Horsing around at Cheltenham festival
Months of anticipation and preparation were over: one of the best weeks in sport was about to showcase the sport of kings. With all the trails taking place throughout the season, the national hunt season was about to celebrate what it has to offer for the blue riband event.
The traditional Cheltenham roar at 1.30pm on Tuesday 13 March set the 19-strong field for the start of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over two miles at a packed - yet soggy - Prestbury Park. With the recent snow and rain it meant it would be the softest ground conditions for some decades. There was a thrilling start as Kalashnikov and Summerville Boy fought bravely; the latter came out on top for team GB. However, Ireland came fighting with a classy round of jumping in the Arkle novices chase for Ruby Walsh – who had been off with injury since November after breaking a leg. With less than a week back, a Grade One victory was special.
Women jockeys dominated the games throughout the week with Lizzie Kelly, who became the first female jockey to win a Grade One Chase on Tea for Two back in 2016, winning a head-bobbing finish aboard Coo Star Sivola. The feature on the first day of the festival was the two-mile division championship: the champion hurdle in which Burveur D’Air just kept his title for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty. With two wins in this division, another horse added his name to role of honour. The Mares’ Hurdle provided a shock, as favourite Apple’s Jade was expected to win a second Grade Two but failed in the wet conditions and left another fantastic finish up the hill. Mullins and Walsh gained a double with Benie Des Dieux denning a surprising winner of Midnight Tour. Next up was a dramatic 4-mile amateur rider chase which family team Mullins scored again, this time with Patrick in the saddle aboard Rathvinden. Sixteen runners started, but with conditions taking a toll only six were left completing. A two-and-half-mile Novices’ Handicap Chase ended day one with Mister Whitaker following up his Cheltenham Trails Day win with the soft conditions a big advantage to his victory.
More rain overnight into Wednesday kept the ground soft, and the Grade Two, two-mile five-furlong Novices’ Hurdle started the day. As expected, the Irish had this in the bag, with Samcro winning. This was only the start of a memorable week for Gordan Elliott and Jack Kennedy. The RSA had a tale of two halves, with Ruby Walsh unseating at the second last, leaving him struggling to walk back into the ambulance with a suspected broken leg. Coming just after his return to horse riding, his festival ended much sooner than anticipated, and he lost the chance to compete in many rides that he was expected to win. However, Presenting Percy powered up the hill to score comfortably. The ultra-competitive 26-runner Coral Cup was next, with replacement Mark Walsh aboard Bleu Berry beating Topofthegame.
The Grade One Queen Mother Champion Chase was the feature on day two, in which Altior kept his unbeaten record over hurdle and fences. The cross-country race is always a spectacle to watch: it has hedges, water jumps and the bank as well as the cheese wedges fence to negotiate over a distance just shy of four miles. Tiger
Roll is now a Cheltenham expert, with wins over three different codes. Gordon Elliot and Jack Kennedy ended the day as they started with a shocker in the Fred Winter with Veneer Of Charm. The champion bumper for upcoming potential had another brilliant performance, with Katie Walsh sprouting wings aboard Relegate for Willie Mullins, who had the first three across the line.
St. Patrick’s Thursday, day three, saw six Irish winners out of the seven races. The first were Elliott and Kennedy with Shattered Love again leaving other rivals well and truly behind. Again, the Pertemps Final went to the same trainer, but this time Davy Russel aboard Delta Work just got up in time, winning by a nose over the favourite Glenloe. The Ryanair Chase actually went to the owner of the company – Michael O’Leary with Balko Des Flos beat a classy and top quality field that included last year’s hero Un De Sceaux. The Stayers’ Hurdle was the feature, and Penhill returned from a 11-month absence to score cosily from a talented field that included Supasundae, Sam Spinner and The New One Who - maybe the increased distance wasn’t as welcoming as previously thought. Laurina was another Mullins’ winner; winning by a staggering 18 lengths, she became the most impressive winner of the week. The only British winner on St. Patrick’s Thursday came with Missed Approach, but it was still all about Ireland with The Storyteller, another winner for Elliott and Russell.
Friday was the day that everyone had been waiting for – Gold Cup day. It started with the Grade One Triumph Hurdle which Britain looked set to take with Apple’s Shakira; however, Ireland powered away with Farclas. This made another win for Elliot and Kennedy. Dan Skelton took the Grade Three County Hurdle with Mohaayed with an emotional win, and brother Dan beaten - he gave winning jockey Bridget Andrews a big hug and showed what this sport can offer. For many, this was the highlight of the week. Colin Tizard was about to have his best hour of his life, as he won with Kilbricken Storm and Native River in the Blue Riband of national hunt racing.
The 2018 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. It was a large field of 15 runners, including Irish gold cup winner Edwulf and Irish Grand Winner Our Duke. Two of the main contenders set the pace and continued to gradually increase the speed as they went head to head from start to finish. At the final fence the two horses landed together, with Native River edging out Might Bite in a brave, determined effort to give champion jockey Richard Johnson his second gold cup. The week ended with Gordon Elliott giving Ireland another winner, Blow By Blow in the Martin Pipe Hurdle, which left them taking the Prestbury Cup for an easy win against team GB. Paul Nicholls had a winner and left it late again with a painful and memorable victory for Harriet Tucker in the Foxhunters’ Chase aboard Paucha Du Polder, in which she dislocated her shoulder, and Le Prezien in the Grand Annual – the curtain-closer of the week.
This was a memorable week, which brought out the best of jump racing. We might not have it often, but when we do we are treated to some great sport.
Kyle Merrick, Year 12
The traditional Cheltenham roar at 1.30pm on Tuesday 13 March set the 19-strong field for the start of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over two miles at a packed - yet soggy - Prestbury Park. With the recent snow and rain it meant it would be the softest ground conditions for some decades. There was a thrilling start as Kalashnikov and Summerville Boy fought bravely; the latter came out on top for team GB. However, Ireland came fighting with a classy round of jumping in the Arkle novices chase for Ruby Walsh – who had been off with injury since November after breaking a leg. With less than a week back, a Grade One victory was special.
Women jockeys dominated the games throughout the week with Lizzie Kelly, who became the first female jockey to win a Grade One Chase on Tea for Two back in 2016, winning a head-bobbing finish aboard Coo Star Sivola. The feature on the first day of the festival was the two-mile division championship: the champion hurdle in which Burveur D’Air just kept his title for Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty. With two wins in this division, another horse added his name to role of honour. The Mares’ Hurdle provided a shock, as favourite Apple’s Jade was expected to win a second Grade Two but failed in the wet conditions and left another fantastic finish up the hill. Mullins and Walsh gained a double with Benie Des Dieux denning a surprising winner of Midnight Tour. Next up was a dramatic 4-mile amateur rider chase which family team Mullins scored again, this time with Patrick in the saddle aboard Rathvinden. Sixteen runners started, but with conditions taking a toll only six were left completing. A two-and-half-mile Novices’ Handicap Chase ended day one with Mister Whitaker following up his Cheltenham Trails Day win with the soft conditions a big advantage to his victory.
More rain overnight into Wednesday kept the ground soft, and the Grade Two, two-mile five-furlong Novices’ Hurdle started the day. As expected, the Irish had this in the bag, with Samcro winning. This was only the start of a memorable week for Gordan Elliott and Jack Kennedy. The RSA had a tale of two halves, with Ruby Walsh unseating at the second last, leaving him struggling to walk back into the ambulance with a suspected broken leg. Coming just after his return to horse riding, his festival ended much sooner than anticipated, and he lost the chance to compete in many rides that he was expected to win. However, Presenting Percy powered up the hill to score comfortably. The ultra-competitive 26-runner Coral Cup was next, with replacement Mark Walsh aboard Bleu Berry beating Topofthegame.
The Grade One Queen Mother Champion Chase was the feature on day two, in which Altior kept his unbeaten record over hurdle and fences. The cross-country race is always a spectacle to watch: it has hedges, water jumps and the bank as well as the cheese wedges fence to negotiate over a distance just shy of four miles. Tiger
Roll is now a Cheltenham expert, with wins over three different codes. Gordon Elliot and Jack Kennedy ended the day as they started with a shocker in the Fred Winter with Veneer Of Charm. The champion bumper for upcoming potential had another brilliant performance, with Katie Walsh sprouting wings aboard Relegate for Willie Mullins, who had the first three across the line.
St. Patrick’s Thursday, day three, saw six Irish winners out of the seven races. The first were Elliott and Kennedy with Shattered Love again leaving other rivals well and truly behind. Again, the Pertemps Final went to the same trainer, but this time Davy Russel aboard Delta Work just got up in time, winning by a nose over the favourite Glenloe. The Ryanair Chase actually went to the owner of the company – Michael O’Leary with Balko Des Flos beat a classy and top quality field that included last year’s hero Un De Sceaux. The Stayers’ Hurdle was the feature, and Penhill returned from a 11-month absence to score cosily from a talented field that included Supasundae, Sam Spinner and The New One Who - maybe the increased distance wasn’t as welcoming as previously thought. Laurina was another Mullins’ winner; winning by a staggering 18 lengths, she became the most impressive winner of the week. The only British winner on St. Patrick’s Thursday came with Missed Approach, but it was still all about Ireland with The Storyteller, another winner for Elliott and Russell.
Friday was the day that everyone had been waiting for – Gold Cup day. It started with the Grade One Triumph Hurdle which Britain looked set to take with Apple’s Shakira; however, Ireland powered away with Farclas. This made another win for Elliot and Kennedy. Dan Skelton took the Grade Three County Hurdle with Mohaayed with an emotional win, and brother Dan beaten - he gave winning jockey Bridget Andrews a big hug and showed what this sport can offer. For many, this was the highlight of the week. Colin Tizard was about to have his best hour of his life, as he won with Kilbricken Storm and Native River in the Blue Riband of national hunt racing.
The 2018 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. It was a large field of 15 runners, including Irish gold cup winner Edwulf and Irish Grand Winner Our Duke. Two of the main contenders set the pace and continued to gradually increase the speed as they went head to head from start to finish. At the final fence the two horses landed together, with Native River edging out Might Bite in a brave, determined effort to give champion jockey Richard Johnson his second gold cup. The week ended with Gordon Elliott giving Ireland another winner, Blow By Blow in the Martin Pipe Hurdle, which left them taking the Prestbury Cup for an easy win against team GB. Paul Nicholls had a winner and left it late again with a painful and memorable victory for Harriet Tucker in the Foxhunters’ Chase aboard Paucha Du Polder, in which she dislocated her shoulder, and Le Prezien in the Grand Annual – the curtain-closer of the week.
This was a memorable week, which brought out the best of jump racing. We might not have it often, but when we do we are treated to some great sport.
Kyle Merrick, Year 12