Tag Archive for: Cheltenham Festival

All roads lead to Cheltenham for Colm Murphy’s Impervious

Colm Murphy has revealed star mare Impervious will head straight to the Cheltenham Festival where she will tackle the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old took her tally to three from three over the larger obstacles when downing an above-average cast at Punchestown on Sunday, adding that Grade Three prize to the Grade Two honours she secured at Cork in December.

Single-figure odds for the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Festival, her name was missing from the entries for any of the Graded novice chases when they were revealed earlier this week, with connections deciding to keep her among her own sex and target the mares-only chase on the final day – for which she is disputing favouritism with Willie Mullins’ Allegorie De Vassy.

“It will be the mares’ chase all the way and we’ll go straight there,” said Murphy. “She seems well and goes well fresh. With her three runs I’m happy enough she has plenty of experience going there.

“We’re absolutely delighted with her, she seems to be progressing and has taken to fences really well – I was delighted by her win on Sunday.

“There’s no doubt she’s probably good enough to run in it (Turners), but the mares’ looks the obvious one. She’s one to look forward to.”

Murphy famously enjoyed Cheltenham glory with Brave Inca, who won both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the Champion Hurdle, as well as placing in the Tuesday feature on two other occasions.

Brian Hayes and trainer Colm Murphy celebate after winning the Madigan Group Novice Chase with Impervious at Punchestown Racecourse
Brian Hayes and trainer Colm Murphy celebate after winning the Madigan Group Novice Chase with Impervious at Punchestown Racecourse (Brian Lawless/PA)

He also tasted big-race success when Big Zeb landed the Champion Chase in 2011 and although he heads back to Prestbury Park with a real chance of adding to his Festival tally, the Wexford-based handler believes luck will have to be on his side to register his first victory at racing’s showpiece meeting since Empire Of Dirt scored in 2016.

“In fairness we’ve had a few there since,” he continued. “We had Relegate there and it didn’t work out for her when going for the handicap hurdle (Pertemps) with a massive chance and it will be the same for this lady.

“If we can get her there in tip-top shape, she’ll be going there with a massive chance and you’ve just got to hope things go right on the day.

“You need so much luck on the day and if we do, then she has the credentials. You need the rub of the green especially in those places (Cheltenham).”

Ultima aim for Threeunderthrufive

Threeunderthrufive is likely to head straight to the Cheltenham Festival where he will bid to give the McNeill family a first victory in the race they sponsor – the Ultima Handicap Chase.

Twice a Grade Two scorer as a novice chaser, he was quietly fancied for the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury earlier in the season only for his foray into open company over the larger obstacles to end in disappointment when regular pilot Adrian Heskin was unseated at the first fence.

However, having skipped a run in the Welsh Grand National over the Christmas period, Threeunderthrufive and Heskin were in perfect harmony during Warwick’s Classic Chase on Saturday – giving a bold sight from the front end before the testing ground took its toll in the closing stages.

Connections were delighted with the display and confirmed the eight-year-old will now be targeted at the opening day handicap at the Festival – for which he is a best priced 25-1 with Bet365 – before a tilt at one of the various Nationals later in the spring.

Adrian Heskin riding Threeunderthrufive on their way to winning the mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Chase during day three of the November Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse in November 2021
Adrian Heskin riding Threeunderthrufive on their way to winning the mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Chase during day three of the November Meeting at Cheltenham Racecourse in November 2021 (Tim Goode/PA)

“We were really pleased in what was really his first start over fences this season having unseated in the Coral Gold Cup,” said Iain Turner, racing manager for the McNeill family.

“You could say it was only his second start of the season and also quite a time since his first at Wetherby in October.

“I think the ground was just testing for him and I think the big disappointment is it was good to soft when we entered and if it stayed at that it would have been super. But it can’t be helped – he has come out of the race fine and if he didn’t run at Warwick, where would we have gone?

“It was a hard enough race for him, so he will need a bit of time now to recover and freshen up, and we do have our eye on three-mile-plus staying chases in the spring.”

He continued: “All being well, we will probably be going straight to the Ultima.

“Max (McNeill) has sponsored the race now for a good few years and we’ve had good representation previously with runners that ultimately haven’t troubled the first four. But hopefully this lad can come on for his run and feature.

“It was a nice bit of experience running in a big field (at Warwick). The way novice races go in the UK, you are only really taking on three and four runners through no fault of your own. So he now has a bit more experience under his belt in that regard and there are still very few miles on the clock.

“I think in all probability it will be straight to Cheltenham, then after that one of the Nationals or the Bet365 Gold Cup (Sandown, April 29).”

Although a decision on which of the English, Scottish or Irish Grand Nationals to run in is far from finalised, connections are aware a bold showing at Cheltenham could present them with a golden opportunity to head to Aintree on April 15 with a well-handicapped contender.

“I think my immediate reaction would be Scotland would be more likely than Aintree,” added Turner.

“But given the weights are set for Aintree before the Ultima, if he comes out and wins or finishes second or whatever in the Ultima, he becomes well-in for the Grand National while the Scottish National would be revised weights.

“We would consider Ireland as well because he does have a 100 per cent record going right-handed – although not that it matters at all because he doesn’t jump violently one way or the other.

“I think Warwick is a pretty good jumping test and his jumping hasn’t posed any problems round there twice now – they’ve almost been two of his better performances I would say.”

Conditions key to Rare Edition’s Haydock hopes

Charlie Longsdon will be keeping a keen eye on conditions at Haydock – with Rare Edition set to be rerouted to Huntingdon if the ground on Merseyside proves too testing for his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender.

The six-year-old has put himself in the picture for the Cheltenham Festival opener with some faultless displays this season, winning all three of his assignments with the minimum of fuss to back up a successful rules debut in a Southwell bumper last spring.

He is currently as short as 14-1 in places to land an early blow for the home team at Prestbury Park following an emphatic victory over a useful cast at Kempton on Boxing Day and is one of nine entries for Saturday’s Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock.

However, if the ground is not to Longsdon’s liking, it will be Huntingdon’s Urban Logistics Reit Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle – won by Shishkin in 2020 – where the son of Califet will put his Cheltenham aspirations to the test.

“He is entered for the Rossington Main, but if it is this (heavy) ground I won’t go,” said Longsdon.

“I won’t go on heavy ground. He’s a big, weak baby – a classy baby – but he won’t go on heavy ground.

“If he doesn’t go to Haydock, he’ll go to the Sidney Banks at Huntingdon. I think that is the more likely target at this stage because we know what the ground is going to be like realistically.

“I know that is two-miles-three, but it’s a sharp two-three.”

He added: “I’m looking forward to where he goes next and I was amazed when I heard him described as the best two-miler we’ve got in this country. Yes there are probably half a dozen better ones in Ireland, but it’s fun for us to have a good horse.

“Everything matches up right, it’s there and clear to see. He deserves to be where he is and as people say, if he was trained by a Henderson or Nicholls, he would be half the price. We’re lucky to have him.”

If running at Huntingdon on February 9, Longsdon will get the chance to see his star novice in action up in distance – something the Chipping Norton-based handler has mentioned could suit in the past.

However, despite still holding the view that an extended trip would help Rare Edition’s jumping, the Sky Bet-backed Supreme remains the number one assignment for the Festival.

Trainer Charlie Longsdon is excited to see Rare Edition in his next outing
Trainer Charlie Longsdon is excited to see Rare Edition in his next outing (Zac Goodwin/PA)

“I think he’ll want a step up in trip in time, but his two-mile figures at the moment you can’t ignore,” continued Longsdon.

“Over two and a half, I think it would help his jumping – at the moment he’s a bit careful and jumps a bit like it’s a fence.

“That is no bad thing for the long term and I don’t want to ruin that jumping either.

“So I do think two and a half might help him, but the Supreme would be our favoured option at this stage.”

Olly Murphy has Chasing Fire entered at Haydock
Olly Murphy has Chasing Fire entered at Haydock (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Olly Murphy-trained Chasing Fire would appear to be a leading rival to Rare Edition should he run at Haydock, having won each of his two hurdles starts so far while Howlingmadmurdock from Tom Lacey’s yard and Evan Williams’ Doyen Star have also won their only hurdles outings.

Pembroke and War Soldier have each won their last two for Dan Skelton and Sandy Thomson respectively, with Matata, Poetic Music and Toothless completing the list of possibles.

Nicky Henderson has entered Epatante and First Street in the New One Unibet Hurdle.

There are nine possibles, with Nigel Twiston-Davies keen to win the prize with I Like To Move It given the race is named after his former stable star, The New One.

Not So Sleepy set to tread familiar Cheltenham path

Not So Sleepy could return to Cheltenham in March for a fourth crack at the Unibet Champion Hurdle.

The Lady Blyth-owned 11-year-old, whose crowning moment came when dead-heating with Epatante in the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November 2021, is also a Listed winner on the Flat.

Third in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket in October, he has had two subsequent runs over hurdles, finishing third to Constitution Hill in defence of his Fighting Fifth crown, and when upped in trip to be last of five behind Paisley Park in the rearranged Long Walk Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

“Not So Sleepy is fine,” said Morrison. “We have given him a bit of a break since he last ran at Kempton. He just doesn’t operate there.

“He always runs best fresh, but there is something about the ground there.”

The Beat Hollow gelding has won five of his 16 starts over hurdles and amassed over £460,000 in a 61-race career under both codes.

The East Ilsley handler will now aim Not So Sleepy at the Champion Hurdle, where he has finished a respectable fifth in 2021 and sixth last season.

“He always runs well at Cheltenham,” added Morrison. “I think the general feeling is that, at the age of 11, it is time to hang up his boots quite soon and if we feel comfortable, we’ll just take him to Cheltenham.

“If the top ones turn up, there won’t be more than 10 runners and it is a horse race.

“There are a lot of ifs and buts – somebody has got to turn up – and I think that will be his next run.”

De Bromhead charting direct Cheltenham route for Gold Cup duo

Both Minella Indo and A Plus Tard will head straight to the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Each horse is a winner of the race in his own right, with Minella Indo landing the Grade One contest in 2021 ahead of his stablemate before they finished in the reverse order the following season.

A Plus Tard was pulled up on his seasonal debut in the Betfair Chase in November, while a planned run in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown was scuppered by a late mishap.

The gelding is fully recovered now, however, and will make his next start with a Gold Cup title defence in March.

Rachael Blackmore celebrates on A Plus Tard after winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Rachael Blackmore celebrates on A Plus Tard after winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

“He seems good. We gave him a full check over and everything seems fine, his joint is good again. It was just a bang,” De Bromhead said.

“We are sort of starting afresh and aiming for March.

“I think we go straight there, we’ve sort of made that decision now and that’s it.

“He needs to go left-handed and the Irish Gold Cup was our only option really. We’re well able to get him spot on for the day and we’ll just aim for that.”

Minella Indo (right) defeating A Plus Tard in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Minella Indo (right) defeating A Plus Tard in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Minella Indo made a winning start to his campaign at Tramore on New Year’s Day, winning a Grade Three event by a neck from Willie Mullins’ Stattler.

He too will take a direct route to Cheltenham now.

“He seems great, I’m delighted with him. He’s in really good form and we’ll go straight to the Gold Cup with him,” said De Bromhead.

“I was delighted to see him back and everyone saw the reception he got, and we got. It was incredible. It was an emotional day, a really good day.”

A Plus Tard is as low as 5-1 with William Hill to defend his title, while Minella Indo is 16-1 with the same firm.

Impervious impresses with gutsy Punchestown success

Impervious remains unbeaten over fences after a tough triumph in the Madigan Group Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The mare won on her debut over fences and then took a Grade Two contest against her own sex last time for trainer Colm Murphy, leaving her to carry a penalty amongst a field of geldings.

That burden was largely negated by her mares’ allowance, and under Brian Hayes the seven-year-old started at 3-1 for the Grade Three contest.

Locked in a run for the line with Henry de Bromhead’s Journey With Me, Impervious battled to get her head in front and eventually prevailed by half a length with the rest of the field 22 lengths or more behind.

As a result, Impervious is now the sponsor’s 6-4 favourite for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

“I’m delighted with that,” said Murphy.

“It was a tall order giving weight to those boys.

“It was probably a little, tiny worry running her on heavy ground too, but she’s answered a lot of questions. We can make more plans now.

“She’s one of those, she wears her heart on her sleeve and she gives everything.”

When asked if she would go straight to the Cheltenham Festival  the trainer added: “Without talking to the lads I’m guessing so. I’ll have a word with Frank (Berry, racing manager) and JP (McManus, owner) and see then.

“She seems to be improving and especially with those fillies, when they start improving you don’t know where they’ll end up but I do know it’s nice to have her.”

Royal Thief returned from a 782-day absence to land the Total Event Rental Amateur National for Patrick Mullins and Henry de Bromhead.

The gelding made a winning start to his chasing career in 2020 before being brought down on his next run and he had been off the track since.

Mullins’ mount was a 14-1 chance and took no time to hit his stride after the long lay-off, jumping well and prevailing by 10 lengths.

“I’m delighted with that. Patrick was brilliant on him,” said De Bromhead.

“He said there was a fresh strip out at the wing and he went that way so fair play to him. It worked really well.

“He hadn’t run for a long time so it’s great and I’m delighted for (owners) Gigginstown. He ran well in the Pertemps a few years ago, then won his beginners’ chase and got hurt.

“We’re in no panic with him now, we’ll enjoy today and have no major plans.”

Edwards keeping the faith with ‘magnificent’ L’Homme Presse

Connections have hailed L’Homme Presse’s effort in the King George VI Chase as “magnificent” after subsequent tests found he was carrying an injury.

Having jumped markedly left throughout the Kempton feature on Boxing Day, the Venetia Williams-trained eight-year-old unseated Charlie Deutsch at the last fence when a close-up second to Bravemansgame.

He returned stiff and sore and having been given a little time to recuperate, the Diamond Boy gelding underwent a thorough veterinary examination last week, the results of which saw connections draw stumps on the idea of running in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“There are a couple of issues, both temporary,” said Andy Edwards, who owns the horse under the DFA Racing banner in partnership with Pam Edwards and Peter and Pat Pink.

“He had a few days off in his paddock and has been trotting up fine.

“He has been walking and trotting under saddle, but we decided to give him a full MOT, because he did jump so far to the left at Kempton.

“He moves soundly and you would not think there was anything untoward, but when we got the results, they were not what we were expecting.

“He needs some time and, talking to the vets, it would not be an ideal preparation to rush him into a Gold Cup. Our horse’s health and happiness comes above everything. He is only eight, he can go to the Gold Cup next year.

“The most important thing is doing right by our horse.”

Andy Edwards/Hereford
Andy Edwards remains upbeat despite L’Homme Presse missing Cheltenham (Simon Milham/PA)

A dual Grade One winner as a novice, L’Homme Presse took the Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown and the Brown Advisory at last year’s Festival.

He then recorded a comfortable victory in his comeback run under Deutsch in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle.

Things did not go according to plan at Kempton, with conditions not ideal and the track’s configuration playing to his main rivals’ strengths, as connections had stated beforehand.

Edwards added: “I watched him going to the start and I thought he didn’t quite look right behind – he didn’t go down as smoothly as he normally does.

“When he jumped the third fence, I said ‘he’s not right’. When he jumped the fourth, I said ‘he’s definitely not right’.

“So it was very hard to watch the race in the stands, as I could feel he was in pain. So, for him to do what he did, to be a close second jumping the last, is absolutely phenomenal considering he was carrying an issue that we were unaware of.

A bitter blow for Venetia Williams and the team at the Kings Caple yard
A bitter blow for Venetia Williams and the team at the Kings Caple yard (Mike Egerton/PA)

“My immediate emotion after the race was one of humility. I was completely humbled by the fact that he had given so much.

“Afterwards, I went into the box with him and stayed with him for some while, and could not help but think how amazing he was and what a magnificent horse he was, to be able to achieve what he did, given the adverse situation.

“The fact that he was carrying an issue, for him to run as well as he did, makes him an incredible racehorse.”

Edwards concedes that for Williams and the rest of the team at the King’s Caple yard, it is a huge disappointment.

“Emotions are running high,” he said. “It is hard for all of us. It is hard for Beth (Baldwin) the groom, Kevin (O’Keeffe), who rides him out every day, Jess (O’Keeffe) the head lass – it is a big blow for all the yard, for us as owners and for Venetia.

“At the same time, by making this decision to give him the time he needs, it will hopefully lead to even greater things in the future.

“He was magnificent in the King George and he will be magnificent again.

“Cheltenham isn’t the be-all and end-all. There are other races and we will see how he is in a few weeks’ time, however Aintree is not a consideration.

L'Homme Presse unseated Charlie Deutsch at the last in the King Georg
L’Homme Presse unseated Charlie Deutsch at the last in the King George (John Walton/PA)

“The issues he has are not life-threatening nor career-ending. He is a young horse and there is so much to look forward to.

“There is another Gold Cup next year, there are other great races to come.

“Sometimes the consequence of something you may believe is bad, may well be good. We are are doing the right thing by him.

“I truly believe he will become an even better horse for this. We are not in any rush. He will be given the time, patience and care he needs. He’ll tell us when he’s right and ready – keep the faith.”

Impaire Et Passe jets home in Moscow Flyer

Impaire Et Passe’s reputation continues to grow after an unchallenged success in the SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

The five-year-old had a French bumper win under his belt before joining Willie Mullins’ stable for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, after which he won a Naas maiden hurdle by 18 lengths in December.

That performance left him the 1-3 favourite in a small-field renewal of the two-mile Moscow Flyer, a price that was substantiated when the gelding strolled home six and a half lengths ahead under Paul Townend.

As a result Impaire Et Passe has been trimmed in the market for both the Supreme and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival, becoming a 6-1 chance for both races with Betfair and Paddy Power.

“He was very good, he showed a good turn of foot. As we said after Naas, he doesn’t show us that at home,” Townend said of the Grade Two victory.

“I was very happy with him there, he jumped like a buck and the only hurdle he was slow at was the last when he was in front, but he picked up nicely at the back of it again.

“The worry was coming back in trip but he showed pace today.

“I don’t know (how good he is) because we can’t get him to do it at home to be honest, but he keeps doing it on the track.

“I think he’s very smart and he gave me a great feel today.”

Townend also added that the Dublin Racing Festival may come a bit too quickly for the horse, saying: “I don’t know if Willie normally comes here and goes to the Dublin Racing Festival.

“I’d say this is the one instead of it, but wherever he goes I wouldn’t mind being on his back.”

L’Homme Presse ruled out of Cheltenham Gold Cup

Leading Cheltenham Gold Cup contender L’Homme Presse will miss the Festival showpiece in March, connections have announced.

The winner of six of his eight starts over fences, the eight-year-old had run a fine race in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day before unseating Charlie Deutsch at the last fence, where he just looked to be held at the time by Bravemansgame.

Last season saw him win twice at the highest level – in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

He had reappeared this season with a fine weight-carrying performance in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and was behind only the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup market.

Charlie Deutsch celebrates with L'Homme Presse at Cheltenham
Charlie Deutsch celebrates with L’Homme Presse at Cheltenham (Tim Goode/PA)

A statement issued on behalf of trainer Venetia Williams and owners DFA Racing to the PA news agency on Friday read: “We have given L’Homme Presse some time to get over his exertions in the King George before carrying out some veterinary investigations which have concluded today.

“Unfortunately, these have revealed that he has a couple of issues that, although temporary, mean that he will not be able to run in this year’s Gold Cup.

“He will be given time and patience to recover fully and we will monitor his rehabilitation over the next few weeks before making a decision on any future races in the spring.”

Moore eyeing easier assignment for Authorised Speed

Gary Moore could lower the sights of Authorised Speed following his Tolworth Hurdle disappointment – with the Champion Bumper fifth now having to prove he is good enough to line-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The son of Authorized was sent off the 5-4 favourite for the Sandown Grade One on the back of two impressive victories over timber before Christmas.

However, he failed to land a blow in the hands of Jamie Moore as Paul Nicholls’ Tahmuras took home the glory, fading tamely before two out to leave a question mark over his Cheltenham Festival aspirations.

Authorised Speed ridden by jockey Jamie Moore almost falling to the ground but successfully staying on their feet in the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park
Authorised Speed ridden by jockey Jamie Moore almost falling to the ground but successfully staying on their feet in the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park (Steven Paston/PA)

The six-year-old was reported to have scoped dirty after the race and his trainer is now contemplating swimming in calmer waters for his next outing before making a decision on the gelding’s participation in the Prestbury Park opener.

“He had a bad scope after the race, but if I didn’t know that I would say he is fine,” said Moore.

“Obviously he hasn’t done a lot this week, but we have to put the race behind us and move on.

“I’m not too sure where he goes next, but I might just try to find a novice hurdle for a horse that’s not won more than two races. If I can find one of them, it might just be what I do.

“He will have an entry (for the Supreme) but he has to go and prove he’s good enough to go there.

“We did it last year and ran him in the (Champion) bumper, which he ran well in, but you don’t get a lot for finishing seventh do you, and you don’t want the horse having a hard race for nothing.”

Moore though, retains plenty of faith in Authorised Speed, and is certain his Sandown showing wasn’t a true reflection of his ability.

On the Tolworth run, he added: “It was 100 per cent not his true running, he’s a lot better than that. I’m not taking anything away from the winner, but that wasn’t his true running at all.”