, used to favour horses with plenty of chasing experience but this year’s main contenders lack that. The hot favourite is Carefully Selected, unbeaten in three over fences but a bit chancy-looking at Naas last time. This is his toughest test yet and he needs to respond by jumping better, which is not how these things usually go.
Ravenhill was beaten just a head in the Kerry National but his best form is on a much drier surface than this. Lord Du Mesnil loves the mud but it’s fair to ask how much more he has to offer this season after some hard races. Newtide, a slightly fortunate Grade Two winner last time, has probably had a more helpful preparation and looks a real stayer in the making.
Imperial Aura wins the Novices' Handicap Chase!
David Bass leads Imperial Aura home, with a galloping Galvin unable to close the gap. Hold The Note completes an Irish podium sweep, with Whatmore fourth.
Updated
Precious Cargo falls at the last! That leaves Imperial Aura with clear turf ahead, and Galvin a distant second ...
They pick up the pace with Precious Cargo still holding off Imperial Aura, with Torpillo third, and Galvin and Hold The Note improving all the time ...
Down the hill and past the halfway mark, before Precious Cargo stutters at the water jump. Imperial Aura up to second, with Trainwreck improving. Beakstown and Champagne Court in the mix, too ...
Precious Cargo takes the lead from Champagne Mystery before the seventh, with Torpillo and Imperial Aura in contention. Galvin and Hold The Note mired in midfield ...
Champagne Mystery leads over the third, while Jarveys Plate and Knight in Dubai both go down ...
The Novices' Handicap Chase is go!
Imperial Aura still the 4-1 favourite, but Galvin is racing in at 9-2 as they get off and running.
Richard Johnson will have to see the doctor before he can be cleared to race on Wednesday, after falling in the Arkle earlier on today.Richard Johnson will need to pass the doctor on Wednesday if he is to take his rides on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.
The multiple champion jockey was partnering the Olly Murphy-trained Brewin’upastorm in Tuesday’s Arkle Challenge Trophy when he was unseated at the 10th fence. Johnson walked back into the weighing room, but was stood down from the remainder of his mounts.
BHA spokesman Robin Mounsey said: “Richard Johnson was stood down for the day by the doctor. He will need to pass a medical examination in the morning to be able to take his rides.”
Johnson only returned on action on February 27, having been out since January 21 after suffering a broken arm. He has three booked rides on Wednesday and three more on Thursday, including Apple’s Jade in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
4.50 Novice Handicap Chase odds
Imperial Aura – 4/1
Galvin – 13/2
Espoir De Guye – 15/2
Hold The Note – 9/1
Beakstown – 12/1
Precious Cargo – 14/1
Trainwreck – 14/1 (my each-way pick)
Whatmore – 16/1
Champagne Court – 18/1
Earlofthecotswolds – 22/1
Champagne Mystery – 25/1
Jarveys Plate – 25/1
Knight in Dubai – 28/1
Highest Sun – 33/1
Lord Schnitzel – 33/1
Mitchouka – 40/1
Daily Tiger – 50/1
De Plotting Shed – 66/1
Paint The Dream – 80/1
Torpillo – 80/1
4.50 Novice Handicap Chase preview
Imperial Aura has had a solid first season over fences without suggesting he has masses more to offer, so he is a slightly odd choice of favourite in a race which ought to be half full of unexposed types. Galvin, sixth in the Ballymore last year, has been brought along steadily in non-handicaps and seems to have landed on a lenient rating. The handicap king, Gordon Elliott, appears to have saved him for this since November.
Hold The Note didn’t do his rating any favours by finishing second in a Grade Two last time and he might be up against it now. Espoir De Guye was also raised significantly for his last run but, as he won a valuable Ascot handicap by 10 lengths, it’s only fair. He should have more to offer for Venetia Williams, seeking her first Festival win for seven years. Mitchouka is an interesting Irish raider at 25-1. He’s shown promise in two runs for a new yard and should improve for this return to longer.
4.10 Mares' Hurdle
1 Honeysuckle (Rachael Blackmore) 9-4
2 Benie Des Dieux (P Townend) 4-6 Fav
3 Elfile (D E Mullins) 16-1
9 ran
Also: 12-1 Roksana 4th
Non Runner: 3
Bookies would have feared the worst after Epatante won the Champion Hurdle, but Honeysuckle - owned by bookmaker Kenny Alexander - saw off the favourite there. A great tactical race too, with Honeysuckle going inside to get beyond Stormy Ireland and get an advantage into the home straight.
Honeysuckle wins the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle under @rachaelblackmor 👏🙌#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/YeDU9HH19K
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 10, 2020
Updated
“This mare is so special,” says Blackmore. “She’s unbelievable. I’m lucky I get to steer him round. [Winning Grade Ones] gets better every time! You learn early on that they don’t come along too often.”
Honeysuckle wins the Mares' Hurdle!
It was billed as the battle of the day, and it delivered, with Blackmore and Townend going toe-to-toe over the final fence and up the hill - but Honeysuckle holds on! It’s another Grade One win for Rachael Blackmore.
Updated
Two to go: Benie Des Dieux moves to the outside, looking for room. Honeysuckle goes up the inside and gets ahead, and suddenly we’re into the anticipated two-horse battle ...
Four to go: Honeysuckle takes up the lead, with Elfile third. The front five pulling away, Roksana leading the back markers ...
Six to go: Stormy Ireland canters a couple of lengths clear, with Benie Des Dieux, Honeysuckle and Lady Buttons in behind.
Eight to go! The pack takes the long first turn, with Elfile and Stormy Ireland leading a mid-tempo affair.
4.10 Mares' Hurdle is live!
Here we go, then. Benie Des Dieux v Honeysuckle, Paul Townend v Rachael Blackmore. Benie Des Dieux starts 4-6 favourite ...
Some news from the US, where Maximum Security’s trainer, Jason Servis, has been fired by the racehorse’s owner. Servis has been indicted over an alleged mass-doping scheme:
Mares' Hurdle live odds
Benie Des Dieux – 8/13
Honeysuckle – 11/4
Stormy Island – 12/1
Roksana – 14/1
Elfile – 28/1
Lady Buttons – 33/1
Popong – 100/1
Cap Soleil – 100/1
Desaray Girl – 100/1 (my long-shot pick)
All odds via Oddschecker.
Mares' Hurdle preview
This has been billed as a clash between two top-class mares but the market has decided which one it likes. Benie Des Dieux would be seeking a hat-trick in this, but for falling on her face at the last a year ago. She might just have been getting tired but it was her first start for 11 months. This time, she comes off a win in the Galmoy, when she left her rivals 21 lengths behind and prompted Mullins to suggest she was the best mare he had trained (look away now, Annie Power and Quevega).
She is the right favourite but the improving Honeysuckle will surely be a tough opponent after winning the Irish Champion at half a mile shorter last time. The rest have work to do, including Roksana, last year’s winner, who seems regressive this season. Stormy Ireland, second last year, is going the right way and it is not impossible to imagine her getting involved.
That win also moves Nicky Henderson past Willie Mullins, and back into the overall lead as Cheltenham’s most successful trainer with 66 wins.
Epatante wins the Unibet Champion Hurdle at #CheltenhamFestival 👏🏆
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 10, 2020
Watch live now!
📺 @ITV
📱 https://t.co/fJXuj4d6h6 pic.twitter.com/MONVFJgbuO
3.30 Champion Hurdle result
1 Epatante (B J Geraghty) 2-1 Fav
2 Sharjah (Mr P W Mullins) 16-1
3 Darver Star (Jonathan Moore) 17-2
17 ran
Also: 7-1 Cilaos Emery 4th
An elated Barry Geraghty says he had to keep Epatante in check, the mare wanting to take every fence on early. It all came together at the last, though - “all the lights were green”.
It’s a second win of the day for Nicky Henderson, and his eighth Champion Hurdle. “We’ve been very lucky to have such good horses,” he says in a moment of textbook trainer understatement.
Updated
Epatante wins the Champion Hurdle!
The favourite has too much class, coasting away down the home straight with Sharjah the only runner getting close. Darver Star can’t keep up and comes third, with Cilaos Emery emerging from the pack in fourth.
Updated
Approaching the last: Darver Star takes the lead, Epatante second, with Ballyandy in touch and Sharjah tearing through the field ...
Updated
Three to go: Petit Mouchoir extends the lead, and turning up the pace. Darver Star is second, Epatante moving into third. Supasundae and Silver Streak also in the mix, Cornerstone Lad fading ...
Updated
Five to go: The pace drops a little, with Sharjah at the back and Pentland Hills having a quiet race so far. The front two lead by a couple of lengths ...
Six hurdles to go! Petit Mouchoir the early leader from Cornerstone Lad. Epatante in midfield, with Darver Star and Not So Sleepy well placed ...
Updated
The Champion Hurdle is under way
Epatante goes away as 2-1 favourite. The first start goes awry as Darver Star and Not So Sleepy move a little too fast. That’s the third false start of the day. They’re off second time around ...
The runners and riders are making their way down to the start. Some notable names, including Pentland Hills, Supasundae and Silver Streak, who was bought for just £25,000 and placed here last year.
I’m fascinated by Le Patriote, ridden by conditional jockey Charlie Hammond and still available at an enormous 400-1 ...
3.30 Champion Hurdle live odds
Epatante – 9/4
Cilaos Emery – 15/2
Pentland Hills – 17/2
Supasundae – 10/1
Darver Star – 11/1
Coeur Sublime – 16/1
Sharjah – 16/1
Call Me Lord – 14/1
Ballyandy – 20/1
Silver Streak – 25/1
Cornerstone Lad – 33/1
Petit Mouchoir – 28/1
Fusil Raffles – 40/1
Not So Sleepy – 33/1
Darasso – 50/1 (my each-way pick)
Gumball – 150/1
Le Patriote –400/1
3.30 Champion Hurdle preview
So here it is, the Champion Hurdle everyone has been talking down for months, which will prove extremely hard to win because there are 17 quality animals trying their luck. Epatante is the right favourite after her Christmas Hurdle romp but she needs to show her Cheltenham flop a year ago, as a novice, was an aberration.
What Pentland Hills needs to do is drop the bit in the first mile, which he has notably failed to do so far this season. If he settles behind the likely strong pace (Not So Sleepy, Cornerstone Lad, Petit Mouchoir), he has a big chance, although he could have done without the recent rain.
Willie Mullins has dug out Cilaos Emery as his main contender but this converted chaser was only fifth in the Supreme three years ago and lacks brilliance. Good old Supasundae has place possibilities but would be the oldest winner since Sea Pigeon.
The progressive Darver Star looks a live runner, having chased Honeysuckle close last time. Darasso is wildly overpriced for a well-regarded horse with some excuses for his two recent defeats.
David Bridgewater, who won this race as a jockey, gets his first victory at Cheltenham as a trainer after a frantic finish.
The Conditional narrowly prevails to win the Ultima Handicap Chase at #CheltenhamFestival
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 10, 2020
Watch live now!
📺 @ITV
📱 https://t.co/fJXuj3VuSw pic.twitter.com/qkqZi2QW2P
Next up: it’s the Champion Hurdle.
Updated
2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase result
1 The Conditional (B Powell) 15-2
2 Kildisart (D Jacob) 10-1
3 Discorama (BJ Cooper) 11-2 JF
4 Vinndication (D Bass) 11-2 JF
5 Big River (D Fox) 20-1
The Conditional wins the Ultima Handicap!
Kildisart and The Conditional have the pace down the straight, and Brendan Powell hangs on to win by a nose!
Updated
At the last: Vintage Clouds losing ground, with Cepage and Vinndication pushed hard by Kildisart and The Conditional ... Big River coming home strongly too ...
Three to go: Discorama getting into midfield, Mister Malarky and The Conditional well placed, Who Dares Wins also travelling. The front three still clear, with Kildisart in behind.
Six to go: Cepage, Vinndication and Vintage Clouds still the front three, with Ice Cool Champs a surprise contender. Burbank is slow, and Activial has lost ground ...
Nine to go: Cepage has crept up the inside to lead, with Who Dares Wins travelling well. Vinndication and Vintage Clouds still in contention, but Cogry has been pulled up ...
12 to go: Kildisart joins the leaders, with The Conditional well placed as they go over the open ditch, where No Comment takes a fall. Discorama held up ...
15 fences to go: Cogry, Activial, Vintage Clouds among the early leaders, along with Vinndication. Elwood and Quarenta are early fallers ...
2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase is go!
Three miles and a furlong, 23 runners, with Vinndication going off the favourite, just ahead of Discorama.
Richard Johnson, who took a big fall on Brewin’upastorm in the Arkle, has been stood down for the day with a hip problem. Hopefully nothing too serious, but Aidan Coleman, winner of that race, will step in.
@niallmcveigh after I picked two non finishers in two races, some riders are gonna need some thrilling heroics to get a stomp on, otherwise it is champignon and not champagne for me!
— MaliciousA (@MaliciousA) March 10, 2020
Updated
2.50 Ultima Handichap Chase live odds
Vinndication – 6/1
The Conditional – 7/1
Discorama – 7/1
Kildisart – 11/1
No Comment – 11/1
Who Dares Wins – 12/1
Mister Malarky – 12/1
Cepage – 16/1
Big River – 20/1
Cobra De Mai – 22/1
Elwood – 25/1
Cogry – 25/1
Mulcahys Hill – 33/1
Brave Eagle – 33/1
Burbank – 33/1
Quarenta – 40/1
Atlanta Ablaze – 40/1 (my each-way pick)
Vintage Clouds – 40/1
Actival – 50/1
Townshend – 66/1
Soupy Soups – 80/1
Vivas – 250/1
Ice Cool Champs – 250/1
Updated
2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase preview
Vinndication is quite a plausible winner as top weight, bearing in mind how impressive he was in beating a big field by five lengths at Ascot in November, his first start since a wind op. He looked a Gold Cup contender in the making, except for the knowledge that almost all his form is at right-handed tracks.
Cepage was game to score here in January but the extra half-mile isn’t sure to suit. Scotland’s Big River, a running-on fourth last year, will relish every yard and has had a better preparation this time. A couple are interesting at 40-1 or so; Soupy Soups put up a career best when second in the Badger Beers last time and represents a yard that has won this before, while Townshend has won his last two and is well treated on old form.
Townshend’s jockey is very inexperienced, so a lot could go wrong for him on this hard puller who guesses at some of his fences, but that is more than built into the price. Elwood has been a chancy jumper too but is entitled to still be learning about the game. Discorama and Kildisart are well treated on their best form but seem to have lost the plot this term. Who Dares Wins, a Northumberland Plate winner, seems game and reliable and this step up in trip should help.
Updated
Well, well. My each-way pick only won the race. Don’t expect that to happen again any time soon. The race really turned three from home, with Aidan Coleman getting the better line than Mark Walsh, and Esprit Du Large’s fall breaking up the field. Put The Kettle On is the first mare to win this race for 40 years. I’m off to, well, put the kettle on.
2.10 Arkle Challenge Trophy result
1 Put The Kettle On (A Coleman) 16-1
2 Fakir D’oudairies (M Walsh) 7-2
3 Rouge Vif (G Sheehan) 12-1
Updated
Put The Kettle On wins the Arkle!
A 25-1 shot that jumped up the betting late on, it’s a winner for jockey Aidan Coleman. Henry De Bromhead gets the result, but not with Notebook, who never got into the race.
Updated
At the last: Put The Kettle On leads, but Fakir D’oudairies is closing as they head into the final straight - it’s another two-horse race ...
Three to go: Maire Banrigh has fallen, and Brewinupastorm unseats Olly Murphy at the same fence. Put The Kettle On leads, with Cash Back under pressure and Global Citizen travelling ...
Five to go: Notebook and Maire Banrigh have joined the leading pair, with Global Citizen at the back. All still together, though...
Nine fences to go! Cash Back leads Put The Kettle On, with Brewin’upastorm at the back, but a very leisurely pace so far ...
2.10 Arkle Trophy is live!
Blackmore has raced on Notebook nine times, winning five races including two Grade Ones. Notebook and Cash Back are too keen, and it’s a false start, but they’re off at the second time of asking.
Arkle Challenge Trophy latest odds
Notebook – 10/3
Fakir Doudaries – 4/1
Brewinupastorm – 6/1
Cash Back – 15/2
Esprit Du Large – 12/1
Rouge Vif – 12/1
Maire Banrigh – 14/1
Al Dancer – 20/1
Put the Kettle On – 25/1 (my each-way pick)
Global Citizen – 40/1
Our Merlin – 400/1
Updated
A nice feature on ITV on Rachael Blackmore, who will be on board the favourite, Notebook, in the next race. Blackmore has been keen to play down any suggestion she’s a pioneer for female jockeys, but says “I would hope any girls watching will think ‘I could be a jockey’. Because now she can.”
2.10 Arkle Trophy preview
Notebook has jumped his way to the top of the two-mile novice chasers, just a year after being beaten 51 lengths in the Ballymore. Generally, you’d hope to see stronger hurdles form in an Arkle contender’s background but most of his rivals here don’t have much more to offer on that front.
The exception would be Al Dancer, who won the Betfair Hurdle and started joint-favourite for the Supreme a year ago, but he hasn’t progressed over fences so far and got outpaced the last time.
Brewin’upastorm also showed some class over hurdles and he’s unbeaten in two over fences but at a low level and he hasn’t been seen since November. Esprit Du Large, a Grade One winner over fences, has also not been seen since last year, an unusually long absence for a winner of this race.
Cash Back and Fakir D’Oudairies have both been beaten by Notebook already though it might not take much to turn the tables back in their favour. Cash Back, who wears a hood, is at risk of racing too freely on this first visit to Cheltenham. Notebook also needs to settle down, having played around at the start a couple of times.
So Shishkin defied gloomy pre-race predictions, and proved great value for those who stuck with him at 6-1. Nico de Boinville says “it wasn’t much fun to be honest. Everything that could go wrong did ... but it just shows what a fantastic horse this is”. Nicky Henderson is made up, a fourth win in this race for the trainer, and a boost after the Altior news.
1.30 Supreme Novices' Hurdle result
1 Shishkin (Nico de Boinville) 6-1
2 Abacadabras (D N Russell) 11-4
3 Chantry House (B J Geraghty) 15-2
15 ran
Also: 9-4 Fav Asterion Forlonge 4th
Non Runner: 11
Updated
Shishkin wins the Supreme Novices' Hurdle!
A terrific two-way battle all the way down the home straight, with Nico de Boinville and Shiskin edging out Davy Russell’s Abacadabras!
Updated
One to go: Elixir D’Ainay falls at the second last, and Abacadabras takes the lead! Shishkin is going away with him, Asterion Forlonge going backwards ...
Updated
Three hurdles to go: Elixir D’Ainay and Whatsnotoknow are keeping pace with the leader, with Shishkin making a mistake and Fiddlerontheroof moving back up through the field ...
Six hurdles to go! The grey Asterion Forlonge leads the pack at a decent lick, with Soviet Pimpernel in second. Shishkin and Chantry House are well placed ...
And they're off
The grandstand is absolutely packed; it’s making me feel slightly uneasy. The first race of the Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, is about to begin - ah, no, we have a false start. At the second time of asking, they’re away!
Updated
The Supreme Novices’ favourite has an undeniable swagger:
Two wins out of two over hurdles
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 10, 2020
Last time in a Grade 1
His trainer @WillieMullinsNH has won the race six times in the past
And @SkyBet Supreme Novices' favourite Asterion Forlonge is looking great ahead of the opening race 🤩#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/JSsdbGBMtL
The testing ground appears to have put punters off Nicky Henderson’s former favourite, Shishkin, with Willie Mullins’ Asterion Forlonge now the clear front runner. Gordon Elliott’s Abacadabras and Colin Tizzard’s Fiddlerontheroof have both moved up in the betting.
For the more casual readers, I’m going to chuck in an each-way pick for each race, based on little more than gut instinct. For this one, it’s Edwardstone (25-1).
Supreme Novices' Hurdle latest odds
Asterion Forlonge – 10/3
Abacadabras – 4/1
Shishkin – 6/1
Chantry House – 6/1
Fiddlerontheroof – 6/1
Captain Guinness – 16/1
Elixir D’Ainay – 20/1
Edwardstone – 28/1
Allart – 33/1
Soviet Pimpernel – 50/1
Berkshire Royal – 150/1
Mario De Pail – 200/1
Heaven Help Us – 200/1
Whatsnotoknow – 250/1
Hollow Sound – 500/1
Updated
ITV racing have AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh on punditry duties. Just the 89 Cheltenham winners between them.
If you’re dropping in and fancy a flutter, Chris Cook’s Monday tips are well worth your time. And there’s still time to enter our tipping competition.
Here’s more from Greg Wood on what Altior’s withdrawal means for tomorrow’s Champion Chase:
The disappointing news that Altior will miss tomorrow’s Champion Chase means that the much anticipated three-way duel in the two-mile chasing championship is now rather more of a head-to-head between Defi Du Seuil, the Tingle Creek Chase winner, and Chacun Pour Soi, who beat Defi Du Seuil by nearly five lengths at Punchestown back in April and ran a great trial for the Festival when winning the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown in early February.
Give the fairly decisive nature of Chacun Pour Soi’s defeat of his main rival less than a year ago, it is perhaps a little surprising that Defi Du Seuil is now the clear favourite for tomorrow’s race at around 6-5, with Chacun Pour Soi next in the list at 6-4 and at least 14-1 on offer about their four remaining rivals.
It may not be the race that everyone was hoping for but it still promises to be a fascinating clash between two outstanding young chasers, and while Altior himself is now 10, he should still have at least one more Festival in him if he stays sound. And he should, hopefully, recover in time to run at Aintree or perhaps Punchestown in April if his owners want to go there (and, for that matter, if the meeting is still happening, which can’t be a given at the moment).
Going is soft, heavy in places
Simon Claisse, Cheltenham’s clerk of the course, has just issued an update explaining the going change from soft all over to soft, heavy in places, despite the absence of any rain here at Cheltenham since the initial going report this morning.
“I’ve just had another look round the track,” Claisse said, “and the crossing where the Old and New courses intersect were marginal first thing this morning in terms of might they be heavy, but we’ve taken the decision to change the description … really only where those tracks intersect. But we’ve got a breezy, dry and mild afternoon in prospect.
“It’s looking as though it will stay dry today and tomorrow too. There may be a few showers on Wednesday night into Thursday but it looks as though we will start with two dry afternoons.”
A whole host of sporting events are being postponed, or moved behind closed doors, because of the coronavirus outbreak in Europe. At Cheltenham, there are regular PA reminders, and extra hand-washing facilities. Although I’m not sure about this:
Safety measures at Cheltenham. pic.twitter.com/RjxWUuiMQd
— John Brewin (@JohnBrewin_) March 10, 2020
Updated
One hour to go! Here's our first race preview
1.30 Supreme Novices Hurdle
Shishkin’s blazing speed impressed enough people to keep him at the top of the betting for weeks but the Asterion Forlonge bandwagon has shouldered him aside. Joe Donnelly doesn’t care; he owns both of them! But you can see, now, why Nicky Henderson, trainer of Shishkin, was suggesting to Joe back in February that he might like to switch the Mullins-trained Asterion to the Ballymore Hurdle instead.
The stats are against Shishkin, who hasn’t raced above Listed level, whereas the past eight Supreme winners had all won a Graded hurdle. Asterion Forlonge, on the other hand, may have looked workmanlike in victory last time but he was doing it in a Grade One. Softening ground helps him and possibly also Fiddlerontheroof, last seen winning the Tolworth in the Sandown mud. Abacadabras, however, is a fast horse who might have fared better on good to soft. He split Envoi Allen and Darver Star at Fairyhouse in December, which looks very strong form.
And here’s Donald McRae’s excellent interview with Paul Townend, who’s poised to step out of Ruby Walsh’s shadow this week:
Top jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival
Barry Geraghty 38
Richard Johnson 23
Davy Russell 22
Nico De Boinville 10
Tom Scudamore 10
Paul Townend 10
Jamie Codd 9
Bryan Cooper 8
Sam Twiston-Davies 7
Paddy Brennan 6
Ruby Walsh has taken his 59 winners and ridden off into the RTV studios, leaving Barry Geraghty nicely clear. The bookies evidently expect Walsh’s replacement at the Mullins yard, Paul Townend, to pick up the good work where the master left off, as he’s favourite to be top jockey here for the first time. Rachael Blackmore, who famously beat Townend in her first pony race, is second-favourite, having been 100-1 to be top jockey a year ago. She has only two Festival wins to her name but will ride that many favourites this week.
Top jockey betting
Paul Townend 9-4
Rachael Blackmore 5-1
Davy Russell 11-2
Barry Geraghty 6-1
Nico de Boinville 10-1
Robbie Power 16-1
Patrick Mullins 20-1
Two years ago, Rachael Blackmore’s only involvement at Cheltenham was taking horses out for a morning canter - before heading off to other race courses in search of a winner. This year, she could be the Festival’s star jockey:
It looks like the going has been changed at Cheltenham, and is now soft, heavy in places.
Going change @CheltenhamRaces
— Racenews (@RacenewsService) March 10, 2020
🌱 Soft, Heavy in places (Chase & Hurdle courses) pic.twitter.com/uZcrXN6gDY
This is the third year in a row where it’s been uncertain whether the Festival would actually go ahead. In 2018 it was snow; last year it was the equine flu outbreak. This year, Cheltenham begins amid coronavirus concerns with special measures in place, as Steven Morris reports (and look out for the quality picture caption work):
Updated
Tuesday's races and our tips
1.30 Supreme Novice Hurdle
Shishkin (nb) 4-1
2.10 Arkle Trophy
Notebook 100-30
2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase
Who Dares Wins (nap) 12-1
3.30 Champion Hurdle
Epatante 11-4
4.10 Mares Hurdle
Benie Des Dieux 4-7
4.50 Northern Trust Novice Handicap Chase
Espoir De Guye 7-1
5.30 National Hunt Chase
Newtide 11-1
The big problem here is that I’ve only got the Irish down for two winners, which just doesn’t feel right, especially with the rain tinkling merrily away on the window as I write this on Monday evening.
The expectation of soft ground might be why Shishkin has gone out to 4s, as he’s seen as a fast horse, while his main opponent, Asterion Forlonge, is a mudloving grinder.
Who Dares Wins would be a first Festival winner for five years for Alan King, who last scored here with Uxizandre, Sir Anthony McCoy’s farewell winner.
Altior’s withdrawal is a bitter blow for Nicky Henderson, and means one of the week’s most anticipated battles, with the two-time Champion Chase winner taking on Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi, will no longer take place. Here’s more from PA:
Henderson announced on Sunday morning that Altior was lame, after a dormant splint that had never caused a problem to the 10-year-old previously “reared its ugly head”.
The situation had improved markedly on Monday and he was declared for the two-mile showpiece at the 48-hour stage, although Henderson stressed more progress was needed - today, he revealed that it hadn’t happened.
“What is really disappointing is the improvement from the night before last to yesterday morning was so good that we were genuinely optimistic that, as long as that recovery rate was maintained, we figured he’d be sound this morning, and that is not the case,” Henderson said.
“It’s flattened off, he hasn’t improved at all from last night, whereas the night before he improved dramatically. Consequently I think it’s only right now that he will be taken out of the race.”
He added: “It’s brutal - it’s not an issue that has ever bothered him before, he’s never taken a lame step in his life. It’s very cruel, and cruel on everybody to be fair ... he’s been in such brilliant form, but he won’t be there to show it.”
Altior would have been bidding for his fifth win at the Festival, having taken the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Arkle Trophy before his two Champion Chase victories.
Updated
Altior out of Queen Mother Champion Chase
Good morning all, and let’s start with some breaking news. Nicky Henderson has confirmed Altior won’t run in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday. More on that to follow ...
The Betfair Cheltenham Festival tipping competition
You could win a £100 account credit from Betfair 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.
Preamble
It has been difficult to anticipate this year’s Cheltenham Festival in the normal way given the uncertainty over whether it would actually take place, but now we are here, with four days of the highest drama waiting to unfold, the excitement seems fiercer than ever. Even the weather seems to have got the message – it’s not exactly balmy, but what rain there is between now and Friday is expected to be minimal and occasional, a contrast to last year when the meeting opened in driving rain and low single-figure temperatures.
All the same, the going will be soft all over for this afternoon’s seven races after one of the wettest winters for many years. And it will feel very different too as what was, more years than not, Ruby Day, as Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins worked their way through a series of short-priced favourites in the Supreme, Arkle, Champion Hurdle and Mares’ Hurdle, is now up for grabs.
It is never wise to second-guess the big stories of the day here, but the possibility that Rachael Blackmore will grab the top jockeys’ prize by the scruff of the neck is too tempting to resist.
The 6-1 available about Henry de Bromhead’s stable jockey about a week ago has been clipped to 5-1 in recent days but that could still be a decent bet assuming she gets at least one winner on the board today. Notebook, in the Arkle, and Honeysuckle, in the Mares’ Hurdle, are two of her best rides all week, but Captain Guinness is not without a chance in the opener and she is so consistently excellent when it comes to getting a horse settled and well-positioned that Trainwreck, in the novice handicap chase, should also give her supporters a run for their money.
The bookmakers are, as usual, bending over backwards to get some money into punters’ accounts after the Supreme Novice Hurdle. One firm is even offering seven places each-way on the opener, which is an obvious invitation to spread some money around with no obvious downside – while not forgetting that the idea is that any winnings will be retrieved with interest over the course of the next 27 races.
Chris Cook’s selections for the first day are here, a few of my thoughts about the week are here – we concur on Who Dares Wins in today’s Ultima, so take that as you will – and all the news, views, plunges, triumphs and disasters will be detailed here as Cheltenham 2020 unfurls.
Updated
