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Cheltenham countdown for week of 21 January 2008Filed on 21 Jan 2008 @ 12:16
Countdown to Cheltenham, w/c: 14 January | 21 January | 28 January | 4 February | 11 February | 18 February | 25 February 2008 | 3 March The expert view: Graham Richards' Cheltenham preview, Part one | Champion Hurdle ratings update | Triumph Hurdle ratings update Sunday 27 January 2008Sizing Europe winner of the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November, was an impressive winner of the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and has been cut to 5-2 favouritism for the Champion Hurdle. The Baileys Arkle Perpetual Challenge Cup Novice Chase was won by Thyne Again, who has been put in at 14-1 for the Arkle Trophy Trainer Liam Burke said: "I will talk to the owners about Cheltenham as I am terrified of the place, but on that performance you would nearly have to go there. If the owners are anxious to go then we will, but the Powers Gold Cup would be the alternative." The five-year-old mare Pomme Tiepy landed a hat-trick when winning the Woodlands Park Novice Chase under Ruby Walsh, and her odds for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase have been cut to 12-1. Her trainer Willie Mullins said: "She looked good there and has impressed me on every run. I'll have a look at the SunAlliance and she'll have an entry, but we will have to wait and see where she goes. She might not run at Cheltenham at all, although she would have a huge weight allowance. I don't know if I'd want to run her on quicker ground at Cheltenham, though. Siege Of Ennis was a cosy winner of the Frank Conroy Memorial Maiden Hurdle and enters the picture for the Triumph Hurdle, and Liskennett, whose dam Generosa won at the Festival, fought well to win the Toshiba Novice Hurdle. She will be entered in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle My Way De Solzen, not seen on the track since pulling up in the King George, is to revert to hurdles ahead of a bid for a repeat win in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. Trainer Alan King is to run the eight-year-old in the totesport.com National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell on 24 February after two disappointing runs over fences. The Citroen Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree is the probable destination for Keith Reveley's Tazbar, who won the Grade Two Rossington Main Novices' Hudle at Doncaster, but the six-year-old will be entered in the Spa Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Saturday 26 January 2008Nigel Twiston-Davies's Knowhere headed Trials Day at Cheltenham, winning the Cotswold Chase from a tiring Our Vic and Neptune Collonges, who made a jumping error on his coemback run, but ran on strongly for third. A run in the Gold Cup is possible for the winner, whilst Paul Nicholls reports a repeat Punchestown Gold Cup to be Neptune Collonges' aim for the season. Inglis Drever was clipped to evens for the World Hurdle, for which he is seeking a record third win, following his empahtic five length win in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham. Triumph Hurdle form was also on display at Cheltenham, with market leader Franchoek cementing his position with a fine front-running win in the Wragge & Co Juvenile Novices' Hurdle. Nicky Henderson was on the mark with Aigle D'Or who maintained his unbeaten record in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle, beating Hold Em by three and a half lengths. He is now as short as 6-1 for the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle at the Festival. Up at Doncaster, the Henderson-trained Khyber Kim has been removed from some books for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle and elsewhere is a 12-1 chance after finding nothing off the bridle when flopping in the Rossington Main Hurdle at Doncaster. Henderson's Chomaba Womba retained her unbeaten record in in the JCT600 Mercedes-Benz Doncaster Mares Only Hurdle, and remains an unchanged 5-1 second favourite for the David Nicholson Mares Only Hurdle. In Ireland, Edward o'Grady's Clopf won the Happy Days Beginners Chase at Navan, stopping on the run-in and winning by only three parts of a length after a generally impressive display, He has been cut to 16-1 for the Arkle Trophy. Friday 25 Janaury 2008Blue Bajan, who was more than useful on the Flat, ran out an easy winner of the skyvegas.com Novices' Hurdle at Doncaster, going clear after the final hurdle to score by three lengths. He was subsequently cut to 25-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle. Winning trainer Andy Turnell said: "He did very well there and Graham seemed fairly pleased with him. We'll have a conference about where he goes next but he may go for the totesport Trophy. He got there very early. He did it very easily but he may be better for that as he has had a layoff." Big Buck's won the MC Seafoods Novices' Chase at Newbury, finally finding his stride under Ruby Walsh to go clear of Kruguyrova, winning by two lengths. Trainer Paul Nicholls ruled the five-year-old out of the Arkle Trophy, saying: "I thought we would have been in trouble coming here but that is the best he has jumped. He definitely won't go to the Arkle. He will keep his place in Royal & SunAlliance Chase but he might not go to Cheltenham at all." A veterinary examination has revealed that the injury to Exotic Dancer is less severe than once feared, and the gelding should be able to run in the Gold Cup. The vets found a pulled ligament in Exotic Dancer's back. A consequent haematoma had put pressure on a nerve, which had made the injury initially appear worse than it is. Thursday 24 January 2008Former Gold Cup winner Kicking King was a fine second to Nickname in the rescheduled Grade Two Normans Grove Chase at Gowran Park on Thursday, his first run for 759 days following a tendon injury. Kicking King was cut from 33-1 to 20-1 for the Gold Cup, whilst Nickname was cut to 16-1 for the Champion Chase. Leading novice chaser Glencove Marina, (Spectrum - Specifiedrisk, by Turtle Island) the runaway winner of the Grade Two Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Novice Chase at Leopardstown on 13 January, has been ruled out for the season. The six-year-old market leader for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase was found to have somw heat in leg and will now be rested. Trainer Willie Mullins told At The Races: "It is very disappointing. He was probably the most exciting horse I have trained for years." Bumper entries are revealed today for The Festival’s two Grade One novice chases – The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Tuesday, March 11) and Royal & SunAlliance Chase (Wednesday, March 12) – click on the links at the top of the page for full entries. There are a record 64 entries for The Irish Independent Arkle Chase - see full race analysis - including the likes of Tidal Bay, a facile novice chase winner at Cheltenham in December, 2006 Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Noland, who made a flawless debut over fences at Folkestone on Monday, and the Charlie Mann-trained Moon Over Miami. Trainer Paul Nolan today confirmed French Accordion, a four-time winner over fences this season, on target for the Grade One event. “The plan is to run French Accordion in The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at The Festival. He’s a good ground specialist and that would be the deciding factor,” said Nolan. “Although it looked like a weak Fortria Chase at Navan in November, he could do no more than win, and he was impressive and jumped very well. He came out of that race without a blemish on him or a sore joint, which is unusual for a big heavy horse. He just loves to hear his hooves rattle." A total of 22 horses have the option of both The Irish Independent Arkle Chase and the Royal & SunAlliance Chase - see full race analysis - for which there are 78 entries, and among those in the two events are Glencove Marina, Noland, Okaido and Tidal Bay. Colin Tizzard’s stable star Joe Lively, who has scored twice over fences at Cheltenham this season, is sure to be a leading contender alongside the likes of Nicky Henderson’s Duc De Regniere while Nicky Richards today issued an upbeat bulletin on Money Trix, an impressive chasing debutant at Newcastle last week. “Money Trix has been entered for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at The Festival. I couldn’t have been more pleased with his first run over fences and he seems fine after that race,” said Richards. “He’ll have one or two more runs in novice company and then we will take it from there. His next appearance will be in a novices’ chase at Ayr on February 9." The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Exotic Dancer has met with a setback and has been ruled out of Saturday's Letheby & Christopher Chase, for which he was favourite. The eight-year-old has pulled a muscle in his back, which could put his partipation in the Gold Cup in doubt. He will be examined by a vet on Friday, and once the seiousness of the problem is known connections will make a further statement. Barry Simpson, racing manager to the owner, Sir Robert Ogden, said in a statement to PA Sport: "It could be that he has pulled the muscle in his work yesterday, which was absolutely brilliant, or it may be when he was having a roll in the sand pit. We didn't know anything about it though until late last night." Group Captain has won twice over hurdles for Alan King since being bought out of Roger Charlton's yard, where he was a useful performer on the Flat. He has attracted sustained support for the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle, and is due to run once more before lining up at Cheltenham, in the Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Huntigdon on 21 February. Wednesday 23 January 2008Reigning Champion Hurdler Sublimity will go straight to the Champion Hurdle without another run, after trainer John Carr ruled the eight-year-old out of Sunday's AIG Europe Champion Hurdle due to the testing conditions at Leopardstown. Sublimity was a never-threatening fourth behind Osana on his seasonal bow at Cheltenham in December, but is generally a 4-1 chance to retain his title come March. Trainer Charles Egerton has warned that leading novice chaser Hobbs Hill is unlikely to run at the Festival, although the nine-year-old has been entered in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase, as the three-mile trip is half a mile too far. Egerton told the Racing Post: "He is a two-and-a-half-mile horse and there is no suitable race for a novice at that distance at Cheltenham. At the moment he is being targeted at the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown next month, but plans are fluid from there." Last season's County Hurdle winner Pedrobob has been ruled out of the Arkle Trophy with a leg injury sustained whilst cantering on Tuesday morning. He is out for the season, but should be back in training with Tony Mullins for next season. Tuesday 22 January 2008Colin Tizzard had planned to send his high class staying novice hurdler Flight Leader over fences this season, but the eight-year-old has been off the track through injury thus far. The revised plan is to run him late next month before lining up in the World Hurdle. Feltham winner Joe Lively is another Tizzard stable star and the nine-year-old will run in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot on 16 February before a crack at the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Chase. Time Electric flew to the head of the market for the Champion Bumper when winning on debut at Leopardstown by eight lengths, and trainer Tom Mullins is minded to head straight to Cheltenham without a further run on account of the heavy conditions. Sizing Europe heads the market for a fascinating AIG Europe Champion Hurdle on Sunday, which sees many of the leading contenders for the Champion Hurdle, including last year's winner Sublimity, who bids to improve on a disappointing comeback run, and Hardy Eustace, whose trip at the Festival is yet to be determined. AIG Europe Champion Hurdle entriesLeopardstown, 2:55pm Sunday 27 January 2008. Two miles
The Grade Two Rossington Main Hurdle has been transferred to Doncaster after being lost when Haydock was abandoned last Saturday. The rescheduled race could see Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Khyber Kim have his second start over hurdles after his impressive Newbury debut for the Henderson yard in December. Also prominent on the betting for the Festival Opener is last year's Champion Bumper winner Cork All Star, who has been well beaten on two starts over timber this term. His rider Barry Geraghty counsels keeping the faith, however: "He didn't perform as we thought last time. He should have won the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse, but he just left his hind legs in the last hurdle. "He felt great that day, he travelled really well, but I didn't get the same feel at Leopardstown. He'll run back at Leopardstown and we'll be hoping for the same kind of show that he put up at Cheltenham or in the Royal Bond. I'd still be very hopeful," he told At The Races. Ferdy Murphy is hoping conditions dry out at Doncaster ahead of Kalahari King's mission in the skyvegas.com Novices' Hurdle on Friday. The Musselburgh winner cruised to a six length win in good to soft ground on the last Saturday of 2007, and Murphy said: "If all goes well on Friday he would probably head straight for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham." The entries are revealed for the four Grade Two races on Cheltenham's Trials Day on Saturday. Wichita Lineman, second to Blazing Bailey at the track on New Year's Day, puts his World Hurdle credentials on the line in the Cleeve Hurdle, against opposition that could include recent Ascot winners Lough Derg and Labelthou as well as Sonnyanjoe from Ireland and Millennium Royal from France. Meanwhile the weather could militate against Inglis Drever running on Saturday - trainer Howard Johnson's Co Durham yard is under snow at the moment, and he has been unable to work his horses since last week. The weather in the Cotswolds at present is cold but sunny and still, and no problems are anticipated at Cheltenham on Saturday. The Finesse Novices' Hurdle was won by Triumph Hurdle winner Katchit last season, and trainer Alan King bids for a repeat with Franchoek, who reopposes Harper Valley, who got the better of him in December. The Letheby & Christopher Chase is a trial for the Gold Cup and trainer Evan Williams is hopeful of a big run from his former Hennessy winner State Of Play. Monday 21 January 2008Former Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Noland made a winning debut over fences at Folkestone, but a run in the Arkle Trophy at Cheltenham is in doubt as owner John Hales wants to keep to flat tracks whilst the seven-year-old learns his trade over fences. Hales lost Granit Jack in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November. Cheltenham announces that to mark the 90th birthday of the former commentator, the National Hunt Chase is to be run as the Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase. Sir Peter said: "Seeing my name linked with a race at The Festival this year will rank alongside the privilege of commentating on Arkle’s breathtaking Gold Cups and the joy of calling home for BBC viewers my own little Triumph Hurdle hero Attivo on March 14, 1974." The meeting at Fairyhouse on Wednesday has been called off after a further inch of rain at the track. Kicking King was to have made his return to action in the Normans Grove Chase, and the race has been transferred to Thursday's meeting at Gowran Park. totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Exotic Dancer is set to run in the Letheby & Christopher Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday, Trials Day at the track and the final day of racing there before the Festival opens on 11 March. Barry Geraghty will ride in the place of the injured A.P. McCoy, his regular rider. Geraghty was riding Exotic Dancer when he finished half a length behind Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase at Haydock last November. Star De Mohaison is also owned by Sir Robert Ogden, but despite holding an entry on Saturday his trainer Paul Nicholls will not run him on testing ground. The AON Chase, the Irish Hennessy and the CGA Chase at Wincanton are all possible alternatives for the seven-year-old, who made an encouraging return from a lengthy absence over hurdles at Cheltenham's New Year meeting. In Ireland, former Gold Cup winner Kicking King is reported to be ready for a run in the rescheduled Normans Court Chase by trainer Tom Taafe, but the race is in some doubt and, if it does not go ahead, the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on 3 February would see the ten-year-old's comeback run, with the Red Mills at Gowran Park on 16 February for his final run before the Gold Cup. Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase The Paul Nicholls-trained Twist Magic was well beaten by Tamarinbleu in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday, but is still favourite for the Champion Chase, albeit at 9-4 with most firms. Nicholls reported: "He's come back fine and he obviously just got a bit tired in the ground. We'll go straight to Cheltenham with him now and we'll just hope the ground is better there. "It was a stiff track yesterday and he just didn't get home. He's a better horse on better ground and I've always tried to save him for that, that's what I'll do from now. "We just got outstayed and we now know it was an error to run. We won't do it again but he's fine today and we'll look to Cheltenham." Tamarinbleu was dropping back to 2m 1f from his Boylesports Gold Cup win over 2m 5f, and he enters Champion Chase calculations with a fine win that earned a high rating from the form experts and quotes of 8-1 from the bookmakers. He also holds entries in the Gold Cup and the Ryanair Chase - he is a 10-1 chance in the latter. JCB Triumph Hurdle A runaway winner at Newbury at the close of last year, Celestial Halo is currently 5-1 joint favourite for the Triumph Hurdle and will have one more run before Cheltenham, according to his owner Andy Stewart. That will probably be at Huntingdon rather than at Cheltenham on Saturday, where conenctions will be represented by Tatenen, a French import - and an exciting chasing prospect - second to Franchoek at Chepstow on his UK debut. Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson unveiled another French import on Saturday in the more-than-useful Binocular, who was twice Listed-placed on the Flat. He is likely to be seen next in the Racing Post Adonis Hurdle at Kempton next month, a race the stable won with Punjabi last season. Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Silent Oscar has been off the track since landing the Grade One Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in April and trainer Harry Rogers is keeping him under wraps during the current wet spell, but hopes to run the nine-year-old in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday. The Red Mills at Gowran Park is another alternative, before a run in the Champion Hurdle, for which he is a 25-1 chance. Nick Gifford's Straw Bear missed his intended engagement at Haydock on Saturday, where the strength of the form in his beating of Harchibald in the Christmas Hurdle could have been assessed. The trainer reports: "He is in very good form. I need to talk to connections, but the AIG would be a possibility and we might enter him at Sandown too." Ladbrokes World Hurdle Labelthou was an impressive winner of the Mares' Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday, beating Refinement and Gaspara on her return to the smaller obstacles follwoing a fall over fences, and has attracted support for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. Trainer Emma Lavelle said: "I don't thing we will hang around as this is her ground, but it would have to be soft for her to run in the mares' race at Cheltenham as the two-and-a-half-mile trip would be too sharp." Lough Derg showed his liking for Ascot on Saturday, and could run in the World Hurdle. Trainer David Pipe told At The Races: "The plan, I think, is the World Hurdle. The only thing I would say is that he does seem to be a lot better horse round Ascot. He seems to like it there and they do say horses for courses. "He has run some good races at Cheltenham as well, but if the World Hurdle was at Ascot I would fancy him a bit more. "Obviously we were dropping back in trip to two-mile-three and he was just run out of his feet four hurdles out, but Tom Scudamore knows the horse very well and knew he was going to stay all the way to the line." Irish Independent Arkle Trophy French Accordion ran up a four-timer earlier in the season before being pulled up on unsuitably heavy ground at Fairyhouse at the beginning of December. Trainer Paul Nolan has given him a break and he is now being aimed at the Arkle Trophy. The trainer said: "We've given him a break since the Drinmore Novice Chase but he's back in now and he's cantering well. All being well, we hope to get him to the Arkle and he'll probably have a prep run before that, possibly over hurdles." Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Hurdle Twice a winner over hurdles, Mujamead ran out an easy two-and-a-half-length winner in a Classified Stakes at Wolverhampton on Saturday, and could run in the Fred Winter Novices' Hurdle at the Festival for trainer Tony Carroll if he creeps in to the bottom of the weights. Filed on 21 Jan 2008 @ 12:16
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