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Posted on TBGreats.com Blog on March 4, 2015 at 7:30 pm ESTCheltenham Escapes Frost
We are less than four weeks ahead of the 2015 Cheltenham Festival and all the early signs indicate that the weather is going to be good for the "greatest show on turf" this time around as temperatures are forecast to increase before the meeting begins on March 9.
Unfortunately the frost has played havoc to previous meetings, most notably in 2013 when the freezing conditions forced the organisers to reschedule the times of races on day one of the four day event. There were concerns that year that the whole meeting could be in doubt with the frozen ground, but thankfully it did eventually go ahead, albeit in bitterly cold conditions.
Here is a look at what we have to look forward to in 2015 now that the meeting is set to avoid the frost.
Cheltenham Gold Cup (3m2f) - Friday, 13th March
The blue riband event of the Cheltenham Festival always takes place on Friday and although there are 27 very good races at the meeting, this is the feature as it is the flagship prize of national hunt racing.
The history books show us some of the greatest horses to ever live won the Gold Cup including Golden Miller, Arkle, Mull House, Desert Orchid and Kauto Star.
This year's race looks fascinating as it is one of the most wide open we have seen for a long time. Silviniaco Conti is likely to start as favourite following his success at Kempton in the King George on Boxing Day, however, this will be his third attempt at winning the race. He fell when travelling well in the contest in 2013, while 12 months ago, he could no better than fourth where there were no excuses.
Silviniaco Conti's trainer Paul Nicholls is convinced his horse is good enough to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup and if he did do so this year's it would be Nicholls' fifth triumph in the contest.
Last year's winner Lord Windermere is back to try and defend his crown. No horse has successfully won back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups since Best Mate managed the feat in 2004 so he will be out to change the record books.
In his three starts since beating On His Own in a photo last March, Jim Culloty's runner has not been able to find the winner's enclosure although he may a relish a return to Prestbury Park where he has a 100% record with two victories from two runs.
by Paolo Camera
19-time Champion Jockey Tony McCoy is set for his final Cheltenham Festival this year and it would be some story if he won the biggest race of the meeting. AP will retire at the end of this season so will be looking to go out with a few winners at Prestbury Park. At this stage, it looks like Holywell will be his ride in the 3m2f contest.
Holywell won a Grade Three handicap at the 2014 Festival but connections believe he deserves his chance in the Blue Riband contest where he is currently third best in the betting behind Silviniaco Conti and Road To Riches. He completed his final warm up run before the meeting last week when scoring comfortably at Kelso by 24 lengths.
Champion Hurdle (2m) - Tuesday, 9th March
The feature on day one is the Champion Hurdle and this is most prestigious race anywhere on the national hunt calendar over hurdles.
Jockey Ruby Walsh has one of the hardest decisions of his career to make by deciding whether to ride ante-post favourite Faugheen or two-time winner Hurricane Fly.
Faugheen has not put a foot wrong this season with two very impressive outings in the Ascot Hurdle and December Hurdle, respectively.
Willie Mullins' runner scored in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the 2014 Festival and has been backed to win the Champion Hurdle this year ever since that win.
On paper it should be an easy decision for Walsh as the market suggests Faugheen is the horse they all have to beat. However, the record breaking Hurricane Fly has given Ruby some great memories over the years, including this season where the pair combined together for the Morgiana Hurdle, Ryanair Hurdle and Irish Champion Hurdle.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies will be hoping The New One will be able to make up for his disappointment in the Champion Hurdle 12 months ago. The seven-year old nearly got brought down early in the contest but lost ground on the rest of his rivals. Despite the impediment, he was able to finish strongly and come home third behind Jezki and My Tent of Yours.
Queen Mother Champion Chase (2m) - Wednesday, 10th March
The Queen Mother Champion Chase has the makings of being the best race of Festival as Sprinter Sacre, Sire De Grugy and Dodging Bullets are all set to clash in the 2m chase contest, if they all make it to the meeting fit and well.
by Carine06
One of the big disappointments of the 2014 Festival was that Sprinter Sacre had to miss it through the irregular heart problem he has occurred earlier in the season. Nicky Henderson's runner made his first appearance at a racecourse in just over a year when he returned for the Clarence House Chase at Ascot last month. The former QMCC Chase winner was beaten by just short of three lengths by Dodging Bullets as he looked to lack the fitness jumping the last.
It will be fascinating to see how much work Henderson put into his runner for Ascot and how much he is expected to improve for that run when he returns at Cheltenham in just short of three weeks.
Dodging Bullets has been the star performer in the two mile chase division this season. He won the Grade One Tingle Creek at Sandown in December and then followed that up with another top graded victory over Sprinter Sacre at Ascot.
Defending champion Sire De Grugy made his first appearance of the season last weekend in the Betfair price Rush Chase at Newbury but came down with two fences to go in the race won by Mr Mole. The 2014 QMCC winner may have also needed that run and we can get expect him to be much better prepared for his Cheltenham appearance next month.
World Hurdle (3m) - Thursday, 11th March
2014 World Hurdle winner More of That tops the betting to follow up last year's success with more glory in the 3m hurdle contest.
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained runner has only had one outing so far this season where he was disappointing in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury. The good news for connections of the horse this year is that he will not have to take on last year's runner-up Annie Power who will run in the mares' only race at the Festival.
Former Triumph Hurdle winner Zarkandar is second best behind More of That in the betting for Thursday’s contest. The highlight of his season so far came in France when he was victorious in the Grand Prix D'Automne on very soft ground at Auteuil.
Zarkandar was also unlucky not to score in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot just before Christmas where Reve De Sivola denied him the win by a head. Those two are set to clash again in the World Hurdle in what looks to be the most open of the four Championship races at the Festival.
TBGreats Racehorse Websites
Thoroughbred Greats hosts a few websites dedicated to famous racehorses with complete biography, race record, and information on owner, jockey, trainer. Check them out:
NEW SITE! Ghostzapper - 2004 Horse of the Year and record breaker!
Man o' War - Arguably the greatest racehorse of all time!
Seabiscuit - The American Legend who defeated the odds!
Cigar - America's Horse who went on a 16 race win streak!
Regret - The first filly to win the Kentucky Derby!
Ruffian - The big filly who ran against the boys, but who had a terrible tragedy.
I have also written a few blog posts on some racehorses. These blogs don't contain as much information as the websites above:
Gander - A look back at Gander's smashing riderless "win" in the 2002 Saratoga Breeders Cup Handicap!
Behrens - Behrens memorable run in the 1999 MassCap @ Suffolk Downs.
Captain Bodgit - The formidable closer who came close in 2 legs of the 1997 Triple Crown!
Real Quiet - My personal favorite, one horse who came within a nose of a Triple Crown victory in 1997!
123bet Horse race betting - The home of live horse race betting in America
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