Galopin Des Champs among 14 left in Gold Cup

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Hot favourite Galopin Des Champs will face a maximum of 13 rivals in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The seven-year-old has won five of his six starts over fences to date, his only defeat coming at last year’s Festival when falling at the final fence with the Turners Novices’ Chase at his mercy.

He has been thoroughly impressive in winning the John Durkan at Punchestown and the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown this season and is a warm order to provide Willie Mullins with a third success in Friday’s blue riband following the back-to-back victories of Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020.

Mullins has a major second string to his bow in the form of Stattler, who is a proven stayer having won the National Hunt Chase 12 months ago and finished best of the rest behind Galopin Des Champs in last month’s Irish Gold Cup.

Henry de Bromhead has saddled the one-two in the last two editions of the Gold Cup, with Minella Indo beating A Plus Tard in 2021 before the latter turned the tables with an imperious display under Rachael Blackmore last year.

Both horses are in contention once more, but A Plus Tard returns to the Cotswolds with something to prove after being pulled up in Haydock’s Betfair Chase on his only previous outing this term.

A formidable Irish challenge is further strengthened by Grand National winner Noble Yeats, Savills Chase hero Conflated and American Grand National victor Hewick, trained by Emmet Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Shark Hanlon respectively.

Bravemansgame and Harry Cobden winning the King George VI Chase
Bravemansgame and Harry Cobden winning the King George VI Chase (John Walton/PA)

The pick of the home team on form is Bravemansgame, who was brilliant when giving Paul Nicholls a 13th King George VI Chase win at Kempton on Boxing Day and now bids to provide him with a fifth Gold Cup.

Ahoy Senor won the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January for Lucinda Russell and will renew rivalry with the runner-up Sounds Russian (Ruth Jefferson), the third placed Noble Yeats and the fourth home Protektorat (Dan Skelton), who was best of the British when third in last year’s Gold Cup.

Eldorado Allen (Joe Tizzard), Royale Pagaille (Venetia Williams) and the novice The Real Whacker (Patrick Neville) complete the acceptors.

Sandown and Ayr fixtures given go-ahead

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Saturday’s Betfair Imperial Cup meeting at Sandown was given the green light following a morning inspection.

Racing took place at the Esher venue on Tuesday, but persistent wintry showers since eased conditions significantly and clerk of the course Andrew Cooper admitted the track would have “struggled to race” on Thursday.

With further rain and freezing temperatures forecast, Cooper on Friday called an inspection for 8am on raceday morning – and while the mercury dipped to as low as minus 2.7C, racing was given the go-ahead.

There was further positive news from north of the border at Ayr.

The Scottish circuit staged racing on Friday, but with frost forecast officials called a precautionary check for 8.30am.

However, temperatures did not even dip below freezing at Ayr, meaning the inspection was brought forward and racing will take place as scheduled.

Unfortunately a quality card at Navan, due to stage the Grade Two Webster Cup, was cancelled.

Brendan Sheridan, Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board clerk of the course, said: “Unfortunately the track remained unfit for racing and we had no option but to cancel the fixture.

“Snow remains on the track and there was frost overnight last night meaning that most areas are not fit for racing.”

With the course flooded, Wednesday’s meeting at Huntingdon is already in serious doubt, with an inspection called for 4pm on Sunday.

Churchstonewarrior primed for Cheltenham test

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Churchstonewarrior will head into the unknown when he runs in the Wellchild National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

The lightly-raced eight-year-old, who has had just four starts over fences, was runner-up to Gaillard Du Mesnil in a three-mile Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas before going one better in the Grade Two Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan last month.

Jonathan Sweeney’s stable star is poised to take on the Willie Mullins-trained Gaillard Du Mesnil once more at the Festival, with connections hoping to find improvement over three miles and six furlongs after being beaten seven and a half lengths in their last meeting.

“I was very happy with his last run, couldn’t be happier. I’m looking forward to going now,” said Sweeney.

“The form of his race at Navan looks good. Three-mile-six is an unknown, but you’d imagine he’s the type of a horse who will handle that sort of distance.

“He jumped a little right on occasion last time, but I don’t think that will be an issue.”

Though his last run was his sole success over fences to date, Churchstonewarrior has not yet finished outside the first two and is a general 6-1 chance to claim Festival glory, with amateur rider James Hannon taking over in the saddle from Aidan Coleman.

“You would just be hoping the ground was safe. I’d have thought there would be a better chance (of softer ground) on the first day,” Sweeney added.

“You would not be confident – not at Cheltenham – you’d be just hoping for things to go right and that he’ll run his race.”

Churchstonewarrior also holds an entry in the Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on April 10.

Sweeney said: “He is entered in the Irish National but we will take it one day at a time. If we get to Cheltenham, we’ll have to see how things go and how we come out of it.”

Gosdens looking to see Unforgotten put his name up in lights

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Unforgotten has the chance to extend his winning run when he goes for the Spreadex Sports Lincoln Trial Handicap at Wolverhampton.

Second in his first two outings, John and Thady Gosden’s son of Exceed And Excel got off the mark at at the third attempt at Newcastle in April 2021 but then had to sit out almost two years with a setback.

Returning from 659 days off the track he made up for lost time at Lingfield last month and then doubled up 14 days later at the same venue.

He now searches for the quick-fire hat-trick off a 4lb higher rating when he heads to Dunstall Park on Saturday, with a good run potentially setting up a crack at the Lincoln itself at Doncaster on the opening day of the Flat season on April 1.

“He obviously had a couple of issues and had plenty of time off, but he’s a horse we have always liked and have always known he has plenty of talent,” said joint-trainer Thady Gosden.

“He’s run a couple of nice races since coming back and hopefully he can perform to a similar level at the weekend.”

Last year’s winner Notre Belle Bete will attempt to defend his crown off an 8lb higher mark and Andrew Balding’s five-year-old is 3lb higher than when going close at Lingfield in his most recent outing.

“He won the race last year and has been pretty consistent and a decent operator on the all-weather,” said the Kingsclere handler.

“He was unlucky at Lingfield last time and hopefully this will give him the opportunity to be there or thereabouts.”

Outbreak got the better of Notre Belle Bete last time out and Charlie Johnston’s runner is 5lb higher for the rematch, while other notable runners include the consistent Alrehb and Mick Appleby’s track specialist War In Heaven, who has won four in a row at Dunstall Park since the start of the year.

Olly Murphy’s course and distance winner Fleurman will attempt to seal a three-timer in the SCU Selects Expert Tips At BetUK Conditions Stakes over at touch more than two miles.

The race serves as a Fast-Track Qualifier for All-Weather Championships Finals Day and the winner will earn a spot at Newcastle on Good Friday.

Earlofthecotswolds picked up that pot at Gosforth Park in 2022 and is one of five looking to book their ticket to the north east over Easter, with Roberto Escobarr another notable name amongst the quintet.

Brian Ellison’s Onesmoothoperator switches back from hurdles, with Richard Hughes’ Calling The Wind rounding off those taking part.

Blackmore booked for Bad in Boodles

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Ben Pauling has booked Rachael Blackmore to ride his new recruit Bad in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

A winner last time out in France, Pauling took over his training in December but decided to keep his powder dry having been allotted an opening mark of 126.

With Kielan Woods currently sidelined and Luca Morgan pencilled in partner stablemate Samuel Spade, Pauling wasted no time in snapping up the services of Blackmore, who is of course no stranger to success at the meeting in the past couple of seasons.

“I’ve had Bad since December and he is a horse who I thought was going to get a higher mark than he possibly did coming over from France, so I decided that we would keep him under wraps until this point,” said Pauling.

Ben Pauling has moved to book Rachael Blackmore
Ben Pauling has moved to book Rachael Blackmore (Mike Egerton/PA)

“There’s no two ways about it, a 22-runner handicap on likely soft ground is no easy first assignment – but he seems a very straightforward horse with a good attitude and he jumps well, I’m looking forward to it.

“We’ve booked Rachael as I think Nico (De Boinville) will end up riding the (Nicky) Henderson horse (Arclight) so I thought we’d better try and get somebody to replace him because Kielan Woods is injured and Luca Morgan is going to ride Samuel Spade.

“Samuel Spade has done absolutely nothing wrong. The only time he got beat he was trying to give Perseus Way 8lb and he’s now rated 132 and we’re off 126 so he’s got to give us 6lb this time. We only got beat three lengths so it’s quite a big swing.

“I think he’ll be well suited by the track and he handles soft ground so he goes there with just as good a chance as anything I think.”

Angel Bleu out to stamp his class in Lady Wulfruna

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Angel Bleu sets the standard in the Spreadex Sports Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton on Saturday.

Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old has won twice at Group One level as a juvenile and has won five of his 11 career appearances to date, finishing placed on another three occasions and only out of the money three times.

Two of those performances have come at Royal Ascot while the only other small blot on an otherwise decorated copybook was when fifth to Baaeed in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood ran on conditions unfavourable to the son of Dark Angel.

That was the last time Angel Bleu has been sighted on a racecourse and although initially underwhelmed by the performance, Jamie McCalmont – racing manager to owner Marc Chan – believes in hindsight, finishing within five lengths of Baaeed was perfectly respectable.

He said: “His last start was on ground that he doesn’t really like and to be beaten only four and a half lengths by Baaeed when he was definitely at the top of his game – we didn’t think much of it on the day, but when you look at it now, you think, ‘that’s not embarrassing’.

“He came out of that race with an injury and the only two bad races he has run have been at Royal Ascot – every other time he has fired.

“He just needs some match practice and hopefully he gets back on track on Saturday. It’s a long time since he has run and you just don’t know, but you go there with the horse in good shape and we’re looking forward to a good run and a big season with him.”

Angel Bleu’s biggest danger could be Andrew Balding’s Berkshire Shadow, who shaped nicely in both the 2000 Guineas and at Royal Ascot last year before his form tailed off in the heart of summer.

Royal Ascot 2021 – Day One
Berkshire Shadow ridden by jockey Oisin Murphy wins the Coventry Stakes during day one of Royal Ascot in 2021

The 2021 Coventry Stakes winner played second fiddle to Angel Bleu in their only ever meeting at this distance, the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood later that year, but his Kingsclere handler is hoping for a different outcome if his charge handles Dunstall Park.

“He ran really well in the Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes last season but lost his way a bit after that,” said Balding.

“He’s been gelded over the winter and we’ve been very happy with his work and hopefully he should have a good season.

“If he takes to Wolverhampton then he will be a player. He won a Coventry over six furlongs so I don’t think the trip should be a problem, but whether that is a problem on a sharp track we will find out.”

Dhabab was a handy performer for John and Thady Gosden at two and was sent off 4-1 favourite for the Coventry Berkshire Shadow won before running with credit in both the Superlative Stakes and Mill Reef later that year.

A setback meant he missed the majority of the 2022 campaign before returning to win at Lingfield in October and although well held up at a mile in Listed company last time out, he may put his speed to good use now returned to seven furlongs.

“He had a setback last year but has seemed in good form since,” said Thady Gosden.

“He obviously ran well at Lingfield when winning on his first run back last year and then stepped up to Listed level afterwards.

“He has been training pleasingly at home and this looks the right race for him. He’s by No Nay Never and has always showed plenty of speed. Hopefully seven furlongs is an ideal trip for him.”

Irish handler Adrian McGuinness is no stranger to successful raids on the all-weather and he is double-handed with synthetics specialist Harry’s Bar and improving mare Hodd’s Girl.

He said: “There are not a lot of opportunities for Harry’s Bar in Ireland at this time of the year and he is a real all-weather specialist, so we have to travel.

“In fairness, Wolverhampton is not that far from me. It is three and a bit hours of driving plus a boat trip, so it is not too bad.

Ado McGuinness saddles two in the Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton on Saturday
Ado McGuinness saddles two in the Lady Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton on Saturday (PA)

“The horse is in great order and I think the seven furlongs around Wolverhampton will suit. I would not be sure on a straight seven but going seven around a bend should play to his strengths.

“We are trying to sneak a bit of black type with Hodd’s Girl. She has not stopped improving since she came to us and her work is very good. I would not be surprised if she was able to make the frame.”

Roger Varian’s defending champion Tinker Toy, Lingfield runner-up Vadream (Charlie Fellowes) and Jump The Gun (Iain Jardine) complete the line up.

Shishkin heads Ryanair dozen

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Shishkin leads the way among 12 confirmations for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Nicky Henderson worked his magic to get the nine-year-old back to his brilliant best at Ascot last month where he produced a scintillating display.

He was pulled up in the Champion Chase 12 months ago when it later transpired he was suffering from a rare bone condition, and was then beaten on his return in the Tingle Creek, after which he underwent wind surgery.

However, just like he did with Sprinter Sacre a few years ago, the master of Seven Barrows has seemingly coaxed back to his best ahead of his return to the Festival next week.

Henderson told Unibet: “It was great and everyone was very kind at Ascot, but to compare it with Sprinter’s comeback was a bit much as he’d only actually had two misses.

“If you go back to the Clarence House last year and that wonderful race with Energumene, he was flat out the whole way, at the second last we looked beaten fair and square but then his stamina turbo kicked in.

“In the Champion Chase he could have literally been pulled up after a fence and a scan showed he had these five hotspots, he was lame everywhere.

“We took our time, came back for the Tingle Creek but again, it looked quite laboured and he was just that yard short of pace so we got him to Ascot over two-five and he came through that. He was impressive, I must admit.

“It wasn’t until he jumped the last and I thought ‘phew’ that I realised how far clear he went.”

French Dynamite, Ga Law, Blue Lord and Envoi Allen are among Shishkin’s potential rivals.

Mighty Potter will be a banker for many in the Turners
Mighty Potter will be a banker for many in the Turners (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Gordon Elliott’s hot favourite Mighty Potter is among 14 left in the first race on day three of the Festival – the Turners Novices’ Chase.

Hugely impressive over fences to date, he appears to be one of his trainer’s best chances of the week.

Balco Coastal, Banbridge, Sir Gerhard and Stage Star will ensure it is far from a cake walk if they all run, though.

In the Jack de Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Henderson’s Luccia heads the market, with 25 left in.

Magical Zoe will be Henry de Bromhead’s big hope in a race named after his late son.

Surprisingly only 28 remain in the Pertemps Final, in which a maximum field of 24 will go to post.

Elliott has the top three in the weights with Salvador Ziggy, The Bosses Oscar and Maxxum.

There are 38 left in the Magners Plate, with Willie Mullins’ Haut En Couleurs heading the weights, while 35 are still in contention for the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.

Blazing Khal given go-ahead for Stayers’ Hurdle challenge

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Charles Byrnes has given Blazing Khal the go-ahead for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Thursday.

The seven-year-old won back-to-back Grade Two novice prizes at Prestbury Park in the autumn of 2021, but missed the rest of the season through injury and did not ultimately not return for 14 months.

An impressive comeback in the Boyne Hurdle at Navan in mid-February catapulted Blazing Khal to the head of the Stayers’ Hurdle market, but Byrnes later revealed his stable star had returned with a “a few bits of nicks” that required treatment.

However, while his preparation has clearly not been ideal, Byrnes confirmed Blazing Khal will take his chance in a race the County Limerick handler won with Solwhit 10 years ago.

He said on Friday: “He worked at the Curragh earlier this week. We decided against taking him back there today as we felt it would be counter-productive.

“But I had a chat with the owner this morning and we decided we’re going to run him.”

Blazing Khal is set to lead a small but select team of five Festival runners for Byrnes along with Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle contender Byker, Coral Cup hopeful Run For Oscar, Pertemps Final favourite Shoot First and Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle runner Grozni.

Trainer Charles Byrnes (right) after winning the Stayers' Hurdle with Solwhit
Trainer Charles Byrnes (right) after winning the Stayers’ Hurdle with Solwhit (David Davies/PA)

“I’m bringing five and it looks a nice team,” the trainer added.

“The preparation for all the rest of them has gone very well.

“Soft ground would inconvenience Run For Oscar more so than any of them, I would say, but I’d say it won’t be too bad.”

Blazing Khal is one of 15 horses in Stayers’ Hurdle contention following Friday’s confirmation stage, with France’s Cleeve Hurdle winner Gold Tweet and his compatriot Henri Le Farceur both supplemented at a cost of just under £15,000.

Flooring Porter on his way to winning last year's Stayers' Hurdle
Flooring Porter on his way to winning last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle (Steven Paston/PA)

Flooring Porter will bid for a third successive victory in the race for Gavin Cromwell, Gordon Elliott is set to be represented by Teahupoo and Sire Du Berlais and Willie Mullins still has three in the mix, with Asterion Forlonge, Klassical Dream and Sharjah all standing their ground.

Marie’s Rock is a leading contender for Nicky Henderson, with connections planning to make a late call on whether she will run in Tuesday’s Mares’ Hurdle or take on the boys two days later.

Ashdale Bob (Jessica Harrington), Beacon Edge (Noel Meade), Dashel Drasher (Jeremy Scott), Home By The Lee (Jessica Harrington) and Paisley Park (Emma Lavelle) complete the acceptors.

Longsdon keen on Edition’s Supreme claims

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Charlie Longsdon retains full faith in Rare Edition and believes he has a genuine each-way chance in the curtain-raising Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

The six-year-old won his only bumper and his first three novice hurdles, including a convincing victory over subsequent Dovecote winner Rubaud at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Longsdon had hoped he would rubber stamp his Cheltenham claims in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon last month, but he was turned over at a short price by Fergal O’Brien’s Marble Sands.

“I think Rare Edition’s probably the best novice hurdler we’ve trained to date and he really does have a good each-way chance in the Supreme,” Longsdon told Betdaq.

“We’ve drawn a line through his run in the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon, but his run at Kempton on Boxing Day was very good and the form looks strong.

“I think we’ve got him back to the right form now and if he can run up to the form we know he’s capable of, I think he’ll definitely be knocking on the door.”

Longsdon has yet to taste glory at the Festival, coming closest with Pendra who was beaten less than in length in the 2017 Kim Muir, and he admits it is a scratch he needs to itch.

“It’s a sore point, not having had a Cheltenham Festival winner. It’s been a topic of conversation leading up to the Festival every year. It’s slightly different this year in the fact that we’ve actually got horses that might have a little bit of a chance,” he said.

Joining Rare Edition on the trainer’s Cheltenham team is Hector Javilex and Glimpse Of Gala in the Pertemps, Snow Leopardess in the Glenfarclas Chase and possibly Guetapan Collonges in the Kim Muir, though he may wait for the Midlands National at Uttoxeter.

Neville favouring Festival novice option for The Real Whacker

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Patrick Neville will leave the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup door open, yet admitted he is leaning towards running The Real Whacker in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at next week’s Festival meeting.

The promising seven-year-old has won both his starts over fences and crucially both victories have come at Cheltenham this term.

In November, he won a five-runner novices’ chase over an extended three miles when partnered by Gavin Sheehan and, on New Year’s Day, followed up in the Grade Two Dipper over an extended two and a half miles, this time ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies.

The Real Whacker took the scalp of Grade One winner Monmiral in the latter race and is now a general 9-2 third favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on Wednesday.

However, Neville has not ruled out a tilt at Friday’s Gold Cup, for which he is a 50-1 shot.

The Irishman, who trains at Leyburn in North Yorkshire, said: “The horse is in super form – we couldn’t be happier with him.

“We are, at the moment, probably going to the Brown Advisory, but we will make a decision at the weekend, as there is another stage for the Gold Cup on Saturday.

“We’re just hanging in there. It is tempting, but we will wait and see. I think there will be a few who will come out of it because of the ground.”

Neville spent almost two years as assistant trainer to Ann Duffield and was a key player in N’Golo’s Swinton Hurdle success last May.

The trainer has had seven winners from 39 runners in his own name since taking out his licence in November and is eager to get back to Prestbury Park.

“It was great to take on the big boys and beat them there,” added Neville.

“It is great to have a horse like that going there. He stays well and he’s not short of speed either. His jumping is unbelievable.

“Everything has gone great since his last run. He is lightly raced and physically he has improved a bit, even from his New Year’s Day run – he’s getting stronger.

“He will probably go for the novice chase this year and then hopefully, if we get back next year, we will have a go at the Gold Cup, as then he would have more experience under his belt.

“We are leaning that way, but we’ll keep it open for another few days and dream away.”