Cheltenham Festival Races

This National Hunt Chase is run on the New Course at Cheltenham, over 22 fences and is especially for amateur riders. The distance is over three miles and two and a half furlongs, and is for horses age five years and more. Taking place on Friday, 16^th March at 16.10 GMT, this Foxhunter Chase is the fifth race on the fourth day of the Festival.

 

The 2017 winner was Pacha Du Polder at (16/1), with Wonderful Charm coming in second place (7/2) and third, Barel of Laughs at (100/1). With three victories, Colman Sweeney is most named winner with Salsify in both 2012 and 2013, and also Sleeping Night in 2005. Highest number of wins goes to trainer Richard Barber, who had victories with Earthmover (1998), Fantus (1995 and 1997) and Rushing Wild (1992).

 

This is always a popular race for punters to take a gamble, as the Cheltenham Festival nears its close. Recent race trends have shown that 9 out of the last 10 winners had previously run in 3 or less handicap races, and all of the last 10 winners have won races on fields over 3 miles. The race is often referred to as the Amateur Gold Cup, named because the chase is run over the same distance and on the same course as the actual Gold Cup.

 

The climax of the entire Cheltenham Festival, is the showpiece Gold Cup race, in its traditional slot on Friday 16^th March at 15.30 GMT. The winner of this great spectacle is decided on this final day of racing, when nothing can beat the famous Cheltenham Roar, as the horses race up the hill to be the prestigious winner of the Timico Gold Cup Steeple Chase event.

 

Past great names, such as Desert Orchid, Arkle and Golden Miller and more recent stars like Kauto Star and Best Mate, have all discovered victory in this Cheltenham Gold Cup race. Previous year’s winners were 2017 -Sizing John with jockey Robbie Power trained by Jessica Harrington at (7-1) in a thrilling race with challengers Minella Rocco and Native River, and 2016 – Don Cossack ridden by Bryan Cooper and trainer Gordon Elliot (9-4f).

 

This year’s Gold Cup favourites are Might Bite with jockey Nico de Boinville and Sizing John, last year’s winner. Trainer Jessica Harrington comments that Sizing John is well on track to defend his title. Over the years, this meeting has given so many incredible stories and great champions, this Timico Gold Cup Steeple Chase event is the one that every hurdler or chaser would love to win.

 

 

This Grade 1 race, sponsored by Albert Bartlett is for contenders aged four and older. Taking place on Friday March 16^th, on day four of the Cheltenham Festival, at 2.50 pm GMT. The distance is 3 miles, over 12 hurdles, on the New Course, and was previously known as the Brit Insurance as a Grade 2 race. Last year’s winner was Penhill, with Trainer Willie Mullins. The previous multiple winning jockey is Tony Mccoy, an Irishman who has won the trophy three times in 2013, 207 and 2006.

 

The prize fund for the 2018 race stands at £118,000, when the stop staying novices compete over the 12 hurdles and three miles at Prestbury Park. The 2018 race is a wide open challenge, yet although Santini is one of the leading hopefuls, Calett Mad, Poetic Rhythm and Chef Des Obeaux all fancy their chances of a win.

 

This fourth day of racing at Cheltenham, Gold Cup Day, brings along the rich and famous rubbing shoulders with knowledgeable punters. With no specific rules, other than there is no fancy dress permitted in the Club Enclosure, huge crowds are expected to attend every race.

 

 

This Grade 3 handicap 8-hurdle race takes place on Friday 16^th March at 14.10 GMT. For horses aged five years and older, the second race on day four is held on the New Course at Cheltenham and is run over two miles and one furlong.

 

The County Hurdle was won last year by Artic Fire for Willie Mullins at (20-1) ridden by Paul Townend. Second place L’Ami Serge (25-1) and third Ozzie the Oscar at (50-1).

 

This race actually started in 1920, although records for the race only date back to 1946. In 2017, it changed its name from the Vincent O’Brien to the Randox Health County handicap Hurdle with their new sponsorship.

 

Punters find that this race at the Cheltenham Festival is the most challenging one to back a winner. Named after Vincent O’Brien, the horse racing legend, who died in 1994 with a record breaking 23 wins at the Festival. This race is usually won by a classy horse, even though the competitors include a huge and varied field of different handicaps. Over the last few years, Willie Mullins has trained four of the previous eight winners, so punters expect big things from him again in 2018. One of this year’s favourites is once again a Willie Mullins horse, Max Dynamite. He has run in the Melbourne cup twice and in the Ascot Gold Cup and punters see him in with a big chance.