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Archive for the ‘Racing Festivals’ Category

The World Hurdle, formerly the Stayers’ Hurdle, is run over 3 miles on the New Course at Cheltenham and forms the centrepiece of the third day of the Cheltenham Festival. The most notable absentee from this year’s renewal, due off at 3.20 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, is Paul Nicholls’ 10-year-old Big Buck’s, who suffered a tendon injury in December and isn’t expected to race again before November.

The absence of Big Buck’s, who’s won the last four renewals of the World Hurdle, means that the contest has a more open look to it this year. Nicky Henderson’s 8-year-old Oscar Whisky (4/1) heads the betting, but is closely attended by Nick Williams’ 8-year-old Reve De Sivola (5/1) and Noel Meade’s 6-year-old Monksland (6/1).

Reve De Sivola is rated 1lb inferior to Oscar Whisky, according to official BHA ratings, but beat Nicky Henderson’s charge by a neck in the Cleeve Hurdle, over 3 miles on heavy going, at Cheltenham in January. Reve De Sivola reverted to the smaller obstacles in December, after nearly a year off, and has thrived since. He finished second, beaten 9 lengths, behind Big Buck’s in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance and followed that performance with an impressive 14-length win in the Long Walk Hurdle, over 3 miles 1 furlong at Ascot, later the same month. He’s clearly a force to be reckoned with at this level and, although his two wins this season came on heavy going, he won on good and soft going as a novice.

Oscar Whisky also has excellent credentials, having failed by just a neck to overhaul Reve De Sivola in the Cleeve Hurdle on only his second attempt 2 miles 4½ furlongs. He ran in the World Hurdle last year, finishing fifth, beaten 13½ lengths by Big Buck’s and, strictly on that form, is held by Alan King’s 6-year-old Smad Place (20/1). However, now that he’s conclusively proved his stamina over 3 miles, there may be more to come from the Oscar gelding and he deserves his position at the head of the market.

Monksland finished third, beaten 18 lengths, by Simonsig in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and has won two of his three starts this season. He appeared to improve for the step up to 3 miles in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and although he’s rated inferior, by some way, to Oscar Whisky and Reve De Sivola, according to the BHA, he remains unexposed over staying distances.

Donald McCain’s 8-year-old Peddlers Cross (12/1), who finished second in the 2011 Champion Hurdle, is another who’s reverted to hurdles this season after an unsuccessful spell over fences. He’s only rated slightly inferior to Oscar Whisky and Reve De Sivola, according to the BHA, but had to work harder than expected to beat Cue To Cue, to whom he’s rated 35lb superior, in a small race over 2 miles 6 furlongs at Musselburgh earlier this month. Whether he’s still worthy of a handicap mark of 165 is debatable.

The Cheltenham Festival  2013. 

From Tuesday 12th – Friday 15th March we witness four days of outstanding racing.  Bring racing alive.

Tuesday 12th March – Champion Day

The roar of the crowd…

Gates open at 10:30am First race: 1:30pm Last race: 5:15pm 

Wednesday 13th March – Ladies Day

Here come the girls…

Gates open 10:30am First race: 1:30pm Last race: 5:15pm 

Thursday 14th March – St Patrick’s Thursday 

Join the party…

Gates open 10:30am First race 1:30pm Last race: 5:15pm   

Friday 15th March – Cheltenham Gold Cup Day 

It’s showtime…

Gates open: 10:30am First race 1:30pm  Last race: 5:15pm  

The Cheltenham Festival is coming up in March (12th to 15th). It’s one of the jewels in the crown of the national hunt season, with prize money second only to the Grand National. Taking place in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, excitement gathers as trainers aim for victory in this prestigious and atmospheric festival. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the centerpiece of this four day festival of elite racing action, and there is often royal interest, as is evidenced by the grade 1 Queen Mother Champion Chase. Let’s get to the best price Cheltenham bets.

Last Year Rock On Ruby stormed to victory in the Champions Hurdle. Prospects for the 2013 Cheltenham’s Champion Hurdle include Hurricane Fly (currently 4/1), Darlan (4/1), Grandouet (7/1) and Zankandar (7/1). Rock on Ruby is 10/1. Other contenders under 25/1 include Cinders and Ashes (16/1), Countrywide Flame (22/1) and Binocular (22/1). Check out the previous post for Gold Cup contenders.

Keep an eye out for more Cheltenham Festival odds an event updates on the site in February and March.

There are just a few months to go until the Cheltenham Festival 2013, and the potential field for the Gold Cup is already looking very strong indeed.

Last year’s champion Synchronised is sadly no longer with us, and with the legendary Kauto Star retired it is a chance for another horse to write their name into the history books in this most iconic of races. We’ve looked at a handful of the early contenders.

Long Run

2011 Gold Cup winner Long Run was the favourite for last year’s race, but could only manage third, a disappointing result for the seven year old who has previously bettered the likes of Kauto Star and Denman.

Trainer Paul Nicholls has expressed some concerns about the horse after sending him out at Haydock for a season debut in the Betfair Chase, and indeed it transpired that Long Run was bested by another potential Gold Cup contender, Silviniaco Conti.

However, you can never truly rule out a horse of such pedigree, and the bookmakers have him among the front runners at this early stage.

Sir Des Champs

The current favourite, Sir Des Champs has a fine Cheltenham Festival CV, with a Novices’ Chase victory earlier this year and a win in the 2011 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer Willie Mullins has labelled the horse his “big hope” for the 2013 Gold Cup, and a run out at Punchestown on December 9th should give a good indicator of his progress.

Sir Des Champs has won all seven of his races since coming to Mullins’ yard, having never won a race under his previous trainer, so this is clearly a horse going from strength to strength.

Bobs Worth

One of top jockey Barry Geraghty’s five winners at this year’s festival in the RSA Chase, Bobs Worth has been on the radar for a while, and many are predicting 2013 could be his year at the Gold Cup.

Like Sir Des Champs, he has won on both his previous visits to the Cheltenham Festival, and in fact is considered in some quarters to be a better bet than stable mate Long Run.

However, he has not run since his RSA Chase win, and trainer Nicholls seems nervous about sending him out on the soft going found at most courses of late.

Al Ferof

Yet another Nicholls-trained contender, Al Ferof has come into the frame after winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup on the Cheltenham course recently.

His participation in the festival showpiece appears to hinge on how he fares in the King George VI Stakes at Kempton on Boxing Day. Nicholls would prefer to leave it another year before taking Al Ferof to the Gold Cup, but owner John Hales has his eye on 2013.

The grey will have to overcome a strong field that includes Long Run and Bobs Worth, as well as recent Cheltenham Festival winners Finian’s Rainbow and Riverside Theatre.