Posts Tagged ‘sport’

Well things are heating up for the festival as the declaration have been made for the feature races. Over the last couple of months we have previewed the feature races on Day One, The Champion Hurdle and Day Two, The Queen Mother’s Chase.  Here we take a quick look at World Hurdle on Day Three and of course one of the highlights of the NH calendar; The Gold Cup.

The World Hurdle brings together the very best staying hurdlers from around the world. The race used to be a favourite of the Irish but there has been no winner from the Emerald Isle for 15 years and in recent years there has been a strong challenge from across the channel. Five out of the last 9 horses to win were bred in France and the class act Baracouda won twice here in 2002 and 2003. This year the French look to Grand Crus to provide a strong challenge and on paper this year’s contest would seem to be between him and the Nicholls trained, Big Bucks. The latter is bidding to become only the second horse to win the contest three times (Inglis Drever being the only other) and the first to win it in consecutive years.

So to the Gold Cup which, as ever, sees the cream of NH chasers coming together. The roll-call of yesteryear winners is a roll-call of some of the greatest chasers of all time; Golden Miller, Arkle, Dersert Orchid and Best Mate to name a few. Three former winners go to the post this year; Imperial Commander, Denman and of course Kauto, whose star is perhaps waning as age catches up with him. There have been no winners over the age of 10 since 1969. Experience of the track is always a plus in this race as 11 of the last 13 winners had been previously placed at the Festival.
On the Nose - The Sentinella – March 2011

Well there’s been mixed results for the odds-on backers of late. Kauto Star well beaten by suffering from a burst blood vessel, Master Minded run close by Somersby in the Victor Chandler. (I confess a little birdie told me that there were some concerns over the age of Kauto now echoed by Nicolls). What have the results so far this season told us about the fortunes for the leading contenders for honours at Cheltenham? This month we preview the Champion Hurdle of which there are been four trial races to mull over, as we look at the chances of the leading contenders.

With memories of the great Istabrak, the Champion Hurdle is always a favourite with punters at Prestwick Park and is the feature race on the first day’s card. Run over two miles 110 yds, the race is for 4 yo+ with eight hurdles to jump around the Old Course.

Last year Binocular bolted up to win the race and is the ante-post favourite this time around. Defeat  by 7l to Peddler’s Cross first time out in the Fighting Fifth in November has been bolstered by victory in another Cheltenham trial, the Christmas Hurdle. McCoy believes that he was a little fresh for the first out at Newbury and the ground didn’t suit him at Kempton so perhaps he is on the up. McCoy himself says that the one to watch is Hurricane Fly winner of the Irish Champion Hurdle. The Willie Mullins trained horse seems to go on any ground and is coming off the back of three Grade 1 wins this season.

Menorah another contender has had fantastic start to the season winning both the Greatwood Hurdle and the International Hurdle. Irish horses have a fair record in the Champion Hurdles producing six wins from the last twelve runnings and having won at Cheltenham before is certainly a plus.

Age is important for the Champion Hurdle, the prime age is 7-8. Katchit in 2008 was the first 5yo winner for 23 years and over the last ten years 70% of the winners have been  7yo+ . That said, older horses have not faired well either perhaps in part due to the always fast pace of the race. Only 4 horses over the age of 8 has won this race in the last 50 years.

Scoring with The Champion Hurdle is always a great way to start the festival so what-ever you back – good luck.
On the Nose - The Sentinella – February 2011

Well as the New Year comes around punters thoughts inevitably turn towards the Cheltenham Festival as they pick the bones out of the festival trials and endeavour to make sense of the form. Weather permitting, January provides a number of opportunities to see the leading festival contenders from the UK stables, and of course, the Irish raiders.

Held at Ascot on 22^nd January the Clarence House Chase better known as the Victor Chandler Chase has in recent years has provided decent run outs for some of the leading contenders for the Queen Mother’s Champion Chase, the feature race on day two of the festival. Three horses have won both races in the same season, Viking Flagship (1994), Call Equiname (1999) and Master Minded (2009). Indeed who can forget the impressive style in which Master Minded won the Queen Mother’s the year before in 2008 as a 5yo.

Maturity in both races seems to be the key as 70% of winners have been 7yo+, so Master Minded as an 8yo should come into his own and looks good to follow up on his 8l victory in the Tingle Creek Chase in December. The Irish have a good record in this race and Big Zeb should not be ignored to follow up on last year’s victory, even as a 10 yo.

Quality rather than quantity is what the Queen Mother’s is all about. Sizing Europe, last year’s winner of the Arkle, is many people’s fancy and previous winners of the Arkle have a good record here.  Another Irish trained horse he is certainly a decent type, but has he got it in him against the really top class chasers. He was beaten comfortably by Kauto Star at Down Royal last time out, just holding on to second place from China Rock.

The Queen Mother’s Champion Chase is set to provide race goers with another classic this year. What-ever you back – good luck!!
On the Nose - The Sentinella – January 2011