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Championship contests take shape17th February 2010
The countdown to the 2010 Festival steps up a gear today as the fields for the five non-novice Grade One races are pared down following the first scratchings deadline.
There are no surprise defections in the five races, with the Paul Nicholls-trained pair of Kauto Star and Denman heading the 19 contenders remaining in the eagerly-awaited £475,000 Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, March 19. Fans who want to be at Cheltenham to witness this historic contest need to act quickly with the both the Best Mate and Tattersalls enclosures now sold out on the day. Timeform think that Kauto Star is firmly on target to land his third Cheltenham Gold Cup and award the Clive Smith owned superstar a rating of 191+, 8lb clear of his stablemate Denman, the 2008 Gold Cup hero who parted company with his new partner Tony McCoy at Newbury on Saturday (February 13).
In total, Paul Nicholls is responsible for six of the 19 remaining entries. According to Timeform it could be a two-horse race, with the third-best horse being Imperial Commander, the 2009 Ryanair Chase victor who ran Kauto Star to a nose at Haydock in November, rated 175.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls also has the two top-rated horses with Timeform among the 17 remaining entries for the £320,000 Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday, March 17, in the shape of Master Minded and Twist Magic. Master Minded, also owned by Clive Smith, looked back to his imperious best with a victory at Newbury on Saturday in the Game Spirit Chase and Timeform consider him as having a huge chance to become only the second three-time winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase (following Badsworth Boy) as he has a rating of 179, 11lb superior to Twist Magic on 168, while Ireland’s Big Zeb is on 164.
A hugely competitive Ryanair Chase is in prospect on Thursday, March 18 with 33 entries going forward. Golden Silver, runner-up to Big Zeb in a Grade Two event at Punchestown on January 31, has been given a rating of 162 by Timeform, just 1lb ahead of this season’s Paddy Power Gold cup hero Tranquil Sea (161), while there are no less than five horses sharing a Timeform rating of 160 - the Queen’s Barbers Shop, Herecomesthetruth, Boylesports.com Gold Cup victor Poquelin, last year’s third Schindlers Hunt and Voy Por Ustedes, runner-up to Imperial Commander last year having taken the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2007.
Similarly, Timeform has six of the remaining 24 entries in the £370,000 Champion Hurdle rated between 160 and 165. Irish Champion Hurdle victor Solwhit is on 165, with Zaynar on 165+. Zaynar, who landed the JCB Triumph Hurdle at The Festival in 2009, is due to run at Kelso on Thursday. Celestial Halo and Binocular, second and third respectively in 2009, are both on 164 with last year’s victor Punjabi 1lb lower at 163. Khyber Kim, who has won his last two starts, both at Cheltenham, is also rated 162 with last year’s Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle victor Go Native on 161+ and the 2007 victor Sublimity is on 160. The Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle is run on Tuesday, March 16, the opening day of The Festival.
Big Buck’s is a hot favourite to record a second victory in the £260,000 World Hurdle on Thursday, March 18, and this view is clearly echoed by Timeform, which gives the Paul Nicholls-trained contender a rating of 174+, 13lb clear of Karabak on 161 with Tidal Bay, who returned to form in the Grade Two Betfair Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day, just below on 160. A total of 24 contenders remain in the World Hurdle.
The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup
Class 1, Grade 1, £475,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.20pm, Cheltenham, Friday, March 19, 2010. For 5yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 12 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in GB, IRE or FR may also be entered & such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including March 12 would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final), three miles, two and a half furlongs. Weights: 5yo 11st 9lb, 6yo+ 11st 10lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Entries closed January 12, entries revealed January 13 (27 entries), scratchings deadline February 16 (19 remain), £23,750 supplementary entry stage & six-day confirmation stage March 13. Final 48-hour declaration stage, 10.00am, March 17. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 15.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
03-P136 ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) 9 Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill
15//11-FP4 ARAN CONCERTO (IRE) 9 John Corr Noel Meade IRE
204-P01 CALGARY BAY (IRE) 7 Camilla Radford Henrietta Knight
2114-512 CARRUTHERS 7 The Oaksey Partnership Mark Bradstock
P15P-14 CASEY JONES (IRE) 9 Gillian Burke Noel Meade IRE
50PP/05- CERIUM (FR) 9 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy
1311-4P2 COOLDINE (IRE) 8 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins IRE
11/22F-1U DENMAN (IRE) 10 Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls
161-P25 IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE) 9 Our Friends in the North Nigel Twiston-Davies
1U11-11 KAUTO STAR (FR) 10 Clive Smith Paul Nicholls
1101-324 MADISON DU BERLAIS (FR) 9 Roger Stanley & Yvonne Reynolds II David Pipe
2001-P34 MON MOME (FR) 10 Vida Bingham Venetia Williams
6P/6220- MR POINTMENT (IRE) 11 Judith Wilson Paul Murphy
553-205 MY WILL (FR) 10 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
12-1F544 NOTRE PERE (FR) 9 Tillie Conway Jim Dreaper IRE
32-22453 SCHINDLERS HUNT (IRE) 10 Slaneyville Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE
112/14P/-1 TARANIS (FR) 9 Angela Yeoman Paul Nicholls
422121-21 TRICKY TRICKSTER (IRE) 7 Chris Giles Paul Nicholls
1161-21 WHAT A FRIEND 7 Ged Mason & Sir Alex Ferguson Paul Nicholls
19 entries remain after February 16 scratchings deadline
5 Irish-trained
THE FOLLOWING HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: AIR FORCE ONE (GER), CLOUDY LANE, GLENCOVE MARINA (IRE), IN COMPLIANCE (IRE), MONEY TRIX (IRE), RARE BOB (IRE), ROLL ALONG (IRE), TRABOLGAN (IRE)
The Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase
Class 1, Grade 1, 2m, £320,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.20pm, Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 17, 2010. For 5yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 10 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in GB, IRE or FR may also be entered & such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including March 10 would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights: 11st 10lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Entries closed January 12, entries revealed January 14 (24 entries), scratchings deadline February 16 (17 remain), £16,000 supplementary entry stage & six-day confirmation stage March 11. Final 48-hour declaration stage, 10am, March 15. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 15.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
0112-1U BARKER (IRE) 9 Eamonn Duignan Willie Mullins IRE
FF1-2141 BIG ZEB (IRE) 9 Patrick Joseph Redmond Colm Murphy IRE
04-F2315 CORNAS (NZ) 8 The Gascoigne Brookes Partnership III Nick Williams
111-21F3 FIX THE RIB (IRE) 7 A Dean Gary Moore
221-222 FORPADYDEPLASTERER (IRE) 8 Goat Racing Syndicate Tom Cooper IRE
2332 223 FREE WORLD (FR) 6 Clive Smith Paul Nicholls
100-4112 GOLDEN SILVER (FR) 8 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins IRE
121212-1 KALAHARI KING (FR) 9 Joanna Morgan Ferdy Murphy
63-42552 MAHOGANY BLAZE (FR) 8 Lorna Berryman Nigel Twiston Davies
2/111-131 MASTER MINDED (FR) 7 Clive Smith Paul Nicholls
46-42241 NEWMILL (IRE) 12 Mary Hayes John Murphy IRE
3F211-53 OH CRICK (FR) 7 David Sewell Alan King
12230-12 PETIT ROBIN (FR) 7 Mr & Mrs John Poynton Nicky Henderson
5-41111 SIZING EUROPE (IRE) 8 Ann & Alan Potts Partnership Henry de Bromhead IRE
56-2112 TRANQUIL SEA (IRE) 8 Nelius Hayes/Dermot Cox Edward O'Grady IRE
F6F1-311 TWIST MAGIC (FR) 8 Barry Fulton Tony Hayward Michael Lynch Paul Nicholls
F3//2-1324 WELL CHIEF (GER) 11 David Johnson David Pipe
17 entries remain after February 16 scratchings deadline
7 Irish-trained
THE FOLLOWING HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: FIEPES SHUFFLE (GER), I'MSINGINGTHEBLUES (IRE), LORD HENRY (IRE), SANTA'S SON (IRE), TAKEROC (FR), TARTAK (FR), VOY POR USTEDES (FR)
The Ryanair Chase
Class 1, Grade 1, 2m 5f, £250,000 Total Prize Fund. 2.40pm, Cheltenham, Thursday, March 18, 2010. For 5yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 11 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in GB, IRE or FR may also be entered & such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including March 11 would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights: 11st 10lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Entries closed January 12, entries revealed January 14 (43 entries), scratchings deadline February 16 (33 remain), £11,500 supplementary entry stage and six-day confirmation stage March 12. Final 48-hour declaration stage, 10.00am, March 16. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 15.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
03-P136 ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) 9 Trevor Hemmings Jonjo O'Neill
15//11-FP4 ARAN CONCERTO (IRE) 9 John Corr Noel Meade IRE
1/210-43 BARBERS SHOP 8 The Queen Nicky Henderson
0112-1U BARKER (IRE) 9 Eamonn Duignan Willie Mullins IRE
1F2-F40 CHAPOTURGEON (FR) 6 David Johnson Paul Nicholls
1110-3162 CONSIGLIERE (FR) 7 E A P Scouller David Pipe
121-11P DEEP PURPLE 9 Paul Green Evan Williams
113-412 DEUTSCHLAND (USA) 7 Allan McLuckie Willie Mullins IRE
221-222 FORPADYDEPLASTERER (IRE) 8 Goat Racing Syndicate Tom Cooper IRE
1/0411/-3F GLENCOVE MARINA (IRE) 8 John Brennan Willie Mullins IRE
100-4112 GOLDEN SILVER (FR) 8 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins IRE
125F-U0 GWANAKO (FR) 7 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
111P-1U HERECOMESTHETRUTH (IRE) 8 Paul Barber & Maggie Findlay Paul Nicholls
36/111/1- JACK THE GIANT (IRE) 8 Hanbury Syndicate Nicky Henderson
04-10301 J'Y VOLE (FR) 7 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
43-3U240 MADE IN TAIPAN (IRE) 8 Frances Duffin/Sean Corby Tom Mullins IRE
111-12P MASTER MEDIC (IRE) 9 Pell-mell Partners Robert & Sally Alner
46-42241 NEWMILL (IRE) 12 Mary Hayes John Murphy IRE
P4-61r0 1 OUR VIC (IRE) 12 David Johnson David Pipe
140-P553 PANJO BERE (FR) 7 Paul Chapman & Elizabeth Kiernan Gary Moore
12230-12 PETIT ROBIN (FR) 7 Mr & Mrs John Poynton Nicky Henderson
1133-12 PLANET OF SOUND 8 Charles Lloyd-Baker Philip Hobbs
300-121 POQUELIN (FR) 7 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
31414-15 RARE BOB (IRE) 8 D A Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE
32-22453 SCHINDLERS HUNT (IRE) 10 Slaneyville Syndicate Dessie Hughes IRE
54-35431 SCOTSIRISH (IRE) 9 Double R Stables Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
0-6110322 SNOWY MORNING (IRE) 10 Quayside Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
02021-F0 SOMETHING WELLS (FR) 9 Favourites Racing XVIII Venetia Williams
51-00205 TARTAK (FR) 7 Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd Tom George
105151P THE FONZE (IRE) 9 J A Dunphy Eoin Doyle IRE
56-2112 TRANQUIL SEA (IRE) 8 Nelius Hayes/Dermot Cox Edward O'Grady IRE
3121-364 VOY POR USTEDES (FR) 9 Sir Robert Ogden Alan King
41P-251 WATCH MY BACK 9 Tony Ambler Ferdy Murphy
33 entries remain after February 16 scratchings deadline
15 Irish-trained
THE FOLLOWING HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE), IN COMPLIANCE (IRE), JONCOL (IRE), MASSINI'S MAGUIRE (IRE), PABLO DU CHARMIL (FR), PUNCHESTOWNS (FR), SIEGEMASTER (IRE), TAKEROC (FR), TIDAL BAY (IRE), WILL BE DONE (IRE)
The Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle
Class 1, Grade One, £370,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, 3.20pm, Tuesday, March 16. For four-year-olds and upwards which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the senior BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and taking account of races run up to and including March 9 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in GB, IRE or FR may also be entered (such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including March 9 would merit a minimum rating of 130 - the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final), two miles & half a furlong. Weights: 4yo: 11st 3lb; 5yo+: 11st 10lb; fillies & mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed January 19, entries revealed January 20 (34 entries). Scratchings deadline February 16 (24 remain), £18,500 supplementary stage & six-day confirmation stage March 10, final declaration 10.00am, March 14. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 15.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
2131/4-6 AL EILE (IRE) 10 Michael Ryan John Queally IRE
1/113-531 BINOCULAR (FR) 6 J P McManus Nicky Henderson
3004-600 BLUE BAJAN (IRE) 8 Dr John Hollowood Andrew Turnell
2120-124 CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) 6 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
200-1112 DONNAS PALM (IRE) 6 Grand Alliance Racing Club Noel Meade IRE
11-D1111 DUNGUIB (IRE) 7 Daniel Harnett/Mrs E A Lawlor Philip Fenton IRE
2r-435P16 EBADIYAN (IRE) 5 Rita Shah Oliver Brady IRE
0 FIULIN 5 R J H Geffen Evan Williams
1-41211 GO NATIVE (IRE) 7 Docado Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
2211232 JUMBO RIO (IRE) 5 Patrick Wilmott Edward O'Grady IRE
KARGALI (IRE) 5 Margaret Comer Luke Comer IRE
500-511 KHYBER KIM 8 Caroline Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
1125-331 MEDERMIT (FR) 6 The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership Alan King
425-52524 MUIRHEAD (IRE) 7 Mrs Pat Sloan Noel Meade IRE
1F31-242 PUNJABI 7 Raymond Tooth Nicky Henderson
0/311-30 QUEVEGA (FR) 6 Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
310-010 RAISE YOUR HEART (IRE) 7 Gaeltacht Gang Syndicate Joanna Morgan IRE
6 ROYAL AND REGAL (IRE) 6 Brian Comer Luke Comer IRE
11-11311 SOLWHIT (FR) 6 Top Of The Hill Syndicate Charles Byrnes IRE
143-122 STARLUCK (IRE) 5 Andrew Wates Alan Fleming
2140-223 SUBLIMITY (FR) 10 Bill Hennessy Robbie Hennessy IRE
15-1111 VOLER LA VEDETTE (IRE) 6 Mrs M Brophy Colm Murphy IRE
420-0465 WON IN THE DARK (IRE) 6 Gerard Crehan Sabrina Harty IRE
111-11 ZAYNAR (FR) 5 Men In Our Position Nicky Henderson
24 entries remain after February 16 scratchings deadline
15 Irish-trained
THE FOLLOWING HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: AMERICAN TRILOGY (IRE), BAHRAIN STORM (IRE), CAPE TRIBULATION, DE VALIRA (IRE), HURRICANE FLY (IRE), KATCHIT (IRE), NOBLE PRINCE (GER), ROCK NOIR (FR), THOUSAND STARS (FR), TORPHICHEN
The Ladbrokes World Hurdle
Class 1, Grade One, £260,000 Total Prize Fund, three miles. Cheltenham, 3.20pm, Thursday, March 18. For four-yearolds and upwards which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 11 - horses which are not qualified for a rating in GB, IRE or FR may also be entered (such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse’s racecourse performances up to and including March 11 would merit a minimum rating of 130 – the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final), three miles. Weights: 4yo: 11st 1lb; 5yo+: 11st 10lb; fillies & mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed January 19, entries revealed January 21 (35 entries). Scratchings deadline February 16 (24 remain), £13,000 supplementary entry stage & six-day confirmation stage March 12, final declarations 10am, March 16. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 15.
Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
2P-4P15 BALLYFITZ 10 F J Mills & W Mills Nigel Twiston-Davies
1111-11 BIG BUCK'S (FR) 7 The Stewart Family Paul Nicholls
1155-244 CAPE TRIBULATION 6 J David Abell Malcolm Jefferson
1U5-2235 COUSIN VINNY (IRE) 7 Festival Syndicate Willie Mullins IRE
r-435P1 6 EBADIYAN (IRE) 5 Rita Shah Oliver Brady IRE
211-16P0 ELZAHANN (IRE) 8 Ian Allan Todd Ferdy Murphy
303-0150 FAIR ALONG (GER) 8 Alan Peterson Philip Hobbs
0 FIULIN 5 R J H Geffen Evan Williams
P2-205P0 GONE TO LUNCH (IRE) 10 Gary Lever Jeremy Scott
2211232 JUMBO RIO (IRE) 5 Patrick Wilmott Edward O'Grady IRE
1124-22 KARABAK (FR) 7 J P McManus Alan King
3460-423 KATCHIT (IRE) 7 D S J P Syndicate Alan King
P2-36345 KAYF ARAMIS 8 Isobel Phipps Coltman Nigel Twiston-Davies
211-U11P LIE FORRIT (IRE) 6 J W McNeill, C McNeill, Ms L Gillies Willie Amos
33-242212 MOURAD (IRE) 5 Teahon Consulting Limited Willie Mullins IRE
146-1130 MR THRILLER (FR) 5 Joe Moran David Pipe
021F124 OSCAR DAN DAN (IRE) 8 Frances Duffin/D Hutton/Sean Corby Tom Mullins IRE
04-221U PETTIFOUR (IRE) 8 J B Pettifer Nigel Twiston-Davies
6306212 POWERSTATION (IRE) 10 Fat Frog Syndicate Eamon O'Connell IRE
6 ROYAL AND REGAL (IRE) 6 Brian Comer Luke Comer IRE
0/1100-1 SENTRY DUTY (FR) 8 Peter Spiller Nicky Henderson
2345-241 TIDAL BAY (IRE) 9 Andrea & Graham Wylie Howard Johnson
1101-012 TIME FOR RUPERT (IRE) 6 Littlecote Racing Partnership Paul Webber
2-P230411 WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE) 11 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris IRE
24 entries remain after February 16 scratchings deadline
8 Irish-trained
THE FOLLOWING HORSES HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED: BOUGGLER, DIAMOND HARRY, GOLAN WAY, LOUGH DERG (FR), MASSINI'S MAGUIRE (IRE), MIGHTY MAN (FR), MUIRHEAD (IRE), NINETIETH MINUTE (IRE), NOBLE PRINCE (GER), PUNCHESTOWNS (FR), TORPHICHEN
This year's Gold Cup is being billed as "The Decider" between Kauto Star and Denman