Tuesday
Champion Hurdle
Will this be a coronation for Faugheen, who has looked so very fast this winter but has not been tried against the best? Ruby Walsh has picked him over Hurricane Fly, twice a winner of this race, but the Fly is unbeaten in his last three and Walsh has made the wrong choice before, when picking Kauto Star over Denman in the 2008 Gold Cup. Tony McCoy knows how that feels, having passed over Jezki in last year’s Champion. He will ride him this time, though, seeking his fourth success in the race at his final Festival. McCoy has said that Jezki looks like his best chance of a winner all week, though the horse is only third-favourite after a winless winter.
Wednesday
Queen Mother Champion Chase
This looked a low-quality affair two months ago, when the last two winners were suffering health struggles, but both will line up for what many now see as the race of the week. The focus is on Sprinter Sacre, such a brilliant winner two years ago, when he was rated the best chaser since the 1960s. He has been troubled by a series of problems since then but those close to him sound increasingly hopeful that he can do himself justice once more. His main rival is last year’s hero, Sire De Grugy, a bonny chestnut whose fitness was in doubt until an impressive performance just two weeks ago. Throw in the dour but effective Dodging Bullets and the brilliant but unpredictable Mr Mole and this could be a classic.
Thursday
Ryanair Chase
If McCoy is still winless to this point, it may irk him to find himself in opposition to Taquin Du Seuil, his only winner at the last Festival. That day, McCoy was released by the owner who retains him, JP McManus, whose Uxizandre ended up being beaten less than a length by Taquin Du Seuil. This time, McCoy is expected to be on Uxizandre, who is rated an outsider by the bookies but it would be no great surprise if the champion jockey were somehow able to conjure a big run from him. It’s a highly competitive affair, featuring more strength in depth than the day’s other big race, the World Hurdle, with the Irish-trained favourite Don Cossack taking on the mare Ma Filleule and the exuberant Balder Succes.
Friday
Gold Cup
Paul Nicholls could match the trainers’ record of five wins in this race if his Silviniaco Conti comes good at the third attempt and he has been clear favourite since winning the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day. He has won four of the last five Grade Ones he’s contested but the one defeat came in last year’s Gold Cup, when he became the first horse for at least 30 years to lead over the last and finish unplaced, having seemed to get very tired up the final hill. Cheltenham is such a specialist’s track and he has been beaten on all three previous visits, though he looked a likely winner when falling in the 2013 Gold Cup. Will it be third time lucky? McCoy hopes not, lining up against him on the Hennessy Gold Cup winner, Carlingford Lough.
