Howzat! Kieswetter hoping to hit Cheltenham rivals for six

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Former England cricketer Craig Kieswetter has a T20 World Cup winner’s medal hanging up at home – but believes victory at the Cheltenham Festival would be his greatest sporting achievement.

A swashbuckling batsman in his time, Kieswetter smashed 63 runs and was named man of the match when England defeated Australia in the final of the 2010 World Cup.

But since his enforced retirement from the cricket field due to a freak injury in 2015, he has wasted little time in crossing the boundary to another sporting arena – one which is in the blood, with both his father and grandfather well known figures in South African racing.

Kieswetter has become a central figure of his family’s Barnane Stud, which has enjoyed notable success in both the Flat and National Hunt sphere in recent years. and the multi-talented South African is adamant the joy of triumph on a racecourse eclipses anything he achieved with a bat.

Craig Kieswetter celebrates reaching his century while playing international cricket for England
Craig Kieswetter celebrates reaching his century while playing international cricket for England (Gareth Copley/PA)

“I’ve been fortunate to experience huge highs in another sport, but I think the euphoria of winning a big race with a thoroughbred racehorse – it’s pretty tough to beat that with anything in the world really,” explained Kieswetter.

“The emotion in the build-up and then the success and disappointment, you feel it the same. It’s slightly harder in the equine and thoroughbred world though, because you don’t really have control.

“You are entrusting your horses to people we believe are the best in terms of Willie Mullins over jumps and William Haggas and Richard Hannon on the Flat, and we also surround ourselves with people like the Doyles (Peter and Ross Doyle, bloodstock agents). But we put the trust and management of expectation down to the trainer and their expertise.”

That trust has seen the Barnane team head to Prestbury Park with three runners for Grade One contests. Barnane race Triumph outsider Gust Of Wind and Supreme hope Il Etait Temps in partnership with the Heffer family’s Hollywood syndicate, while Mares’ Hurdle-bound Echoes In Rain needs zero introduction and has been a long-time standard-bearer in Barnane’s red and green silks.

“It’s not very often you will find many people having more than one runner at the Festival and it certainly isn’t very often you will find many South African people having three runners at Cheltenham,” continued Kieswetter.

Il Etait Temps ridden by jockey Danny Mullins on their way to winning the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle during day two of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown
Il Etait Temps ridden by jockey Danny Mullins on their way to winning the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle during day two of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“The whole Barnane team will be over, along with our partners at Hollywood Bets and we are very much looking forward to it.

“It is very, very exciting and if all goes to plan, there could be a lot of Guinness being drunk by South Africans.”

Having moved to one of jumps racing’s heartlands as an 18-year-old when snapped up to play cricket for Somerset, Kieswetter soon found himself on the doorstep of some of the sport’s biggest stables.

A disastrous loss to Martin Pipe on the ping-pong table saw Kieswetter take enforced ownership of his first jumper, while his early retirement from the cricketing arena has seen him leap headfirst into his passion, sparking his relentless quest to make Barnane and the family’s Southern Hemisphere equivalent – Ridgemont Highlands in the Western Cape – world-leading thoroughbred operations.

He continued: “My old man and grandfather have long been involved in the racing industry in South Africa and it is well documented how I got into my first jumps horse with Martin Pipe down in Somerset.

“The bug just hit and we’ve been fortunate to have a lot of success in a relatively short space of time. I think that goes down to surrounding ourselves with the right people, who are both passionate about our operation but also want success for us and themselves equally as well.

“We’ve got an incredible team at Barnane and Hollywood – they are a phenomenal family and an incredible organisation who are really, really passionate. They just love the sport and the industry and are always looking for ways to improve it by being involved

“We work closely with the Doyles and they don’t need any introduction. They are the world leaders in terms of bloodstock advice and are great family friends. It’s great when you have runners but when you have runners with great friends and good people, it makes it even better.”

The strict disciplinarian Andy Flower was head coach during Kieswetter’s time in the England ranks, but the 35-year-old has chosen a somewhat opposite approach to oversee his National Hunt string in the mild-mannered master of Closutton.

One unifying characteristic both possess, however, is an obsessive attention to detail combined with a meticulous nature which sees them get the most out of their pupils – something the former wicket-keeper admires.

“Willie he’s a bit of a magician – Willie the wizard,” said Kieswetter.

Craig Kieswetter has described his jumps trainer Willie Mullins as a magician
Craig Kieswetter has described his jumps trainer Willie Mullins as a magician (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“He’s very unassuming, he’s very quiet and humble and the amazing thing is not only does he get the best out of his horses and staff, but he allows his horses and staff to shine.

“When we go down to Closutton to watch the horses work, he knows every single member of staff by name and he gives them the impetus to have an input into the training and diet of anything in the yard. It’s a very inclusive team there and it is always very impressive to watch.

“Willie and his whole team are ultra-professional and we just trust them with whatever direction they want to take the horses in. It’s great fun to be a part of the journey with everyone involved and it’s exciting.”

Kieswetter will fly to Ireland to check on the final preparations of the Barnane Festival contenders at Closutton before moving on to Cheltenham and he is relishing the prospect of returning to Prestbury Park.

“I’ve been a couple of times and it is incredible fun,” he added.

“It’s jumps racing at it’s best and you also meet fans who are die hard, salt of the earth type of people who just love a punt and love a pint of Guinness.

“There is so much that can happen in jumps racing. On the Flat the race is done in a minute and a half, while in jumps racing you can watch the start, turn to the bar and have a few sips of your Guinness and then the race is still going!

“The way it’s going, it could be Ireland who dominate again and with us in Willie Mullins’ camp, we’re very much excited if that is how it plays out.

“Most importantly though, we hope our horses return to the paddock safely along with their jockey and if we can grab some good results, then everyone involved will be extremely happy.”

The Barnane team tasted Royal Ascot success last summer when Candleford romped to Duke of Edinburgh Stakes victory and although sounding laid-back about their chances, Kieswetter is also realistic enough to appreciate the fortunate position he and his family are in as they head to Cheltenham with live chances in some of jumps racing’s biggest races.

He said: “The Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot are the two biggest race meetings in the world. All the fields are full of top-quality horses and the fact we have a few lottery tickets is exciting and a lot of fun.

“I suppose (the difference is) it will be Guinness instead of champagne being drunk and at least we won’t be sweating in our top hat and tails!

“Last year at Royal Ascot was surreal and the manner in which Candleford won was quite remarkable. Myself and my brother were on course chatting to William Haggas and he said ‘never mind having a winner, just having a runner at Royal Ascot should make you very happy’.

“It it will be the same at Cheltenham, the fact we have a couple of runners is incredible and if we manage to sneak a victory, it will be very, very sweet and very enjoyable.”

Mullins all set to add to record Cheltenham Festival haul

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Willie Mullins is showing no signs of taking his foot off the accelerator as he prepares what he ominously warns may be his strongest team yet for this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

It is getting on for 30 years since the master of Closutton first struck Festival gold in the 1995 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Tourist Attraction. Almost three decades later, he is out on his own with a staggering haul of 88 winners at National Hunt racing’s most glorious event.

Mullins has continually broken through barriers that would have once looked impossible for an Irish jumps trainer, his most recent notable achievement coming in late January as he smashed by the 4,000-winner mark, while last year’s Festival was a microcosm of the 66-year-old’s increasing dominance as he saddled 10 of the 28 horses to enter the hallowed winner’s enclosure across the four days.

But while he has achieved just about everything this great sport has to offer, my latest visit to his impressive base in County Carlow left me in no doubt that complacency will simply not be tolerated by a man keen to insist he never takes his unparalleled success in the Cotswolds for granted.

Willie Mullins on the gallops at his yard in County Carlow
Willie Mullins on the gallops at his yard in County Carlow (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“Getting winners at Cheltenham is a relief,” he said. “We’re not going aiming to beat 10, we’re aiming to get on the board if we can and then hopefully a few of the right ones win.

“Someone said to me the other day we have 10 to 14 favourites and I always reckon only half the favourites win, so that’s not a bad number and if we can get somewhere near that it’ll be great.

“People expect us to have winners in Cheltenham, but we go there hoping rather than expecting and it’s a relief if we get a winner and hopefully one or two more.

“I don’t go back to my hotel on a night and open the champagne. I just go there and put my head in my hands and hope for better tomorrow.”

Most trainers would give their right arm to be in Mullins’ position, of course, but that is not to say that it does not come with its pitfalls.

Being the most successful trainer in Festival history clearly brings a significant weight of expectation and pressure, but Mullins is a man capable of dealing with it.

“I enjoy Cheltenham for what it is, but I don’t enjoy the anxiety,” he added.

“You forget until you go back there every year that every inch of ground is fought for from start to finish. There’s 20 or 25 runners and every jockey thinks they have a chance, so the fighting for position for the first couple of furlongs is immense compared to your normal day-to-day racing.

“When you’re looking after the sort of team we bring over, you’re going to have lots of disappointments. Hopefully we have winners as well to counteract that.

“There is absolutely no given when you go over there. That is what makes it special and makes it hard to win.

“It’s hard for me to enjoy the Festival. The week after we might enjoy if we’re successful. If not, we’ll just have to suck it up and prepare for the following year.”

Willie Mullins with Paul Townend after seeing Galopin Des Champs win the Irish Gold Cup
Willie Mullins with Paul Townend after seeing Galopin Des Champs win the Irish Gold Cup (Donall Farmer/PA)

Mullins would be the first to admit he would not be where he is now without a huge supporting cast, some of whom are trusted with the task of ferrying more than 60 highly-strung animals across the Irish Sea ready to compete to the best of their abilities at Prestbury Park.

Ireland’s perennial champion trainer admits preparing such a squad for travel is a huge logistical challenge and things can inevitably go wrong.

He said: “I haven’t actually sat down to count them, but we normally travel 60-plus horses over and we run around that number again, but sometimes horses are balloted out from the handicaps and other ones might go lame on the eve or the morning of the race and you can’t run them.

“Then sometimes we’re over there and we find we’ve forgotten one, so it’s a quick phone call home for someone to bring the two-box down to Rosslare to the ferry and over to Cheltenham as quick as we can!”

The vast majority of the Mullins horses will, of course, turn up for the gig, with Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hope Facile Vega, Champion Hurdle contender State Man, defending Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Energumene and Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite Galopin Des Champs just a few of the names set to fly the Closutton flag with distinction this time around.

With every retiring star, the Mullins conveyer belt appears to unearth an up-and-coming gem to ensure he remains at the top of his game.

He said: “I don’t know if it’s the biggest team we’ve ever taken across, but it might be the best quality that we’ve ever had I think.

“We have the quality and they’re young horses and that’s what you need.

“We look at the yard as being like a football team – you need young players coming through all the time, you need to find them and bring them on.

“We seem to have a lovely, young team of horses that will sustain us over the next few years.”

Riders before morning exercise at Willie Mullins’ yard
Riders before morning exercise at Willie Mullins’ yard (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

As for what would qualify as a successful Festival for Mullins, he added: “I’m just thinking get over there, wash your face as they say and have a few winners – and hopefully horses and jockeys come home safe and our owners have fun and we have fun as well.

“When you see the jockeys getting bad falls and getting hurt it brings you back down to earth. Your thinking ‘what sort of a game is this?’.

“I do admire the jockeys. I didn’t when I was doing it as it was just part of the game, but when you get older you think about it more and it is half-mad isn’t it?

“When you’re in it you don’t think like that. When I was riding I was thinking there’s nothing as good as this and you hope it can go on forever, but when you get a bit older you start thinking ‘maybe I’ll start training or something else’.

“I’m surprised how much fun I get out of it compared to what I thought I would. I’m enjoying it now more than ever, even with the stress levels.”

Nicholls – I would dearly love to win another Gold Cup

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In the slightly dotty world of jump racing, Paul Nicholls has ticked just about every box, yet the fixation on possibly the most uninspiring trophy to look at outside of cricket’s Ashes remains.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup weighs 644 grams of nine carat gold and is plated in 18 carat gold. No matter the actual size – its stature is immense.

For Nicholls – master of 13 championships – training the fastest horse over the 22 fences, up hill and down dale, over three and a quarter miles of the Boodles-sponsored Gold Cup is the Holy Grail.

“I would love to win the Gold Cup,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to win it four times, but I’d love to win it again.

“It’s hard to describe what it feels like to go to that winner’s enclosure when you win a Gold Cup. It is like a drug and you want it again.”

See More Business (1999), Denman (2008) and Kauto Star (2007 and 2009) brought the trophy to Ditcheat, Somerset, and he will rely this time on the aptly-named Bravemansgame.

Winner of six of his seven starts over fences, he has been seen just twice on a racecourse this season, landing both the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

He has raced beyond a three-mile trip just once before and it produced his sole defeat, when last of four to Ahoy Senor at Aintree in April.

“I think we have a nice team for Cheltenham,” said Nicholls. “But to have a real, live chance in the Gold Cup is the most important thing to me.

“That’s what we do it for, that’s the most exciting thing. That is what I am really looking forward to.”

The eight-year-old Bravemansgame gives Nicholls arguably his best chance in 14 years of winning the blue riband for a fifth time. It looks an open contest, with current favourite Galopin Des Champs also not having raced beyond three miles and last year’s champion A Plus Tard having an interrupted preparation.

“I think we have a lovely chance,” Nicholls said of the John Dance and Bryan Drew-owned gelding.

“It is a competitive race. We have got to step up again, but I think we are in there with a chance.

Co-owner Bryan Drew with Bravemansgame
Co-owner Bryan Drew with Bravemansgame (John Walton/PA)

“He is good fresh, so we didn’t need to run him in between his last run on Boxing Day and now.

“He won the Charlie Hall, he won the King George. You’ve got to stay to win those races, so I don’t think the trip is going to be a problem.

“Galopin Des Champs is a bit like Bravemansgame – they both galloped strong through the line in the races they ran over Christmas, so it would be interesting.”

Cheltenham, of course, is all about the Irish invasion. Increasingly so, in fact – two years ago Irish runners won 23 of the 28 races across the week.

The Irish make this a special place – and have had a vice-like grip on the prize-money in recent years, with Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead leading the charge.

Mick Fitzgerald and See More Business gave Nicholls the first of four Gold Cup victories
Mick Fitzgerald and See More Business gave Nicholls the first of four Gold Cup victories (John Giles/PA)

Mullins won a record 10 races last year and is the most successful trainer at the meeting, victorious 88 times.

Competing against the Irish battalions, never mind beating them, brings pressure, as Nicholls concedes.

“Cheltenham is a hard week – it is hard to prepare and people think Cheltenham is the be-all and end-all of everything,” he said.

“You don’t feel the pressure, but it is there, isn’t it? You’ve got to deal with it and I think we deal with it quite well.

“We have some great horses in this country and some great racing. We just have to stop worrying about what the Irish are doing and just focus on what we do, and we will be a lot better off.”

There are several stables, particularly over the Irish Sea, where there is a concentration of firepower. It is not uncommon to see Mullins and Elliott having multiple runners in each race.

Nicholls and Nicky Henderson dominate in Britain, yet the champion fears the sport suffers for the assembled talent in a select few yards.

“Can you imagine, if in every race me or Nicky had six runners or 10 in a handicap? People would go mad. It is not good for racing. It wouldn’t work in this country.

“Myself, Nicky and Dan Skelton have good teams, but we don’t completely take over everything and have six in every race.

Kauto Star, under Ruby Walsh, on his way to a second Gold Cup victory in 2009
Kauto Star, under Ruby Walsh, on his way to a second Gold Cup victory in 2009 (David Jones/PA)

“I wouldn’t want that and I couldn’t train that number of horses, 150 for us is plenty to do it properly.

“The Irish are having a good run at Cheltenham. It doesn’t change overnight. It will take two or three years to turn things around. Nicky has a few nice chances. Dan has, too.

“It is probably cyclical. All those years ago when I had all those super ones that won everything, it was probably the other way then.

“I’m sure it will turn, but I’m not bothered. We just get on with our own thing and do the best with what we’ve got.”

It seems odds-on that Nicholls will add to his 46 Festival winners, with the likes of Hermes Allen (Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle), Irish Hill (Coral Cup), Hitman (Ryanair Chase), Il Ridoto (Magners Plate Handicap Chase) and Secret Investor (St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase) all having leading chances.

Nicholls (right) holds the Gold Cup with part-owner Paul Barber and 2008 winner Denman
Nicholls (right) holds the Gold Cup with part-owner Paul Barber and 2008 winner Denman (Barry Batchelor/PA)

Yet Nicholls admits he would swap another championship for a Gold Cup and his ambition to train the most National Hunt winners in Britain remains undiminished.

He added: “I want to train 4,000 winners and would love to keep on winning the championship, but I’d dearly love to win another Gold Cup.

“You just need to keep doing your best, keep training loads of winners.

“We are only about 400 off training 4,000 GB jump winners and nobody has done that, so that would be a nice thing to do.

“All those things drive you, but to win another Gold Cup would cap it all.”

Michael O’Sullivan eager to make Festival splash with Marine

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Michael O’Sullivan is counting downs the days to the Cheltenham Festival, as one of the rising stars of the weighing room heads to Prestbury Park with an enviable hand to play.

As Constitution Hill and Honeysuckle were strutting their stuff on the opening day 12 months ago, O’Sullivan was still at college studying for a degree in agricultural science and his only experience of the Festival to date was an uneventful ride aboard a 66-1 shot in the 2022 Kim Muir.

Things will be a lot different one year on and the next time he gets the leg-up at Prestbury Park, he will be heading to the start aboard Marine Nationale – one of the leading players in the Festival-opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Michael O’Sullivan aboard Marine Nationale when winning the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse
Michael O’Sullivan aboard Marine Nationale when winning the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse (Brian Lawless/PA)

“I wish it was starting tomorrow really,” said O’Sullivan.

“We’re just hoping now that all horses and jockeys get there in one piece and I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s a bit of a nervous week and you just hope yourself and the horses get over there healthy and well”

It takes less than four minutes for bubbles to be burst and reputations ruined in the Supreme, a race which time and again has proven no place for youthful exuberance.

The fledgling riding ability of a young Patrick Mullins when partnering Cousin Vinny and Brian O’Connell aboard Dunguib were both hot topics of conversation in the build up to the Festival opener in the past, but a measure of O’Sullivan’s growing reputation since turning professional is that the ice-cool Cork native is simply expected to deliver on the big stage.

“Of course there will be a few nerves, a few butterflies I guess you can call it, and I suppose there is a lot of pressure that comes with it,” continued O’Sullivan.

“But it’s exciting and I wouldn’t want to be in any other position. If you are riding horses, you want to be riding on the big days and at the Cheltenham Festival. Going out to ride a fancied runner in a Grade One and the Supreme is obviously massive and really exciting and I’m in a very lucky position.”

He went on: “I suppose you have a fair idea what’s going to happen and I’ve definitely ran through it in my head and which way you would like it to go – you’re just hoping you get that bit of luck in running.

“You could go down to the first hurdle and plan A, B and C could be out of the window. But both Marine Nationale and Good Land are straightforward enough rides and I’ll just look to keep things simple on them and hopefully that will be enough on the day.

“You’re just hoping everything goes well and to try to enjoy it as much as you can.”

Backed by owner-trainer Barry Connell, O’Sullivan has proven more than up to the task in both opportunities at Grade One level this term.

He was coolness personified when confidently producing Marine Nationale late to claim his first top-table success in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse, while he used Good Land’s turn of foot at the perfect moment to seal the Nathaniel Lacey at the Dublin Racing Festival – further exemplifying his astute race-riding brain aboard the horse he will partner in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday afternoon.

Those horses form the spine of O’Sullivan’s Cheltenham squad and he is adamant he would not change his mounts for anything else in their respective Grade One contests.

He added: “I’m very lucky to have come across two really good horses and I really wouldn’t swap them for anything else in their races.

“Marine is unbeaten and Good Land is probably unlucky not to be unbeaten – other than the unseat (at Fairyhouse on debut), he’s been perfect really. They both haven’t put a foot wrong and we just hope it continues that way.

“They are both Grade One winners and are both in good nick at home. They go there with a real chance, so I just hope we get a bit of luck on the day and they run their race.”

Good Land and Michael O'Sullivan on their way to winning the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle during day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown
Good Land and Michael O’Sullivan on their way to winning the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle during day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown (Donall Farmer/PA)

Victory for either would also be the dream way to repay the faith of Connell, who took a chance on a fresh-faced amateur after he steered Marine Nationale to victory in a Punchestown bumper last May, promising plenty of support in the professional ranks.

“It would be great and very satisfying (to win for Barry) as he as been very good to me,” continued O’Sullivan.

“He’s put a lot of faith in me and we’ve had a great season, I just hope it continues. Things have gone really well since turning professional.”

Although plans are still to be finalised, O’Sullivan expects to be kept busy throughout his four-day stay at Prestbury Park, where his claim could prove a valuable asset.

He partnered Emmet Mullins’ So Scottish at Ascot earlier in the campaign and will be in line to be utilised once again aboard the Magners Plate favourite, while the powerhouse of Gigginstown House Stud have already locked in O’Sullivan’s services to ride Noel Meade’s Beacon Edge in the Coral Cup.

O’Sullivan will also be reunited with the Terrence O’Brien-trained Magnor Glory – who provided the young Irishman with his breakthrough victory in the professional ranks when winning the valuable Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Listowel last September.

He said: “I ride one for Terrence O’Brien in the County Hurdle called Magnor Glory and he was probably my first big winner as a professional. I won on him at Listowel and he won the €100,000 Ladbroke Hurdle down there.”

“Hopefully I will have a couple each day, so it is exciting times.”

History-maker Blackmore banking on last year’s heroes once again

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Rachael Blackmore’s thirst for success remains undiminished as the record-breaking rider bids to once again light up Prestbury Park at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

The 33-year-old is firmly established as one of the sport’s leading National Hunt jockeys, thanks in no small part to her achievements at the sport’s showpiece meeting in each of the past two seasons.

In 2021 Blackmore was the star attraction at a Festival that had to be run behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, not only becoming the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle aboard the brilliant mare Honeysuckle but also picking up the Festival’s leading rider award with six winners.

With the small matter of a Grand National success sandwiched in between, she enjoyed another memorable week back at Cheltenham last March as Honeysuckle successfully defended her Champion Hurdle crown before A Plus Tard produced an impressive display under Blackmore in the Gold Cup.

Rachael Blackmore with A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore with A Plus Tard (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

It is clear Blackmore has plenty to live up to on her return to the Cotswolds, but recent history suggests that the pressure only illuminates her considerable talent further.

“It all comes back around very quickly. Things don’t really ever stop in this sport and it’s mad to think we’re getting close to Cheltenham again,” she said.

“You love to get on the board early. When you’re riding for such a powerful stable like Henry de Bromhead’s and have such good rides, you’re hoping to get at least one on the board, but it’s a very difficult place to ride winners. It’s extremely competitive, but we’ll be trying our best.

“The minute Cheltenham 2022 finishes, people are talking about 2023. That’s just the way Cheltenham is I think and you have to try to not get too wrapped up in it all and let it kind of creep up on you.

“This is a really enjoyable and exciting time of year. There’s incredible racing and it’s an enjoyable time when you’re getting to ride the horses that are competing at this level.”

Honeysuckle after finishing second in the Irish Champion Hurdle
Honeysuckle after finishing second in the Irish Champion Hurdle (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

No horse has done more for Blackmore’s career than Honeysuckle, who looks set to return to Cheltenham in search of a fourth successive Festival success.

But having met with defeat for the first time when only third in her bid for a fourth Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse, and found State Man too strong in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown since, connections have decided against bidding for a Champion Hurdle hat-trick and she will instead revert to the Mares’ Hurdle, in which she beat Benie Des Dieux three years ago.

Blackmore said: “You become used to walking into the winner’s enclosure on her and it’s disappointing when that doesn’t happen, but she still ran an incredible race in the Irish Champion Hurdle. It was a very good performance, she just wasn’t good enough on the day.

“I felt she really battled and was trying to chase State Man down. She could feel Vauban coming at the end and was making sure she stayed in front of him.

“Opposition changes every year. The twice I’ve ridden her this year, I feel she’s run two incredibly good races and it’s a hard one when they have a record like she had and they get beaten, but that’s just the way it is unfortunately.”

Blackmore went on: “If she didn’t feel fantastic we wouldn’t be bringing her back to Cheltenham and it’s really exciting to be going over there with her again and it’s going to be a really fantastic race.

“She’s been an incredible mare for me and my career. I think every jockey dreams of linking up with a horse like Honeysuckle and I’m just very lucky to find one like her.

“She’s always going to be extremely special. Horses like her don’t come around very often and what she’s achieved and allowed me to achieve in my career will never be forgotten.

“Hopefully the book hasn’t closed just yet and there’s another chapter to write.”

A Plus Tard was nothing short of sensational in last year’s Gold Cup as he powered 15 lengths clear of stablemate and previous winner Minella Indo in the style of a horse set to dominate the division.

Few could have imagined at that stage that A Plus Tard would be an 8-1 shot to make it back-to-back wins in the blue riband, but that is the case following a troubled campaign.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding produced a listless performance when defending the Betfair Chase title at Haydock, while a late setback denied him of the opportunity to bounce back in Leopardstown’s Savills Chase at at Christmas.

A Plus Tard will return to Cheltenham with questions to answer, but Blackmore has not lost any faith.

She said: “He was obviously very disappointing in the Betfair Chase, but a few niggly issues were found and they seem to be straightened out now.

“He got the knock at Christmas, but I’d be very happy with him. He seems very well at home and all roads lead straight to the Gold Cup.

“He hasn’t had the preparation we’d have liked, but I have no doubt Henry will get him there in perfect order for the day.”

Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard (David Davies/PA)

In A Plus Tard’s absence, Galopin Des Champs has leapt to the head of the Gold Cup market with impressive wins in the John Durkan at Punchestown and the Irish Gold Cup.

Blackmore respects the Willie Mullins-trained runner, but feels anyone who underestimates her mount does so at their peril.

“I don’t know if there was an overreaction after Haydock, but we didn’t overreact. They’re racehorses and they can have these days. I was disappointed, but I’m not too worried,” she added.

“A Plus Tard was incredible last year, he really was. I got a lovely ride off him the whole way round and the way he quickened up after the last was pretty sensational.

“There’s going to be a lot of depth in the race this year, Galopin Des Champs looked very good at the Dublin Racing Festival, but I’m very much looking forward to the Gold Cup again.

“I’m not too bothered that people are forgetting about A Plus Tard – that doesn’t make any difference to me going into the race. I certainly haven’t forgotten about him.”

Energumene among nine left in Champion Chase

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Defending champion Energumene heads nine confirmations for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old claimed the first prize with a bloodless victory on a wet second day of the Festival 12 months ago and followed that up with further easy triumphs at both the Punchestown Festival and on his reappearance at Cork in December.

However, although still disputing favouritism for the second-day feature, he returns to Prestbury Park with a point to prove having finished third when appearing at the track in the rearranged Clarence House Chase on Festival Trials Day.

It was Gary Moore’s Editeur Du Gite and last year’s Arkle hero Edwardstone that fought out a thrilling finish on that occasion, with the former making nearly all to give Niall Houlihan a first Grade One success as a jockey.

Both feature amongst the confirmations, with Alan King’s charge the general 7-4 joint-favourite with the bookmakers to turn the tables.

As well as Energumene, Mullins could be represented by Blue Lord and Gentleman De Mee who have both picked up Grade Ones over two miles this term.

Blue Lord struck at Leopardstown in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase over Christmas to throw himself into the Champion Chase picture, but was no match for his stablemate at the Dublin Racing Festival when Danny Mullins bounced out Gentleman De Mee and sauntered to a seven-length victory.

Gentleman De Mee ridden by jockey Danny Mullins on their way to winning the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase
Gentleman De Mee ridden by jockey Danny Mullins on their way to winning the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

That was the second time he had scored at Grade One level having also claimed the scalp of Edwardstone in the Maghull Novices’ Chase last April.

Funambule Sivola chased home Energumene for the silver medal 12 months ago and returned to form by winning the Game Spirit last month, while Nube Negra (Dan Skelton) and Greaneteen (Paul Nicholls) finished second and fourth respectively in the race behind Put The Kettle On in 2021 and will return for another crack at the race having missed out in 2022.

The list is completed by Henry de Bromhead’s Captain Guinness with stablemate Coeur Sublime and Mullins’ Chacun Pour Soi the only two not confirmed from the 11 left standing at the previous scratching stage.

Constitution Hill and Henderson the people’s champs, says Henrietta Knight

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Nicky Henderson and Constitution Hill are the combination racing needs as the Cheltenham Festivals draws ever nearer and the eyes of the broader public focus on the sport, according to Henrietta Knight.

As the trainer of the unforgettable Best Mate, Knight has experience of her own when it comes to handling the career of a top-class horse that the racing public have taken to their hearts.

Best Mate achieved the incredible feat of three successive Gold Cups between 2002 and 2004 and is immortalised not only in a life-sized bronze sculpture at Cheltenham, but also holds a permanent place in racing lore.

Like horses such as Red Rum and Arkle before him, he was the poster boy of National Hunt racing during his era and became a figure that even the totally unversed were drawn to – something that is now beginning to happen with Constitution Hill.

“I think racing and the country like to have a horse they can associate with and he is that horse,” Knight said of Henderson’s Unibet Champion Hurdle hotpot.

Henderson and Constitution Hill
Henderson and Constitution Hill (David Davies/PA)

“I think he is the horse that will capture the imagination of the people rather like Best Mate did. He was the people’s horse and I think that is what Constitution Hill is becoming.

“He is on everybody’s lips and he is the first horse that is mentioned when it comes to Cheltenham.

“He has not run many times, but what he has done has been spectacular. At the moment the sky seems to be the limit.

“I think it is the ease with which he has been winning his races that makes him stand out.

“He is very important for jump racing, and for the sport as a whole. He is the young pretender and this is what we need, a horse like this, and I think it is very important we have a horse like this.”

Constitution Hill winning the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle
Constitution Hill winning the Ladbrokes Christmas Hurdle (John Walton/PA)

Knight also feels Constitution Hill’s trainer has earned a similar status in the affections of the racing fraternity, with Henderson one of the best and best-liked figures in the sport.

She said: “From the days of having Best Mate it is very exciting as you are sitting on a crown jewel. Nicky is a top trainer and he deserves a really good horse like this again.

“It is lovely for him and it definitely adds to the story.

“Constitution Hill is starting to become the people’s horse and Nicky is the people’s trainer.”

Scudamore confident of Senor’s Gold Cup credentials

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Peter Scudamore expects Ahoy Senor to be competitive in next Friday’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup as the finishing touches are put on his preparation.

The classy eight-year-old was a Grade One winner at Aintree as a novice chaser last season, yet three modest runs this term saw his odds drift to 50-1 for the Festival highlight.

However, Ahoy Senor showed significant improvement with a gutsy display in winning the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January and was catapulted right back into the reckoning for chasing’s blue riband.

“We are trying to keep our feet on the ground with him after he won at Cheltenham,” said Scudamore, trainer Lucinda Russell’s partner and assistant.

“I keep using this cricket terminology – he’d fit straight into Ben Stokes’ XI wouldn’t he? He won’t have made 10 at lunch time, he’ll make 120 after lunch or be back in the pavilion. He wears his heart on his sleeve.

“If he gets it right and gets his jumping right, he’ll be very competitive.”

The length-and-a-half victory over Sounds Russian, with Grand National winner Noble Yeats staying on in third, was a satisfying one for the Arlary House yard, which is situated between Perth and Edinburgh.

Ahoy Senor’s previous efforts this season included three defeats, when sent off favourite in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October and when returning to Aintree for the Many Clouds.

After his fifth of nine to Bravemansgame in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, the eight-time champion jump jockey could have been forgiven for second-guessing himself over the horse’s ability.

Yet Scudamore insists he is still learning on the job and has every faith he can run a big race in the Gold Cup, for which he is as short as 12-1.

With L’Homme Presse injured, last year’s winner A Plus Tard suffering an interrupted preparation and both Bravemansgame and Galopin Des Champs unproven over three and a quarter miles, it has the makings of an open-looking renewal.

Ahoy Senor, whose nickname is Hank, should not be overlooked according to Scudamore, who added: “I really do think the British chasers are good at the moment.

“Unfortunately for L’Homme Presse’s people he won’t run. I think he’s as good as any of them and I think Bravemansgame, L’Homme Presse and Ahoy are all pretty good.

“Perhaps Bravemansgame is the best of the lot, but on his day, three-mile-two around Cheltenham might play to Hank’s strengths.

“It is never easy to go into this company straight out of a novice season.

Festival Trials Day – Cheltenham Racecourse – Saturday 28th January
Ahoy Senor and Derek Fox were impressive winners of the Cotswold Chase (David Davies/PA)

“At the beginning the of the season, a lot of people suggested we should have slipped into the Stayers’ Hurdle with him.

“But I feel with these horses, if you don’t jump fences early, they never get to jump fences. I think he is still learning his trade a little bit.

“I don’t think we are without a chance, but we are trying to keep our feet on the ground a little bit.”

Ahoy Senor is at least proven at Cheltenham, having chased home L’Homme Presse in last year’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in very soft ground and when scoring in the Cotswold.

Scudamore hopes he will keep returning to the Prestbury Park track, even if he does not strike Gold this time round.

“I like to think he’s got a couple of years ahead of him,” he added.

“We were laughing, saying we hope that Ahoy and I and Lucinda and the owners stay around long enough to have six or seven goes at it. We are very proud of him and hopeful.”

Aucunrisque to stick to hurdles at Cheltenham

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Chris Gordon’s Aucunrisque will run in the McCoy Contractors County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in preference to the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.

Although winner of the Betfair Hurdle over the smaller obstacles at Newbury last month, the seven-year-old has proven a more than capable operator over fences in his novice chase season.

He was set to return to the larger obstacles on the second day of the Festival where he was disputing favouritism for the two-mile Grand Annual.

However, a less than perfect schooling session means Aucunrisque will now have to wait until the final day of the Prestbury Park showcase for a taste of the action, where he will attempt to confirm Betfair Hurdle form with Emmet Mullins’ Newbury runner-up Filey Bay.

“He’ll go to the County Hurdle,” said Gordon.

“We had a schooling session and it just didn’t quite go as planned and you can’t miss a beat in the Grand Annual. We’re going to go the safe man’s route and go to the County Hurdle instead.

“He’s in good order and the favourite is a horse we beat last time. We went up 9lb, he went up 8lb, so fingers crossed for a good run. He’s been a wonderful horse, he owes us nothing, the only thing I don’t want is the rain – that’s my only issue. Good ground would be ideal for us with Aucunrisque.

Newbury Races – Saturday February 11th
Aucunrisque ridden by Nick Scholfield (centre) before going on to win the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (Tim Goode/PA)

Gordon is set to be double-handed in the County Hurdle as Aucunrisque will be joined in the line-up by stablemate Highway One O Two, who will miss the Imperial Cup on account of the testing conditions forecast for Sandown.

“He was going to go for the Imperial Cup but sadly the ground has completely gone at Sandown so we won’t be going there and he will be going for the County Hurdle as well,” continued the Winchester-based handler.

“He’s 143 and sadly they didn’t drop him a pound for his Betfair Hurdle run which would have been ideal, but the plan is to go there with two horses.”

Night And Day ruled out of Cheltenham Festival

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Night And Day, a leading fancy for the Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next week, has been ruled out with injury.

Trained by Willie Mullins and owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, the six-year-old has only been seen fleetingly but created a huge impression.

Having made her debut for new connections in a Grade One at Fairyhouse in April when she finished down the field, she was off the track for 275 days before reappearing at Clonmel.

Sent into the lead by the second flight, she gradually drew further and further clear on her way to winning by 22 lengths.

Night And Day had been third favourite with the bookmakers for the Grade Two, registered as the Dawn Run Novices’ Hurdle, next Thursday.

Munir tweeted: “Sad to report that Night And Day has unfortunately suffered a setback and will miss this year’s Cheltenham Festival. We look forward to her going back into full training next season.”