TWO DAY CHELTENHAM MEETING
FRIDAY 25th OCTOBER 2019
The wait is finally over as the days begin to get shorter and the crisp mornings return, it can only mean one thing – Cheltenham is back. The thundering of hooves and cheers from the crowd will return to The Jockey Club’s world class sporting venue on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th October to kick start another season of extraordinary moments.
As well as two days of quality action on the track, this year The Centaur welcomes Cheltober Fest for the first time. A Cheltenham twist on the ever-popular Oktoberfest, with live music from The Bierkeller Boys before and after racing. The buzz around the course as the gates open for the first meeting of the season is like no other day. Familiar faces bumping into one another, the local community feeling like normality has been resumed as they had back to the Home of Jump Racing. The Cheltenham regulars travel from afar to return to place that they have missed all summer long, as racing knuckles down and we prepare for what lies ahead.
2:00 The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race (Class 2)
2m 5f [8 runners]
Our opener features an Irish raider and likely market leader in BRAID BLUE from Gordon Elliott, ridden by champion jockey Richard Johnson sure to be popular having already won three on the trot and the top Irish trainer regularly sends good novices over to Perth. Another Irish raider is DOCTOR DUFFY who will love the soft going looks to be the one to give Braid Blue most to think about. The home challenge is headed by NO HIDDEN CHARGES who was 1/8f when winning a small novice event at Newton Abbot, along with Colin Tizzard's L'AIR DU VENT although this is his debut over hurdles in the UK having taken a bumper at Bangor previously but the yards inmates are to be taken very seriously and the trainer wouldn't send this to Cheltenham without a good showing back at home.
Winner - CHAMPAGNE WELL 13/8f.
2:35 The squareintheair.com Novices’ Steeple Chase (Class 2)
2m [4 runners]
Just the four here for the Novices Chase, headed by CAIUS MARCIUS no not the Roman general but Nicky Richards 8yo and while might be a little late to the chasing ranks might go well with five runs in the summer and four wins showing he's no slouch does have to give 8lb to the other three though.
AL DANCER for Nigel Twiston Davies could go off favourite while support for the Paul Nicholls GETAWAY TRUMP would not be a surprise. NOT THAT FULSE makes up the foursome but doesn't appear yet and might need more time.
Winner - AL DANCER 10/11f.
3:10 The Two Farmers Crisps Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 3)
2m 5f [19 runners]
The first handicap of the afternoon and much more competitive now with a field of 19 runners, top weight is GOLAN FORTUNE who we've not seen over jumps for a couple of seasons and the betting market is headed by both SMARTY WILD and THE BIG GALLOPER at around 4/1.
DUKE STREET [WON 9/1] is another that hasn't been seen much on the racecourse in the past couple of years however did WIN both outings and goes well fresh wouldn't be out of place here again today, at a massive price is the Dan Skelton trained MISTER UNIVERSUM (33/1) who might not be the best handicapped but hails from a yard that can spring a surprise now and again and the going might be key.
Winner - DUKE STREET 9/1.
3:45 The ‘Matchbook Most Trusted Betting Exchange Novices' Steeple Chase (Class 2)
3m ½f [8 runners]
Another novice chase, where the pair of MINELLA WARRIOR (Kim Bailey) and PRESENT RANGER (Dan Skelton) appear to represent value odds against the field and hopefully all eight will stand their ground so we can have the place market for these two.
While the top one DINONS is respected from Ireland the combination of soft/heavy going plus three miles and having to concede 8lbs might be his undoing, though of course he's encountered heavy ground over in Ireland.
Winner - MULCAHYS HILL 12/1.
4:20 The Foundation Developments Ltd Maiden Hurdle Race (Class 3)
2m ½f [12 runners]
A maiden hurdles is up next and where Nicky Henderson turns out the interesting FRED who was placed in good races over in France and should be well schooled for his British debut, Paul Nicholls has another ex French inmate with CAP DU MATHAN while Phillip Hobbs has STORM FORCE BEN who looks a massive price at 40/1 and will be interesting to see how that one takes to hurdles with Richard Johnson doing the steering.
Winner - HEAVEN HELP US 33/1.
4:55 The Ryman Stationery Cheltenham Business Club Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase (Class 3)
3m 1f [13 runners]
The longest race of this afternoons meeting and the Amateur riders step up, always pays to go with one that has plenty of experience especially here at Cheltenham which leads us first of all to Sam Waley-Cohen who rides DOING FINE this 11yo won last time up and needs a strong gallop which he should get here. While the horse that the previous selection beat last time out PLANTAGENET (ridden by Miss Gina Andrews) is consistent might even improve a little for that run and is also considered against the field in a race that doesn't really appeal as a betting medium.
Winner - PETITE POWER 12/1.
5:30 The ‘Matchbook Betting Exchange Podcast’ Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Race (Class 3)
2m ½f [13 runners]
Our finale is for the conditional jockeys now, and a field of thirteen declared overnight our first interest is OAKLEY out of the Phillip Hobbs yard he usually can be relied to retain a decent conditional and the horse himself is in great form too. BENNY'S BRIDGE [WON 5/2f] has a 3lb claimer on board suggesting they have ability and experience is also a course winner back in January which is in his favour.
Winner - BENNY'S BRIDGE 5/2f.
Hope you have enjoyed the day, will update results here later when we can throughout the afternoon and we'll also have the second day details published for Saturday soon.
