AntePost Cheltenham Horse Racing News
Cheltenham Festival Special Betting News: Ruby Walsh on Course for Comeback and Favourite in Top Cheltenham Jockey Odds
Published on 02/03/2011 01:43
The good news is, Ruby Walsh looks on course to return to the saddle and competitive riding some 11 days prior to the Cheltenham Festival and the bookmakers have him clear favourite to finish the week as the jockey with the most wins over the four days.
Walsh is set to ride on Friday this week at Newbury in the 3.00 Handicap Chase where he will partner Paul Nichols, Grand National bound, Niche Market. All eyes will be on Walsh as he makes his come back from the broken leg he…
Cheltenham Festival News: Gordon Elliots Irish Raiders for the Festival include Chicago Grey and Plan A
Published on 01/03/2011 07:45
Gordon Elliot has assembled a team to be brought to Cheltenham in a bid to take some silverware home. To the fore of the team are the likes of Chicago and Jessies Dream who is in the RSA Chase. Chicago Grey will be going for the National Hunt Chase and here's an interesting note for anyone who was thinking of following Chicago in the race for which he is 6/1 favourite. Gordon is quoted as saying “He's in good form, but you need a lot of luck in running round…
Cheltenham Festival: Stan James Champion Hurdle – Khyber Kim
Published on 28/02/2011 19:40
Khyber Kim is something of a forgotten horse in the context of the Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 15 – the gelding can be backed at 25-1 with a number of firms – but his trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, feels that his charge is being underestimated.
While speaking on At The Races, the Gloucestershire handler, said: ‘Quite a lot of the others seem to be shooting themselves in the foot. His [Khyber Kim’s] form with Celestial…
Somersby Appeals In Ryanair Chase As Bet365 Go Non Runner No Bet On All Cheltenham Festival Races
Published on 28/02/2011 15:35
Bet365 are the first popular bookmaker to go non runner no bet on every race at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival so any bets placed with Bet365 between now and the end of the Cheltenham Festival on Friday March 18th can be placed in the knowledge that if your fancied horse doesn't run, you won't lose your stake. One of the more appealing bets at the Cheltenham Festival 2011 now looks to be Somersby for the Ryanair Chase.
Somersby is currently one of the favourites for both …
Cheltenham Festival: Paul Nicholls has strong hand for the Triumph
Published on 27/02/2011 13:58
Paul Nicholls already had reason to look forwards to next month's JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and Zarkandar’s impressive victory in the Adonis Juvenile Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday certainly adds to his hand.
Nicholls revealed in his exclusive Betfair column; "He was very impressive - the time was very decent in the ground, too - and he now goes straight for the Triumph. We left plenty to work on going to Kempton and better ground will suit him, too. We…
Voy Por Ustedes a possible for the Grand Annual
Published on 26/02/2011 13:33
The festival handicap entries were revealed this week and trainer Nicky Henderson also held his press day at Seven Barrows. Combining the two, the most interesting news was perhaps that dual festival winner VOY POR USTEDES is entered in the Grand Annual. That is not the only possible target, as entries in the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle and the Coral Cup, also run over the smaller obstacles.
Discussing the Grand Annual, Nicky told the press; "I would say the two…
Cheltenham Festival: Alan King nominates Arkle hopeful Medermit as his best Festival chance
Published on 22/02/2011 15:29
Barbury Castle handler Alan King is invariably straight-talking when it comes to addressing the media and he has nominated Medermit, who is set to contest the Irish Independent Arkle Chase on March 15 as his best chance of a big-race winner at the Cheltenham Festival.
Speaking to the Racing Post, King said: ‘I think Medermit's my best chance of the week and I thought that even before Sandown.’ The grey made it three from five over the larger obstacles when…
Cheltenham Festival: Court In Motion still on course for Albert Bartlett; Back In Focus heads betting
Published on 22/02/2011 11:27
Court In Motion, so impressive when landing a Grade 2 at Warwick in January, is still on course for the 3m Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on March 18, despite being turned over when long odds-on for the race registered as the Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock recently.
Speaking to the Racing Post, the gelding’s trainer Emma Lavelle said: ‘He trotted up as sound as a pound on Sunday after the race. The one question that came …
Cheltenham Festival: Kauto Star to have racecourse gallop ahead of Gold Cup bid
Published on 21/02/2011 14:39
While addressing the media on Monday (February 21), champion trainer Paul Nicholls indicated that, in contrast to the gelding’s previous campaigns, Kauto Star may have a racecourse gallop as part of the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner’s preparation for another tilt at jump racing’s blue riband at the Festival on March 18.
The Ditcheat handler said: ‘He looks the part in his coat and is no back number, but he’s a year older and might just…
Horse Racing News: Cheltenham Festival – Long Run considered a serious contender for the GOLD CUP.
Published on 19/02/2011 16:33
After Riverside Theatre put in such a good display this afternoon to justify favouritism and some decent sized bets at Ascot in the Grade 1 chase on the card, the form of Long Run has to be considered again when trying to decipher the most open Gold Cup in several years at Cheltenham.
One sad bit of news is that we wont be seeing Paul Nichols Pride of Dulcote in any race at the festival after he needed to be put down following a broken leg in the race at Ascot.
What the race …
Cheltenham Festival News: Mille Chief Fails To Impress In Champion Hurdle Trial, But Dunguib Shines
Published on 19/02/2011 16:11
Mille Chief was left at 11-1 with sponsors Stan James for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival following a somewhat fortuitous victory in his trial for the big race, the Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton Saturday (February 19).
Sent off the second favourite at 15-8 following significant on-course support for Silviniaco Conti, Mille Chief travelled well throughout the race but, despite appearing to be full of running two from home, Alan King’s charge…
Cheltenham Festival News: Riverside Theatre Cut For Ryanair Chase After Ascot Victory
Published on 19/02/2011 15:29
Riverside Theatre confirmed himself to be a horse going places when landing the Betfair Ascot Chase on Saturday (February 19) and was immediately cut to 7-1 from 25s by William Hill for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Trained by Nicky Henderson, the progressive seven-year-old was runner-up to stablemate Long Run in the King George at Kempton in January, and paid a compliment to that Gold Cup contender by scoring with a good deal of authority at Ascot.
…
Cheltenham Festival: Peddlers Cross cements Champion Hurdle credentials with victory at Kelso
Published on 17/02/2011 16:36
Peddlers Cross retained his unbeaten status when landing the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Thursday (February 17), justifying odds of 1-6 by coming home 11 lengths clear of runner-up Bygones Of Brid.
In winning as he did, the Donald McCain-trained gelding did not exactly enhance his prospects for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and he’s generally unchanged in the ante-post betting for the big race at 5-1, although Coral pushed him out to…
Cheltenham Festival: Colin Tizzard confirms that Cue Card will go for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
Published on 16/02/2011 15:27
Trainer Colin Tizzard has confirmed that his stable star Cue Card will go for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival instead of throwing the son of King’s Theatre to the lions by pitching him in the Champion Hurdle.
Speaking on racingpost.com, the Dorset-based handler said: ‘We've left Cue Card in the Champion Hurdle, but he’s going to go for the Supreme. The safety net of the Champion Hurdle is there if the three top horses…
Horse Racing News Cheltenham Festival: Zaarito out of Ryanair Chase Injured – Paul Nichols Poquelin Favourite
Published on 13/02/2011 20:26
Zaarito, Colm Murphy's 9 year old gelding will once again miss Cheltenham this year after suffering a setback and injury, with the damaged ligaments that caused him to miss the MCR Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.
Its not the first time he has missed the festival since finishing third in the 2008 renewal of the Champion Bumper, and that run remains his only visit to these shores. With the injury flaring up once again, Murphy has indicated that he will be out for three to …
Cheltenham Festival Horse Racing News – Ante Post Betting Market Movers – Whose being backed for the Festival?
Published on 11/02/2011 00:11
Wayward Prince is the latest big market mover for the Festival after shortened him in to 10/1 from 16's on Thursday. Ian Williams RSA Chase hopeful made it three wins in as many races over fences last weekend, but it has taken until Thursday to see the money come and the odds shorten for his chance. Whilst Hills have been the most conservative, they have not been alone in cutting his price as Paddy Power and Stan James who were also at 16's have come in to 12/1.
He is…
Stan James Supreme Novices Hurdle – Cheltenham Tuesday 15th March 2010 – Cheltenham Festival News – Tizzards Card wont miss his Cue
Published on 10/02/2011 13:40
It's the traditional curtain opener; the first race on the card on the first day of the Festival and the one where the big cheer signals the start of the weeks festivities at Prestbury Park at the foot of Cleeve Hill. It never fails to send a shiver down the spine of those present in anticipation of the four days to come.
This year we again have a clear favourite in the market in Cue Card. Last years Bumper winner from the yard of Colin Tizzard will be looking to better…
Horse Racing Cheltenham Festival News: Henrietta Knight confirms SOMERSBY goes to Queen Mother Champion Chase to take on Big Zeb and Masterminded
Published on 07/02/2011 19:31
Speaking to Matt Chapman on At The Races this morning, Oxfordshire based trainer Henrietta Knight confirmed that last years Arkle runner up will be going for the Queen Mother Champion Chase alongside Masterminded and Big Zeb, rather than stepping up in trip for the Ryanair. This is importnat news as the horse still remains in many firms Ante Posts books where stakes will not be refunded in the event of him not running!
Knight conceded that whilst many experts have suggested…
Hurricane Fly and Realt Dubh underline their Cheltenham Festival credentials at Leopardstown
Published on 23/01/2011 16:24
The Willie Mullins-trained Hurricane Fly produced a polished display in the BHP Insurances Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday (January 23) and has been trimmed in the betting for the English equivalent at the Cheltenham Festival in March by most firms, with 5.50 (Ladbrokes and Stan James) the best price available at the time of writing.
Sent off the 4-9 favourite for the Grade 1 contest, the son of Montjeu was always travelling extremely well and his pilot Paul…
Long Run a serious contender for the Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup
Published on 16/01/2011 20:46
That is the view of jockey Sam Waley-Cohen after he triumphantly partnered Long Run to victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Saturday afternoon. Speaking to Attheraces he said, “If he jumps like that [in the King George] then there is no reason why he shouldn't be a serious contender [in the Gold Cup]. He thinks he's a star, and he proved it yesterday, he just has to prove it on the undulations at Cheltenham now”.
Waley Cohen also refused to…