Cheltenham Festival 2015: Friday summary

There was to be no farewell Festival finale for jockey AP McCoy on Friday. He could only finish fourth on Ned Buntline (4/1jf) in his final ride in the AP McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase.

• Coneygree (7/1) set a pace that his rivals couldn't live with in the Betfred Gold Cup and he got into a rhythm that produced a solid round of jumping to see him home by 1 1/2 lengths from Djakadam (10/1) and Road To Riches (8/1)
• Peace And Co (2/1f) led home a Nicky Henderson 1-2-3 in the JCB Triumph Hurdle
• Wicklow Brave (25/1) sulked at Sandown last weekend when he didn't get his way in the race but turned it round to win the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle by eight lengths
• Willie Mullins ended the Festival 2015 with a record-breaking eight wins over the four days

Turf notes 9 March 2015: Cheltenham Festival updates

Mark Bradstock said he was "edging towards" the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup as the preferred race for Coneygree at this week's Cheltenham Festival.

Speaking on At The Races Bradstock said that he will inspect the course early on Tuesday morning before having to make a decision before 10am, when declarations are due for his other option, Wednesday's RSA Chase.

The decision will be influenced by the ground conditions and rain is forecast over the course of the week before the main event on Friday.

Cheltenham Festival 2015 race preview: Betfred Gold Cup

Cheltenham Festival 2015: Betfred Gold Cup

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).

Top 10 horse races by betting turnover - January to June 2014

The top ten races by betting turnover in the first six months of 2014 were as follows:

1. Crabbie's Grand National
2. Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup
3. Investec Derby
4. Ladbrokes World Hurdle
5. Stan James Champion Hurdle
6. Coral Scottish Grand National
7. Qipco 2000 Guineas
8. Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
9. BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase
10. Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle


Source: HBLB

Top 10 horse races by betting turnover - January to March 2014

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) has published the top 10 races by betting turnover in Q1 2014, using data provided on a confidential basis by the leading bookmakers. Not surprisingly all 10 are from a few days in March at the Cheltenham Festival.

1. Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup
2. Ladbrokes World Hurdle
3. Stan James Champion Hurdle
4. Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle
5. BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase
6. Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
7.Grand Annual Chase
8. JCB Triumph Hurdle
9. NIM Novices' Hurdle
10. Ryanair Chase

Handicapper's view of the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2014

BHA head of handicapping Phil Smith has published his views of last week's Betfred Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival.

He writes:

"Definitely one of the most exciting but perhaps not one of the most outstanding [Gold Cups]."

"It seemed a very straightforward race to rate. You can set your clock by The Giant Bolster at Cheltenham in March. He is always placed. In both 2012 and 2013 I had him performing to 164 and have assessed him at that level again this year."

"As a result Lord Windermere improves from 153 to 165. Time was that observers criticised the RSA Chase claiming that its winners didn't go on but Bobs Worth, Albertas Run, Denman, Trabolgan and now Lord Windermere in the last nine years have shown that winning it is no barrier to success the following year." 

Read the handicapper's full thoughts here:

http://www.britishhorseracing.com/goracing/blogs/head_of_handicapping.asp

Cheltenham Festival 2014: Day Four Selections

JCB Triumph Hurdle
Broughton

County Handicap Hurdle
Lac Fontana

Albert Bartlett
Kings Palace

Betfred Gold Cup
Bobs Worth

Foxhunter Chase
Ganbei

Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
Vieux Lion Rouge

Grand Annual Chase
Ned Buntline

Festival race preview: Betfred Gold Cup

Bobs Worth (7/4) will seek to defend his Gold Cup crown for Nicky Henderson. He was last seen beating First Lieutenant (14/1) in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December.

Much debate centres around what the result would have been in last year’s race had Silviniaco Conti (3/1) not fallen. Paul Nicholls’ gelding is back again to take on Bobs Worth after beating Cue Card in the King George VI Chase at Kempton.

The withdrawal of Cue Card with injury and former champion Long Run’s likely run in the Grand National means that the 2014 running of the Betfred Gold Cup does not have some of the strength in depth of recent years.