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2014
and sorely missed this time around. Nicholls has exploited the opportunity with typical eciency to forge clear in the race to regain his champion trainer title, while Mullins has generally adopted a strict "name, rank and serial number" mentality as he marshals the single strongest Irish raiding party ever to head to Cheltenham. The fun starts with the timeless sporting scenario of an ageing superstar battling to stave o a posse of vibrant young thrusters when the Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly bids to win his third Champion Hurdle on Tuesday 11th March. Sprinter Sacre's absence from Wednesday's Champion Chase has left the door open for a posse of hopefuls headed by Sire De Grugy, while the Nicholls-trained Big Buck's is another legend of jumping who will divide opinion sharply when he bids for an astonishing fth World Hurdle on Thursday. Friday sees Henderson's Bobs Worth lay a awless Cheltenham record on the line against old rival Silviniaco Conti and Last Instalment in the Gold Cup, but the punting possibilities during Festival week are endless. The markets suggest the big three are in for a bonanza. But there are plenty of others to note. And, with a little luck, a few of this bunch will put their names in lights, too.
If bookmakers have done their sums right, this year's Cheltenham Festival revolves around three kings of jump racing. Of course, there is nothing new about Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins heading to the Cotswolds loaded with strong chances. But nothing that has gone before can compare with what 2014 promises. A canter through the ante-post markets reveals that the big three are responsible for eight clear favourites and one joint-favourite in the top 10 Festival contests. But things are seldom that simple when it comes to the most unforgiving jumping arena of them all. Things certainly haven't gone according to script for Henderson this season and it's a measure of how capricious jump racing can be that two of his three Festival kings of 2013 Sprinter Sacre and Simonsig will be on the sidelines
The Schedule
Tuesday
11/03/2014
2.05 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase 1.30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle Race
Distance
2m 4f
4m
2m 4f
2m f
3m f
2m
2m f
Wednesday
12/03/2014
2.05 RSA Steeple Chase 1.30 Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle Race
Distance
2m f
2m f
3m 7f
2m
2m 5f
3m f
2m 5f
Thursday
13/03/2014
2.05 Pertemps Network Final 1.30 JLT Novices Chase
Distance
4.40 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Steeple Chase 5.15 St Patricks Derby
2m 4f
3m
2m 5f
3m
2m 4f
1m 5f
3m1 f
Friday
14/03/2014
2.05 Vincent OBrien County Handicap Hurdle Race 2.40 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle Race 3.20 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase 4.00 CGA Foxhunter Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 1.30 JCB Triumph Hurdle
Distance
2m 1f 3m
2m 1f 3m 2 f 3m 2 f
2m 4 f
FAVOURITES Only 3 favourites have won in the last 22 renewals FORM 15 of the last 17 winners won last time out TRAINER / JOCKEY The Irish have won 8 of the last 13 runnings
Ebaziyan 40/1
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
ENGLAND v IRELAND
AGE
7 5
LAST 10 YEARS
He might be an embryo chaser, but he has looked as good as any novice about over hurdles and was impressive at Leopardstown, where his jumping was fast and slick. He was very free early on at Punchestown, so to come to the last pulling double was quite something. He should settle better with a faster pace. He has so much speed.
A smart bumper horse and he is looking even better over hurdles. Only the tiring ground beat him at Kempton, and he came back with a bad scope, so that was some performance.
FAVOURITES Last 23 winners have started at 11/1 or shorter, but only 5 favourites won FORM 25 of the last 27 winners finished in the top 2 last time out TRAINER / JOCKEY N Henderson and B Geraghty have won last 2 renewals
Simonsig 8/15
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
ENGLAND v IRELAND
AGE
6 7
LAST 10 YEARS
5 8
He is very genuine, and, having won his first three over fences, he might have needed his comeback run in the Game Spirit at Newbury, where the ground beat him. He had the class to finish third in the Supreme (2012), but chasing was always going to be his game. Hes been right back on song and jumped fantastic in the Irish Arkle.
Rock on Ruby must have the ground good or faster. He always comes alive in the spring and has plenty of top-level experience, so Im not worried that he has only run the twice over fences.
FAVOURITES 19 of the last 23 winners started in first 5 of the betting, with 8 favourites triumphing FORM 25 of the last 30 winners won last time out TRAINER / JOCKEY W Mullins and N Henderson have won 4 of the last 5 renewals between them
Hurricane Fly skips over the last hurdle on his way to victory last season.
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
ENGLAND v IRELAND
AGE
6 7
LAST 10 YEARS
5 8
People talk of him being better at Leopardstown and, though he has twice won the Champion at Cheltenham, I blame myself for him not having shown his customary brilliance. He is a great horse, and hopefully he can put on a Ruby Walsh, rider of Hurricane Fly real show this time. He will need to improve again to beat The Hurricane, but he definitely gives me the feel of a potential winner. It was important that he had that prep on the all-weather as he can be free and it would have been a risk having no race AP McCoy, rider of My Tent or Yours since Christmas. The Irish Champion developed into a sprint, which did not suit him, but we have closed the gap on Hurricane Fly this season and, if he improves as much as he did last spring, he is well capable of turning the tables.
KEY TRENDS
2.40pm
4.40pm
5.15pm
FAVOURITES Have won 10 of the last 23 runnings FORM 14 of the last 16 winners had run in a Graded race before TRAINER / JOCKEY W Mullins and N Twiston-Davies (both 2) only trainers to have won race more than once in last 15 runnings
The New One on his way to recording a comprehensive win last season.
Simonsig 2/1
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
ENGLAND v IRELAND
AGE
5
LAST 10 YEARS
He is unbeaten and a lot easier to handle than last year, when he proved difficult to keep sound. We think he is very good.
I have never had a better bunch of novice hurdlers, and this fellow is right up there with the best. He was impressive on Trials Day and is exciting. He had the class to run Melodic Rendezvous to three parts of a length first time over hurdles, and he is as good as any novice in the yard.
FAVOURITES 3 of last 10 favourites have won but none of the last 4 FORM Last 49 winners had run in the calendar year TRAINER / JOCKEY Only 6 Irish victories since 1985 (but 4 of last 5)
RSA Chase
3 Miles 1/2 Furlong
Denman 6/5
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
ENGLAND v IRELAND
AGE
5 8 7
LAST 10 YEARS
He has not been the easiest to train, so therefore lacks a bit of experience. But he is great leaper with a big engine and I would not swap him.
He does not take too much racing, so he badly needed the match-practice, and his prep-race at Newbury could not have gone better.
Stamina is his strong suite, and hed have a strong each-way chance. He was running a cracker against Ballycasey last time when I got knocked out of the saddle.
FAVOURITES 12 of last 15 winners started at 5/1 or shorter, but only 4 favourites obliged FORM 14 of last 21 winners had won at the Festival before TRAINER / JOCKEY Since 2003, B Geraghty and R Walsh have won 8 renewals between them
Sprinter Sacre was simply too good for his rivals 12 months ago.
Newmill 16/1
Year
ENGLAND v IRELAND
AGE
11 5 9
LAST 10 YEARS
6 8 7
Weve only seen him once this season because he had a bad tracheal wash. He travelled like the best horse at Sandown, but tired very quickly. When home his potassium levels were all wrong. Weve tinkered with his minerals and hopefully Im not saying for certain itll make the difference. His best form has been on right-handed tracks, but this is only his second season over fences and he is almost the complete package, so we have to give it a go.
He has won four of his last five and I probably made a mistake in holding him up when he got beat in the Paddy Power. He is best rolling along.
KEY TRENDS
2.40pm
4.40pm
5.15pm
FAVOURITES Only 2 have won FORM 7 of the 9 winners (and 7 runners-up) had previously won at Cheltenham TRAINER / JOCKEY AP McCoy and R Walsh have both won 2 of the 9 runnings
Ryanair Chase
2 Miles 5 Furlongs
Cue Card registered a second win at the Cheltenham Festival in this contest last season.
Fondmort 100/30
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
ENGLAND v IRELAND
AGE
11
(only 9 renewals)
7 8
LAST 9 YEARS
We have been trying to ride him as a stayer and he showed in the King George that he isnt one. This is his race and on good ground hed be a player.
Michael OLeary [boss of Ryanair] has never managed to win his own race, but this fellow ticks all the right boxes and would have a right chance. He won the Jewson there last year, so we know he likes the track and we have kept him fresh since he landed the Paddy Power over Christmas.
FAVOURITES 6 of last 11 favourites have won (Big Bucks 3 times) FORM Only 8 horses outside first 4 in the betting have been placed since 2002 TRAINER / JOCKEY Courtesy of Big Bucks, Nicholls is the leading trainer in race (4 wins)
Solwit (nearest camera) wont be back to defend his crown this year.
Solwhit 17/2
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
ENGLAND v IRELAND
AGE
7 8
LAST 10 YEARS
6 9
He is 10kg lighter for his comeback run in the Cleeve, in which he just got tired from the last. He was stiff for a week afterwards but looks magnificent now.
He was still not right in the Long Walk and I should not have asked him so many questions, but the Cleeve was much more encouraging and he is on the way back. He ran his best race against The New One there last year, and his win at Naas last time has put him spot on.
KEY TRENDS
1.30pm
4.00pm
4.40pm
Only 2 winning favourites since 1981 16 of the last 18 winners have carried 11st or less
FAVOURITES Won just 1 of last 12 FORM Only 2 of last 16 winners hadnt won last time out TRAINER / JOCKEY N Henderson has won a record 5 Triumphs
Not even the rain could stop the celebrations after Our Conors victory last year.
Flame 33/1
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
ENGLAND v IRELAND
AGE
LAST 10 YEARS
Three out is a mile from home on the New Course, so you need a real grinder, and that is what this fellow looked at Leopardstown. He has improved for the visor and jumps, travels and stays.
We would have been distraught if he had been beaten on Trials day in March as we think he is above-average. That form is as good as any, and he looks just the right type for the race.
I loved this horse when I saw him at Auteuil even before he ran, and, though he is not what I usually look for in a Triumph candidate, being Flat-bred, he has twice delivered at Newbury. The softer the ground the better.
FAVOURITES Have won 7 of last 12 FORM Since 1994 75 of 77 horses beaten in the race before have been beaten again TRAINER / JOCKEY Ireland has had just 1 placed runner since 2006
Bobs Worth clears the last on his way to an emphatic victory 12 months ago.
8/1
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Year
ENGLAND v IRELAND
AGE
6 9
LAST 10 YEARS
7 8
Leopardstown would not have been his track, nor his ground, yet he showed he was more than just a galloper in the Lexus, and he is unbeaten around Cheltenham. He was going ominously well last year when tipping up three out and would have finished first or second. He has not stopped improving and has a big chance. He was absolutely perfect when we checked him out this morning [10th February]. His legs are good and I couldn't be happier with him. He'll have an easy week or 10 days now before we gear him up for Cheltenham.
CHELTENHAM QUIZ
1. Which trainer famously had the rst ve home in the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup? 2. What is the only horse to have ever won both the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup? 3. Hurricane Fly is out to become the rst 10-year-old to win the Champion Hurdle since whom? 4. With which horse does Quevega currently share the record of ve Festival wins with? 5. The 1990 Cheltenham Gold Cup was won by a 100/1 shot. Name the horse. 6. Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Bobs Worth has won at the Festival for the last three years, taking three dierent races. Name the only other horse to have accomplished this feat. 7. Which trainer holds the Festival record for most wins in an race with eight? 8. Nicky Henderson has trained a record 50 Festival winners. Which horse took him to the landmark number? 9. Name one of the four Triumph Hurdle winners to subsequently win the Champion Hurdle. 10.Which horse gave Ruby Walsh his last Festival winner over fences back in 2009?
1. Michael Dickinson 2. Dawn Run 3. Sea Pigeon 4. Golden Miller 5. Nortons Coin 6. Flyingbolt 7. Willie Mullins (Champion Bumper) 8. Bobs Worth 9. Clair Soleil, Persian War, Kribensis, Katchit 10. Kauto Star (Gold Cup)
KEY TRENDS
2.05pm
4.00pm
5.15pm