Irish riders could be forgiven for thinking that the Brits are on their case when the Festival starts on TuesdayA modern-day Cheltenham Festival involves 28 races and around 400 horses, supports a significant cottage industry of preview nights in the months beforehand and is the only thing on the mind of most racing fans once the Christmas decorations are packed away, if not before. With so much to consider, it is fair to say that no one has ever seen much need for something new and divisive to argue and fret about in the run-up to the biggest meeting of the year.The British Horseracing Authority, however, apparently thinks differently. It could have introduced its new rules on the use of...
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...
Peter Fahey runner can follow up victory for Surprise Package, the only Irish-trained runner in a 22-strong field last yearThe valuable Imperial Cup card at Sandown on Saturday afternoon is subject to an 8am morning inspection after nearly an inch of rain since Tuesday, with Andrew Cooper, the clerk of the course, describing the situation as “difficult” on Friday, “with challenges on potentially two fronts as we’re also forecast a sudden, sharp frost tonight”.If the elements are kind, however, there is an excellent pre-Cheltenham card in prospect, with an 18-runner field declared for the William Hill Imperial Cup, which offers a £100,000 bonus if the winner can follow up at Cheltenham next week. Continue reading...
Davy Russell has high hopes of adding to his 25 Cheltenham Festival winners after Kennedy misses flagship meetingJack Kennedy, the No 1 rider for Gordon Elliott’s powerful Irish stable, has been ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival later this month after failing to recover in time from a broken leg, sustained in a fall at Naas in January.“He tried his best, but it [the Festival] is just coming too soon,” Kevin O’Ryan, the rider’s agent, said on Friday. “He is keen to get back as soon as possible, but he is going to give it all the time it needs. Hopefully it will be a couple of weeks after Cheltenham.” Continue reading...
The hot favourite who romped through the fog last time may have to play second best at Newbury to lightly raced novice It feels like a nod to the Betfair Hurdle’s plot-ridden past – not least in its early years in the 1960s when sponsored by Schweppes – that Filey Bay, the hot favourite for the latest renewal at Newbury on Saturday, was obscured by fog for much of his latest outing at Wincanton in December.Emmet Mullins’s hurdler eventually emerged from the murk to record a cosy one-length success and has since been sold to JP McManus, who loves to target this race, while remaining with his exceptionally shrewd trainer. He is an obvious favourite given his form and connections,...