Tag Archive for: Cheltenham Festival

Churchstonewarrior battles for Ten Up triumph

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Churchstonewarrior secured a deserved first victory over fences with a determined display in the William Hill Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan.

Jonathan Sweeney’s stable star has a bumper success and two wins over hurdles to his credit, but had to make do with the runner-up spot in his first three chase starts – most recently coming home behind Gaillard Du Mesnil in a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Easing in class for this three-mile Grade Two, Churchstonewarrior was a 9-4 chance in the hands of Aidan Coleman, with John McConnell’s recent course-and-distance winner Mahler Mission the 5-4 favourite.

In the end it came down to a fight between the front two in the market, with Churchstonewarrior digging deep to get the better of Mahler Mission by three-quarters of a length.

Flanking Maneuver travelled strongly for a long way on his first competitive appearance in over two years and connections will undoubtedly be delighted with his performance in finishing a close-up third.

“That’s great, he was good. Aidan was very happy with him and said he jumped well,” Sweeney of the winner.

Churchstonewarrior with connections at Navan
Churchstonewarrior with connections at Navan (Gary Carson/PA)

“I’ll talk to the lads now and see, but he’s in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. We’ll get over today and see how he is tomorrow.

“He’s developing away and improving all the time. I’d imagine he could be a National horse in time.

“I’m delighted for the owners, they are a great bunch of lads. They were getting a fair bit of money for him last year. He was vetted and was going, Tom (Hegarty) rang me one evening and asked what I thought and I said ‘I’d have to sell him if he was mine’ but they kept him anyway, which was great.”

Blazing Khal too hot for Boyne Hurdle rivals

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Blazing Khal moved to the head of ante-post lists for the Stayers’ Hurdle after making a successful return from from a lengthy absence in the William Hill Boyne Hurdle at Navan.

The Charles Byrnes-trained seven-year-old won a couple of Grade Two novice events at Cheltenham in the autumn of 2021, but a subsequent injury kept him off the track for 428 days.

Byrnes suggested early in the new year his stable star was “50-50 at best” to make this year’s Cheltenham Festival – but having been pleased with his subsequent progress, he allowed him to make his comeback in Grade Two company at Navan.

Under a patient ride from the trainer’s son Philip Byrnes, the seven-year-old moved smoothly into contention from the home turn and shook off any rustiness to pull three lengths clear of the gallant Meet And Greet. Even-money favourite Saint Sam was a little disappointing in fifth.

Blazing Khal after winning at Navan
Blazing Khal after winning at Navan (Gary Carson/PA)

Stayers’ Hurdle sponsors Paddy Power make Blazing Khal a 5-2 joint-favourite for the three-mile hurdling showpiece, along with Teahupoo. Coral cut the winner’s odds to 3-1 from 5-1.

Byrnes said: “It’s relief really with the young fella riding him and all. I thought he gave him a lovely ride and he settled grand for him.

“He’s definitely a very good horse. He was working well and doing a lot of work over the last few weeks. We did expect a big run, he was fairly straight.

“With him it’s day by day, but naturally we’ll be thinking of Cheltenham, of course. We’ve had so many false dawns with him. It’s just been little, niggly problems.

“The timing is not too bad, I suppose. We would have preferred to have him out before now, but it is what it is. We can go to Aintree if we don’t make Cheltenham.”

He added: “He was fairly fit today but naturally with race fitness you’d hope he’d come on again.

“You always have the bounce factor and ideally you’d want a second run, but it is what it is and we’re delighted to get him back.”

Hunters Yarn states Supreme case at Navan

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Hunters Yarn further strengthened Willie Mullins’ potential hand for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next month with an authoritative victory in Listed company at Navan.

The most successful trainer in Festival history already houses the ante-post favourite for the traditional curtain-raiser in Facile Vega, while his Leopardstown conqueror of last weekend Il Etait Temps and Impaire Et Passe are other high-class operators in the mix for the Closutton handler.

Three-time bumper winner Hunters Yarn was beaten at odds-on in his first two hurdle races, but made it third time lucky with an impressive display at Naas last month to earn himself a step up in grade.

American Mike, runner-up to Facile Vega in last season’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, was the 11-8 favourite to bounce back from from a below-par effort at the track in the autumn, with Hunters Yarn a 3-1 shot in the hands of Paul Townend.

American Mike cut out much of the running in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle, but was unable to resist the strong-travelling Hunters Yarn, who ultimately won comfortably by six lengths, with Imagine staying on for second and Inothewayurthinkin pipping American Mike to third.

Paddy Power reacted by cutting Hunters Yarn to 8-1 from 25s for the Supreme in their non-runner no bet market, while Coral offer 16s from 33-1 ante-post.

“He didn’t jump as fluently as I was hoping he would, but he showed a nice turn of foot,” said Mullins.

“I think he is possibly Supreme bound if Simon (Munir) and Isaac (Souede, owners) want to go there.

“He works very smartly at home and we just ran him over the wrong trip last year on his first run when Simon and Isaac were over in Ireland. That taught us a lesson to just keep him to the minimum trip for the time being.”

Firm Footings and Jordan Gainford winning the opening race at Navan
Firm Footings and Jordan Gainford winning the opening race at Navan (Brian Lawless/PA)

Firm Footings (100-30) opened his account over obstacles in the first division of the Navan Ford & Opel Maiden Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott’s Galway bumper winner had been placed on his first three hurdling starts and made no mistake at the fourth time of asking – seeing off 4-5 favourite Horantzau D’airy by a length in the hands of Jordan Gainford.

“He’s a grand horse and he probably wants further, but he has a good attitude,” said Elliott.

“He gallops and jumps. Jordan said he would have been an unlucky loser as he left his hind legs in the second-last.

“I thought this might be a bit short for him, but I needed to get a fourth run into him to qualify for the handicaps at Cheltenham.”

The second division went the way of Mullins and Townend through 1-3 shot Ho My Lord.

An early faller on his Irish debut at Leopardstown over the Christmas period, the French Flat winner put that behind him with a comfortable four-and-a-half-length success over Banjaxed.

Mullins said: “He got his confidence back quickly after his fall at Christmas. He jumped high over the first few but then came down and started to hurdle.

“The further he was going, the better he was going and I’d imagine we’ll go out in trip.

“He’s in the Ballymore (at Cheltenham) and that would look a possible target. He’s earmarked for that, I think he has enough ability to go for it and he showed today that he jumped well enough.”

Firefox impressed in the finale at Navan
Firefox impressed in the finale at Navan (Gary Carson/PA)

Elliott also completed a double in the concluding William Hill Play Responsibly (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.

Firefox, ridden by Jamie Codd, was the well-supported 11-8 favourite to make it third time lucky after a couple of decent efforts in defeat and pulled right away in the closing stages for a 10-length win.

Elliott added: “He’s good. We thought he was a fair horse and were disappointed that he got beaten in his bumper but he came on plenty from that.

“He’s not going to be a horse until next year really. Whatever he does this year is only going to be a bonus.

“He obviously can’t go to the Cheltenham bumper because he ran in a hurdle race. We’ll probably go to Fairyhouse or Punchestown. We like him.”

Cheltenham run not ruled out for Rare Edition

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Rare Edition is reported to have scoped dirty following his second in the Sidney Banks, but Charlie Longsdon is willing to let him take his chance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle providing he works well prior to the Cheltenham Festival opener.

The six-year-old won his first three outings over timber in impressive fashion and was sent off the 4-5 favourite to extend his winning run at Huntingdon last week.

Forced to make his own running in a muddling three-runner affair, he failed to pick up in his usual manner when challenged by Fergal O’Brien’s Marble Sands, who took advantage of Rare Edition’s off day to scoop the Listed prize.

Having not shown his usual zest, Longsdon is now keen to give him a thorough MOT before building up to the Festival – where the gelding will drop back to two miles if his homework sends out the correct signals.

“Rare Edition, he’s fine,” said Longsdon. “He didn’t scope quite clean after the race and I will get him investigated properly next week.

“I take nothing away from the winner because he’s a good horse, but he didn’t pick up like he usually does. Whether a muddling race didn’t suit him I don’t know, but a proper pace where he can sit in behind, he’ll jump better. He was looking around and everything and it just didn’t work.

Rare Edition ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies goes on to win the at Kempton on Boxing Day
Rare Edition ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies goes on to win the at Kempton on Boxing Day (John Walton/PA)

“He’ll be fine and if he works well before Cheltenham, he’ll go to Cheltenham. He’ll stick at two miles – a strongly-run two miles will be fine.

“I’m not too concerned (about the defeat), I just want to make sure he’s all right as he just looked a bit flat.

“We’ve still got four weeks (until Cheltenham) and I’ll get him properly checked over at the beginning of next week. We’ll just see and I’ll get him out in the field as much as possible – he will be all right.”

Meanwhile Longsdon is eyeing a return to Uttoxeter for the Midlands Grand National with Guetapan Collonges following the seven-year-old’s victory over Mister Coffey at the Staffordshire track on Saturday.

“He ran really well and he learnt a lot from running at Warwick,” continued Longsdon.

“He learnt a ton and therefore he was more streetwise for this. He was a baby in the Classic Chase and it was the making of him at Warwick.

“I would love to go back to Uttoxeter for something like a Midlands National, but I will leave that to Frank (Berry) and JP (McManus) and let them decide.

“He’s going the right way. I said after the Classic Chase he was a bit too weak at the moment, but he’s learning the whole time.”

Nolan anticipating Festival improvement from Sandor Clegane

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Paul Nolan is quietly confident Sandor Clegane will improve for his run behind Good Land at Leopardstown and be a major player in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.

The six-year-old had previously landed a Punchestown maiden hurdle by 12 lengths.

Following a two-month break, he ran Good Land to four and a half lengths in the two-and-three-quarter-mile Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors “50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff” Novice Hurdle.

Nolan feels the six-year-old will relish the additional quarter of a mile in the Albert Bartlett and should line up on March 17 as a live prospect.

“I hope he’d have a good chance,” said Nolan. “I thought he ran well and while I was very pleased with the run, I think there’s better to come.

“He jumped a little bit big and I’m just hoping that, even though jumping big you’re not making a mistake, it is still not an asset. You are still giving away a quarter of a length a couple of times.

“I’d be confident and hoping you’ll see a better horse in a month’s time.”

Bookmakers were suitably impressed by his third-placed effort behind Good Land – who is not entered in the Albert Bartlett – making Sandor Clegane a general 10-1 chance for the three-mile event.

“I think he needs to be a little bit slicker over his hurdles. Maybe the ground was a factor. I don’t want to blame too many things, as at the end of the day we were beaten by a better horse,” Nolan added.

“Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m just hoping there’s more improvement to come in our fella.

“Whatever Gordon (Elliott), Willie (Mullins) and Paul Nicholls and all them lads decide which direction they take with their horses, I’m happy enough with my fella.

“Hopefully he will be a horse that will travel over OK. No matter what, travelling is another ordeal and is not an asset.”

Messire Des Obeaux delights connections at Warwick

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Messire Des Obeaux rolled back the years to secure his first victory since January 2021 in a pulsating renewal of the Virgin Bet Warwick Castle Handicap Chase – leg one of an Alan King double at Warwick on Saturday.

Dan Skelton’s Knight In Dubai looked to have slipped clear turning for home but King’s veteran rallied and was keeping on strongly to pull out more and edge his way in front in the dying strides.

A winner of the Grade One Challow Hurdle in his formative years and also a graded scorer over fences, this was a huge step up from the 11-year-old’s reappearance at Wincanton last month, landing the spoils by a neck at 8-1.

“He means a lot to everyone at the yard, they’ve really nursed this horse,” said Anthony Bromley, racing manager for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

“He’s a bit fragile and even before his novice chase season he’d been off the track for the best part of 1,000 days.

“He’s still got loads of enthusiasm and we still send him down early before his races, just to keep the lid on him. He loves it!

“Kingy has put a lot into this horse, so that meant a lot and it was a big win. There was around £20,000 to the winner there so that pays for around a year of training fees, so it’s a great result.

“He’s going to get hit by the handicapper now because they pulled away from the third, but you can’t plan for this horse. We’ll see how he is in the morning and plan accordingly. We tried three miles as a novice and he didn’t really ever get that, so he’s looking at two and a half miles.

“I’d say the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury may come a little too soon for him, but that would be the kind of race we’d look at. We don’t think Cheltenham would suit as he likes flat tracks – who knows Aintree may suit him.”

In perfect symmetry the Banbury Castle handler bookended the card when also taking the concluding Virgin Bet Open National Hunt Flat Race with 2-1 favourite Favour And Fortune.

The five-year-old son of Soldier Of Fortune scorched seven and a half lengths clear of a smart field and winning jockey Tom Cannon believes bigger things lie ahead.

He said: “That was very impressive under a penalty. He put a lot of distance between him and the other horses and it didn’t look a bad bumper on paper so he’s obviously smart and we’re probably looking at bigger and better things now.

Favour And Fortune after winning the bumper at Warwick
Favour And Fortune after winning the bumper at Warwick (PA)

“Whether that is Cheltenham or Aintree, it’s probably either or and he’s probably up to that level. He’s got a good future.”

Hullnback (2-5 favourite) may have booked his ticket to the Cheltenham Festival with an impressive nine-and-a-half-length victory in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices’ Hurdle.

The Fergal O’Brien-trained six-year-old, who is owned by the Hull-based We’re Having A Mare (Wham) syndicate, holds entries in both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Ballymore at the Festival, but assistant trainer Sally Randell is inclined to stay at two miles for the time being.

She said: “We wanted to run in a better race but we couldn’t and we needed to get him out because he’s an absolute handful.

“We just needed a run and he’s done it really impressively. Had he met the last better, he wouldn’t have missed a beat and he hardly came off the bridle.

“We’ve had to make a lot of use of him because of the races he’s been in with there not being a lot of pace but I think in a race with more pace it will make him even better.

“He wants further, but I’m not sure – I’ll have to chat with Paddy (Brennan) and Fergal about that. He’s going to want further but he’s handling two miles and he’s not even having hard races so we’ll see.”

Sheena West’s Mr Freedom (13-2) could also be Festival bound having gamely landed the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle.

“He’s incredible, he’s not very big, but he did it just as well on the Flat the other day,” said West.

“He seems to like a rough race and I’m hoping he will go up enough (in the handicap) to get into the Fred Winter. He likes it the hard way. The more difficult it is the better he is, if it’s easy he loses interest.”

There was also a winner for Tom Lacey when the Jonathan Burke-ridden Imperial Alex (9-4 favourite) made a successful step up in trip in the Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Hurdle.

Theatre Glory takes starring role at Warwick

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Theatre Glory could be set for bigger and better things following a facile victory in the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Warwick Mares’ Hurdle at Warwick.

The late defection of Mares’ Hurdle candidate Love Envoi saw Nicky Henderson’s charge sent off the 4-7 favourite for the Listed event and she duly obliged, scoring by an eased down 11 lengths having beaten off the challenge of 2021 winner Molly Ollys Wishes.

Winning rider Nico de Boinville was impressed by the performance, with the quick ground at the midlands venue a bonus for the rapidly-improving six-year-old.

He said: “I’d say she’s stepped up again today. The way she went through the race, I was trying to look for a lead, but she just wanted to get on and every time she saw a hurdle she just pricked her ears and couldn’t wait to get at them.

“She loved that quick ground there, its proper quick ground there today and it’s an exciting time for the yard with all these good mares.”

The daughter of Fame And Glory, who is owned by the Canter Banter Racing syndicate, does not hold an entry for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and would have to be supplemented to line up.

Theatre Glory in action at Huntingdon racecourse
Theatre Glory in action at Huntingdon racecourse (Tim Goode/PA)

With a handicap mark of 137 no doubt set to rise, Betfair go 12-1 from 20s for her to replicate another Henderson trained mare, Dame De Compagnie, and land the Coral Cup.

However, De Boinville refused to be drawn on her next move with Seven Barrows housing some of the best female talent around, which includes defending Mares’ Hurdle champion Marie’s Rock and former Champion Hurdle winner Epatante.

He continued: “Possibly (the Mares’), she’ll definitely benefit from a stronger pace and something to tow her along, but she’s been very well placed so far in her career and it’s not for me to decide.

“She’s definitely grown and matured this year and there’s definitely more to come.”

Magic Daze casts her spell for De Bromhead and Blackmore

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Magic Daze was a welcome winner of the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore at Naas.

The big-race duo have found winners hard to come by since the turn of the year, but Magic Daze (9-4) responded to every one of Blackmore’s urgings.

She put in some great leaps at the head of affairs and while she was tracked throughout by Dinoblue, her excellent jumping meant she was always holding an advantage, which she retained by three and three-quarter lengths.

Stable representative Robbie Power said: “We’re delighted with that. She just likes to get on with things and Rachael gave her a brilliant ride.

“She had a nice break after Fairyhouse with a spring campaign in mind so she came in here fresh and well. I’d imagine she’ll go to the mares’ chase at Cheltenham now.

“I rode her before and I don’t think two miles will inconvenience her. She just has her own way of going. She’s not a quick two-miler, she stays well as well. She has a high cruising speed and stays galloping.”

Elimay, chasing a third straight win in the race, could only finish fourth but her Willie Mullins-trained stablemate Billaway did win the Naas Farm Machinery Hunters Chase for the fourth successive year – albeit not in the manner expected of a 2-7 favourite.

Patrick Mullins will be hoping Billaway can repeat his Cheltenham win of last year in March
Patrick Mullins will be hoping Billaway can repeat his Cheltenham win of last year in March (Tim Goode/PA)

The Cheltenham Festival hero made several jumping errors under Patrick Mullins and had to be hard ridden to beat Le Malin.

Mullins said: “He makes life hard for himself, as usual. What can we say, he got the job done but that’s all.

“He needs to improve a bit, I think, to retain his championship in England but we’ll hope for the best.”

The Jim Nolan Transport Supporting Kill GAA Rated Novice Hurdle has produced three of the last four winners of the Boodles (Fred Winter) Hurdle at Cheltenham, so Andy Slattery’s Sir Allen (100-30) has plenty to live up to.

He looked beaten when Morning Soldier quickened clear after the last, but responded gamely to Adam Ryan’s urgings to win by a length.

“He probably jumped a bit sticky today, Adam said he was looking at the horses around him,” said Slattery.

“We gave him a little break after Punchestown and hopefully he’ll improve out of that now.

“We’ll see what the handicapper does and see if we go for the Boodles, there is also a Grade Three in Fairyhouse next Saturday. We’ll see how he is during the week. I think he needs another run for his jumping, he’s a good jumper but I just think he’s ‘starey’.

“The Boodles is run on the inside track and he has stamina, he’d stay two miles on the Flat. A stamina test would suit him, but we’ll see.

“We’ve never had a runner in Cheltenham before so we’ll see. We’ll enjoy today and take it from there. The handicapper can’t be too hard on us because we were all kind of in a bunch there.”

Funambule Sivola bounces back to defend Game Spirit crown

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Funambule Sivola returned to form to record back-to-back success in the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase at Newbury, in which hot favourite Greaneteen finished only third of the four runners.

The Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old was on the crest of a wave when winning this race 12 months ago and went on to finish a very creditable second to Energumene in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

However, in three previous runs this season he had looked a shadow of his former self and he was sent off 7-1 to return to winning ways.

Prominent throughout, Charlie Deutsch always looked happy whereas Greaneteen did not make life easy for Harry Cobden, racing keen early and making niggly errors.

With Elixir De Nutz running in snatches and Malystic’s jumping leaving him with plenty to do, Funambule Sivola ended up running out a three and a half length winner from Elixir De Nutz.

Williams said: “The only time he’s run poorly was at Kempton at Christmas.

“Cheltenham last time he had every chance turning for home and probably in a truly-run race at a good gallop, he probably doesn’t really stay two miles round Cheltenham. You’d question that with being second in the Champion Chase at the Festival. They called that heavy, but it was just wet, there wasn’t any great depth.

“I have to give Charlie a lot of credit, not just for a superb ride, but also the chat we had before the race and he said this horse loves this ground and this has got to be his race.

“The worry about this horse is that he had a tendon injury before we ever ran him, so you are trying to be a little more careful with those type of horses.

“But he is a small horse, he is a quick horse and you have a tricky dilemma – you are trying to mind him, but at the same time, it is what he enjoys.

“The Champion Chase will be his next run.”

‘Rusty’ Jonbon stays unbeaten over fences in Kingmaker at Warwick

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Jonbon was replaced as Arkle favourite, despite maintaining his unbeaten record over fences in the Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase at Warwick.

Sent off at 1-16 to beat just one rival – Dan Skelton’s Calico – following the morning withdrawal of two others, his trademark zip appeared to be missing at times.

Aidan Coleman sent Nicky Henderson’s charge into an early lead and while he was doing things easily enough, he was not getting away from Calico.

Halfway down the back straight Harry Skelton sensed an opportunity and sent Calico up Jonbon’s inside, met the next fence on a perfect stride and soon found himself three lengths clear.

It took Jonbon a couple of fences to realise he had a race on his hands and Coleman was happy to challenge around Calico’s outside on the final bend.

Once in front the race was never in doubt, but was rather workmanlike in winning by five and a half lengths.

He was pushed out by the bookmakers for the Arkle at Cheltenham next month, with Betfair going 2-1 from 11-8 and making Willie Mullins’ El Fabiolo their 11-10 favourite. Coral make El Fabiolo their 5-4 favourite from 7-4, with Jonbon out to 13-8 from even money.

“It was a prep run and we knew we had plenty to work on,” said Coleman.

“We schooled him the other morning and he schooled very well, but he was very fresh.

“He jumped super again there, I was just coming down to that fence there and we were going an honest gallop and I didn’t want to be pressing on too much considering it’s a trial. Harry set his alight and winged it and although he didn’t make a mistake, Harry got going and I was somewhat chasing him a little.

“But I was always quite confident from three-quarters of a mile out – I met the next three fences well and put it to bed well. He was probably a bit rusty, but he won well on the line and I was happy with him.

“It’s the exact same thing (as Haydock last year). We’re coming here with something to work on and not trained for this in particular. Look, he came here ready to win and we were sweet on him, but it is a trial for the Arkle and that’s why we are here. It was the exact same in Haydock last year.

“He likes good ground and he was fine on it. I was very happy with him. It was still a good performance and he got the job done.”

On shifting right at his fences he added: “He only did it once and that happens a lot at that third one away from the stands. You’re coming into it on a bend and he was a bit right there.

“It probably looks somewhat worse than it was and when you straighten up you have to get him back on the near lead and get him going forward. The odd time he can shimmy left, he’s just a very clever and accurate and sometimes he does just adjust one way.”

Henderson was at Newbury, where he said: “I’m going to look on the bright side. Because he’s had such easy races I think he got taken by surprise when the other horse attacked him.

“He just sort of shook his head. It will do him no harm as he hasn’t had a race since Aintree last year. I’m going to look on the bright side.

“That was his prep and by the looks it shook him a little bit, but I’ll talk to Aidan.”

Jonbon now has a few questions to answer
Jonbon now has a few questions to answer (Steven Paston/PA)

Sir Anthony McCoy, representing winning owner JP McManus, said: “They’re all contenders and we’ll have to see, but he’s trained by a man who knows more about training horses like that than I do.

“He was happy with him and you would imagine he is looking at March and not today. I would say he was just ready to have a run – he looked a bit rusty. The Arkle is in March, not today.

“He isn’t going to win an Arkle running like that, but that isn’t the Arkle. I wasn’t worried watching him and he actually won quite well in the end.

“He’s grand, he won and he will have learnt a little bit more from that today.

“The Arkle will be different and he will need to be sharper than that, but the man who trains him knows what he’s doing and you’re just going to let him get on with doing his thing.

“March is what he’s being trained for.”