Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: Betfred Gold Cup

Solving the puzzle of the 2015 running of the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup partly revolves around the emphasis that is placed on Cheltenham form versus current season form.

Silviniaco Conti (Paul Nicholls) is the clear 3/1 favourite and has had a strong season but his record at the Cheltenham Festival reads 3F4, with the last two runs being in the Gold Cup itself. So, with a win record of 0/3, there has to be a strong argument made that something is different this time around.

In recent history, no horse has come back to win the Gold Cup having failed to win it in a previous year.

Kauto Star won the race in 2007, was defeated in 2008, and then returned to win again in 2009.

The argument that it will be third time lucky in the race for Silviniaco Conti is based in the claim that the horse was suffering from gastric ulcers last season – although he was able to win at Aintree a month after losing at Cheltenham.

Paul Nicholls has told Sportinglife.com: “What he’s doing this year, which he didn’t do last year, is finishing off his races strongly. We found out after he won at Aintree last year that he was suffering from gastric ulcers. We’ve been on top of that now and it’s obviously made a difference, along with the cheekpieces which have got him jumping sharper and stopped him being lazy.”

He also views the horse’s record at Cheltenham as “unlucky”:

“He’s been very unlucky at Cheltenham in a lot of ways. He ran very well once there in the Bula, was going very well when he fell at the third last in the Gold Cup two years ago and last year he jumped the last in front, so you can’t say he doesn’t act there.”

By contrast, Lord Windermere’s win record at the Festival is 2/2 and is 14/1 for this year’s Gold Cup. But his form this season has been lacklustre – although this is no different to his performances before last season’s Gold Cup - and reigning Gold Cup champions have struggled to retain their title in the following season.

The money this week has been for Djakadam (Willie Mullins), who is in from 16/1 to 12/1. He won a foggy running of the Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park in January 2015 but was beaten a long way in 8th in the Hennessy Gold Cup behind Many Clouds (8/1 for the Gold Cup) in his seasonal debut in November 2014. He is only six years old, however, and there has been only one winner of that age since 2004 (2009: Long Run).

Turf notes: 27 February 2015

Jockey David Crosse survived a series of jumping mistakes from his mount Kadalkin (16/1) to remain in the saddle and win the BetBright Cheltenham Festival Fund Novices' Chase (3.45) at Doncaster on Friday.

One jumping error close to home left the jockey with his foot out of the stirrup and perilously close to falling off the nine-year old. But Crosse recovered very well and composed himself to mount a challenge that saw him take the lead at the final flight and come home in front by eight lengths from Pure Oxygen (11/8).

This was only Kadalkin's sixth race under rules and was his first win. Trainer Nigel Hawke admitted he had been a "nightmare" to train but that his connections had also been waiting for the right ground for him (good).

The horse has no further entries at the moment.

GBR Fantasy Jumps Series 2014 - 2015

Our combination strategy had not been proving itself over the last few races and our stable had slipped outside the top 100 as a result.

But the plan came good again at Kempton Park in the Betbright Chase. Paul Nicholls' Rocky Creek (8/1) was a comfortable winner under the jockeyship of Sam Twiston-Davies and earned nearly 150 points for the trio.

With more than 230 points earned on the day our stable moved back up to just outside the top 100.

The races come thick and fast in March, with 13 races in the series and the week of the Cheltenham Festival will be central to the stable's success in the season.

Turf Notes 24 February 2015: Cheltenham Festival update

Jonjo O'Neill's More Of That has been ruled of the Cheltenham Festival 2015 and will not be able to defend his Ladbrokes World Hurdle title.

His participation was thrown into doubt a few weeks ago when he was reported to have bled after a workout and today's news confirms that the Festival will come too soon after that setback.

Paul Nicholls' Hinterland has also been ruled out of Cheltenham 2015 and will not run in The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. His trainer set Sandown in April as a possible target for a return to the track.

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: Betfred Gold Cup

Cheltenham Festival 2015: Betfred Gold Cup

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival 2015: Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: JCB Triumph Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival 2015: JCB Triumph Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: World Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival 2015: World Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: Ryanair Chase

Cheltenham Festival 2015: Ryanair Chase

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: JLT Novices' Chase

Cheltenham Festival 2015: JLT Novices' Chase

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: Champion Bumper

Cheltenham Festival 2015: Champion Bumper

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: Queen Mother Champion Chase

Cheltenham Festival 2015: Queen Mother Champion Chase

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: RSA Chase

Cheltenham Festival 2015: RSA Chase

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: Stan James Champion Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival 2015: Stan James Champion Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy

Cheltenham Festival 2015: Racing Post Arkle

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Cheltenham Festival 2015: Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Prime Minister visits Newmarket

Prime Minister David Cameron made an early morning visit to Newmarket's Warren Hill today and highlighted racing's contribution to the UK economy and employment.

Video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut6ZYU8LKns&feature=youtu.be

Crabbie's Grand National 2015 - weights

Crabbie's Grand National, Aintree, 11 April 2015

The weights have been announced for the 2015 running of the Grand National, with its GB£ 1 million total prize fund.

Currently, joint top weights are Carlingford Lough (trainer: John Kiely) and 2014 Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere (Jim Culloty). Both horses have been allocated 11-10.

Oliver Sherwood's Many Clouds is next in the weights with 11-09.

Last year's Grand National winner Pineau De Re (Dr Richard Newland) is given 11-00 to carry this time around.

A maximum of 40 runners can face the starter on 11 April. Shuthefrontdoor (11-02) is already as short as 9/1 favourite for the race.

BHA Head of Handicapping Phil Smith discusses the weights here:

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/bha-head-handicapping-speaks-2015-crabbies-grand-national-weights-lunch/

McCoy confirms Gold Cup ride

AP McCoy will ride Carlingford Lough in next month's Cheltenham Gold Cup, which could be the jockey's last ride in the race if he retires at the end of the season as stated.

Carlingford Lough, owned by JP McManus, won the Irish Hennessy at Leopardstown earlier this month and is currently 10/1 for the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (13 March).

Newmarket rejigs autumn racing programme

Newmarket racecourse has tried to sort out the muddle of the autumn Flat racing programme by announcing a new Dubai Future Champions Festival to be held on Friday 9 October and Saturday 10 October 2015.

Prize money for the festival has been boosted to more than GB£ 2 million and will include GB£ 500,000 each for the Group 1 Dubai Fillies' Mile and Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes and GB£ 250,000 for the Betfred Cesarewitch Handicap.

In a further alteration, the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes has been moved to an earlier date and will be part of the Cambridgeshire meeting on 26 September 2015. This creates a break of two weeks between the Middle Park Stakes and the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, rather than being run on the same day.

Perhaps because there are a few races for fillies on the first day, the marketing department has decided that "the Friday will be promoted as Newmarket Racecourses’ Autumn Ladies Day, while the Spa at Bedford Lodge Hotel in Newmarket will become the Official Fashion Partner for the two-day festival."

Friday 9th October 2015

1.      5f 2y Group 3 Dubai Cornwallis Stakes £80,000

2.      7f 2y Group 3 Dubai Oh So Sharp Stakes £80,000

3.      7f 3y+ Group 2 Dubai Challenge Stakes £150,000

4.      8f 2y Group 1 Dubai Fillies' Mile Stakes £500,000

5.      12f 3y Dubai Old Rowley Cup (Heritage Handicap) £140,000

6.      7f 2y Dubai Fillies Maiden Stakes £25,000

7.      10f 3y+ Listed Dubai Pride Stakes £50,000

Friday total prize money: £1,025,000




Saturday 10th October 2015

1.      7f 2y EBF Fillies Nursery Handicap £60,000

2.      8f 2y Group 3 Dubai Autumn Stakes £80,000

3.      7f 2y Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes £500,000

4.      18f 3y+ Betfred Cesarewitch Heritage Handicap £250,000

5.      10f 2y Listed Dubai Zetland Stakes £50,000

6.      6f 3y+ Listed Dubai Boadicea Stakes £50,000

7.      9f 3y+ Group 3 Darley Stakes £80,000

8.      The Bearstead Perpetual Challenge Trophy (The Varsity Race)


Saturday total prize money: £1,070,000

Cheltenham Festival 2015 preview evenings

For anyone looking for a Cheltenham Festival preview evening to attend in 2015, the bettrends site has compiled a page with all the details of the various events.

Bettrends Cheltenham Festival Preview Evenings
http://www.bettrends.co.uk/cheltenham-festival-preview-evenings-listings/

There are currently more than 70 events listed in the UK and Ireland, so no doubt the eventual winner of every race at the Festival will be mentioned by someone at some point in one of the previews!

Newcastle racecourse ends picnics

Health and safety concerns have caused the management of Newcastle racecourse to issue a ban on picnics at all fixtures except for the Blaydon Races.

The course's executive director David Williamson explained:

"The decision has been made purely for the comfort and safety of all racegoers. The amount of people bringing in chairs, rugs, picnic boxes etc. caused space to be limited for the number of people attending the race days due to picnickers spreading out."

"The added furniture was a potential trip hazard and a few people reported to first aid because of this. People are under no obligation whatsoever to purchase food while in the racecourse grounds."

"For those who wish to have a picnic before coming into the racecourse, we will have a designated area within the estate where picnics can be had if they so wish."

At The Races Rich Ricci feature

At The Races' Matt Chapman hosts a feature which profiles Rich Ricci, the owner of National Hunt stars Faugheen, Vautour, and Champagne Fever.

At The Races Rich Ricci feature
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJLuHg6nuC0

Champion Jockey AP McCoy announces retirement

Champion jockey AP McCoy announced his retirement from the saddle at the end of the 2014/2015 season on Channel 4 Racing this afternoon (7 February 2015).

The jockey was being interviewed after winning the The Game Spirit Chase at Newbury aboard Mr Mole (7/2). The ride brought up his 200th win of the season and McCoy told Channel 4 Racing presenter Rishi Persad that it would be the last time he achieved that feat because he would be retiring at the end of the season.

AP McCoy has been champion jockey 19 times (consecutively) and he is on course to retire at the end of the season as a 20-time champion jockey.

"I want to go out at top. I want to go out as champion jockey and it will be my 20th year if I can win the jockeys' championship [this season]," McCoy explained.

He has won more than 4,300 races in his career and has been awarded an MBE (2003) and OBE (2010) for his services to horse racing.