cheltenham festival 2015 articles

THE FESTIVAL 2015, CHELTENHAMRACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE

CHAMPION DAY, TUESDAY, MARCH 10HORSE RACING IRELAND PRESS CONFERENCE

Trainers Gordon Elliott and Tony Martin as well as jockey Bryan Cooper joined Irish Racing Post editor Jonathan Mullin to discuss their horses for this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Thursday’s Ryanair Chase hopeful Don Cossack was given a positive mention by his trainer-jockey combination Gordon Elliott and Bryan Cooper. The eight-year-old is unbeaten in his last four starts and heads the market for the two mile five furlong contest. Cooper said: “He seems in great form, has a good chance and I’m really looking forward to him. With a bit of luck, he should run well.”

Elliott echoed his jockey’s sentiments stating: “He has travelled over very well. He’s been good this year having won four including three graded races and has done everything we have asked of him. I think he is finishing his races out an awful lot stronger this year and with luck in running he could be bang there.”

Elliott also suggested Cause of Causes would run well in today’s Toby Balding National Hunt Chase (4:40pm). Elliott remarked: “He’ll love the ground and four miles will be no problem to him.”

Cooper gave a positive mention to his mount Lieutenant Colonel in Thursday’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle. He said: “He has won two Grade Ones, so it was a great call to go back hurdling with him. He will have to improve a bit more but it’s a wide open race. I feel he has improved since Christmas and I wouldn’t swap him for anything.”

Cooper also highlighted the chances of Road To Riches in Friday’s Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. He remarked: “You don’t know how good our lad could be. He has been impressive this year especially when winning the Lexus Chase on ground

that wouldn’t have suited him at all. Hopefully, the rain stays away. With the ground being good and going left-handed, I see it being a big help to him. There is no real worry about the trip, it’s more about how good the Irish form is and whether he is good enough. I wouldn’t swap my lad for anything.”

Tony Martin was also keen on the chances of his Ladbrokes World Hurdle hope Dedigout. Martin’s charge is unbeaten in his last two starts and will “not mind the ground. He’s in great form and is moving well so will hopefully give a good account of himself.”

Martin also gave a positive mention to a plethora of his handicap horses for the Festival. These included today’s Ultima Business Solutions Handicap (2:40pm) runner Gallant Oscar who according to his handler “has jumped well before and all going well, he will have a great each-way chance.” Martin also spoke well of Edeymi in Thursday’s Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle. He stated: “the horse is a bit older and the ground won’t be a problem to him. He’ll stay well and enjoy the better ground so he should have a great chance.”


CHAMPION DAY, TUESDAY, MARCH 10

Jockeys Say Ground Is Good To Soft After First Race

Ruby Walsh, rider of the winner Douvan, described the ground as “dead.”

David Casey, jockey of Alvisio Ville (7th), described the ground as “yielding, with a couple of soft spots down the back but yielding.”

Adrian Heskin, rider of Velvet Maker (11th), said the ground was “good to soft.”

Tony McCoy aboard Jollyallan (8th) and Noel Fehily, partner of Qewy (5th) both agreed that “the ground is good to soft, it is quite dead ground.”

Paul Townend riding the second-placed Shaneshill, described the ground as “good to soft, pretty dead ground.”

John Burke on Sizing John (3rd), said the ground was “good to soft.”

Paddy Brennan, riding Some Plan (10th), described the ground as “good to soft, it’s not too bad just quite dead.”

Bryan Cooper, partner of Tell Us More (6th), said the ground was on the “slow side, it is pretty dead ground out there”.



George delighted with God’s Own

Trainer Tom George beamed with pride after 33/1 chance God’s Own came home a very creditable six-length second to Un De Sceaux in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy.

The seven-year-old jumped and travelled smoothly throughout, travelling in behind the winner for the duration of the race before keeping on up the hill to hold onto second place.

George said: “He was the only horse who could keep up with Un De Sceaux. He stayed with Un De Sceaux all the way, jumped super and has run a brilliant race. I’m so proud of the horse.”

The trainer suggested that the better ground may have brought a return to form for God’s Own. He remarked: “He loves good/good to soft ground. Next winter we’ll put him away as he doesn’t like heavy ground, and then we will bring him back when the ground improves. If it’s nice weather and the ground is good that is when we want to run him.

“We’ll enjoy today first and see how he comes out of the race. However, we may keep ourselves busy and go to Aintree and then possibly on to Punchestown.”

Paddy Brennan, the jockey of God’s Own, added: “He has run an absolute cracker. I’m so pleased with him. He jumped well and I’m really proud of him. I’m glad for Tom as it is a fantastic training performance, many people had written this horse off but his quality has shown and we’ve been proved right.

Barry Geraghty, aboard the third-placed Josses Hill, said: “He’s ran a great race. He jumped better like we hoped with the faster pace and has run well.”



Jesture’s Grand Target

Trainer Henry De Bromhead was delighted with the performance of Grand Jesture after the 25/1 shot finished the three-and-three-quarter length runner-up behind The Druid’s Nephew in the Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon.

Dr Bromhead had entertained thoughts of running the seven-year-old in this year’s Crabbie’s Grand National but decided to wait another year and the Aintree showpiece could be the target next year following his run here.“We’re delighted,” said the trainer.

“Super run and a super ride. He’s a tough horse and you’d hope he’d be an English National hope next year. I was going to enter him this year but then I looked at his age so I just scratched him so he’s not in it this year.“We’ll see what his campaign will be next year. He’s there to win races and you need to win them to get in the National nowadays.

“We’ve not had a bad day. I was a bit disappointed with Smashing (seventh in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy) and I think I’ve picked the wrong race for him unfortunately. He looked completely outpaced.“Sizing John ran a super race in the Supreme Novices’ though. I remember going home with my tail between my legs after his run at Gowran Park when he was beaten but the winner that day was Douvan so I suppose that form has stood up!”

Trainer Tony Martin was also happy with Gallant Oscar, who finished a further one and a half lengths back in third.

“I’m absolutely delighted with him,” said the trainer. “He galloped and stayed on really well. He jumped very nicely, travelled throughout and was staying on well at the finish. He came into the race travelling well and saw the trip out well, I was really happy with the run. “We have plenty of options for him including going to Leopardstown or Punchestown. Obviously, we’ll see how he comes out of the race and then decide where we will go but he has a range of possible races he could be targeted for.”



Willie Mullins Press Conference

Willie Mullins spoke glowingly about Stan James Champion Hurdle victor Faugheen in a press conference after the race. Mullins admitted he had reservations about whether the horse could win the hurdling championship: “I didn’t think he would win that impressively. I was wondering like punters, the media and the bookmakers, could he take on the Grade One horses and beat them because we picked races for him that did not have top Grade One horses in. However, it paid off and he learned his trade, he got confident. Ruby rode him with huge confidence and he showed that he was the good horse Ruby and everybody else thought he was.

“Faugheen has to be right up there with the other great horses I’ve trained. I’m not going to say he is as good as Hurricane Fly in his heyday as he has a lot more improving to do. This is only his second Grade One. He is a very good horse and probably over hurdles the second best I’ve trained. He won’t jump a fence for a long time, perhaps ever. I’m happy to keep him over hurdles and we can find some other chasers in the yard.

“We bought him off Andy Slattery. The day we bought him, he just looked like an ordinary racehorse. There wasn’t any wow factor about him. Andy said he was better than average, we took his advice and it has paid off. He won a bumper by 20 lengths beating Josses Hill. He kept winning but even after his victory at Cheltenham last year, we didn’t think he was a Champion Hurdle horse. We thought he would be a chaser and were going to send him novice chasing. When he won at Cheltenham last year, he hit a lot of the hurdles so I thought he would need to jump a fence to make him jump. Ruby Walsh was keen on him going hurdling and that was a key factor.”

Mullins did admit he was not sure how good the seven-year-old could become: “I don’t think Faugheen could be better than Hurricane Fly. What Hurricane Fly has done I don’t think will be surpassed. If it is I’ll be glad to admit it. No horse in my mind can do what Hurricane Fly has done. To me, I don’t think I’ll have the likes of Hurricane Fly again.”

Mullins also praised the efforts of Arctic Fire and Hurricane Fly who led home a one-two-three for the Irish trainer in the race, the first time it has ever been achieved. Mullins stated: “A one-two-three is a dream. On paper it is my best training feat certainly. To get three horses here in that condition is good for anyone but then to get the luck in running is vital.

“Hurricane Fly ran a fantastic race and was right there at the second last. Possibly on softer ground, he would have made more of an impression. However, I didn’t think he was going to beat the winner at any point today.”Mullins suggested a possible tilt at the Emirates Melbourne Cup could be on the card for Arctic Fire. Mullins added: “Arctic Fire is improving all the time. He may go down the Flat route. He has the same ownership as Simenon so we may look go for the Melbourne Cup route because I think I haven’t got him really right yet. Looking at his ribs as something to go by, he is a big horse with condition so I think he is still going to improve.”As for the future, Mullins suggested that: “All three horses may go to Punchestown. I’ll look at the Aintree Hurdle as it is a race I have never won so I’ll see if I can send one of them there.”

As for his three other winners on the day, the handler was pleased for jockey Paul Townend to win a Grade One on the first day of the festival through Glens Melody’s gutsy success in the OLBG Mares Hurdle. Mullins remarked: “I’m delighted for Paul to get a Grade One winner on the board in the first day of Cheltenham after having to play second fiddle to Ruby Walsh.”

Mullins also reported Annie Power to be fine after her last-flight fall in the race won by Glens Melody: “Annie Power’s good. It was a horrible fall, she is going to be sore in the morning on her leg and shoulder but she is ok.”

The successes of Douvan and Un De Sceaux were also mentioned by Mullins: “All season I was saying every time I work Douvan at home at home, he comes up there with a half-speed and does everything so easy. He is as good as he looked at home. As for Un De Sceaux, I was just anxious that he handled the track and that the day would not get to him. He jumped nicely and won well.”

Mullins highlighted that the success had to be down to how well the horses had been training. He said: “It was scary how well everything was going at home. We didn’t have any setbacks; I thought it was going fantastic, the results today proved how fantastic everything was. We were only beating our horses on the gallops but what happened on the gallops came out on the track today. It was scary how good it was.

“I have the luxury of having wealthy owners who can invest in our operation. The team at home do the work for me and help take the pressure off me. We’ve learnt to use our gallops the way it’s best for us to use them.

“I was leading trainer at The Festival last year but we had six seconds so we went away thinking how we can make some of those seconds into winners. At this point of time today, it suggests we got over that little hurdle as well as getting the luck that is needed to get those winners.”

THE FESTIVAL 2015, CHELTENHAMRACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICELADIES, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

Gold Cup Statistics

18 horses are declared for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Gold Cup Day, Friday,

March 13. This is the highest number of runners since Kauto Star’s first success in the

three mile, two furlong and 110 yards contest in 2007.

Irish-trained winners have won the contest 22 times over the years and 10 Irish-trained

horses bid to add to that tally on Friday.

Two past winners of the race Lord Windermere (2014) and Bobs Worth (2013), will bid to

become the eighth horse to win the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on more than one

occasion.

Last year’s Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere aims to retain his unbeaten record at the

Cheltenham Festival having gained victories in the RSA Chase (2013) and Betfred

Cheltenham Gold Cup (2014).

Lord Windermere’s trainer Jim Culloty attempts to maintain his unbeaten training record

at the Festival after enjoying two winners from two runners at The Festival last year.

Those victories came courtesy of Lord Windermere (Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup) and

Spring Heeled (Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase).

Bobs Worth will aim to enhance his impressive Cheltenham Festival record, having won

at The Festival three times in four visits. If the 10-year-old were to regain his crown, he

would become only the second horse after Kauto Star to regain chasing’s Blue Riband.

Holywell is another horse attempting to retain his unbeaten record at The Festival,

having been successful in the Pertemps Final and the Festival Handicap Chase in 2013

and 2014 respectively.

14 of the 18 declared runners for the contest have run before at The Cheltenham, with

only three of those horses winning a race.

Willie Mullins, Noel Meade, Oliver Sherwood, Venetia Williams, Mark Bradstock, David

Bridgwater, John Kiely, Richard Chotard, Alan King, Gordon Elliott and Henry de

Bromhead will all be aiming to win their first Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

Elliott and de Bromhead will also be having their inaugural runners in Friday’s showpiece

courtesy of Don Cossack (preferred engagement tomorrow’s Ryanair Chase) and Home

Farm respectively.

The Richard Chotard-trained River Choice bids to emulate The Fellow’s 1994 Gold Cup

success and become only the second French-trained winner of the race.

Smad Place, the only grey runner in the field, will look to follow in the footsteps of 1989

Gold Cup winner Desert Orchid and become just the second grey horse to win the

jumping showpiece.

Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty have all tasted success in the race twice

before and bid to close in on Pat Taffe’s record of being the most successful jockey in

Gold Cup history, with Taffe having won the race on four occasions.

Eight-year-olds have a strong record in the race having won the contest 20 times, which

included the last two renewals of the Gold Cup, courtesy of Bobs Worth and Lord

Windermere. Coneygree, Don Cossack (preferred engagement tomorrow’s Ryanair

Chase), Holywell, Home Farm, Houblon Des Obeaux, Many Clouds, Road To Riches, Sam

Winner and Smad Place are the eight-year-olds set to line up this time around.

Nine-year-olds boast the best record having won the event 24 times. Lord Windermere,

Silviniaco Conti and Carlingford Lough attempt to enhance that statistic on Friday.

Jonjo O’Neill and Jim Culloty form part of an elite list of five Gold Cup winning jockeys to

go on and train the winner of the same race. O’Neill was successful as a jockey twice in

the race courtesy of Alverton (1979) and Dawn Run (1986). He then trained Synchronised

(2012) to win the race. Jim Culloty rode Best Mate to three successive Gold Cup victories

(2002, 2003 and 2004) before going to train the 2014 winner Lord Windermere. They aim

to add to that tally on Friday where O’Neill will be represented by Holywell and Culloty by

Lord Windermere.

Paul Nicholls would become the joint most successful trainer in Gold Cup history if

Silviniaco Conti or Sam Winner won on Friday. Nicholls has gained four successes in the

race, just one behind the late Tom Dreaper’s record five Gold Cup winners.

Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins would join a select band of jockey and trainer partnerships

to have been successful in the Stan James Champion Hurdle and the Betfred Cheltenham

Gold Cup in the same year if Djakadam was successful in Friday’s contest. Following

Faugheen’s facile Champion Hurdle success, a victory for Djakadam would make Walsh

and Mullins only the sixth trainer-jockey combination to win both championship races in

the same year, and the first since Kim Bailey and Norman Williamson in 1995.

The French-trained River Choice would become only the third 12-year-old to win the race

and the first since What A Myth in 1969.

Coneygree will attempt to become the first novice to succeed in the Betfred Cheltenham

Gold Cup since Captain Christy in 1974.


Jockeys think ground is similar to yesterday.

Jockeys in the Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle, the first race of Ladies Day at The Festival, agreed that the ground rode in a similar fashion to the first day of The Festival.

Davy Russell, partner of the winner Windsor Park, said the ground was: “Pretty much the same as yesterday.”Tony McCoy, rider of three and three-quarter length second Parlour Games, said the ground was: “Better than yesterday, good/good to soft.”

Ruby Walsh, rider of third-placed Nichols Canyon, remarked the ground was: “The same as yesterday.”

Paul Moloney, jockey of Anteros (10th) described the ground as: “It’s good to soft out there.”

Paul Townend aboard Beast Of Burden (9th) said the ground was: “It is lovely jumping ground out there, probably good to soft.”

Wayne Hutchinson, partner of Ordo Ab Chao (7th) said the ground was: “Good/good to soft in my opinion, you can get a bit bogged down in parts but it is perfect for jumping.”

Bryan Cooper on Outlander (6th) described the ground as: “Like yesterday, good to soft.”

Paul Carberry, jockey of Snow Falcon (5th) described the going as: “It is dead ground, probably on the slow side of good.”

Barry Geraghty, rider of Vyta Du Roc (4th) said the ground was: “Good to soft.”

Gavin Sheehan aboard Warrantor (8th) described the ground as: “It’s a bit dead, similar to yesterday’s ground.”


Twiston-Davies happy with Southfield effort

Sam Twiston-Davies praised the run of Southfield Theatre after he came a creditable second in the RSA Chase to runaway winner Don Poli. Southfield Theatre stayed close to the pace jumping fluently throughout before making his challenge on the home turn. A costly blunder at the final fence blighted the horse’s momentum, but he stayed on gamely to finish second. The jockey explained that Southfield Theatre did not come back into the winner’s enclosure because: “He pulled the skin off the back of his leg, hopefully it’s nothing too bad.”

The jockey added about the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old: “He’s probably bumped into a very good horse. His mistake at the final fence wouldn’t have helped him but he has run a solid race.”

Paul Carberry was pleased with the run of third-placed Wounded Warrior trained by Noel Meade.

The six-year-old stayed on well to snatch third late on. Carberry said: “He has stayed on well, we went a nice gallop, when we went away from the stands on the final circuit, the leaders picked it up again. He was staying on strongly at the end and jumped really well which was a big help.”

As for the future, Carberry suggested: “He’s probably an Irish National type of a horse.”


Zabana loses out

County Meath handler Andrew Lynch just missed out on a Festival success with his first runner at Cheltenham when front-running Zabana was pipped on the line in the Coral Cup.

Zabana, a 25/1 chance, lost out by a neck to Aux Ptits Soins and Lynch hopes the six-year-old has a bright future.

“I hope to be back here next year with him as a chaser,” said Lynch, who trains just six horses at his Dunsany base. “We’ll probably skip the festivals back home in Ireland as he’s still an unfurnished horse.

“He made a mistake at the third last which probably cost him a bit but I’m delighted with that run from my first runner here. I know he was 25/1 and I was probably the only one that believed in him beforehand.”

Robbie Colgan, who partnered the runner-up, added: “He’s just been run out of it, I just missed the third last which was unfortunate. He jumped the last well and came up the hill nicely. I’m really happy with the run but just a bit sick that he’s just got beaten.”

Noel Fehily said of third-placed Activial: “He ran a blinder but he was probably caught for toe coming down the hill. He then flew up the hill again.”

Paul Carberry, aboard fourth-placed Taglietelle, commented: “He ran very well. At the second last he was a bit slow and I should have put him into it but he’s ran well.”


Sprinter fine

Trainer Nicky Henderson had news of Sprinter Sacre after the former winner of the

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase was pulled up at the end of this year’s race.

Henderson told Radio 5 Live: “I would be very surprised if Sprinter Sacre’s heart was

wrong since that has never been an issue since the day it happened at Kempton.

“Things have been going so well with him since Christmas and we have been very happy

with him. Last year we knew he wasn’t himself and at the beginning of this season it

wasn’t happening but it gradually came together.

“He will be scoped now and I suspect something will come to light in that department. It

is not his heart. As we know, there was a trace a blood after he ran at Ascot so you have

to be suspicious in that department. It will be half an hour before we know that.

“No predictions can be made today about what his future will be. He has been a great

horse and if it is wrong to go on I am sure we won’t do that. But if we can find a switch to

get rid of whatever is wrong with him today, then who knows. There are still technically

years in him.”

Sprinter Sacre’s jockey Barry Geraghty said: “We’ll let the vets check him over and see

what they say. I knew at the first down the back so we’ll just have to wait and see. He

seemed to still enjoy his racing.”

Last year’s winner Sire De Grugy put in a laboured performance in finishing fourth and

jockey Jamie Moore thought the ground was to blame.

“I thought the ground was plenty quick enough for him really,” said Moore.

“I thought before the race the ground was ok but I do think it is quicker than last year.

That was seen by the fact that the horses at the front end have been able to keep going

on that bit longer because the ground was that bit quicker. “He’ll run again this season.

He’ll be alright. Look he has been beaten but it happens.”

Trainer Gary Moore also thought the ground was to blame. “I’m trying hard not to make

excuses but I do think the ground was too quick,” said Moore.

“Jamie walked the course this morning and said it was definitely quicker than last year.

The quick ground is coming down the hill and that’s where he began to struggle. I’d be

tempted to run at Punchestown now if the ground is a little softer. If it was quick there,

we could wait for the Celebration Chase at Sandown.”


Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase Paul Nicholls Press Conference

Nicholls has Bullets firing on all cylinders

Paul Nicholls said he had realised how to train Dodging Bullets in the press conference following the horse’s game success in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. The seven-year-old son of Dubawi completed a hat-trick of Grade One wins over fences this season with a length and a quarter success from Somersby. Nicholls said: “I’ve learnt how to train him really. He has mentally grown up. He had a few issues but he has had a tongue-tie on the last three times which has made him finish his races.”

After finishing third on his first start this season at Cheltenham in November, Nicholls suggested that he was finally able to train the horse properly. This had helped see a marked improvement in the horse’s form. Nicholls remarked: “I thought, his first run at Cheltenham this season that he couldn’t get beat. However, he jumped the last and got tired on the run-in, he blew up. I didn’t have him right. We had treated him for gastric ulcers in the spring and I began to think that I was being too easy on him because he is a bit buzzy, so I wasn’t able to train him hard enough. Before the Tingle Creek, I was able to stoke the work into him and I saw a lot of improvement in him. He is now a lot fitter and more relaxed. Today he was as big and strong as I have seen him looking.”

Nicholls praised the ride given to Dodging Bullets by Sam Twiston-Davies: “Sam gave him a fantastic ride. He has settled into the job very nicely and done extremely well. Someone said he will last me till I retire! He is a very good lad who I hope will be part of the team for a long time.”

Nicholls also couldn’t fathom why Dodging Bullets had only gone off third favourite in the betting because of the risks that were attached to both Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy following disappointing results this season. Nicholls said: “I think my horse on form should’ve been favourite. He won the Tingle Creek at Sandown and then the Clarence House at Ascot beating Sprinter Sacre, I couldn’t see that horse turning around the form with us. However, we saw the sentiment with those two horses which we also had with Big Bucks. I learnt that lesson with Big Bucks that those horses who were good but have been off the track a long time don’t come back quite as good.

“With all due respect to Gary Moore, I thought Sire De Grugy had it all to do this year. They had a rushed preparation after having a problem with him. I wasn’t impressed with him at Newbury and whilst mathematically, it was a good

performance at Chepstow I thought I could have beaten him that day with Far West. My horse was getting two stone but bled jumping the third so the race to me turned into one where he just had to jump round and win. Therefore, I was fairly confident I had those two covered.”

Nicholls also confirmed that Dodging Bullets would not run again this year: “Dodging Bullets won’t run again this year. The big aim will be to try and defend his crown here next year. He needs to be fresh and I’ve been quite hard on him. I have learned that over the years, the worst thing you can do after winning one of these championship races is to run again and almost sort of ruin what they have done. He is a champion and we can dream about that all summer and then get him right to defend his crown next year. He definitely won’t run again.”Nicholls also tasted success in the Coral Cup, saddling the winner Aux Ptits Soins, who was having his first start in Britain. The Ditcheat trainer added: “He jumped quite green and I was worried his inexperience would get him beat but he is a very nice horse for the future.”

Having seen Willie Mullins take Champion Day by storm on day one of The Festival, Nicholls was keen to emphasise the difficulties of keeping up with the Irish handler. He remarked: “Willie is always going to be hard to beat with the ones he has at the moment but you just have to do your best with what you have at your disposal.“It depends on the horses you have and you can only win with what you have. When we had Neptune Collonges, Kauto Star, Master Minded and Big Bucks all running at the same time it was awesome but that doesn’t always happen. If you have a great team it’s easier and we have a nice team coming through.

“It’s astounded me how well we have done. I said to Sam Twiston-Davies that it might take us a year or two to get back to where we were, but we have a good team. The horses have run really well, look well and I am thrilled with the way everything has gone.”

Nicholls has more riches to look forward to during the remainder of The Festival. That includes tomorrow’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle in which he saddles Zarkander and Saphir Du Rheu, two fancies for the race. He said: “Looking forward to the World Hurdle. Like any race it will be tough but we have two good chances with Saphir Du Rheu and Zarkander. I think they are both in good form and good order.”

Britain’s champion trainer also has the ante-post favourite for Friday’s Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup in Silviniaco Conti. He said: “It was frustrating me why Silviniaco Conti wasn’t finishing out his races last year. However, he had the same problem as Dodging Bullets with gastric ulcers and he has now had the same treatment and looks really well. I’d say he is a better horse than last year. It isn’t because he doesn’t act at Cheltenham, he has just had his problems.”


Stephens’ Modus operandi seems to work

Modus, a son of Motivator and carrying the colours of Al Kazeem’s owner John Deer, ran a

tremendous race to finish runner-up in the Weatherby’s Champion Bumper.

It was the five-year-old’s first appearance since he finished unplaced at Aintree in April, a

run that followed an eighth-place finish in this race 12 months ago. Given the absence

credit must go to his trainer, Monmouthshire-based Robert Stephens.

A 33/1 shot ridden by Tom O’Brien, Modus finished a length and a half behind the David

Pipe-trained winner Moon Racer, a £225,000 purchase at Brightwells’ Cheltenham Sale in

April last year.

Stephens said: “I’m delighted, because he’s a very nice horse and he’s been working well

at home. He’s more relaxed this year, and that’s helped him today.

“We couldn’t run him this season before today because he had taken part in four

bumpers so was on the limit allowed, but fitness-wise I knew he was spot on. It was a pity

the start was a little ragged, because it meant he was slightly further back than I

expected and the winner got first run on us. It’s the sort of thing that can happen in this

race.

“I knew he would fly up the hill. He has a couple of options – he could run on the Flat or

we could keep him for hurdling next season.”

Stephens also trains JCB Triumph Hurdle hope Beltor, of whom he said: “He’s in great

form and I’m just hoping for a good run on Friday. He doesn’t work with Modus because

they are very similar horses, so they each have a lead horse.”

Modus’s jockey, Tom O’Brien, said: “He has given me a great spin and he has stayed on

really well. He settled nicely and kept going. It’s a great training performance by Robert.”

Third-placed Wait For Me, trained by Philip Hobbs, was ridden by Richard Johnson, who

said: “He travelled really well, stayed and kept going all the way to the line. He is a really

nice horse. He has just been beaten by the better horse on the day that showed a good

turn of foot. He is having just his second run of his life so he will mature and develop into

an even better horse. To finish third in the Champion Bumper on just your second start is

a brilliant effort. He is a horse we will look forward to going novice hurdling with next

year.”


ST PATRICK’S THURSDAY, MARCH 12

A P McCoy’s final rides at the Cheltenham Festival

A P (Tony) McCoy’s wait for a first winner at his final Cheltenham Festival continues into the last two days of this year’s meeting. Despite finishing a creditable second on Parlour Games in the Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle, the 19-time champion jockey has had a disappointing start to The Festival. His Stan James Champion Hurdle ride Jezki could only manage fourth in the hurdling championship, while Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase hope Mr Mole was a bitterly disappointing eighth.

McCoy’s final ride at The Festival comes in a race named in his honour, the A P McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase (For the Johnny Henderson Challenge Cup) tomorrow at 5:15pm. He will partner leading fancy Ned Buntline, owned by his retaining owner J P McManus and trained by Noel Meade, who will hope to provide the two-time Cheltenham Festival top jockey with the perfect send-off.

McCoy has been successful in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup on two occasions and will bid to add to that tally tomorrow when he rides the John Kiely-trained Carlingford Lough. The horse won the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown on his last start under an inspired McCoy ride.

Also on Friday’s card, McCoy partners the Harry Fry-trained Fletchers Flyer in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. The seven-year-old has won three times for Fry so far.

The champion jockey will partner Princely Conn for the first time in the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old, trained by Thomas Mullins, finished second at Leopardstown last time out.

McCoy starts his final day at The Festival on Hargam in the JCB Triumph Hurdle. The four-year-old is unbeaten in his last two starts, which included a victory at Cheltenham in December.

McCoy has a book of five rides for today, St Patrick’s Thursday, at The Festival.

He finishes the day on the Kim Bailey-trained Un Ace in the Brown Advisory & Merribelle Stable Plate.In today’s championship race, the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, McCoy partners 2013 Festival winner At Fishers Cross. The horse was third in last year’s renewal of the race.

McCoy rides Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase for Alan King and J P McManus. The seven-year-old was second in the JLT Novices’ Chase at the 2014 Festival last year, but unseated his rider at Newbury last time.Regal Encore, successful on his last start at Exeter, is the champion jockey’s mount in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

Colour Squadron will attempt to give McCoy the perfect start to today’s proceedings in the JLT Novices’ Chase. He finished second at Cheltenham’s Open Meeting in November.



Ground riding the same according to jockeys

Jockeys who rode in the JLT Novices’ Chase, the first race of St Patrick’s Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival, thought the ground had dried up slightly. However, they were still of the opinion that the track rode very similar to the first two days of The Festival.

Paul Carberry aboard 15 length second Apache Stronghold, described the ground as: “It is like yesterday’s ground but has just dried out. The ground felt a bit tacky.”

Bryan Cooper, partner of third-placed Valseur Lido, described the going as: “Similar to yesterday. It has dried out a bit.”

Noel Fehily, partner of Irish Saint (4th), remarked the ground was: “Similar to yesterday.”

Sam Twiston-Davies, jockey of Ptit Zig (5th), said: “It is good ground.”

Aidan Coleman, jockey of Tango De Juilley (6th), said the ground was: “More or less the same as yesterday. It was good ground.”

A P McCoy, rider of Colour Squadron (8th), said the ground was: “Good, similar to yesterday.”

Ryan Hatch, rider of Splash of Ginge (7th), thought the ground was: “Good ground.”



Scudamore pleased with Unique Performance

Tom Scudamore expressed his delight at the run of length and three-quarter second Unique De Cotte in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle. The seven-year-old came into the race travelling well and only found the Nicky Henderson-trained Call The Cops too strong in the three-mile contest.

Scudamore: “He ran a very bold race. I don’t think he was unlucky. The winner is 7lb well in and that is probably the difference in the end. He’s run very well and I’m proud of him.”

Wayne Hutchinson was equally happy with The Tourad Man’s third-placed effort. The nine-year-old stayed on strongly up the hill to snatch third. Hutchinson remarked: “He’s run well as we thought. With a strong gallop and better ground, it has brought out the best in him. He is a very tough individual and he just seems to be thriving on his racing.”

50/1 outsider Henryville, trained by Harry Fry outran his price with a fine effort to finish fourth. His jockey Will Biddick added: “On betting he shouldn’t have been anywhere near the finish, with top weight that was a good effort. Harry Fry has done really well to get him here in the form he is in.”



Geraghty happy with Filleule

Jockey Barry Geraghty thought the best horse won after Ma Filleule finished a game second to Uxizandre in the Ryanair Chase. The only mare in the race, the seven-year-old jumped and travelled smoothly throughout, finding only an inspired front-running ride from Tony McCoy too strong in the contest.

Geraghty said of the five-length second: “She has run an absolute cracker. She jumped and travelled but the best horse won, there is no way I could get to him.”

Geraghty added that the Nicky Henderson-trained mare could run at Aintree in April: “I’d think a run at Aintree now would be a possible for her. We’ll see what Nicky is keen to do.”

Eduard just lost out to Don Cossack in the race for third in the contest but jockey Brian Harding was delighted with the efforts of the Nicky Richards-trained horse. Harding remarked: “He has run an absolute stormer. He is lacking experience in big races but fair play to him, he has run a great race. He is a good horse.”

As for the future Harding believes the seven-year-old has the potential to develop into a future Gold Cup contender.

He added: “I think he could end up being a Gold Cup horse. He is bred to stay further you see and he jumps really well. He needs more experience of tracks like this and today will only help. There is definite improvement in him. He has time to mature and become a really good horse. I’m delighted with him.”



Cole battles hard to win from front

Warren Greatrex gained his first Cheltenham Festival winner following Cole Harden’s gusty front-running success in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

The 14/1 shot led throughout and stayed on gamely to win by three and a quarter lengths.

Greatrex said at the subsequent press conference: “We all believed in the horse, he just needed better ground. We got his wind sorted out after he had a problem with it and he hasn’t missed a day’s training since then. Last year he was progressing nicely on bad ground so we knew if he got good ground he would improve massively for it.

“When he came back from a summer break, he was struggling to get up the gallops but we worked on him and we knew he would be better on better ground.

“Today, he jumped the last and stayed on really well. The only way he runs is from the front and he just kept finding, he is a proper come and get me horse. I thought coming to two out, if he got it right, they’d do well to pass him and then when he went for home I got very keen on his chances of winning the race!”

Greatrex praised the ride given to the horse by Gavin Sheehan, who was also having his first winner at The Festival. “Gavin deserves enormous credit for getting everything right on him.”

An emotional Greatrex highlighted what the victory meant for an up and coming yard like his. He remarked: “It means so much we are a young team coming forward. I’m normally a cool customer but I got very nervous and the emotion showed after he had won.”

As for the future, the trainer intends to give the six-year-old some time off the track and look at possible plans including going down the chasing route. He added: “Cole Harden will need a rest now. He has only just turned six and last season was his first as a novice. I think he’ll make a good chaser but we have to make the decision as to whether to stay at what we are good at or go chasing. We’ll see.”

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