Entries by DaveM

Sherwood happy to take Cheltenham Gamble with Queens

Queens Gamble has Cheltenham form in her favour as she faces off against the might of Ireland in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. Oliver Sherwood’s talented mare has impressed twice at the track in her short career, beating Milton Harris’ five-time scorer Mullenbeg by 10 lengths on debut before downing another subsequent victor when scooping Listed […]

Johnson White bidding for dream start to new career with Thyme Hill

Johnson White has been Philip Hobbs’ right-hand man for nearly three decades and he will join the Somerset handler on the training licence for the first time when Thyme Hill lines up in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday. White, who first met Hobbs as 15-year-old schoolboy with dreams of becoming a […]

Festival absentee Ashroe Diamond rerouted to Fairyhouse

Ashroe Diamond will head to Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday having been ruled out of the Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday morning. Winner of the Grade Two mares’ bumper at Aintree last spring, Ashroe Diamond has taken well to hurdles this term, placing in both the Royal Bond and behind Facile Vega at […]

Flooring Porter takes on 10 rivals in Stayers’ hat-trick bid

Gavin Cromwell’s Flooring Porter will face 10 rivals as he bids to win the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday for the third time. He has already joined the likes of Galmoy and Baracouda as a dual victor in the race and a third triumph would emulate Inglis Drever, although the indomitable Big […]

Shishkin leads the way among Ryanair contenders

Shishkin will face eight rivals as he goes for a third Festival win in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. Nicky Henderson’s charge landed the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in 2020 and followed up in the Arkle over fences the following year, but 2022 ended in disappointment as he was pulled up when sent off favourite for […]

Fehily looks to ‘unbelievable’ Envoi for further Festival glory

Noel Fehily is hopeful for another day to remember as Love Envoi and Tahmuras fly the flag for his syndicate at the Cheltenham Festival. The Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate enjoyed an unforgettable afternoon last season when Love Envoi landed the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on the Thursday of the meeting. That success was followed by […]

Constitution Hill ready to peak in Champion Hurdle assignment

Constitution Hill is all set for his crowning moment when he lines up in the Unibet Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten six-year-old has had this date with destiny circled on the calendar since leaving a packed house at Prestbury Park staggered with an imperious display in last year’s […]

Honeysuckle seeking perfect Festival swansong

There will surely be no more popular winner at this year’s Cheltenham Festival than Honeysuckle if she can go out in a blaze of glory in Tuesday’s Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle. It is three years since Henry de Bromhead’s superstar mare saw off Benie Des Dieux in a barnstorming renewal of the Grade One contest […]

Connell confident Marine Nationale can make Supreme mark

Barry Connell is quietly confident Marine Nationale can land the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday. A winner of two bumpers, a maiden hurdle and the Grade One Royal Bond at Fairyhouse, he remains unbeaten for the Kildare handler. The famous Cheltenham roar will be heard at […]

Jonbon aiming to maintain family honour in Arkle

Jonbon gets the chance to emulate his brother Douvan and land the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy when he takes on El Fabiolo in a powerhouse clash on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. The duo fought out a thriller over hurdles at Aintree last year, where Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old prevailed by a neck […]