This is the only Sunday where racing takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse throughout the year. This Sunday holds particular prevalence as we mark the anniversary of the Armistice with Gloucestershire and Racing Remember. In addition to the top quality racing, there will be a number of themed activities and commemorative events throughout the day, including the charity for the day Combat Stress.
The meeting always provides glimpses of future stars and it was no different in the latest renewal of the Arkle Trophy Trial Novices Steeple Chase won last year by Lalor and it will be interesting to see if we have anything of that calibre in the line up today. The feature race is The Unibet Greatwood Hurdle Race won last year by Nietszche ridden by Danny McMenamin and trained by Brian Ellison.
Come along for a fantastic day of racing, we might have lost Friday but there is still plenty of action to enjoy today. Live music after racing from The D-Day Darlings in The Centaur, for Club/Tattersalls racegoers from 4.00pm - 5.15pm. They will be here to entertain us with wartime classics, as we step back in time to the 1940s
Surface: Turf
Going: Soft, Heavy in places
12:45 Cheltenham Club Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
(Class 3, 2m 5f, 20 runners)
Little bit pressed for time this weekend now but great that racing is going ahead, will update again later when I can but selections first, DON'T SHOUT and DUC DE BEAUCHENE (WON) represent our best chances in this twenty runner opener. Interesting that David Pipe has Jonjo O'Neill Jr booked for the latter as the jockey won this event last year.
Result - 1st DUC DE BEAUCHENE 100/30F.
13:15 The Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
(Class 3, 3m 6f, 10 runners)
FACT OF THE MATTER was runner up in this last year the a course winner in December so should be ready today. While KINGSWELL THEATRE (also a course and distance winner taking this contest in 2017) has had a season opener and expected to run well today too.
Result - 1st DIESEL D'ALLIER 13/2.
13:50 Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial Novices' Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The November Novices' Chase)(Class 1, 1m 7f 199y, 4 runners)
A small field but with the last win under his belt this is all set for AL DANCER to win around here again (beat Getaway Trump into 3rd on that occasion). While PUT THE KETTLE ON gets a nice weight allowance and the 5yo mare from Ireland should also be at home on the heavy going. GETAWAY TRUMP was disappointing last time but Paul Nicholls must have worked some magic at home and entitled to be much closer today while the line up is completed by ROUGE VIF who battled on to win on his fences debut at Market Rasen and has beaten Getaway Trump over hurdles too so should be respected.
Result - 1st PUT THE KETTLE ON 6/1.
14:25 Shloer Chase (Grade 2) (Registered As The Cheltenham Chase)(Class 1, 1m 7f 199y, 4 runners)
Another small field of four here, and looks like we set for a dual between Paul Nicholls POLITOLOGUE and Phillip Hobbs DEFI DU SEUIL. The former has regularly come up against the mighty Altior and was most recently beaten 20l by Min ! However there's little of that calibre here, while Defi Du Seuil won last years JLT Chase at the festival and will look to be a solid favourite for next years festival with a win here today. The field are completed by SAINT CALVADO who missed a big race yesterday for this, while the 12yo SIMPLY NED who makes up the quartet looks outclassed yet will still collect a nice prize even if he comes last and has run in this five times already.
Result - 1st DEFI DU SEUIL 11/8F.
15:00 Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
(Class 1, 2m 87y, 15 runners)
The feature race of the day with a field of fifteen declared, was won last year by a decent price horse and we headed by MOHAAYED who is 25/1 but can run a big race and is also a course winner which will help. Our selections would include QUEL DESTIN (course and distance winner) for Paul Nicholls along with the likes of BENNY'S BRIDGE both already winning this season and should be fit to run well.
Result - 1st HARAMBE 16/1.
15:30 Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Sharp Novices' Hurdle)(Class 1, 2m 87y, 5 runners)
Just the five and the all have a good even chance, ECCO as a 4yo and twice winner already probably the one to look most closely but I'll want to see a big run from David Pipe's EDEN DU HOUX too after his recent runner up performance after a long break. SCARDURA was a big price on debut at Galway but ran with promise to finish fifth of eighteen and then come over to win at Taunton by 16L in October and is very interesting too.
Result - 1st HANG IN THERE 6/1.
16:00 High Sheriff Of Gloucestershire And Racing Remember Standard Open NH Flat Race (Listed)(Class 1, 2m 87y, 10 runners)
A bumper to conclude, probably best left alone but if you must play then the pair of HUGOS OTHER HORSE / TIME FLIES BY would be the ones to focus on.
Result - 1st ISRAEL CHAMP 16/1.
Hope you enjoyed a good weekend too.
No comments:
Post a Comment