The Cheltenham Festival Media Guide 2023 can be found here.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: HOBBS AND WHITE HOPING NEW JOINT LICENCE GETS OFF TO A FLYER WITH THYME HILL IN WEDNESDAY’S BROWN ADVISORY NOVICES’ CHASE
Monday 13th March
By Andrew King
Trainer Philip Hobbs and his long-time assistant Johnson White are the latest pair to take out a joint training licence and their first runner under this new arrangement is set to be the well-fancied Thyme Hill in the Grade One Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at The Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday (March 15th).
The nine-year-old will be partnered by Micheal Nolan as regular pilot Tom O'Brien is side-lined with injury and White is more than hopeful of a big run with soft ground holding no fears.
Johnson White said today: "It is fantastic that our first runner with the joint licence will be in a Grade One at The Cheltenham Festival and there would obviously be no better place to start - especially if he managed to win.
"Philip and myself are very excited to be going to The Festival with a live chance and the horse knows his way around the course as he has won over hurdles there in the past."
The Hobbs yard have endured a below par season by their own high standards and White holds no illusion that there is plenty of work to be done in that respect.
He explained: "I will be at Cheltenham all four days of The Festival trying to bring in as many potential clients and new owners as possible, which is very important for the future.
"I have been very lucky to be associated with such a successful yard for many seasons and I am now looking forward to the next chapter and as far as I am concerned it is onwards and upwards."
If Thyme Hill fails to deliver, Hobbs and White will also be represented on Wednesday by Camprond and Sporting John in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle, as well as with Deise Aba in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.
Hobbs has trained 20 Festival winners in his own right, the most recent being Defi Du Seuil in what is now the Turners Novices’ Chase in 2019.
White has been Hobbs’ assistant since 1995 and in 2015 won the Leadership Award at the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards in 1995.
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: JOCKEY SEAN FLANAGAN REVEALS DREAM OF BECOMING COMMERCIAL PILOT AFTER RIDING CAREER AS HE PREPARES TO FLY HIMSELF AND FELLOW JOCKEY OVER TO THE FESTIVAL
Monday 13th March
By Nick Seddon
Irish jockey Sean Flanagan has revealed that he dreams of becoming a commercial pilot once his riding career has finished, as he prepares to fly himself over for this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
The 34 year old first started flying around five years ago and since then he has made something of a habit of flying over to the UK for the big racing festivals – taking several weighing room colleagues with him along the way.
Flanagan flew himself and fellow jockey Ricky Doyle to last year’s Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree and this year he will be bringing along weighing room colleague Donagh Meyler for the trip, in a Robin DR400 which he owns with some friends.
And Flanagan, whose WhatsApp picture shows him wearing the silks of high-profile racehorse owner and Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, revealed that he would like to one day swap the saddle for a commercial pilot’s licence.
He said: “I’ve been flying for about four or five years now and I’ve probably clocked up close to 300 hours of flight time.
“I previously owned a plane on my own and then I sold that and a group of us got together, and we bought a plane, which is a four-seater and has 180 horsepower.
“This one is a little bit bigger and a little bit faster than the last one. I’ve been keeping a close eye on the weather today and the past couple of days and there’s been a nice wind this morning.
“With that in mind I made decision this morning that I was going to fly over and I spent an hour sat down to go through the weather and file flight plans and call in to Gloucester Airport – so just boxing things off. It’s a small bit of paperwork but now we’re good to crack on now.
“Donagh Meyler is the bravest man in the weighing room at the minute as he is the man who’s jumping in with me in the morning!
“I’ve taken a bit of stick and I’m a bit of a jack the lad in the car, my driving can be a bit erratic at times so some of the jockeys have said they wouldn’t get in a car with me never mind a plane!
“When you’re learning to fly though it’s all by the book and it’s not something you can really take a chance with, so I like to make sure I do things right.
“I’ve always said that flying is something I’d love to do when I retire from the saddle and I’ve kind of always worked towards it, but I really do need to give myself a kick in the backside and start doing the ATPL exams - there’s 14 written exams to do but once you’ve ticked those off you’re almost there.
“It’s that part which is going to be the hardest for me to do at the minute as I’m riding for many different yards and I’m in a different place every day. It’s a bit of a juggling act at the moment but I do believe I’ll sit down for those in the next year or so and start getting stuck into it.
“Once you’ve done that you’re almost there and you can start getting your commercial license and things like that. After that you can go to Aer Lingus or Ryanair or anywhere. Mr O’Leary won’t let me ride his horses, so I’ll just have to fly his planes!
“I’ve no plans to quit the saddle at the moment though. I had a fairly severe eye-opener yesterday when Liam Burke rode a winner at the age of 66 at Limerick - he rode his last winner the year I was born! I pointed that out to him and he said I’ve got a long way to go to catch up with him!”
Flanagan is in new territory at this year’s Festival having taken the bold decision to go freelance last summer, but he is hoping to have several rides across the week.
One of those is on board the Paul Nolan-trained Metamorpheus, who is a 20-1 chance for Tuesday’s penultimate Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle. It is a race which is close to the heart of Flanagan, who recorded his sole winner at the Festival when striking in the race with 80-1 outsider Jeff Kidder in 2021 and he revealed that he is hopeful of a good run.
He said: “I’m going to be there all week. I’ve got one tomorrow and a couple booked on Friday in the Triumph and the Albert Bartlett, and then there’s a couple of possibilities during the week as well – so we’ll just have to see how we go.
“Metamorpheus won on soft/heavy ground over here in January but it’s obviously a different ball game – though I wouldn’t be opposed to a drop of rain between now and race time! It would have been slow ground that day and he’s not a very big horse but he’s a juvenile and they’re all in the same kind of bracket.
“He jumps and travels well and he seems like he stays quite well, which I think is key for a competitive handicap at Cheltenham. He ticks a lot of boxes and he’s got in with a nice weight on his back, so he’s certainly got a chance. More so than a lot of things you need a lot of luck on your side in competitive races like that, you need things to fall your way.
“I rode the winner of that race two years ago with Jeff Kidder. I’ve been used to going there for the past five or six years with the support of a yard so it’s different this year with me being a freelancer.
“I’ve been in a lot of different yards though and I suppose that has opened a lot of different doors through a bit of variability. I missed a crucial part of the year through injury when I was just starting to think I was breaking into a couple of yards but I’m happy and I feel like I’m in a good place. I’m a realist and I’ll just keep going until I can’t keep going anymore.”
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: WILLIE MULLINS CLOSING IN ON FESTIVAL CENTURY
Monday 13th March
Willie Mullins is the man who just can’t stop winning. After securing a record haul of 10 winners at last year’s Festival, the legendary Irish handler starts The Cheltenham Festival 2023 with 88 Festival victories in total. Can he reach 100 this week?
By Nick Seddon
It doesn’t take very long to run out of superlatives when trying to summarise the impact of Willie Mullins on The Cheltenham Festival, and it’s one which hit new heights 12 months ago.
The fact that Mullins’ record haul of 10 winners matched the entirety of the British challenge across the four days is one thing, though it becomes even more remarkable when you consider that half of those came on a spectacular Gold Cup Day for Closutton, his Carlow yard.
Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer of all-time at The Cheltenham Festival with 88 wins, including a record 10 victories in 2022.
(RVN Management/The Jockey Club)
Significant moments came before that, of course, thanks to trademark brilliance from Allaho in the Ryanair Chase and a long-awaited first victory in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase with Energumene, though, as it transpired, they would serve as a taste for a final day of the ages.
Victory in the first three races on the Friday of the meeting for each of Vauban, State Man and The Nice Guy triggered the inevitable hints that Mullins could do the unthinkable and go through the card. And while things didn’t quite go to plan in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, successes for Elimay in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase and Billaway with son Patrick in the St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase rounded off a near-perfect week.
There’s always room for improvement, though, and it’s perhaps a mark of the man that Mullins is keen to stress that he was merely content with his tally of five winners from the opening three days.
He explains: “It was a fantastic week, but we had five winners over the first three days which really was just OK. It’s amazing though - to get one winner on the board is always fantastic for any trainer and when we go there every year, we’re hoping to get our name on the board.
“When you have a day like that Friday it all sort of goes by in a flash, as you can’t believe what’s happening. It’s a rollercoaster as you go from the parade ring to the winner’s enclosure and then chatting to the media. You’re just hoping that someone is saddling the next runners - and the same goes on.
“For it to happen three times in a row at the start of Gold Cup Day was unbelievable, and I’ve got a great team. They keep things ticking along by weighing out the jockeys and saddling the horses and things like that.
“It may sound simple, but when you’ve got so many runners on a big day like that with everything going on, it’s very easy to slip up. It’s huge for me to have a team like that doing what they do at Cheltenham, and I let them get on with the show and try not to interfere.”
The conversation soon starts to move back through the years, all the way through to Mullins’ first Cheltenham winner as a trainer, with Tourist Attraction in the 1995 renewal of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Mullins had made his mark on The Festival before that, of course, winning the National Hunt Chase with Hazy Dawn as a jockey in 1982, and as he lists his Cheltenham alumni it soon becomes apparent that there are too many memories to cram into one feature.
It’s something of a thankless task to ask him to pick his favourite from a list which contains the likes of Hurricane Fly, Al Boum Photo and Faugheen, to name just three, though he does admit to holding a certain soft spot for the 2008 Champion Bumper winner Cousin Vinny – who provided his son Patrick with his first Festival winner in the saddle.
Patrick was just 18 at the time and, having picked up his first Festival ride on Adamant Approach in the previous year’s Pertemps Final, he nearly didn’t get his chance to shine as the weather was causing chaos.
Mullins explains: “The race was very nearly run in the dark, as a big storm had led to that race day [the second day of the 2008 Festival] being cancelled. Cheltenham were fantastic to put 11 races together the following day, but we were fretting and sweating all day whether there’d be enough time to run the Bumper before the evening closed in.
“If there was one stewards’ enquiry or a couple of false starts we’d probably had to have missed the Bumper, so we were there on tenterhooks all day!
“We were hoping that he’d run well, not thinking he might win, but to see Patrick turning for home with two top jockeys at the time [Ruby Walsh and Davy Russell] was hugely exciting for Jackie and I as his parents.
“It brought together a lovely story. We won the Champion Bumper ourselves as owners and breeders with Joe Cullen in 2000, and Patrick was on the rostrum collecting the trophy with us.
“Sophie Weatherby was there, and she went down to give him a peck on the cheek. Being a typical kid Patrick then waited until he thought nobody was looking and gave it a big wipe afterwards! It was very funny, and little did he think that eight years later he’d be back on the rostrum as the winning rider, so that was very special and it’s something we look back on fondly.”
The next question draws a wry smile from Mullins, as he is asked whether he knows the identity of the seven races he is yet to win at The Festival as a trainer – which, for the record, are the Ultima Handicap Chase, the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, the Pertemps Network Final, the Festival Plate Handicap Chase and Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.
Unsurprisingly he passes this test with flying colours, and while he is slightly pessimistic about his chances of completing the set, there is one race on that list which stands out more than most.
He explains: “I don’t think it’s going to happen as we can’t seem to win handicap chases in England and we don’t set our horses out to win them. It’s not a worry though, we’ve won the Graded races and if the handicap races arrive that’s great, but it’s not something that I’ve set out to achieve.
“I would like to win the Kim Muir, though. It’s Patrick’s goal to win the three amateur races at the Cheltenham Festival. It may be harder to do at his weight, but I’m sure he’s going to have a good go and I’d hope that if he can win it that it would be on one of mine.”
There is something of a serendipity around the fact that Mullins has a plethora of favourites for the 2023 Festival, which when added to his current tally of 88 winners would take him rather neatly to a century.
Even the mention of an impending century has long been something of a commentator’s curse in cricket, and as you’d perhaps expect, Mullins is keen to sweep such talk away towards the boundary.
“I don’t ever think about accolades or records and I’m always amazed when people tell me stats about what we’ve actually won,” he says.
“Getting winners is a relief. We’re not aiming to beat 10 or anything like that, just to get on the board if we can and hopefully a few of the right horses win. Only half of the favourites tend to win at Cheltenham as a rule of thumb, so that [six] wouldn’t be a bad number if we get somewhere near it!
“People expect us to have winners, but we never go there expecting. We go there hoping, and it’s a relief if we can get a winner or two.
“You forget until you get back to Cheltenham that every inch of ground is fought for from the start to the finish. Throughout the year you might get a normal race where three of four would have a serious chance of winning, whereas in a race at Cheltenham you can have many times that number lining up thinking they have a chance.
“The competition is immense and there’s no given when you’re over there. That’s what makes it special and what makes it so hard to win there.”
Mullins’ week starts with four runners in the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, headed by Facile Vega, winner of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper last year. If one of these balls hits the wicket, then that century becomes a real possibility.
Willie Mullins’ record 88 Festival winners
1995 Tourist Attraction - Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
1996 Wither Or Which - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
1997 Florida Pearl - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
1998 Florida Pearl - Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
1998 Alexander Banquet - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2000 Joe Cullen - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2002 Scolardy - JCB Triumph Hurdle
2004 Rule Supreme - Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
2005 Missed That - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2007 Ebaziyan - Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2008 Fiveforthree - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
2008 Cousin Vinny - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2009 Quevega - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
2009 Mikael D’Haguenet - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
2009 Cooldine - Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
2010 Quevega - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
2010 Thousand Stars - McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle
2011 Hurricane Fly - Unibet Champion Hurdle
2011 Quevega Close - Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
2011 Final Approach - McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle
2011 Sir Des Champs - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
2012 Quevega - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
2012 Champagne Fever - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2012 Sir Des Champs – Turners Novices’ Chase
2013 Champagne Fever - Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2013 Hurricane Fly - Unibet Champion Hurdle
2013 Quevega - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
2013 Back In Focus - National Hunt Chase
2013 Briar Hill - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2014 Vautour - Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2014 Quevega - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
2014 Faugheen - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
2014 Don Poli - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
2015 Douvan - Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2015 Un De Sceaux - Sporting Life Arkle Chase
2015 Faugheen - Unibet Champion Hurdle
2015 Glens Melody - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
2015 Don Poli - Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
2015 Vautour - Turners Novices’ Chase
2015 Wicklow Brave - McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle
2015 Killultagh Vic - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
2016 Douvan - Sporting Life Arkle Chase
2016 Annie Power - Unibet Champion Hurdle
2016 Vroum Vroum Mag - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
2016 Yorkhill - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
2016 Black Hercules - Turners Novices’ Chase
2016 Vautour - Ryanair Chase
2016 Limini – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
2017 Yorkhill - Turners Novices’ Chase
2017 Un De Sceaux - Ryanair Chase
2017 Nichols Canyon - Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
2017 Let’s Dance - Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
2017 Arctic Fire - McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle
2017 Penhill - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
2018 Footpad - Sporting Life Arkle
2018 Benie Des Dieux - Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
2018 Rathvinden - National Hunt Chase
2018 Bleu Berry - Coral Cup
2018 Relegate - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2018 Penhill - Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle
2018 Laurina - Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
2019 Klassical Dream - Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2019 Duc De Genievres - Sporting Life Arkle
2019 Eglantine Du Seuil - Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
2019 Al Boum Photo - Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup
2020 Ferny Hollow - Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2020 Min - Ryanair Chase
2020 Concertista - Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
2020 Burning Victory - JCB Triumph Hurdle
2020 Saint Roi - McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle
2020 Monkfish - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
2020 Al Boum Photo - Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup
2021 Appreciate It – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
2021 Monkfish – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
2021 Sir Gerhard – Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2021 Allaho – Ryanair Chase
2021 Colreevy – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
2021 Galopin Des Champs - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
2022 Stattler – National Hunt Chase
2022 Sir Gerhard – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
2022 Energumene – Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
2022 Facile Vega – Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2022 Allaho – Ryanair Chase
2022 Vauban – JCB Triumph Hurdle
2022 State Man – McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle
2022 The Nice Guy – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
2022 Billaway – St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase
2022 Elimay – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Leading Trainer at The Festival awards (9): 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: JACK BIDS TO BECOME GIANT SLAYER TO GIVE BEAUTICIAN-TURNED TRAINER SHEILA LEWIS A DAY TO REMEMBER
Monday 13th March
By Graham Clark
Taking on Nicky Henderson and Willie Mullins at The Cheltenham Festival might be a daunting prospect for some, but not for beautician-turned-trainer Sheila Lewis who will saddle her first runner at the meeting since swapping painting nails to grooming tails.
The Brecon-based handler, who has only held a licence since 2015, will go head-to-head with two of jump racing’s most respected trainer’s when saddling stable star Straw Fan Jack in the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase on the opening day of The Festival, Champion Day (Tuesday 14th March).
And although the eight year old is a general 66-1 chance Lewis admits she will perform ‘cartwheels’ if he can secure a spot in the hallowed winner’s circle, which he has already visited once this season after striking gold at the Showcase Meeting in October.
But despite looking forward to the challenge ahead Lewis remains realistic of the task that Straw Fan Jack faces in toppling the Henderson-trained Jonbon and El Fabiolo from the Mullins yard, who are both unbeaten over fences.
She said: “I’m not getting ahead of myself as at the end of the day we are going to Cheltenham with a 66-1 chance. Every time I see a video of Jonbon I think he is like a God as he gallops so beautifully so I have quite imposter syndrome about him.
“However, it is a novice race at the end of the day and they have all only had a few runs over fences under their belts so anything could happen.
“He has won at the track over the distance before and although I’m not saying we can beat Jonbon or El Fabiolo, as they are exceptionally good horses, we could run into a place. He likes a smaller field as he tries a bit harder.
“I would definitely be doing cartwheels if he finished in the first four. People love a story like this as it is much more exciting. This is all very exciting for me and it is nicer for the viewer when they see that enthusiasm.”
Although spending much of her working life as a beautician, including a spell on cruise ships before returning to dry land to set up The Beauty Mill, the 54 year old’s involvement with horses is not a sudden revelation.
Lewis said: “I was brought up on a farm and we always had horses. Throughout my childhood we were involved in harness racing. We used to race through Wales and we used to breed them as well.
“Dad (Brian Lewis) always had a couple of horses in training with Steve Brookshaw and I had one from Steve in about 2012 and I thought I will have a go at this. She won a point-to-point then I got another one and it all started from there really.
“I got a permit to train my own in 2015 then I went for the full licence, with just six or seven horses.
“I wasn’t earning enough money to go full time into it so I was backing it up with the salon as it was installed into me, by my dad, that there is no money in horses and you have to have day job.”
Few good things came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, however it was due to the enforced lockdown that helped Lewis make the decision to give up her day job as a beautician and to turn her hobby of training racehorses into her profession.
She said: “Covid came and the salon closed. Horses were always my passion but I just went down the beauty road. Like everything in life you agonise about making a decision then something happens to make the decision for you and basically that was Covid.
“When we opened up again clients a number of clients stopped coming and it did peter out and one day I decided that was is it and I just made that leap of faith to train horses full time.
“I’ve still got the salon but one of the girls runs it for me now. I still do the odd client now and again when I need a bit of money, but we’ve 15 horses in the yard and two full time girls that work here.”
It is not the first time that Lewis has attracted the attention from the media after she saddled a 1,182-1 treble at Hereford, initiated by Straw Fan Jack, in October 2020-a moment which to this day she still looks back at with great fondness.
She continued: “I only had six horses in training and I took three of them to Hereford. I swear they were chatting to each other after Straw Fan Jack won the first race.
“I kind of expected him to win as we thought he was quite special. He was just wanting that bit better ground. Then Knight Commander was the second one and to be honest I was happy with one let alone two.
“Then Cotton End run and there was a question mark whether she would stay the two and a half miles. They didn’t just win they all bolted up which was just bizarre.”
Although Straw Fan Jack saw his unbeaten run over fences come to an end on his most recent start at Newbury the mother of two believes that effort will have taught him plenty ahead of his return to Grade One company.
She said: “Sean (Houlihan, jockey) came back after his Newbury run last time and said he was flat out from start to finish and it was only his jumping that kept him in the race.
“He was carrying quite a bit of weight and he was only beaten just over five lengths. The form of that race has worked out well.
“I’d say two miles around Newbury is a bit too sharp for him and I think he just needs that hill at Cheltenham or a bit of a stiffer track, but it would have done him the world of good to jump at that speed for two miles.”
While Straw Fan Jack will not be carrying the weight of the Welsh nation solely his shoulders at the Festival he has plenty of supporters back in Brecon who will be rooting for him along with his passionate owner Graham Wilson.
She said: “The local bookmaker in Brecon said to my mum Megan, who had gone in bless her to put a bet on him ante-post, that there were a lot of people from a recent article that had gone in to have a bet on him.
“On Wednesday last week, I did an International Women’s Day evening and I was asked to speak at it. There were about 50 or 60 people there and I told them all to put a bit each-way on him so there will be a lot of people watching.
“Graham Wilson is a wonderful guy and is one of the nicest human beings you will meet in your life. He is just a lovely guy. He loves his horses and he loves his racing.
“He doesn’t mind if it is at a wet and cold Ffos Las where they are running or Cheltenham. He just enjoys his horses and his races. I’m very lucky to have him.”
It will be all hands to the deck for Lewis who will be on box driving duty, but having already booked a holiday to Las Vegas following his previous win at the track she admits she could end up coming back on the minibus her family have organised for the day.
She said: “The family has got a minibus coming up, and both my husband Peter and daughter Jodie will be there but unfortunately my son Tomi, who plays rugby for the Jersey Reds can’t make it
“I’m driving the lorry unfortunately but I might be on the minibus on the way back though depending on the result.
“I told the girls if he won at Cheltenham that we would go to Las Vegas and it was just a thing I said as I knew how I would be if I had a winner at Cheltenham.
“It is all booked and there are five of us who are going including my mum who is 77. We will probably do the Grand Canyon, but I’ve not thought that far ahead to be honest as I thought we will get this race over and done with first.
“The most important thing is to enjoy this and not get too stressed.”
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: PROTEKTORAT BIDS TO GIVE OWNER GED MASON OPENING LEG OF UNIQUE SPORTING DOUBLE IN FRIDAY’S BOODLES CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
Monday 13th March
By Graham Clark
Unique sporting doubles are few and far between, however owner Ged Mason hopes to initiate one with Protektorat in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Friday 17th March), a victory he describes would be worth ‘celebrating in style’ together with co-owners Sir Alex Ferguson and John Hales.
Success at the Cheltenham Festival has eluded Mason since Sporazene claimed the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle in 2004. However, he believes another taste of glory at the meeting he looks forward to above all else could be round the corner.
While Protektorat will bid to better his Gold Cup third from 12 months ago, Mason, and his co-owners, also hold leading claims with leading Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle contender Hermes Allen on Festival Wednesday (15th March) as well as Ryanair Chase hopeful Hitman and Il Ridoto in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase on St Patrick’s Thursday (16th March).
Although former Manchester United boss Ferguson, and multiple Festival-winning owner Hales, whose daughter Lisa is also involved with Protektorat, have won countless trophies Mason feels a Gold Cup win would be the pinnacle of their achievements in horseracing.
And for Mason things could get even better away from the racetrack with his beloved Sale Sharks, who he has been joint-owner of alongside Simon Orange since 2016, sitting second behind table toppers Saracens in rugby union’s Gallagher Premiership.
But before dreaming of a possible outing at Twickenham with the Sharks the father of two’s focus is firmly on The Festival, and the chances of the Dan Skelton-trained eight year-old, who he admits he has got the ‘prayer mat’ out for ahead of his Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup bid.
Mason said: “A Cheltenham Gold Cup first is on every owner’s bucket list. It is the Holy Grail and it would be worth celebrating in style. It would be fantastic if Protektorat could do it for us.
“I’ve had a fourth in the race with together with Sir Alex with What A Friend, who was our first horse together, and we have had a third with Protektorat last year, and we are on the prayer mat to go two places better.
“It would be nice for John as it is the one really big trophy he has not won, but also for Sir Alex, as it is races like this that spur them on.
“Both Sir Alex and John would probably need extensions on their houses for the trophy cabinet if he won as they have won that many trophies between them!
“Protektorat is eight now and is that year older, stronger and wiser and Harry (Skelton) knows how to ride him better and what suits him better and Dan knows how to train him better.
“With all those ingredients in the mix hopefully it makes him an all-round better horse, fingers crossed.”
Almost 20 years might now have passed since Sporazene thundered up the famous Cheltenham hill under Ruby Walsh but the Salford-born businessman has vivid recollections of that victory following an entertaining aftermath.
He said: “I was very fortunate that in my first couple of years of ownership I ended up winning the County Hurdle. It was a fantastic day.
“I was invited up to the Royal Box by the managing director of the Tote and he said ‘Ged, enjoy this as money can’t buy this and it doesn’t happen very often, especially to someone owning their first horse.’
“I didn’t really take it in as I didn’t know how frequent winners and losers would come. It was just a fantastic experience. I think I flew down the staircase at the time without touching the staircase it seemed and I kissed the horse, which was caught on television.
“I celebrated with Paul (Nicholls) afterwards and we were one of the last to leave the track. I ended up in Cheltenham having waved my family off to go home to Manchester and I stayed in town with my best pal.
“We were supposed to be on a ski trip with a legal company we had invited. We ended up at the airport the next day and for my sins we ended up in Austria.
“My wife phoned me up and said what are you doing there, but she said it might never happen again and so far it hasn’t. I might take my passport on Gold Cup day and I’ve told the boys to do that as well.”
Not only has Mason and his fellow owners got a lively chance of hitting the jackpot in the Gold Cup, but they also have a strong chance of getting on the scoresheet earlier at the meeting with Hermes Allen in the Grade One Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Wednesday 15th March).
Mason said: “It was interesting with Hermes Allen as Paul thought early doors that he wasn’t showing anything and we thought what have we got, then he bolted up at Stratford before winning the Grade Two at Cheltenham then the Grade one at Newbury.
“I’m always a bit more nervous when they are favourite. The horse doesn’t know what odds he is but it is delightful to have a horse that everyone thinks is capable and valued by so many.
“He did well in the Challow (Novices’ Hurdle, at Newbury) and the form looks good. It was testing conditions there but he eased through it. This will be slightly different ground but he has won on it before so it will be interesting to see how he goes.
“Nothing is ever bombproof, as we know, but he feels in a good position.”
While both Hitman, in the Ryanair Chase, and Il Ridoto, in the Plate Handicap Chase are not quite as prominent in the betting neither are forlorn chances according to Mason.
He said: “I can’t say Hitman is frustrating as he has still been placed in a lot of the Grade One races he has run in, but to go that extra you have to have that extra and he just doesn’t quite finish his races, aside from at Haydock when he led from the front.
“He travels so well into the race and he gets into a position where you think it will be game over, but if he gets into a position where he can finish the race then he will be a threat.
“There are high quality horses like Shishkin in there and it will be a tough race but as we know anything can happen on those big days. Hitman is special to us. Paul believes in him and I believe in him and it would be special if he could do something in the Ryanair.
“Il Ridoto is only a six year old still learning his trade. It was nice to see what he could do at Cheltenham on that track. The hill can catch horses out but to see him win, and win in the manner he did, was very encouraging going for the Plate.”
Excitement might be building for Mason ahead of the Festival, however he is equally looking forward to the run in of the Gallagher Premiership with the Sharks, under director of rugby, Alex Sanderson, holding every chance of securing a first domestic title since 2006.
Mason said: “It is great to see us in this position as every team goes into the season wanting to be in the Play-Offs.
“We are in second place and that gives us a home draw, which is an advantage, one would hope in the play-offs, to see if we can get to Twickenham and play whoever in the final.
“Steve Diamond (former director of rugby) set the foundations but Alex has taken it to another level.
“There has always been that hope and optimism that the squad and team could start to compete at this level now, and why not with the quality of players we have got.
“Alex’s coaching methods, and how he motivates the guys, I’ve seen first-hand and he is an excellent manager at getting the best out of the team in what is his first job in the hot-seat.
“We have invested in the squad with the likes of George Ford, Jonny Hill and the Curry brothers (Tom and Ben). We have a great squad that we have assembled, a bit like my horses, so let's see if we can get some silverware in the rugby world as well this year.”
Back to the racing and while Mason has enjoyed seeing his own silks carried to glory, he insists that any success at this year’s Festival will mean that much more given he will be able to share the moment with those he has forged close relationships with over time.
He said: “I’ve owned horses on my own but there is no fun in that. It is like your birthday, it is only you celebrating on that day, whereas if you are in partnerships it is great as we are all having a joyous day.
“To have four runners going to the Festival is a bit unusual, but it is exciting to have some entries and ones that have got a chance.
“I’ve been chasing the ace at the Festival since Sporazene, but with the armoury I’ve got now with my co-owners hopefully we can put that right and try and win something.”
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: DECLARED RUNNERS FOR FESTIVAL WEDNESDAY (WEDNESDAY 15TH MARCH) PLUS LATEST GOING NEWS
1:30pm Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f
1 American Mike (IRE) ts 6 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Bective Stud Davy Russell
2 Champ Kiely (IRE) 7 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Miss M. A. Masterson
3 Gaelic Warrior (GER) 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs S. Ricci
4 Good Land (FR) 7 11 7 Barry Connell Ireland Mr Barry Connell M. J. M. O'Sullivan
5 Hermes Allen (FR) ts 6 11 7 Paul Nicholls Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & J Diver Harry Cobden
6 Ho My Lord (FR) 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr John P. McManus
7 Impaire Et Passe (FR) 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede
8 Marble Sands (FR) 7 11 7 Fergal O'Brien DL Adams, JA Adams & G McPherson Paddy Brennan
9 Master Chewy (IRE) 6 11 7 Nigel Twiston-Davies Anne-Marie & Jamie Shepperd Sam Twiston-Davies
10 Persian Time 5 11 7 Nicky Henderson McNeill Family & Stone Family A. P. Heskin
2:10pm Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y
1 Adamantly Chosen (IRE) 6 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Watch This Space Syndicate
2 Amirite (IRE) 7 11 7 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Patrick Hale Rachael Blackmore
3 Bronn (IRE) 6 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede
4 Gerri Colombe (FR) 7 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Robcour Jordan Gainford
5 I Am Maximus (FR) 7 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Claudio Michael Grech
6 Ramillies (IRE) ts 8 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs J. Donnelly
7 Sir Gerhard (IRE) 8 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Cheveley Park Stud
8 The Real Whacker (IRE) 7 11 7 Patrick Neville Neville, Mann, Duffus and Dennis Sam Twiston-Davies
9 Thunder Rock (IRE) 7 11 7 Olly Murphy McNeill Family & Mr Ian Dale A. P. Heskin
10 Thyme Hill p 9 11 7 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White The Englands and Heywoods Micheal Nolan
11 Galia des Liteaux (FR) 7 11 0 Dan Skelton Mr Michael Ariss Harry Skelton
2:50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 5f
1 Fil Dor (FR) ts 5 12 0 Gordon Elliott Ireland Caldwell Construction Ltd
2 Sporting John (IRE) 8 12 0 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Mr John P. McManus Micheal Nolan
3 Run For Oscar (IRE) p 8 11 10 Charles Byrnes Ireland Top Of The Hill Syndicate P. Byrnes (5)
4 Scaramanga (IRE) 8 11 10 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Malcolm C. Denmark
5 Red Risk (FR) 8 11 10 Paul Nicholls Middleham Park Racing XLIV & A&J Ryan Harry Cobden
6 Beacon Edge (IRE) bl,ts 9 11 10 Noel Meade Ireland Gigginstown House Stud M. J. M. O'Sullivan (3)
7 Call Me Lord (FR) 10 11 9 Nicky Henderson Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Daryl Jacob
8 Icare Allen (FR) ts 5 11 8 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr John P. McManus
9 Grand Roi (FR) p 7 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Bective Stud
10 Captain Conby (IRE) 6 11 6 E. Sheehy Ireland O'Reilly Buller Partnership Keith Donoghue
11 Good Risk At All (FR) ts 7 11 6 Sam Thomas Walters Plant Hire Ltd Sam Twiston-Davies
12 Hms Seahorse (IRE) 5 11 6 Paul Nolan Ireland Sonja Buckley/Anne Coffey Partnership Sean O'Keeffe
13 Watch House Cross (IRE) ts, p 6 11 5 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Sunday Racing & R.M.Kelleher Partnership Rachael Blackmore
14 Langer Dan (IRE) 7 11 4 Dan Skelton Mr Colm Donlon Harry Skelton
15 Bold Endeavour p 7 11 3 Nicky Henderson Countrywide Park Homes Ltd Nico de Boinville
16 The Very Man (IRE) 9 11 2 Mrs J. Harrington Ireland Dan Kiely/Rob Kearney Conor Smithers (7)
17 Benson p 8 11 2 (5lb ex) Sandy Thomson J Fyffe & S Townshend Ryan Mania
18 Camprond (FR) 7 11 1 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Mr John P. McManus Aidan Coleman
19 San Salvador (IRE) 7 11 1 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Annus Mirabilis Syndicate
20 Tax For Max (GER) ts 6 11 0 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede
21 An Epic Song (FR) ts, p 6 11 0 Martin Brassil Ireland Sean & Bernardine Mulryan J. J. Slevin
22 Sa Fureur (IRE) 6 11 0 Gordon Elliott Ireland Caldwell Construction Ltd Davy Russell
23 Riaan (IRE) 6 10 12 Gordon Elliott Ireland Philip J. Reynolds Jordan Gainford
24 Nells Son p 8 10 12 Nicky Richards Langdale Bloodstock Danny McMenamin
25 Off Your Rocco (IRE) p 7 10 12 Gordon Elliott Ireland Pioneer Racing
26 Elvis Mail (FR) ts 9 10 11 N. W. Alexander The Ladies Who Bruce Lynn (3)
Reserves
R27 Irish Hill (GER) 5 10 11 Paul Nicholls Sir Martin Broughton & Friends 8
R28 Harbour Lake (IRE) 7 10 9 Alan King Exors of the late Mr Trevor Hemmings
3:30pm Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
1 Captain Guinness (IRE) 8 11 10 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Declan Landy Rachael Blackmore
2 Editeur du Gite (FR) 9 11 10 Gary Moore The Preston Family, Friends & T Jacobs Niall Houlihan
3 Edwardstone 9 11 10 Alan King Robert Abrey & Ian Thurtle Tom Cannon
4 Energumene (FR) 9 11 10 W. P. Mullins Ireland Tony Bloom
5 Funambule Sivola (FR) 8 11 10 Venetia Williams My Racing Manager Friends Charlie Deutsch
6 Greaneteen (FR) 9 11 10 Paul Nicholls Chris Giles Harry Cobden
7 Nube Negra (SPA) ts 9 11 10 Dan Skelton Mr T. Spraggett Harry Skelton
4:10pm Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase) 3m 6f 37y
1 Back On The Lash 9 11 7 Martin Keighley Maughan, Redknapp, Ryan, Salters Sean Bowen
2 Coup de Pinceau (FR) bl 11 11 7 Syd Hosie Syd Hosie Mr George Hiscock
3 Deise Aba (IRE) p 10 11 7 Philip Hobbs & Johnson White Exors of the late Mr Trevor Hemmings Micheal Nolan
4 Delta Work (FR) ts 10 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Gigginstown House Stud
5 Diesel d'Allier (FR) ts 10 11 7 Richard Bandey The French Link Harry Bannister
6 Easysland (FR) bl 9 11 7 Jonjo O'Neill Mr John P. McManus Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
7 Foxy Jacks (IRE) 9 11 7 M. F. Morris Ireland Mr D. F. Desmond Ricky Doyle
8 Francky du Berlais (FR) ts 10 11 7 Peter Bowen Mr Roddy Owen Ben Jones
9 Franco de Port (FR) 8 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Bruton Street V
10 Galvin (IRE) 9 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr R. A. Bartlett
11 Hardline (IRE) 11 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Bronsan Racing
12 Lieutenant Rocco (IRE) ts 8 11 7 Syd Hosie Syd Hosie Nick Scholfield
13 Mortal (IRE) ts, p 11 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr A. Dunlop
14 Plan of Attack (IRE) bl 10 11 7 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Mr A. Halsall Darragh O'Keeffe
15 Gin On Lime (FR) ts 7 11 0 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Robcour Rachael Blackmore
16 Snow Leopardess p 11 11 0 Charlie Longsdon Andrew Fox-Pitt Aidan Coleman
4:50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 1m 7f 199y
1 Andy Dufresne (IRE) ts 9 12 0 Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr John P. McManus Mark Walsh
2 Coeur Sublime (IRE) ts 8 11 12 Henry de Bromhead Ireland C. Jones Ben Harvey (5)
3 Final Orders 7 11 9 Gavin Cromwell Ireland C. M. D. Syndicate Keith Donoghue
4 Third Time Lucki (IRE) ts 8 11 8 Dan Skelton Mike and Eileen Newbould Harry Skelton
5 Malystic 9 11 8 Peter Niven Clova Syndicate and Mr P. D. Niven Danny McMenamin
6 A Wave of The Sea (IRE) bl 7 11 7 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Mr John P. McManus Simon Torrens
7 Elixir de Nutz (FR) ts, p 9 11 6 Joe Tizzard Mr Terry Warner Brendan Powell
8 Thyme White (FR) 7 11 6 Paul Nicholls The Stewart Family & Michael Blencowe Harry Cobden
9 Epson du Houx (FR) ts 9 11 6 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Gigginstown House Stud
10 Midnight Run (IRE) 9 11 5 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Gigginstown House Stud B. J. Cooper
11 Dads Lad (IRE) ts 8 11 4 W. P. Mullins Ireland Whitegrass Racing Syndicate
12 Call Me Lyreen (IRE) p 7 11 4 Gordon Elliott Ireland Lyreen Syndicate
13 Dancing On My Own (IRE) ts 9 11 3 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Sean & Bernardine Mulryan
14 Battleoverdoyen (IRE) ts 10 11 3 Gordon Elliott Ireland Pioneer Racing
15 Before Midnight ts, p 10 11 2 Sam Thomas Walters Plant Hire & Potter Group Sam Twiston-Davies
16 Maskada (FR) 7 11 1 Henry de Bromhead Ireland M. K. Mariga Darragh O'Keeffe
17 Sizing Pottsie (FR) ts, p 9 10 13 David Pipe Tracey, Alexander, Apiafi, Kuyt, Harman Jack Tudor
18 Dinoblue (FR) 6 10 13 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr John P. McManus
19 Global Citizen (IRE) 11 10 12 Ben Pauling The Megsons Luca Morgan
20 The Last Day (IRE) 11 10 12 Evan Williams Mr & Mrs William Rucker Adam Wedge
Reserves
R21 Prince Escalus (IRE) 8 10 12 Jonjo O'Neill The As You Like It Syndicate Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
R22 Riders Onthe Storm (IRE) bl,ts 10 10 12 Richard Hobson Carl Hinchy and Mark Scott Gavin Sheehan
5:30pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) (GBB Race) 2m 87y
1 A Dream To Share (IRE) 5 11 7 John E. Kiely Ireland Mr John P. McManus Mr J. L. Gleeson
2 Beachcomber (FR) 5 11 7 Jonjo O'Neill Mrs E. J. Wills Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
3 Better Days Ahead (IRE) 5 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Bective Stud Mr J. J. Codd
4 Captain Cody (IRE) 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland V Caldwell/A Shamoon/Mrs A Shamoon Ibgi
5 Captain Teague (IRE) 5 11 7 Paul Nicholls Mrs Johnny de la Hey Harry Cobden
6 Chapeau de Soleil (IRE) 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs S. Ricci
7 Chosen Witness (IRE) 6 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Monabeg Investments Limited
8 Encanto Bruno (IRE) 5 11 7 John McConnell Ireland Mr D. Kierans Sean Bowen
9 Fact To File (FR) 6 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr John P. McManus
10 Fascile Mode (IRE) 5 11 7 Thomas Mullins Ireland Mrs H. Mullins Mr Charlie Mullins
11 Favour And Fortune (IRE) 5 11 7 Alan King Exors of the late Mr Trevor Hemmings Tom Cannon
12 It's For Me (FR) 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede
13 King of Kingsfield (IRE) 5 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Gigginstown House Stud Jordan Gainford
14 Lecky Watson (IRE) 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Slaneyville Syndicate
15 Loughglynn (IRE) 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Jodmart Construction Ltd
16 No Time To Wait (IRE) 5 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Caldwell Construction Ltd Davy Russell
17 Western Diego (IRE) h 6 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Clipper Logistics Group Ltd
18 Westport Cove (FR) 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Cathal Hughes
19 Fun Fun Fun (IRE) 5 11 0 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede
20 Queens Gamble (IRE) 5 11 0 Oliver Sherwood Mr A Frost and Mr E Galvin Jonathan Burke
21 D Art D Art (FR) 4 10 11 Thomas Cooper Ireland Mr Ciaran John Mooney B. J. Cooper
22 Fiercely Proud (IRE) 4 10 11 Ben Pauling Mr T. P. Radford Luca Morgan
23 Samui 4 10 11 Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr Allan Snow Sam Ewing
24 Shinji (IRE) h 4 10 11 Martin Keighley Mrs Louise Jones Aidan Coleman
Latest Going News
Old Course (in use Tuesday & Wednesday): Soft
New Course (in use Thursday & Friday): Soft, Good to Soft in Places
Cross Country Course (in use on Wednesday): Soft, Good to Soft in Places
A blustery day is forecast today, with a further 2-3mm of rain. There is a risk of some light showers in the early hours, followed by a mainly dry day tomorrow.
Temperatures are forecast to drop to -2C overnight into Wednesday. A further band of rain moves in later in the day on Wednesday and on and off through Thursday (5-8mm).
Friday looks mainly dry with an occasional shower.
For the latest TurfTrax going report, please go to: https://t.co/TL5K3xBFyr
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: DECLARED RUNNERS FOR CHAMPION DAY - TUESDAY 14TH MARCH
1:30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
1 Chasing Fire 6 11 7 Olly Murphy Mrs Diana L. Whateley Aidan Coleman
2 Dark Raven (IRE) 6 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede Daryl Jacob
3 Diverge ts 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland C. Jones Mr P. W. Mullins
4 Doctor Bravo (FR) 6 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Caldwell Construction Ltd Davy Russell
5 Facile Vega (IRE) 6 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Hammer & Trowel Syndicate P. Townend
6 Fennor Cross (IRE) 6 11 7 John McConnell Ireland The Positivity Syndicate Simon Torrens
7 High Definition (IRE) 5 11 7 Joseph Patrick O'Brien Ireland Derrick Smith/Mrs John Magnier J. J. Slevin
8 Il Etait Temps (FR) h 5 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Hollywood Syndicate & Barnane Stud Daniel Mullins
9 Inthepocket 6 11 7 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Mr John P. McManus Rachael Blackmore
10 Marine Nationale (IRE) 6 11 7 Barry Connell Ireland Mr Barry Connell M. J. M. O'Sullivan
11 Palace Boy (GER) 6 11 7 Fergal O'Brien Mr Rupert Lowe Paddy Brennan
12 Rare Edition (IRE) 6 11 7 Charlie Longsdon Pay The Bill Syndicate Sam Twiston-Davies
13 Strong Leader 6 11 7 Olly Murphy Welfordgolf syndicate Sean Bowen
14 Tahmuras (FR) 6 11 7 Paul Nicholls Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates Tahmuras Harry Cobden
2:10pm Sporting Life Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
1 Ballybreeze 7 11 7 Samuel Drinkwater Mr Kevin Price Robert Dunne
2 Dysart Dynamo (IRE) ts 7 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Ms Eleanor Manning Daniel Mullins
3 El Fabiolo (FR) 6 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr Simon Munir/Mr Isaac Souede P. Townend
4 Ha d'Or (FR) h 6 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs S. Ricci Sean O'Keeffe
5 Hollow Games (IRE) ts 7 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Bective Stud Davy Russell
6 Jonbon (FR) 7 11 7 Nicky Henderson Mr John P. McManus Aidan Coleman
7 Saint Roi (FR) ts 8 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr John P. McManus Mark Walsh
8 Straw Fan Jack 8 11 7 Sheila Lewis Mr Graham Wilson Sean Houlihan
9 Effernock Fizz (IRE) ts, p 8 11 0 Cian Collins Ireland Mr T. B. Sheridan Sam Ewing
2:50pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m 1f
1 Fanion d'Estruval (FR) 8 12 0 Venetia Williams Mr David Wilson Miss Lucy Turner (5)
2 Happygolucky (IRE) p 9 11 11 Kim Bailey Lady Dulverton David Bass
3 Remastered ts, p 10 11 10 David Pipe Brocade Racing David Noonan
4 The Big Breakaway (IRE) p 8 11 10 Joe Tizzard Eric Jones, Geoff Nicholas, John Romans Brendan Powell
5 Threeunderthrufive (IRE) ts 8 11 9 Paul Nicholls McNeill Family A. P. Heskin
6 Fastorslow (FR) ts 7 11 9 Martin Brassil Ireland Sean & Bernardine Mulryan J. J. Slevin
7 The Goffer (IRE) 6 11 8 Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr Allan Snow Davy Russell
8 Tea Clipper (IRE) p 8 11 6 Tom Lacey Mr Jerry Hinds & Mr Ashley Head Stan Sheppard
9 Into Overdrive ts 8 11 6 Mark Walford Mrs Wendy Hamilton Jamie Hamilton
10 Corach Rambler (IRE) ts 9 11 5 Lucinda Russell The Ramblers Derek Fox
11 Cloudy Glen (IRE) 10 11 4 Venetia Williams Exors of the late Mr Trevor Hemmings Charlie Deutsch
12 Nassalam (FR) p 6 11 3 Gary Moore John and Yvonne Stone Jamie Moore
13 Karl Philippe (FR) 8 11 1 Fergal O'Brien C Coley, D Porter, H Redknapp, P Smith Jack Hogan (5)
14 Top Ville Ben (IRE) h 11 10 13 Philip Kirby Harbour Rose Partnership Thomas Dowson
15 Monbeg Genius (IRE) ts 7 10 13 Jonjo O'Neill Barrowman Racing Limited Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
16 Good Boy Bobby (IRE) 10 10 13 Nigel Twiston-Davies Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Daryl Jacob
17 Oscar Elite (IRE) ts 8 10 12 Joe Tizzard Mrs Mary-Ann Middleton Harry Cobden
18 Iceo Madrik (FR) ts, p 5 10 9 David Pipe Prof. Caroline Tisdall Jack Tudor
19 Laskalin (FR) 8 10 8 Venetia Williams David & Carol Shaw Shane Quinlan (3)
20 Harper's Brook (IRE) ts, p 7 10 7 Ben Pauling The Megsons Tom Cannon
21 Fantastikas (FR) ts, p 8 10 5 Nigel Twiston-Davies Imperial Racing Partnership Sam Twiston-Davies
22 The Wolf (FR) bl,ts 9 10 3 Olly Murphy McNeill Family & Stone Family Paddy Brennan
23 Glamorgan Duke (IRE) 10 10 2 Paul John Gilligan Ireland Natalie Gilligan Danny Gilligan (7)
3:30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
1 Constitution Hill 6 11 10 Nicky Henderson Mr Michael Buckley Nico de Boinville
2 I Like To Move It 6 11 10 Nigel Twiston-Davies Anne-Marie & Jamie Shepperd Sam Twiston-Davies
3 Jason The Militant (IRE) ts 9 11 10 Philip Kirby Mr G. Nicholson Joe Williamson
4 Not So Sleepy 11 11 10 Hughie Morrison Lady Blyth Jonathan Burke
5 State Man (FR) 6 11 10 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs J. Donnelly P. Townend
6 Vauban (FR) ts 5 11 10 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs S. Ricci Daniel Mullins
7 Zanahiyr (IRE) ts, p 6 11 10 Gordon Elliott Ireland Bective Stud Davy Russell
4:10pm Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y
1 Brandy Love (IRE) h 7 11 5 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs J. Donnelly P. Townend
2 Echoes In Rain (FR) ts 7 11 5 W. P. Mullins Ireland Barnane Stud Mr P. W. Mullins
3 Epatante (FR) 9 11 5 Nicky Henderson Mr John P. McManus Aidan Coleman
4 Honeysuckle 9 11 5 Henry de Bromhead Ireland Mr K. Alexander Rachael Blackmore
5 Love Envoi (IRE) ts 7 11 5 Harry Fry Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates Love Envoi Jonathan Burke
6 Marie's Rock (IRE) ts 8 11 5 Nicky Henderson Middleham Park Racing XLII Nico de Boinville
7 Midnight Ginger 7 11 5 Andrew Martin Mr A. V. John James Martin
8 Queens Brook (IRE) 8 11 5 Gordon Elliott Ireland Bective Stud Davy Russell
9 Shewearsitwell (IRE) 8 11 5 W. P. Mullins Ireland Closutton Racing Club Daniel Mullins
10 Theatre Glory (IRE) 6 11 5 Nicky Henderson Canter Banter Racing 2 Daryl Jacob
4:50pm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 87y
1 McTigue (IRE) 4 11 12 Emmet Mullins Ireland Mr P. Byrne Donagh Meyler
2 Tekao (FR) h 4 11 5 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr John P. McManus Mark Walsh
3 Perseus Way (IRE) p 4 11 2 Gary Moore Mr O. S. Harris Jamie Moore
4 Sir Allen 4 11 1 A. Slattery Ireland Eight Star Syndicate Daniel Mullins
5 Byker (IRE) p 4 10 12 Charles Byrnes Ireland Relicpride Co Ltd Partnership P. Byrnes (5)
6 Risk Belle (FR) 4 10 11 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mr John P. McManus Luke Dempsey
7 Punta Del Este (FR) 4 10 10 Dan Skelton Darren & Annaley Yates Harry Skelton
8 Bad (FR) 4 10 10 Ben Pauling Mr D. P. Howden Rachael Blackmore
9 Samuel Spade (GER) 4 10 10 Ben Pauling Mrs Emma Palmer Luca Morgan
10 Jazzy Matty (FR) ts, p 4 10 9 Gordon Elliott Ireland Caldwell Construction Ltd M. J. M. O'Sullivan (3)
11 Metamorpheus (IRE) 4 10 9 Paul Nolan Ireland The Spice of Life Partnership Sean Flanagan
12 Action Motion (IRE) 4 10 9 Denis G. Hogan Ireland Mr Justin Carthy Mr Harry Swan (5)
13 Morning Soldier (IRE) ts 4 10 9 Thomas Mullins Ireland HOS Partnership Darragh O'Keeffe
14 Mighty Mo Missouri (IRE) ts, p 4 10 8 Mrs J. Harrington Ireland Mount Temple Three Syndicate Conor Smithers (7)
15 Fils de Roi (FR) 4 10 7 Fergal O'Brien The Yes No Wait Sorries Paddy Brennan
16 Afadil (FR) 4 10 7 Paul Nicholls Mr P. J. Vogt Harry Cobden
17 Gordons Aura (IRE) 4 10 6 Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr Michael Phillips Sam Ewing
18 Shared p 4 10 6 Harry Derham Mr Colm Donlon Paul O'Brien
19 Ludus 4 10 4 Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr Aidan J. Ryan Jordan Gainford
20 Sundial (IRE) ts, p 4 10 4 Padraig Roche Ireland Mr John P. McManus Simon Torrens
21 Mr Freedom p 4 10 4 Sheena West The Affordable (3) Partnership Robert Dunne
22 Romancero Le Dun (FR) 4 10 3 Mrs Jane Williams Tom Chadney and Friends David Noonan
Reserves
R23 Zanndabad (IRE) ts 4 10 3 A. J. Martin Ireland Mr P. Davies
R24 Arclight 4 10 2 Nicky Henderson Fortnum Racing
5:30pm WellChild National Hunt Amateur Jockeys' Novices' Chase (Grade 2) 3m 5f 201y
1 Chemical Energy (IRE) 7 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Caldwell Construction Ltd Mr J. J. Codd
2 Coolvalla (IRE) p 7 11 7 Chris Gordon Mr L. Gilbert Mr Joshua Newman
3 Fakiera (FR) bl,ts 8 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland Mr T. O'Driscoll Mr D. G. Lavery
4 Gaillard du Mesnil (FR) 7 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland Mrs J. Donnelly Mr P. W. Mullins
5 Mahler Mission (IRE) ts 7 11 7 John McConnell Ireland Colm Herron & Rockview Racing Syndicate Mr J. C. Barry
6 Malinello ts 8 11 7 Ben Pauling Martin & Lynn Jones Miss Gina Andrews
7 Minella Crooner (IRE) p 7 11 7 Gordon Elliott Ireland KTDA Racing/Nick Courtney/Cillian Moran Mr Barry O'Neill
8 Mister Coffey (FR) 8 11 7 Nicky Henderson Lady Bamford & Alice Bamford Mr Derek O'Connor
9 Tenzing (IRE) 6 11 7 W. P. Mullins Ireland C. Jones Mr N. McParlan
10 Bellatrixsa (IRE) 6 11 0 Venetia Williams Ms Sharon Kinsella Miss Lucy Turner