Cheltenham Day 1 & 2

Well the 4 days of jumps racing that we all look forward to which seems an age to come around, is over and done with for another year. As expected there was some highs and lows which we will touch on here. At one stage we didn’t know if we would even get the festival on due to the Coronavirus, but we did, so without further ado let’s start looking back at the best 4 days in the racing Calendar.

We start with the Supreme Novices Hurdle. Asterion Forlonge went off favourite in the end and it was he that made the running, he jumped right like he has had a tendency to do, none so more than 2 from home were he jumped violently out to his right bumping into Elixir D’ainay, who fell and brought down Captain Guinness who was travelling well at the time. During that Shishkin and Abacadabras had only just managed to stay out of harms way. Approaching the final flight it was Abacadabras that looked to be going the better of the 2, but it was the Henderson trained Shishkin that managed to out battle Abacadabras and get his head in front close to home. With Chantry House taking 3rd from Asterion Forlonge. This was a cracking race to start the festival, it will be interesting to see where the front 2 from the race go next season, Gordon Elliot has already mentioned a go at the Champion Hurdle for Abacadabras, whereas Henderson sees Shishkin as a chaser for the future so you’d assume it would be the Arkle for him.

The Arkle was the next race on the Tuesday, the key race to the result of this was the Arkle Trial from The Cheltenham November meeting. The winner that was was Put The Kettle On and it was her again that came home in front, with 2 of the horses behind her in November finishing 3rd and 5th. She ran well and and always prominent, she was shaken up approaching 2 out where she was challenged by Fakir D’oudairies who had every chance before hitting 2 from home and losing ground. They both rallied well up the home straight but Put The Kettle On went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths, a combination of giving away weight and hitting the 2nd last could of cost Fakir D’oudairies. The disappointment was the favourite Notebook he eventually finished 6th and was unable to quicken when the rest of the field did going to 2 out. Also there was another horse that could of been well in contention and that was Maire Banrigh, she was travelling well at the time before coming down with 4 to jump. Unfortunately she’s in the equine hospital and it’s possible she won’t race again, but hopefully she can make a full recovery. 

Next was the first handicap of the festival, The Ultima chase, Cogry led the way from the start like he usually does, eventually losing his place after the 8th before being pulled up. The race was then taken along by Cepage and Vindication this was until they reached the 2nd last, The Conditional came there travelling well before making a bad mistake, this gave Vindication a narrow advantage advantage over Cepage. Jumping the last and it was The Conditional that took the lead over it, before setting off up the hill where he narrowly managed to hold on and beat Kildisart who was coming home strongly by a neck.

The Champion Hurdle took centre stage next, with no standout star in the race it was set for one of the runners to make a name for themselves. Petit Mouchoir and Cornerstone Lad, took them along out in front before Cornerstone Lad weakened before being pulled up 3 out. They were getting strung out behind Petit Mouchoir, before Darver Star took over the lead between the last 2 flights, being stalked all the time by Epatante and Sharjah who had been last for much of race. Epatante took over the lead at the last with a slick jump and landed running and kept on really well to beat Sharjah by 3 lengths, with Darver Star a further 3 3/4 lengths behind. This was a very nice performance from Epatante and goes onto show that her Christmas hurdle win was no fluke. Seen there has been some suggestions that Sharjah would of been better on better ground but i feel that would of also suited Epatante who is now the 3rd winner of the Champion hurdle in the last 3 years to wear the famous green and gold.

Next for many was the match of the festival in the Mares hurdle. This saw last seasons unlucky last flight faller Benie Des Dieux take on the unbeaten Honeysuckle. Stormy Ireland took them along for most of the race and was being pressed by stablemate Elfile. The race really took shape turning in for home, Robbie Power and Stormy Ireland moved off the rails which allowed Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore to move through up the inside and gain a 2 length lead. Benie Des Dieux went wide and chased her up the hill and and over the last and started to close on her but Honeysuckle kept on well and won by 1/2 a length, with Elfile in 3rd and last years winner Roksana in 4th. This was a really good performance from 2 classy mares and a great ride by Rachael Blackmore on Honeysuckle, who will more than likely go chasing next season and will be a force for anyone. 

The Northern Trust Novices Chase was next, Champagne Well led for a bit before Precious Cargo took up the lead, and travelled well before being headed 2 out and ultimately falling. Where the lead was taken over by Imperial Aura, he jumped the 2nd last in front but was soon challenged by the smooth travelling Galvin, but it was Imperial Aura and David Bass that stayed on the best up the hill and went on to win by 3 1/4 lengths. I thought Beakstown travelled well in the race and was there jumping the 2nd last, just had no more to give when it was needed, for me he definitely has a big race in him over fences.

The final race of the day was the National Hunt Chase, there was a short priced favourite in this race in the shape of the Willie Mullins trained Carefully Selected. Springfield Fox took them along before making a few mistakes before unseating the rider at the 16th. Meanwhile Carefully Selected travelled well and made his weary through the pack to move up to 3rd with 3 to jump, he was never catching the leading pair before he stumbled at the last and unseated Patrick Mullins. This left the long time leader Lord Du Mensil and Ravenhill to battle it out. With Ravenhill and Jamie Codd getting the better and winning by 2 1/4 lengths.

Day 2 started with the Ballymore Novices hurdle, there was a short priced fav here in Envoi Allen who for many was the banker of the meeting. It’s safe to say he didn’t disappoint, he raced keenly throughout the race and turning into the home straight he was 6 lengths off of Easywork and The Big Getaway. He soon closed that gap and took the lead jumping the last where he went clear and went onto win by 4 1/4 lengths from Easywork. Was a nice performance and it’s already seen him to straight to the top of the Marsh chase market at 5/1 favourite. The disappointment was Sporting John who was never travelling, after the race Phillip Hobbs reported that he had finished the race distressed, so hopefully he will be back next season.

The RSA Chase was next, for much of the race it was between the 2 Irish challengers, Minella Indo and Allaho who led throughout swapping positions between them with Champ in mid division and not jumping very well. Turning in for home it was Minella Indo who had the slight advantage over Allaho before a small mistake at the last with Champ over 8 lengths down on the pair. The result soon changed, as out of nowhere Champ kept on the best up the hill and was reining in the Irish duo. Getting up just in time and right in between Minella Indo and Allaho and winning easily in the end by a length. This for me was the finish of the festival, the engine that Champ has to jump like he did but still power up the hill is amazing, if he can sort out his jumping he will be a massive force in the Gold Cup next season. 

The Coral Cup was next and there was a familiar result with the previous race, with the winner being Dame De Compagnie for Nicky Henderson, Barry Geraghty and JP McManus. She travelled well tracking the leaders, turning in with 1 to jump Black Tears moved up to take a slight lead for Davy Russell. The 2 mares battled it out up the hill, with Dame De Compagnie finishing the stronger of the 2. It was a good performance from a mare that has gone from strength to strength this season and could be a nice horse for the Mares hurdle next season. 

The Champion Chase was built up to be the race of the festival with defending champ Altior coming up against the young pretenders in Defi Du Seuil and Chacun Pour Soi. But unfortunately we didn’t get the clash we wanted, Altior was declared a non runner on the Monday and then Chacun Pour Soi went the same way on the morning of the race. This left Defi Du Seuil to go off a short priced odds on favourite. From flag fall it was Harry Skelton and Politologue that made the running bowling along in front and jumping well and being tracked for most of the race by his stablemate Dynamite Dollars. Meanwhile Defi Du Seuil was behind them and he wasn’t travelling the way he normally does. Turning in for home and with 2 to jump Defi Du Seuil was clearly beaten as Politologue kept going out in front to win by 9 1/2 lengths from Dynamite Dollars. It was a brilliant ride from Harry Skelton and a deserved winner for John Hales after the fall Maire Banrigh suffered in the Arkle.

(Harry Skelton and Politologue on way to victory in the Champion Chase.)

There was another surprise result in the Cross Country as Tiger Roll was beat with relative ease by Easysland, he travelled with the leaders throughout the race making the odd mistake. Turning back into the racecourse proper with 2 to jump Easysland led Tiger Roll by about 2 lengths. They both jumped the last 2 well, but over the last Easysland went away from Tiger Roll to win by an impressive 17 lengths.

Next was the Boodles Juvenile Hadicap hurdle, once again it was those Green and Gold silks first past the post. Palladium who was a big gamble on the day took the field along before weakening through the field with 3 to jump and ultimately being pulled up. As he was wearing Aramax was making his move, joining Saint D’oroux at the last where he jumped his way into the lead, he kept on well up the hill and managed to hold of the challenge of the David Pipe Trained Night Edition.

The final race of day 2 was the Champion Bumper, Appreciate It was sent off a short priced favourite for Willie Mullins, he was travelling well in the race and turning for home he took up the lead from Queens Brook, the 2 of them went a couple of lengths clear before being pegged back with a furlong to go by stablemate Ferny Hollow. Going on to win well by 2 1/2 lengths, making it back to back Champion Bumpers for Cheveley Park Stud who took this last year with Envoi Allen.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, day 3 and 4 will be up in due soon.

A special thanks to Fran for allowing me to use her photos throughout my blog, you can find more of her work here:

Fran: 

twitter; @FrancescaJane_x

Website; www.francescaaltoft.co.uk