The increased popularity of the Festival has boosted the local economy and led to greater scrutiny of horse racingIf the demand for hotel rooms in the local area is any guide to a sporting event’s popularity, the news that plans for a “fan village” near Cheltenham racecourse during the Festival this week have been ditched should, on the face of it, give the meeting’s organisers some cause for concern.A local entrepreneur planned to use shipping containers, parked within walking distance of the course, as somewhere for racegoers to rest their heads after a hard day at the track (and, for a fair proportion at least, a harder night on the town). But only 16 of the 300 beds had been...
Disgraced trainer Gordon Elliott set to be back in the winner’s enclosure at the home of jump racingSix of the seven runners in the televised Grade Two Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday were winners last time out and it promises to be one of the most informative novice events over timber in the first half of the winter campaign.Paul Nicholls’s Gelino Bello, who recorded a comfortable success on his hurdling debut at Aintree last month, heads the market but the memory of Ireland’s dominance at the Festival in March is still fresh and Off Your Rocco (3.30) and Blazing Khal both promise to be stern opponents. Continue reading...
Nick Williams runner is thought likely to cope well with a testing surface and will get his chance to prove it at DoncasterGiven what Royale Pagaille did in the Peter Marsh last weekend, it is entirely natural for the betting market to latch onto Cap Du Nord, who chased that one home at Kempton last month and seems sure to run a big race in Doncaster’s Sky Bet Chase, also known as the Great Yorkshire. But Cap Du Nord might be about to bump into another good one in One For The Team (3.15). Related: Talking Horses: Paisley on course for Cleeve switch if Cheltenham is off Lingfield12.00 Arabic Welcome 12.35 Year Of The Dragon 1.10 Give ’em The Slip 1.45...
Racecourse abandon fixture after 85mm of rainfall since had left area of the track across the width of the course under waterCheltenham’s New Year’s Day meeting has been abandoned because of waterlogging. An inspection was due to take place at the course at 8.30am on Wednesday - but shortly beforehand, a tweet from Cheltenham’s official account reported that the scheduled card will not take place.It read: “New Year’s Day Racing abandoned. Following 85mm of rainfall since last Wednesday, there are areas of waterlogged ground across the width of the course, and it is therefore not raceable.” Related: Nicholls puts Bravemansgame in Denman class after Challow Hurdle win Continue reading...
Chatham Street Lad, known as a Cork specialist, has the talent to do well in Gloucestershire against the zippy Coole CodyThe County Cork trainer Michael Winters has yet to saddle a jumps winner in Britain but that may be about to change as he sends over the fascinating Chatham Street Lad (1.50) for a tilt at the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. The horse is seen as a specialist at his local track, with four wins there, and Cork is very different to Cheltenham, but he had so much in hand when he scored there last month that it is hard to believe he will not get involved. Related: Talking Horses: veteran trainer dismayed by his first fine in 36 years...