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Cheltenham countdown for 25 February 2008Filed on 25 Feb 2008 @ 11:34
Countdown to Cheltenham, w/c: 11 February | 18 February | 25 February| 3 March The expert view: Graham Richards' Cheltenham preview, Part one | Champion Hurdle ratings update | Triumph Hurdle ratings update | Champion Chase preview Sunday 2 March 2008Time Electric was well beaten in the Athlumney (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race at Navan on Saturday. After an impressive win at Leopardstown in December, Time Electric was installed as favourite for the Champion Bumper, before trainer Tom Mullins decided to opt for Punchestown instead. Those plans are now in question after the 10-11 favourite struggled behind the eventual winner, longtime leader Limestone Cowboy. Saturday 1 March 2008Natal (Funny Baby - Donitille, by Italic) landed another big Saturday prize for the Paul Nicholls stable when winning the Grade Three Connaught Gold Cup at Newbury. 17-year-old amateur rider Nick Scholfield kept the seven-year-old in a prominent position throughout and kicked on in the straight as Ollie Magern tired, to outstay Nacarat, winning by two lengths. Nicholls said: "He is in the Racing Post Plate and has ran well at Cheltenham before but I am not sure if 20 runners going flat out there will suit him. He suits a flat track too so now we have sorted his jumping the Topham could be the race for him, but today was his big one." Earlier Cryptic (Kayf Tara - Persian Symphony, by Persian Heights) continued Kayf Tara's good run, landing odds of 2-9 when winning the Connaught plc "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle by 24 lengths, accelerating clear of his rivals to win in style. Cryptic is now a 16-1 chance for the Albert Bartlett Spa Novices' Hurdle and as low as 12-1 for the Pertemps Final. Exotic Dancer impressed connections in a "make or break" gallop at Jackdaws Castle this morning, and is reported to be on track for the Gold Cup. One that will not line up in the race is Nicky Richards' Turpin Green, third last year, who has injured a fetlock and is out for the season. Meanwhile Afistfullofdollars, a six length winner at Fairyhouse last weekend, could be supplemented for the race - connections have until 8 March to decide whether to pay the £22,500 supplementary fee. Irish trainer Liam Burke is still to decide whether Thyne Again will line up for The Irish Independent Arkle Chase, but he will have a couple of other top performer to cheer home at The Festival. The County Cork man, a well-known producer of top-class Irish point-to-pointers, sold on three of Paul Nicholls’ Cheltenham hopefuls, Breedsbreeze, Mahonia and Gungadu. “I start most of mine off in point-to-points. It’s a great schooling ground for young horses. Thyne Again didn’t actually point-to-point. He went straight to the track because he always showed us enough not to go that way,” explains Burke. “At the minute, I’m undecided about bringing him to Cheltenham - it has to rain for him to run. He won well at Naas the last day, but I had a problem with him two years ago and it’s taken that long to get him back right that I don’t want to risk him. He came out of Naas perfect and he’ll probably go to Fairyhouse at Easter if he doesn’t run at Cheltenham.” A fine run so far this term sees Burke second to his neighbour Jimmy Mangan in the leading handler championship on the Irish point-to-point circuit, while he gained his first Grade One success when Thyne Again landed the Arkle Chase at Leopardstown. Another highlight of the season was former point-to-point winner Sir Frederick’s success in the Galway Plate during the summer. “It’s been a good season. Three who I used to have - Breedsbreeze, Mahonia and Gungadu - are running at The Festival. It’s great to see them doing well. It would be great also for Irish point-to-points if Denman won the Gold Cup, but it’ll be a tough race.” Burke’s First Down Jets, runner-up to compatriot Whyso Mayo in the 2006 Christie’s Foxhunters, looks set to return to Prestbury Park for a crack at the BGC Cross-Country Chase. However, the handler is unsure if he’ll get into the race, as he needs six to come out of it at this stage. Looking towards the future and other possible contenders for Gold Cups in the years to come, Burke highlighted two of his as possible future starts. “Breedsbreeze and Mahonia are probably the best that I’ve had recently, but Paul Barber has Big Fella Thanks, who will be a good horse over fences next year. Another one called Herecomesthetruth won his last run, but he’s pulled a muscle. He’s a nice horse and should be back again soon.” Friday 29 February 2008Philip Hobbs is bullish about the chances of Snap Tie in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle after a sparkling piece of work with previous winners. County Zen is reported to have come out of the totesport Trophy bouncing and is well-handicapped for the Coral Cup. Ferdy Murphy has been pleased with L’Antartique since his poor run at Newbury on a day when he did not travel at all well. His work since has been of the highest quality and he is expected to run a good race in the Ryanair Chase, on his favourite track, over his best distance. Aces Four will miss Cheltenham for Aintree. He is progressing well and may return over hurdles. Both New Alco and Naiad Du Misselot pleased Ferdy in their work on the gallops recently. Reports from Ireland suggest that Cousin Vinny is Willie Mullins' main hope for the Championship Bumper. Pomme Tiepy continues to thrive at home, though a decision about her Cheltenham participation is yet to be made. Noel Meade is very bullish about Jered’s chances at the Festival following his recent effortless win. He is in the County Hurdle as well as the Supreme Novices and it is understood the former is the preferred option. The Philip Hobbs-trained Hibiki enhanced his credentials for the Fred Winter Novices' Handicap Hurdle, for which he is a 16-1 chance, when winning the Alfa Aggregates Products Novices' Hurdle at Ludlow on Thursday, fighting hard to see off the challenge of Prince Du Beury by a neck. Blaeberry won for the second time over fences in the EBF/TBA Mares' Novices' Chase, and could run in the Davis Nicholson Mares' Hurdle. Trainer Emma Lavelle said: "She has had a proper holiday waiting for better ground, but could have done with it even quicker than this. The Mares' Final at Newbury is an option but that is a handicap and, as she was rated 140 over hurdles, I would have to see what the handicapper gave her before committing to the race. "I have entered her in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham and that is another possibility if the ground came up quick." Alan King believes Franchoek sets a high standard in the Triumph Hurdle, telling At The Races: "He's had a grand season, it's all gone extremely well. He's improved as the season has gone on and his best performance was probably his last one. "He's obviously very tough and he did two miles on the Flat. Apart from Market Rasen first time we've kept him to stiff tracks all the way. He gets the trip very well, loves his jumping and he sets the standard. "He doesn't have to make the running, he didn't in the Finale, but he'll be up there handy and if somebody gives him a bit of company so much the better." Franchoek has been ridden by King's stable jockey Robert Thornton in his races to date, but owner JP McManus retains A.P. McCoy, who could take the ride. McCoy will have an appointment with independent neurosurgeon Peter Hamlyn next Thursday to assess whether he is fit to resume riding. If so, he will have his first rides since 12 January, when he fell at Warwick, at the weekend before the Festival. Trainer keith Goldsworthy is reprted to be veering towards running prolific winner Hold Em in the Coral Cup, rather than the Ballymore Proeprties Hurdle. Jockey Daryl Jacob thinks the trip in the Ryanair Chase will suit The Listener, telling At The Races: "He has won over that trip before and I have always thought his best trip was two-and-a-half to two-six anyway. I think he'd run a very good race in the Ryanair. "I'd hope that the ground would be on the soft side of good and if it is I know he would put in a very good show." Thursday 28 February 2008Entries for the final four of the 25 contests to close at The Festival 2008 are revealed today, including the new Grade Two David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, run on Friday, March 14. There are a total of 31 entries in the extended two and a half mile contest including the Bowe family’s new star Sweet Kiln and a powerful quintet from Nicky Henderson’s stable - Amaretto Rose, Chomba Womba, Shatabdi, My Petra and Doubly Guest. But there would be no more poignant winner than Theatre Girl, trained by David Nicholson’s long-term former assistant Alan King. “The intention is to run. She did very well when a close second at Doncaster against Nicky's (Henderson) mare - Chomba Womba,” said King. "Theatre Girl is a smashing mare. She was a good bumper horse last season and, while she is only a novice this season, the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle looks the logical route to go. She has never raced beyond two miles yet but we all feel that two and a half miles might help her. "She had entries in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle but this seems the race - she is an 8/1 chance - fourth in the betting - and is entitled to be there. Of course I would love to win the first running of the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle but that is not the reason she is in the race.” Irish-trained raiders have won 12 of the 15 runnings of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and account for 19 of the 47 entries this year including Zaarito, trained by Colm Murphy, while Willie Mullins, who has saddled five previous winners, has four entered including Apt Approach, an impressive winner at Gowran Park on February 16, and Lilywhitedancer. The home team includes the David Pipe-trained Big Eared Fran, who was sold after winning his only start for trainer Tor Sturgis, and Gold Award, who looks set to be the Queen’s first ever Festival runner. The four-mile Peter O’Sullevan National Hunt Chase has a new title this year to celebrate the 90th birthday of “The Voice Of Racing”. There are 56 entries, including 18 from Ireland while the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase has 43 entered including last year’s victor Drombeag and 10 from Ireland, among them the rapidly improving Agus A Vic. Nicky Henderson will run both Afsoun and Punjabi, second in the totesport Trophy, in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle. He will also be double-handed in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle, with Sentry Duty and Khyber Kim, but a decision has yet to be made on a target for Binoular. Wednesday 27 February 2008The weights for the 10 ultra-competitive handicaps at the Cheltenham Festival were revealed today - follow the links above to view the weights for each race. The David Pipe-trained An Accordion, antepost favourite for the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase on Tuesday, March 11, has been allotted 10st 8lb, while the 2007 winner ,b>Joes Edge has 10st 2lb, 4lb less than he carried to victory last year. The Enda Bolger-trained Heads Onthe Ground has been given 11st 12lb in the BGC Cross Country Chase, having carried just 10st 2lb to victory last year, while there are 56 in the handicap for what promises to be a hotly-contested renewal of the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. The high-class Lough Derg from David Pipe’s yard has 11st 12lb in the Coral Cup, 9lb clear of the field, while his stablemate Comply Or Die will carry a bumper 12st 8lb if he lines up in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase. The Paul Nicholls-trained Ornais has 11st 10lb in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase, 9lb more than any of his rivals, while his stablemate Sporazene and the 2007 Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase winner L’Antartique share top billing in the Racing Post Plate on 11st 12lb, the same weight French raider Millenium Royal would shoulder if lining up in the Pertemps Final. Antepost favourite Kranji has 10st 6lb in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase while the final race of The 2008 Festival, the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle, could see Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle possible Catch Me carry a top-weight of 11st 12lb. Exotic Dancer looks an ever more unlikely participant in the Gold Cup. The Jonjo O'Neill-trained gelding was found to be sore in his back on Tuesday. Barry Simpson, racing managaer to owner Sir Robert Ogden, issued a statement saying: "On a routine visit on Tuesday, it was found the horse was sore in his lumbar region. Exotic Dancer spent some time in the swimming pool late Tuesday evening and Jonjo felt the horse was much more comfortable afterwards and he reiterates the horse is sound. Exotic Dancer will continue in swimming exercise and will be closely monitored over the next 48 hours. "The horse is at a crucial stage in his preparation for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and although this is a minor setback, the timing of this could not be worse. With now only 15 days to the Gold Cup, any work missed is critical and this now raises some doubt about his participation." Howard Johnson spoke to the press at his Co Durham yard on Tuesday, and reveled that Tidal Bay could - if things don't go his way in Tuesday's Arkle Trophy - turn out again in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase the following day. Johnson also revealed that World Hurdle favourite Inglis Drever could be retired if he records a historic third win in the race. Paul Nicholls seems to be siding with the chances of Kauto Star over Denman in the Gold Cup. In a Q&A session on the BBC website, he said: "Both jockeys will be given orders to win the race. "Recently I've said to Ruby Walsh to ride Kauto Star more positively, while Sam Thomas knows Denman needs a nice gallop. If someone is going a nice gallop, he can use that as a lead and if not he can bowl along. "Ruby will ride the race from behind so there's no way they can cut each other's throats. If they do turn around that last bend together there will be some sort of roar I can tell you...with Neptune Collonges five lengths in front! "I still think Kauto Star will be hard to beat. Whatever beats him will have to be exceptional. Champion Hurdle favourite Sizing Europe pleased his trainer Henry de Bromhead in a workout on Tuesday, the handler saying: "He's in great form, I'm really pleased with him. He worked and he worked well, so I'm really happy at the moment. Noel Meade gave Harchibald a spin ahead of his run on the all-weather at Dundalk on Friday, with the trainer saying: "He did his stuff very well and he was quite impressive actually. He didn't work with anything of his calibre but he did it verywell and I'm pretty happy with him, everything's gone well. I don't expect him to win on Friday at Dundalk. It's a mile-and-a-half conditions race and there's horses rated 102 and a Group 3 winner there - it's a good race." Meade is also likely to run Jazz Messenger in the Champion Hurdle, but has yet to make a decision on a target for fellow Grade One winner Aitmatov. Nigel Twiston-Davies thinks his recent Kempton winner Pigeon Island is the one to beat in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, saying "He's an extraordinary horse in that he just needs to keep running. Every time we have tried to be kind to him and give him a break he has then needed his next run. He'll go into the Supreme very fit and I think he is the one they've all got to beat. Tuesday 26 February 2008The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle could be the aim for Harry Tricker, who won the second division of the Blackmore Borley Maiden Hurdle at Plumpton on Monday in some style. Trainer Gary Moore said of the recruit form the Flat: "He was a bit disappointing when I fancied him first time out at Ludlow, where he just needed it. Then he ducked down the chute at Fontwell while he hated the ground in the Victor Ludorum at Haydock. When I got him home he quickly showed me he'd taken his race well and I really think he's only just coming to himself." Over at Hereford, Oh Crick gave Alan King his 91st winner of the campaign and put himself into the Festival picture, witht the trainer saying: "He's in at Cheltenham, but before this I honestly didn't think he'd be good enough to go there." Monday 25 February 2008A.P. McCoy has been given the all-clear by his surgeon to resume riding out. The jockey broke a vertabra in his back after taking a fall from Arnold Layne at Warwick on 12 January, but now looks set to ride at the Festival. The Nicky Henderson-trained Jack The Giant is to miss the rest of the season. The six-year-old had been prominent in the betting for the Ryanair Chase after winning two valuable handicap hurdles before Christmas and a Chase at Leicester in January, where he suffered a setback. Henderson told At The Races: "We are going to leave him alone. He had a little hiccup. We know he had a little setback after Leicester and he hasn't quite responded as we would have liked. "He's had a fantastic season so far and he has his whole life ahead of him, so we are going to give him some time off and he will be back for next season. There is no point taking any chances - he has had a fantastic season already." Colm Murphy's Zaarito has shortened to 7-2 for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper as Tom Mullins ruled Time Electric out of the race in favour of a run at Punchestown. David Pipe's remarkably tough Lough Derg remains a 20-1 chance for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after an extraordinary win in the totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on Saunday. Eschewing his usual front-running tactics, Lough Derg under Tom Scudamore made up a 15 length deficit in the straight to grab the race from My Way De Solzen and Elusive Dream in the dying strides. Alan King was pleased with the performance of My Way De Solzen, who was returning to hurdles after two poor runs over fences. "He's not been easy and it's his first real run of the season. He'll go for the World Hurdle and maybe back to fences in the autumn," said the trainer. Maralan collected at Navan last week after Clopf fell at the last, but he scored again at Naas on Sunday, booking his ticket for the Grand Annual, for which he is now a 14-1 chance. Trainer Oliver Brady said: "I'm very pleased, I didn't expect him to win but he jumped like a buck and he is a stone better left-handed. I came here to qualify him for Cheltenham and he's certainly qualified now. "He's in the Grand Annual and he's very much entitled to go as far as the horses he has beaten the last two weeks are concerned. He'll be some horse next year and I've already picked out my plan for next season." Thyne Again impressed in the Woodlands Park 100 Nas Na Riogh Chase, seeing his odds for the Arkle Trophy cut to 12-1 after beating Willie Mullins's game mare J'y Vole, who tired to finish third. Winning trainer Liam Burke said: "The ground is rotten, but he jumped well apart from a mistake at the fourth-last. Other than that he was always safe. He wants plenty of light at his fences and when he got that he was very good. "It was a lot tougher ground than last time but he did it nicely. If Cheltenham was safe he would go to the Arkle but there would have to be a good cut in the ground." The Royal & SunAlliance Chase is the target for Oscar Park, who collected for the second time in little over a week with a flawless win in the totexacta Novices' Chase at Fontwell. Filed on 25 Feb 2008 @ 11:34
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