Monday, January 6, 2003

SEEBALD AND FONDMORT FAVOURITES FOR VICTOR CHANDLER

Victor Chandler Chase, Ascot, Saturday
9-2 Seebald, Fondmort, 5-1 Young Devereaux, 11-2 Dark'N Sharp, 8-1 Fadoudal du Cochet, 11-1 Golden Alpha, 14-1 Turgeonev, Redemption, Just Jasmine, Devon View, 16-1 Wahiba Sands, Davoski, 20-1 Bleu Superbe, Wave Rock, 25-1 Demasta, Batswing, Risk Accessor, 100-1 Castle Prince

BEST MATE CUT BY CORAL AFTER GOLD CUP ENTRY STAGE

Having kept Best mate's Gold Cup odds at a best price 5-2 for two weeks since his King George victory Coral was finally forced to cut his odds to 2-1 after today's entry stage. Moscow Flyer is 11-4 from 3-1 with Coral for the Champion Chase.

2003 Queen Mother Champion Chase
11-4 Moscow Flyer, 5-1 Cenkos, Flagship Uberalles, 7-1 Native Upmanship, 8-1 Edredon Bleu, 12-1 Seebald, 14-1 Florida Pearl, Fondmort, Young Devereux, 16-1 Latalomne, 20-1 Tiutchev, Armaturk, Dark n Sharp, Geos, Lady Cricket, 25-1 Wahiba Sands, 33-1 Kadarann, 40-1 Bar

2003 Gold Cup
2-1 Best Mate, 7-1 Beef Or Salmon, 10-1 Marlborough, 12-1 Hussard Collonges, Commanche Court, 16-1 Chives, Bacchanal, 20-1 Colonel Braxton, Florida Pearl, Gingembre, Rince Ri, Valley Henry, 25-1 Barton, Behrajan, First Gold, Cyfor Malta, Harbour Pilot, Sackville, Whitenzo, 33-1 Fondmort, Le Coudray, Truckers Tavern, 40-1 Bar

2003 Champion Hurdle
5-1 Rooster Booster, 6-1 Intersky Falcon, 8-1 Davenport Milenium, 11-1 Rhinestone Cowboy, 14-1 Hors La Loi, 16-1 Like A Butterfly, Scottish Memories, Marble Arch, Galileo, 20-1 Landing Light, Adamant Approach, Geos, Copeland, 25-1 Ilnamar, In Contrast, Laveron, 33-1 Bar

Bonusprint Stayers Hurdle
3-1 Limestone Lad, Baracouda, 7-2 Bacchanal, 8-1 Bannow Bay, 10-1 Galileo, 14-1 Classified, Native Emperor, 16-1 Stromness, Brother Joe, It Takes Time, Ilnamar, Eternal Spring, 20-1 Keen Leader, Liss A Paoraigh, 25-1 Tees Components, 33-1 Surprising, Freetown, Deanos Beeno, 33-1 Bar

Royal & Sun Alliance Chase
4-1 Jair Du Cochet, 5-1 Beef Or Salmon, 10-1 Keen Leader, Le Coudray, 12-1
Joss Naylor, Tarxien, 14-1 Bannow Bay, 16-1 It Takes Time, Sir Rembrandt, Barrow Drive, Bold Investor, 20-1 Monsignor, Irish Hussar, 25-1 One Knight, Classified, Telemoss, Indian Scout, 33-1 Bar

Irish Independent Arkle Trophy
4-1 Azertyuiop, 7-1 Impek, 12-1 Le Roi Miguel, 14-1 Bust Out, 16-1 Isio, Got One Too, Golden Alpha, 20-1 Adamant Approach, Blue Royal, One Knight, Farmer Jack, 25-1 Alexander Milenium, Vol Solitaire, Palarshan, 33-1 Bar

Triumph Hurdle
6-1 Saintsaire, 12-1 Don Fernando, 16-1 Nas Na Riogh, 20-1 Lilium De Cotte, 25-1 Fast Mix, Smugglers Song, Kapgarde, Golden Cross, Lewis Island, Old California, 33-1 Lowlander, Spectroscope, Party Airs, Liberthine, Red Wine, Prince Des Ifs, Turbo, Harchibald, 40-1 Star Protector, Lost In The Rain, Newlands Gold, Attorney General, Newtown Dancer, Crystal D'ainay, Tramantano, Visibility

Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle
7-1 Collnagorna, 8-1 Hardy Eustace, 10-1 Kopeck, 12-1 Pizarro, Solerina, 14-1 Lord Sam, Nil Desperandum, 16-1 Iris's Gift, Supreme Prince, Kombinacja, 20-1 Tees Components, Alexander Millenium, Bolt Action, Saitensohn, 25-1 Kickham, Sh Boom, Far Horizon,

Supreme Novices Hurdle
4-1 Rhinestone Cowboy, 10-1 Puntal, Kopeck, 12-1 Chauvinist, Lord Sam, Back In Front, 20-1 Inca Trail, 25-1 Mutakarrim, Friends Amigo, Beyond The Pale,

Weatherbys Champion Bumper
8-1 Liberman, 10-1 Royal Alphabet, 12-1 Sixo, Control Man, Mark The Man, 16-1 Govamix, Davenport Democrat, 20-1 King Player, Dempsey, Miller's Boy, Patriarch Express, 33-1 Widemouth Bay, The Joker, Brooklyn Breeze,

2003 Grand National
12-1 Gunner Welburn, 14-1 Ad Hoc, 16-1 Davids Lad, Gingembre, 20-1 Supreme Glory, 25-1 Chives, Mini Sensation, Bindaree, Bounce Back, Commanche Court, Gunther McBride, The Bunny Boiler, Cyfor Malta, More Than A Stroll

BEST MATE ONE OF RECORD 49 GOING FOR GOLD - 23 IN QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

L'Escargot, successful in 1970 and 1971, was the last horse to win more than one Cheltenham Gold Cup and the only others to have achieved the feat are Arkle (1964, 1965 and 1966), Cottage Rake (1948, 1949 and 1950), Golden Miller (1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936) and Easter Hero (1929 and 1930). Best Mate is also bidding to become the first horse since Desert Orchid in the 1988/89 campaign to win the Pertemps King George VI Chase and Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season.

For the first time, this year's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, run on Thursday, March 13, has a supplementary entry stage five days before the race when horses can be added to the field at a cost of £17,500, five per cent of the record £350,000 total prize fund.

Among those looking to wrestle chasing's top honour from ante-post favourite Best Mate is Beef Or Salmon runaway winner of Leopardstown's Grade 1 Ericsson Chase on December 28 and one of nine entries from Ireland. Others trained across the Irish Sea include last year's runner-up Commanche Court, his stablemate Rince Ri, last week's Tramore winner Sackville, the J P McManus-owned novice Le Coudray and arguably Ireland's most popular chaser, Florida Pearl. First Gold, in the same ownership as Le Coudray, is one of five French entries, with the remaining four trained by Yannick Fertillet for retired Kent shoolteacher Fergus Wilson.

Leading British-trained contenders include Marlborough, who finished runner-up to Best Mate in this season's Pertemps King George VI Chase, his stablemate Bacchanal, third in the Kempton race, last season's Royal & SunAlliance Chase hero Hussard Collonges, Valley Henry, an easy winner of both his starts this season, Barton, who has been sidelined since winning the Martell Mildamy Novices' Chase at Aintree in April, Gingembre, the 2001 Scottish Grand National winner, and Chives, a recent excellent second in the Coral Welsh National. Champion trainer Martin Pipe has nine entered, including attheraces Gold Cup winner Bounce Back and the dual Thomas Pink Gold Cup winner Cyfor Malta.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase also looks an ultra-competitive event with the past winners Flagship Uberalles (2002) and Edredon Bleu (2000) joined by a variety of pretenders among the 23 entered for the two-mile showpiece. Like the Gold Cup, this year's race also has a supplementary entry stage for the first time five days before the race is run on Wednesday, March 12.

Last season's Irish Independent Arkle Chase winner Moscow Flyer is currently ante-post favourite for this year's race and Jessica Harrington's charge is one of a record six Irish-trained entries.

Intriguingly the others include Florida Pearl, who has run three times in the Gold Cup and has never previously been entered for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, with further Irish-trained contenders including Native Upmanship, the 2002 runner-up.

Paul Nicholls has a strong hand including the Tingle Creek Chase winner Cenkos, Young Devereaux, winner of Ascot's cantorindex.co.uk Handicap Chase before Christmas, and Kadarann, 15-length winner of the 40th Anniversary Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on December 14. The versatile Geos, winner of the skybet.com Castleford Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day, has been entered by Nicky Henderson along with the Tripleprint Gold Cup hero Fondmort, who is also in the Gold Cup, while Tiutchev, who was trained by Henderson to win the 2000 Irish Independent Arkle Chase, is one of four representatives for champion trainer Martin Pipe.

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's Managing Director, said: "It is exciting that the 2003 National Hunt Festival is now only nine weeks away and today's publication of entries for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup and Queen Mother Champion Chase really starts the countdown to the Festival on March 11 to 13.

"This year we have introduced a supplementary entry stage for the four major championship races, the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, Queen Mother Champion Chase, Smurfit Champion Hurdle and Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle, which will ensure that the best horses have a chance to run."

NATIONAL HUNT FESTIVAL 2003
CHELTENHAM

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2003
Old Course


Race Title Distance Prize Money
Gerrard Wealth Management Supreme Novices' Hurdle 2m ½f £100,000
Irish Independent Arkle Chase 2m £140,000
SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE 2m ½f £300,000
William Hill National Hunt Handicap Chase 3m ½f £80,000
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase 3m ½f £50,000
Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) 3m 1½f £60,000

..............................................................Total £730,000


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2003
Old Course

Race Title Distance Prize Money
Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle 2m 5f £100,000
QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE 2m £250,000
Coral Eurobet Cup (Handicap Hurdle) 2m 5f £75,000
Royal & SunAlliance Chase 3m ½f £140,000
National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup 4m £45,000
Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase 2m 4½f £75,000
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (NH Flat Race) 2m ½f £40,000

........................................................................Total £725,000


THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2003
New Course

Race Title Distance Prize Money
JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m 1f £100,000
Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle 3m £140,000
TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP 3m 2½f £350,000
Christie's Foxhunter Chase 3m 2½f £40,000
Cheltenham Grand Annual Handicap Chase 2m ½f £75,000
Cathcart Challenge Cup Chase 2m 5f £80,000
Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f £65,000

...................................................................................Total £850,000

RECORD TOTAL PRIZE MONEY IN 2003 OF £2,305,000
(£275,000 more than the £2,030,000 offered last year)

THE TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

Class A, Grade One, Total Prize Fund £350,000 Cheltenham, Thursday, March 13, 2003, 3m 2f 110yds. For 5yo & upwards. Weights: 5yo 11st 4lb; 6yo & upwards 12st. Allowances: mares 5lb. Entries closed January 1, entries released January 6 (49 entries), forfeit stage February 18, £17,500 supplementary entry stage March 8, five-day confirmations March 8, overnight declaration stage, 10.15am March 12. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys may not include some overseas racing and are correct up to and including the racing of Friday, January 3, 2003.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
1310-13 BACCHANAL (IRE) 9 Lady Lloyd Webber Nicky Henderson
111101- BARTON 10 Sir Stanley Clarke Tim Easterby
050-111 BEEF OR SALMON (IRE) 7 Joe Craig Michael Hourigan IRE
212P-61 BEHRAJAN (IRE) 8 The Behrajan Partnership Henry Daly
1221-11 BEST MATE (IRE) 8 Jim Lewis Henrietta Knight
3561-0P BOUNCE BACK (USA) 7 Belinda Harvey Martin Pipe
F133-22 CHIVES (IRE) 8 Trevor Hemmings Henrietta Knight
B215-42 COLONEL BRAXTON (IRE) 8 Sue Magnier Dessie Hughes IRE
30242P- COMMANCHE COURT (IRE) 10 Dermot Desmond Ted Walsh IRE
402P-14 CYFOR MALTA (FR) 10 David Johnson Martin Pipe
U/534-30 FIRST GOLD (FR) 10 J P McManus Francois Doumen FR
4011-44 FLORIDA PEARL (IRE) 11 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins IRE
210P-42 FOLY PLEASANT (FR) 9 Jim Lewis & Friends Henrietta Knight
1153-31 FONDMORT (FR) 7 Bill Brown Nicky Henderson
F543P5 GAILOORN DE MEE (FR) 9 Fergus Wilson Yannick Fertillet FR
2P41/-32 GINGEMBRE (FR) 9 Lavinia Taylor Lavinia Taylor
2/03P0-6 GO BALLISTIC 14 Sheila Lockhart Richard Phillips
11013//F/- GOODTIME GEORGE (IRE) 10 Mrs M J Bone Mark Pitman
314-453 GREY ABBEY (IRE) 9 Ken & Elinor Roper, Norman Furness Barry Murtagh
61U2-33 HARBOUR PILOT (IRE) 8 Kays Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
131114 HORUS (IRE) 8 Brian Kilpatrick Martin Pipe
1F21-25 HUSSARD COLLONGES (FR) 8 Nick Bannister Peter Beaumont
3331-32 IT TAKES TIME (IRE) 9 David Johnson Martin Pipe
0/312F-P IZNOGOUD (FR) 7 County Stores-Avalon Surfacing Martin Pipe
125-111 JOSS NAYLOR (IRE) 8 Darren Mercer Jonjo O'Neill
00115-1 KAPATCHI (FR) 12 Fergus Wilson Yannick Fertillet FR
00/4/13-2 KATARINO (FR) 8 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson
111F-F1 KEEN LEADER (IRE) 7 Adair Catherwood Jonjo O'Neill
12//-F111 LE COUDRAY (FR) 9 J P McManus Christy Roche IRE
503-U0P LORD NOELIE (IRE) 10 Executive Racing Henrietta Knight
1/13r5-1 MACS GILDORAN 9 Margaret McManus Willie Mullins IRE
4F0-102 MARLBOROUGH (IRE) 11 Sir Robert Ogden Nicky Henderson
F-00465 MODULOR (FR) 11 Fergus Wilson Yannick Fertillet FR
111111//- MONSIGNOR (IRE) 9 Malcolm Denmark Mark Pitman
410/12/1- RIGHT TO REPLY (IRE) 9 Alan Weller Noel Chance
4213-26 RINCE RI (IRE) 10 Frank Moriarty Ted Walsh IRE
5/F111-4 ROYAL AUCLAIR (FR) 6 Clive Smith Martin Pipe
0/613U-P ROYALE DE VASSY (FR) 9 Len Jakeman,J Davies,R Downes, J Lewis Venetia Williams
5FF-2151 SACKVILLE (IRE) 10 Seamus O'Farrell Frances Crowley IRE
2-10103 SCOUT MASTER (IRE) 9 Fergus Wilson Yannick Fertillet FR
P135-21 SEE MORE BUSINESS (IRE) 13 Paul Barber & Sir Robert Ogden Paul Nicholls
111P-5P SHOOTING LIGHT (IRE) 10 John Brown & Mick Blackburn Martin Pipe
12/32P2- SHOTGUN WILLY (IRE) 9 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
111P/-11 SKIPPERS CLEUCH (IRE) 9 Ashleybank Investments Limited Len Lungo
112110 STORMEZ (FR) 6 David Johnson Martin Pipe
1246-3F TRUCKERS TAVERN (IRE) 8 Mrs M B Scholey Ferdy Murphy
2F11-11 VALLEY HENRY (IRE) 8 Paul Barber Paul Nicholls
1425-54 WHITENZO (FR) 7 Malcolm Pearce & Gerry Mizel II Paul Nicholls
3540P-1 YOU'RE AGOODUN 11 Jeff Lammiman Martin Pipe

49 entries
9 Irish-trained
5 French-trained

BREAKDOWN OF ENTRIES BY TRAINER WITH PAST SUCCESSES IN THE TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

9 Entries
Martin Pipe

4 Entries
Yannick Fertillet FR
Nicky Henderson
Henrietta Knight (2002 BEST MATE)
Paul Nicholls (1999 SEE MORE BUSINESS)

2 Entries
Willie Mullins IRE
Jonjo O'Neill
Mark Pitman
Ted Walsh IRE

1 Entry
Peter Beaumont (1993 JODAMI)
Noel Chance (1997 MR MULLIGAN, 2000 LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE)
Frances Crowley IRE
Henry Daly
Francois Doumen FR (1994 THE FELLOW)
Tim Easterby
Michael Hourigan IRE
Dessie Hughes IRE
Len Lungo
Noel Meade IRE
Ferdy Murphy
Barry Murtagh
Richard Phillips
Christy Roche IRE
Lavinia Taylor
Venetia Williams

TOTE BETTING ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2003
Best Mate 2/1
Beef Or Salmon 9/1
Marlborough 12/1
Commanche Court 12/1
Hussard Collonges 14/1
Bacchanal 16/1
Barton 16/1
Truckers Tavern 16/1
Behrajan 20/1
Chives 20/1
Colonel Braxton 25/1
Florida Pearl 25/1
Gingembre 25/1
Valley Henry 25/1
Cyfor Malta 33/1
Harbour Pilot 33/1
Lord Noelie 33/1
Rince Ri 33/1
See More Business 33/1
Royal Auclair 40/1
Bounce Back 50/1
Sackville 50/1
E/W 1/4 odds 1,2,3


THE TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
Analysis

The 2003 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, with record prize money of £350,000, has attracted an entry of 49 - a modern-day record - and among the 49 are nine entries from Ireland as well as five from France.

Heading the entries is the 2002 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Best Mate, who landed the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day last time out. He could be joined by stable companions Chives, an excellent second under 11st 12lb in the Coral Welsh National over Christmas, Foly Pleasant and the 2000 Royal & SunAlliance Chase hero Lord Noelie.

Martin Pipe has the highest number of entries for any trainer - nine in total. The dual Thomas Pink Cup winner Cyfor Malta tops the champion's entries along with last season's attheraces Gold Cup victor Bounce Back, Horus, It Takes Time, Iznogoud, last year's Cathcart Chase winner Royal Auclair, the 2001 Thomas Pink Gold Cup hero Shooting Light, this season's Intervet Trophy victor Stormez and You're Agoodun.

Ditcheat handler Paul Nicholls is also well represented with four entries. These include the 1999 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner See More Business, who also finished fourth in 2000 and third in 2002. He confirmed he retains much of his ability when landing the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow last month. Also among Nicholls' quartet are the very promising Valley Henry, Shotgun Willy and Whitenzo.

Another trainer with a quartet of entries is Nicky Henderson. The Lambourn handler has yet to win the Blue Riband of steeplechasing and this year has entered Marlborough and Bacchanal - second and third respectively to Best Mate in the King George VI Chase, as well as Tripleprint Gold Cup winner Fondmort and the 1999 JCB Triumph Hurdle victor Katarino.

The strong Irish contingent is topped by Michael Hourigan's all-conquering novice chaser Beef Or Salmon. The seven-year-old is unbeaten on his three chase starts to date, most recently getting the better of his more seasoned rivals in the Grade One Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on December 28, when he had Colonel Braxton in second, Harbour Pilot in third, Sackville in fifth and Rince Ri sixth.

Also among the Irish entries are the regular Cheltenham contender Florida Pearl, who was third in 1999, second in 2000 and 11th in 2002 and also holds an entry for the Queen Mother Champion Chase this year, the leading staying novice chaser in Ireland Le Coudray, Macs Gildoran and the Ted Walsh-trained Commanche Court, runner-up to Best Mate in 2002.

The main French-trained contender First Gold, the 2000 King George VI Chase winner, finished a disappointing seventh behind Beef Or Salmon in the Ericsson Chase after a promising seasonal reappearance.

In addition to First Gold, there are four other entries from across the Channel -all trained by Yannick Fertillet for Kent-based owner Fergus Wilson. All four horses - Gailoorn De Mee, Kapatchi, Modulor and Scout Master - look to have a mountain to climb on the balance of their form in the French provinces.

There are several previous National Hunt Festival winners among the 49 entries for this year's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup and included among these are Hussard Collonges, who put up a tremendously brave performance to win the 2002 Royal & SunAlliance Chase, and Barton, triumphant in the 1999 Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle and a leading novice chaser last season.

Monsignor, one of two entries for Mark Pitman, was a most impressive winner of the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle on his last outing in March, 2000, but has yet to start over fences. Pitman's other contender Goodtime George has also been very lightly raced in recent seasons and has not been seen out since falling in a novice chase at Cheltenham over two years ago.

Dual Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Noel Chance has entered the unexposed Right To Reply. The lightly-raced gelding was a useful performer in bumpers and over hurdles and landed his only chasing start to date in a novice at Warwick last season in impressive fashion.

Jonjo O'Neill has two entries this year, both of them novices. Joss Naylor has won all of his three starts to date over fences, most recently in the Ian Williams' Owners Novices' Chase at Cheltenham on New Year's Day while O'Neill's other entry Keen Leader fell on his chasing debut at Cheltenham's Open Meeting in November before recording a comfortable victory at Haydock two days later.

Skippers Cleuch, trained in Scotland by Len Lungo, was one of the leading novice hurdlers two seasons ago and seems to have translated that ability over fences with wins at Kelso and Wetherby in novices chases.

Ferdy Murphy has never made any secret of the high regard in which he holds Truckers Tavern. The eight-year-old was a decent novice last season, finishing fourth to Moscow Flyer in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy. After a promising reappearance when third in a handicap at Kelso, he got no further than the first fence in the cantorsport.co.uk Silver Cup at Ascot last month. That race went to the Henry Daly-trained Behrajan, who put up a determined display to win under 11st 12lb.

Veteran Go Ballistic is the oldest entry in the field, having turned 14 on January 1. His finest hour came when chasing home See More Business in the 1999 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. If he lines up at the National Hunt Festival in 2003, it will be for the ninth time. He has run at every Festival to take place since 1994.

The field is completed by Lavinia Taylor's Gingembre, the 2001 Scottish National winner and runner-up in the Hennessy Gold Cup twice, and the useful handicappers Grey Abbey and Royale De Vassy, who look to be up against it on official ratings.

IRISH-TRAINED ENTRIES IN THE 2003 TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

050-111 BEEF OR SALMON (IRE) 7 ch g Cajetano - Farinella (Salmon Leap)
Owner: Joe Craig Trainer: Michael Hourigan
Michael Hourigan said he thought Beef Or Salmon might be something special when the gelding won a point-to-point at Clonmel by two fences and he has been proved right. Beef Or Salmon had his first campaign under Rules last season, when he was successful in bumpers at Clonmel and Cork, as well as over hurdles at Gowran Park. Hourigan had always thought the horse was much more of a chaser in the making and it certainly seems as if going over fences has proved the making of Beef Or Salmon. He made his chasing debut against seasoned performers in the Grade 2 Morris Oil Chase at Clonmel in November and defeated Sackville by three-and-a-half lengths. On his second start he again took on more experienced rivals and this time accounted for River Clodagh by four-and-a-half lengths in the O'Connell Transport Hilly Way Chase at Cork on December 15. Last time out, Beef Or Salmon faced by far his toughest task to date and came through it with flying colours as he defeated the majority of Ireland's leading chasers to win the Grade 1 Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on December 28. Despite only being sold for Ir5,400gns as a three-year-old and Ir6,500gns as a four-year-old, an offer of £400,000 was reportedly recently turned down for Beef Or Salmon.

B215-42 COLONEL BRAXTON (IRE) 8 b g Buckskin - Light The Lamp (Miners Lamp)
Owner: Sue Magnier Trainer: Dessie Hughes
Colonel Braxton was top-class over hurdles where his three wins included the Grade 1 Champion Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse and a Grade 2 novices' hurdle at Leopardstown. His first season over fences was a little disappointing, with his sole success coming in a Grade Three event at Naas. But after a pipe-opener over hurdles, he shaped well when second to Beef Or Salmon in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on December 28 last time out.

30242P- COMMANCHE COURT (IRE) 10 b g Commanche Run - Sorceress (Fabulous Dancer)
Owner: Dermot Desmond Trainer: Ted Walsh
Successful at the 1997 Cheltenham Festival in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, and has since gone on to establish himself as one of the most-successful chasers in Ireland with victories in the 2000 Irish Grand National and the 2000 Heineken Gold Cup at Punchestown. His best performance last season came when second to Best Mate in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup, going down by a length and three-quarters. Has yet to start this season.

4011-44 FLORIDA PEARL (IRE) 11 b g Florida Son - Ice Pearl (Flatbush)
Owner: Violet O'Leary Trainer: Willie Mullins IRE
Florida Pearl has been in the upper echelons of the Irish chasers for a number of years. Despite being placed in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup twice, some pundits believe that he doesn't truly stay the extended 3m 2f of chasing's Blue Riband. While he has been entered in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the last time that he ran over the minimum trip was when winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in 1997. Winner of the Pertemps King George VI Chase in 2001, he ran a solid race again this season in the Kempton Boxing Day feature when fourth to last year's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate on ground that was too soft for him. Also entered in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

1161U2-33 HARBOUR PILOT (IRE) 8 b g Be My Native - Las-Cancellas (Monksfield)
Owner: Kays Syndicate Trainer: Noel Meade IRE
The Noel Meade-trained Harbour Pilot was a top-class novice chaser last season winning two Grade 1 events at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown respectively. Unfortunately, he fared less well in last year's Royal & SunAlliance Chase, blundering and unseating Paul Carberry at the 12th obstacle. This season the eight-year-old has finished third on both of his starts - two lengths behind Be My Royal in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury in November and six lengths in arrears of Beef Or Salmon, one of the most exciting novice chasers seen in Ireland for many a year, in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

12/-F111 LE COUDRAY (FR) 9 b g Phantom Breeze - Mos Lie (Tip Moss)
Owner: J P McManus Trainer: Christy Roche IRE
Formerly trained over hurdles by Aidan O'Brien, Le Coudray was off the racecourse for nearly three years before making his chasing bow at Cork in November when he fell. Despite that mishap, after he had won his next start in a beginners' chase at Naas in the same month, new trainer Christy Roche stated: "I'm just glad JP [McManus] sent him to me to train." Stepped up in class to Grade 1 company on his next two outings, he has now proved himself to be among the best novices in Ireland this season, winning the Pierse Group Drinmore Novices' Chase at Fairyhouse and the Denny Gold Medal Novices' Chase at Leopardstown.

444213-26 RINCE RI (IRE) 10 ch g Orchestra - Mildred's Ball (Blue Refrain)
Owner: Frank Moriarty Trainer: Ted Walsh
Rince Ri unseated Ruby Walsh in the 2000 renewal of the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup and his rider remains convinced that if the mishap had not occurred, he would have finished in the first three. Trainer Ted Walsh brought him back to Prestbury Park last season for the Pillar Property Chase which he won in fine style, beating Legal Right by three and a half lengths. This season he was beaten three lengths by Native Upmanship over two and a half miles at Punchestown in December - this represents good form as that rival is arguably the best chaser over that distance in Ireland. On his last start he was well beaten by Beef Or Salmon in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on December 28, but he may have needed the race as he was reported to be blowing hard after the contest.

5FF-2151 SACKVILLE (IRE) 10 b g Satco - Sackville Street (Ete Indien)
Owner: Seamus O'Farrell Trainer: Frances Crowley
Was favourite for the 2002 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup during the early part of the last season, after a good performance to win Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase. His form then deteriorated badly during the second half of the season and he eventually started at 33/1 for the Gold Cup and fell at the last, when well beaten. This season he appears to have rediscovered some of his old sparkle with wins in the Grade Two Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock and a conditions event at Tramore. However, he has twice been well beaten by the new kid on the block, Beef Or Salmon.

FRENCH-TRAINED ENTRIES FOR THE 2003 TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

U/534-30 FIRST GOLD (FR) 10 b g Shafoun - Nuit D'Or (Pot d'Or)
Owner: J P McManus Trainer: Francois Doumen
First Gold first came to the attention of the British racing public with a stunning 10-length success in the Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton in December, 2000, which saw him become ante-post favourite for the subsequently cancelled 2001 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. However, he easily landed the Martell Cup at Aintree as some consolation. Last season, First Gold was rather disappointing, although he was subsequently found to have injured a joint when a remote fourth in the King George VI Chase on what proved to be his final appearance of the campaign. He made a promising reappearance this season when a staying-on third in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown on December 8 but disappointed on his latest start, when he was last in the Ericsson Chase. After the Ericsson, he was subsequently found to have a respiratory tract infection.

F543P5 GAILOORN DE MEE (FR) 9 b g Apeldoorn - Une De Mee (Sarpedon)
Owner: Fergus Wilson Trainer: Yannick Fertillet
Has won cross-country races in the French provinces, most recently at Corlay in July, 2001. On his latest start finished fourth at Meslay-du-Maine in October. Does not appear to be anything special at all and looks to have it all do at Cheltenham.

1P0600 KAPATCHI (FR) b g 12 River Mist - Montagne D'Or (Hauban)
Owner: Fergus Wilson Trainer: Yannick Fertillet
Another entry from the Breton yard of Yannick Fertillet, he has was in good form in his own class during 2002, winning three claiming hurdles. Out of form recently and looks out of his depth in this company.

P22453 MODULOR (FR) 11 ch g Less Ice - Chaumontaise (Armos)
Owner: Fergus Wilson Trainer: Yannick Fertillet
Was last successful in a handicap chase at Cagnes-Sur-Mer on Boxing Day, 2001. Has been well beaten in minor company since, most recently when third in a chase at Cagnes-Sur-Mer on January 2.

010350 SCOUT MASTER (IRE) 9 b g Marignan - Seconde Bleue (Glint Of Gold)
Owner: Fergus Wilson Trainer: Yannick Fertillet
A fourth entry from Yannick Fertillet, finished a well-beaten seventh behind Francois Doumen's Laveron in a Grade Two hurdle at Auteuil in May. Won a handicap chase at Lyon in June and was most recently well down the field in a hurdle at Pau on December 29.

TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP FACTS

1. The Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup is the most valuable non-handicap chase in Britain. The total prize money for the 2003 running will be a record £350,000, an increase of £50,000 on 2002.

2. The first Cheltenham Gold Cup was a three-mile Flat race in 1819, won by a Mr Bodenham's Spectre. The chase as we now know it was introduced in 1924, and won that year by Red Splash. The winning prize money was just £700.

3. Golden Miller holds the record for the most Gold Cup victories, with five consecutive wins from 1932-36. The race is fiercely competitive - so much so that the last horse to win twice was L'Escargot in 1970 and 1971.

4. Golden Miller's owner, Dorothy Paget, is also the most successful owner in the race, with an amazing seven victories, with Roman Hackle (1940) and Mont Tremblant (1952) adding to Golden Miller's five wins.

5. The most successful trainer is Tom Dreaper, who won five Gold Cups with three separate horses, namely Prince Regent (1946), Arkle (1964-66) and Fort Leney (1968).

6. Tony McCoy's Smurfit Champion Hurdle/Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup double in 1997 on Make A Stand and Mr Mulligan was the 11th time that the big-race double has been achieved by one jockey in the same year. The other jockeys to have achieved the feat were Dick Rees (1929), Tom Cullinan (1930), Ted Leader (1932), Bill Stott (1933), Gerry Wilson (1935), Aubrey Brabazon (1949 and 1950), Tim Molony (1953), Fred Winter (1961) and Norman Williamson (1995).

7. Alderbrook and Master Oats in 1995 enabled Norman Williamson and Kim Bailey to join a very select group of jockey and trainer partnerships who have won both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup in the same year. The other partnerships were Tom Cullinan and Jack Anthony in 1930, Ted Leader and Basil Briscoe in 1932, Bill Stott and Basil Briscoe in 1933, and Aubrey Brabazon and Vincent O'Brien in both 1949 and 1950.

8. Dawn Run is the only horse to have won both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup. She was successful in 1984 and 1986 respectively.

9. The longest-priced winner of the Gold Cup is Norton's Coin, who started at 100/1 in 1990, while the shortest-priced winner was Arkle, the 1/10 favourite in 1966.

10. The last grey Gold Cup winner was Desert Orchid in 1989.

11. The Tote have sponsored the Cheltenham Gold Cup since 1980 and the present contract includes the 2005 running.

12. In the Gold Cup's history only five horses have won more than once, and the most recent of them was L'Escargot in 1970 and 1971. The others were Easter Hero (1929/30), Golden Miller (1932/33/34/35/36), Cottage Rake (1948/49/50) and Arkle (1964/65/66). Their successes were all in consecutive years.

13. The last 21 runnings have seen seven 9-year-olds, six 8-year-olds, five 10-year-olds and three 7-year-olds be successful. The last horses over the age of 10 to win was 12-year-old What A Myth in 1969.

14. Only four of the last 21 favourites in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup have justified the market confidence - Master Oats in 1995, Desert Orchid in 1989, Dawn Run in 1986 and Bregawn in 1983. Three of the last four favourites have reached the frame - See More Business was fourth in 2000, Florida Pearl third in 1999 and Dorans Pride third in 1998 but Looks Like Trouble, last year's 9/2 market leader, finished last of the 13 finishers after suffering a tendon injury.

15. The two Irish-trained winners in the last 21 runnings were Imperial Call in 1996 and Dawn Run ten years before that. Irish-trained horses did better between 1946 and 1977 when 16 successes were achieved. The only French–trained winner was The Fellow in 1994 while there has also been a Welsh-trained victor in Norton's Coin (1990).

TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP ROLL OF HONOUR

(Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup since 1980, Piper Champagne Cheltenham Gold Cup 1975-1979, no sponsor before 1975)

Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
2002 Best Mate 7-12-00 Jim Culloty Henrietta Knight Jim Lewis 7/1 18
2001 No Race (Foot and Mouth)
2000 Looks Like Trouble 8-12-00 Richard Johnson Noel Chance Tim Collins 9/2 12
1999 See More Business 9-12-00 Mick Fitzgerald Paul Nicholls Paul Barber/John Keighley 16/1 12
1998 Cool Dawn 10-12-00 Andrew Thornton Robert Alner Hon. Miss Dido Harding 25/1 17
1997 Mr Mulligan 9-12-00 Tony McCoy Noel Chance Michael & Gerry Worcester 20/1 14
1996 Imperial Call 7-12-00 Conor O'Dwyer Fergie Sutherland IRE Lisselan Farms Ltd 9/2 10
1995 Master Oats 9-12-00 Norman Williamson Kim Bailey Paul Matthews 100/30F 15
1994 The Fellow 9-12-00 Adam Kondrat Francois Doumen FR Marquesa De Moratalla 7/1 15
1993 Jodami 8-12-00 Mark Dwyer Peter Beaumont John Yeadon 8/1 16
1992 Cool Ground 10-12-00 Adrian Maguire Toby Balding Whitcombe Manor Racing Stables 25/1 8
1991 Garrison Savannah 8-12-00 Mark Pitman Jenny Pitman Autofour Engineering 16/1 14
1990 Norton's Coin 9-12-00 Graham McCourt Sirrell Griffiths Sirrell Griffiths 100/1 12
1989 Desert Orchid 10-12-00 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth Richard Burridge 5/2F 13
1988 Charter Party 10-12-00 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson Claire Smith & Jenny Mould 10/1 15
1987 The Thinker 9-12-00 Ridley Lamb Arthur Stephenson T P M McDonagh Ltd 13/2 12
1986 Dawn Run 8-11-09 Jonjo O'Neill Paddy Mullins IRE Charmian Hill 15/8F 11
1985 Forgive N' Forget 8-12-00 Mark Dwyer Jimmy FitzGerald T Kilroe and Sons Ltd 7/1 15
1984 Burrough Hill Lad 8-12-00 Phil Tuck Jenny Pitman Stan Riley 7/2 12
1983 Bregawn 9-12-00 Graham Bradley Michael Dickinson James Kennelly 100/30F 11
1982 Silver Buck 10-12-00 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson Christine Feather 8/1 22
1981 Little Owl 7-12-00 Mr Jim Wilson Peter Easterby Robin Wilson 6/1 15
1980 *Master Smudge 8-12-00 Richard Hoare Arthur Barrow Arthur Barrow 14/1 15
1979 Alverton 9-12-00 Jonjo O'Neill Peter Easterby Snailwell Stud Co Ltd 5/1JF 14
1978 Midnight Court 7-12-00 John Francome Fred Winter Olive Jackson 5/2 10
1977 Davy Lad 7-12-00 Dessie Hughes Mick O'Toole IRE Mrs Joe McGowan 14/1 13
1976 Royal Frolic 7-12-00 John Burke Fred Rimell Sir Edward Hanmer 14/1 11
1975 Ten Up 8-12-00 Tommy Carberry Jim Dreaper IRE Anne, Duchess of Westminster 2/1 8
1974 Captain Christy 7-12-00 Bobby Beasley Pat Taaffe IRE Mrs Jane M A Samuel 7/1 7
1973 The Dikler 10-12-00 Ron Barry Fulke Walwyn Mrs D W August 9/1 8
1972 Glencaraig Lady 8-12-00 Frank Berry Francis Flood IRE P Doyle 6/1 12
1971 L'Escargot 8-12-00 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore IRE Raymond Guest 7/2JF 8
1970 L'Escargot 7-12-00 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore IRE Raymond Guest 33/1 12
1969 What A Myth 12-12-00 Paul Kelleway Ryan Price Lady Weir 8/1 11
1968 Fort Leney 10-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Colonel John Thomson 11/2 5
1967 Woodland Venture 7-12-00 Terry Biddlecombe Fred Rimell Harry Collins 100/8 8
1966 Arkle 9-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Anne, Duchess of Westminster 1/10F 5
1965 Arkle 8-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Anne, Duchess of Westminster 3/10F 4
1964 Arkle 7-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Anne, Duchess of Westminster 7/4 4
1963 Mill House 6-12-00 Willie Robinson Fulke Walwyn Bill Gollings 7/2F 12
1962 Mandarin 11-12-00 Fred Winter Fulke Walwyn Madame Peggy Hennessy 7/2 10
1961 Saffron Tartan 10-12-00 Fred Winter Don Butchers Colonel Guy Westmacott 2/1F 9
1960 Pas Seul 7-12-00 Bill Rees Bob Turnell John Rogerson 6/1 11
1959 Roddy Owen 10-12-00 Bobby Beasley Danny Morgan IRE Lord Fingall 5/1 11
1958 Kerstin 8-12-00 Stan Hayhurst Verly Bewicke George H Moore 7/1 9
1957 Linwell 9-12-00 Michael Scudamore Charlie Mallon David Brown 100/9 13
1956 Limber Hill 9-12-00 Jimmy Power Bill Dutton John Davey 11/8F 11
1955 Gay Donald 9-12-00 Tony Grantham Jim Ford P J Burt 33/1 9
1954 Four Ten 8-12-00 Tommy Cusack John Roberts A Strange 100/6 6
1953 Knock Hard 9-12-00 Tim Molony Vincent O'Brien IRE Mrs Harry Keogh 11/2 12
1952 Mount Tremblant 6-12-00 Dave Dick Fulke Walwyn Dorothy Paget 8/1 13
1951 Silver Fame 12-12-00 Martin Molony George Beeby Lord Bicester 6/4F 6
1950 Cottage Rake 11-12-00 Aubrey Brabazon Vincent O'Brien IRE Frank Vickerman 5/6F 6
1949 Cottage Rake 10-12-00 Aubrey Brabazon Vincent O'Brien IRE Frank Vickerman 4/6F 6
1948 Cottage Rake 9-12-00 Aubrey Brabazon Vincent O'Brien IRE Frank Vickerman 10/1 12
1947 Fortina 6-12-00 Mr Richard Black Hector Christie Lord Grimthorpe 8/1 12
1946 Prince Regent 11-12-00 Tim Hyde Tom Dreaper IRE Jimmy Rank 4/7F 6
1945 Red Rower 11-12-00 Davy Jones Lord Stalbridge Lord Stalbridge 11/4F 16
1943/1944 No race
1942 Medoc II 8-12-00 Frenchie Nicholson Reg Hobbs Lord Sefton 9/2 12
1941 Poet Prince 9-12-00 Roger Burford Ivor Anthony D Sherbrooke 7/2 10
1940 Roman Hackle 7-12-00 Evan Williams Owen Anthony Dorothy Paget Evs 7
1939 Brendans Cottage 9-12-00 George Owen George Beeby Mrs Arthur Smith-Bingham 8/1 5
1938 Morse Code 9-12-00 Danny Morgan Ivor Anthony Lt Col Dealtry Part 13/2 6
1937 No race (flooded)
1936 Golden Miller 9-12-00 Evan Williams Owen Anthony Dorothy Paget 21/20F 6
1935 Golden Miller 8-12-00 Gerry Wilson Basil Briscoe Dorothy Paget 1/2F 5
1934 Golden Miller 7-12-00 Gerry Wilson Basil Briscoe Dorothy Paget 6/5F 7
1933 Golden Miller 6-12-00 Billy Stott Basil Briscoe Dorothy Paget 4/7F 7
1932 Golden Miller 5-11-05 Ted Leader Basil Briscoe Dorothy Paget 13/2 6
1931 No race (frost)
1930 Easter Hero 10-12-00 Tommy Cullinan Jack Anthony John Hay Whitney 8/11F 4
1929 Easter Hero 9-12-00 Dick Rees Jack Anthony John Hay Whitney 7/4F 10
1928 Patron Saint 5-11-05 Dick Rees Stanley Harrison F W Keen 7/2 7
1927 Thrown In 11-12-00 Hon Hugh Grosvenor Owen Anthony Lord Stalbridge 10/1 8
1926 Koko 8-12-00 Tim Hamey Alfred Bickley Frank Barbour 10/1 8
1925 Ballinode 9-12-00 Ted Leader Frank Morgan IRE J C Bentley 3/1 4
1924 Red Splash 5-11-05 Dick Rees Fred Withington Major Everard Wyndham 5/1 9
*Master Smudge finished second to Tied Cottage, who was subsequently disqualified for failing a post-race urine test


THE 2002 TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP RESULT IN DETAIL

Class A, Grade One, Total Prize Fund £300,000, Cheltenham, Thursday, March 14, 2002, 3m 2 1/2f. For 5yo & upwards. Weights: 5yo 11st 4lb; 6yo & upwards 12st. Allowances: mares 5lb. Penalty Values: 1st: £174,000; 2nd: £66,000; 3rd: £33,000; 4th: £15,000; 5th: £7,500; 6th: £4,500

1) BEST MATE (Jim Lewis) Henrietta Knight 7-12-00 Jim Culloty 7/1
2) COMMANCHE COURT (Dermot Desmond) Ted Walsh IRE 12-00 Ruby Walsh 25/1
3) SEE MORE BUSINESS (Sir Robert Ogden and Paul Barber) Paul Nicholls b12-12-00 Joe Tizzard 40/1
4) MARLBOROUGH (Sir Robert Ogden) Nicky Henderson 10-12-00 Dean Gallagher 12/1
5) WHAT'S UP BOYS (R J B Partners) Philip Hobbs b1 8-12-00 Paul Flynn 33/1
6) ALEXANDER BANQUET (Miriam O'Callaghan) Willie Mullins IRE 9-12-00 Barry Geraghty 12/1
7) MOSCOW EXPRESS (John Corr) Frances Crowley IRE t1 10-12-00 Shay Barry 66/1
8) CYFOR MALTA (David Johnson) Martin Pipe 9-12-00 Rodi Greene 25/1
9) FOXCHAPEL KING (Sir Tony O'Reilly) Mouse Morris IRE 9-12-00 David Casey 12/1
10) LORD NOELIE (Executive Racing) Henrietta Knight 9-12-00 Richard Guest 16/1
11) FLORIDA PEARL (Violet O'Leary) Willie Mullins IRE 10-12-00 Conor O'Dwyer 10/1
12) BACCHANAL (Lady Lloyd Webber) Nicky Henderson 8-12-00 Mick Fitzgerald 6/1
13) LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE (Tim Collins) Noel Chance 10-12-00 Richard Johnson 9/2F
F) SACKVILLE (Seamus O'Farrell) Frances Crowley IRE 9-12-00 John Cullen 33/1
P) GO BALLISTIC (Sheila Lockhart) Henrietta Knight 13-12-00 Carl Llewellyn 66/1
P) SHOOTING LIGHT (John Brown & Michael Blackburn) Martin Pipe v9-12-00 Tony McCoy 10/1
P) SHOTGUN WILLY (Graham Roach) Paul Nicholls 8-12-00 Timmy Murphy 25/1
P) BEHRAJAN (The Behrajan Partnership) Henry Daly 7-12-00 Norman Williamson 11/1

18 ran

Distances: 1 3/4, 8, 6, 5, 1/2, 3/4, 12, 3, 7, 3/4, 6, dist
Breeder: Jacques Van't Hart in Ireland Breeding: b g Un Desperado - Katday (Miller's Mate)
Totes: Win: £6.70 Places: £2.90; £5.30; £8.00 Exacta: £237.10

Winning Trainer: Henrietta Knight Date of birth: 15/12/46 Trains at West Lockinge Farm, Wantage Previous occupation: Finished 12th at 1973 Badminton Horse Trials; was judge at 1987 Burghley three-day event; has a Bachelor of Education (Oxford) degree in History & Biology, former teacher. Ran successful livery yard breaking in horses for Nicky Henderson, Michael Dickinson, Oliver Sherwood and Tim Forster Date of first trainers licence: July, 1989 First winner: The Grey Gunner (Bangor, 18/8/89) Cheltenham Festival winners: (5) Bonusprint Stayers Hurdle (1997 Karshi), Grand Annual Chase (1998 Edredon Bleu), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2000 Edredon Bleu), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2000 Lord Noelie), Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup (2002 Best Mate) Other Major Wins: Martell Mersey Novices' Hurdle (2000 Best Mate), Peterborough Chase (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 Edredon Bleu), Felttham Novices' Chase (2001 Maximize), Tote Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle (2000 Heart), Championship Chase (2001 Edredon Bleu), Haldon Gold Cup (2001 Best Mate), Scilly Isles Novices' Chase (2001 Best Mate) Wins (1990/91-2000/01): 24; 14; 37; 25; 44; 59; 47; 42; 32; 40; 39 Number of Horses in training (1990-2001): 36; 45; 42; 36; 43; 47; 64, 69, 68, 57, 55, 75

Winning Jockey: James Hugh Culloty Born: December 18, 1973 Racing Weight: 10st Cheltenham Festival Wins: (2) ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE CHASE (2000 Lord Noelie), TOTE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP (2002 Best Mate) Other Big Race Wins: MARTELL MERSEY NOVICES' HURDLE (2000 Best Mate), PETERBOROUGH CHASE (1998, 1999 and 2000 Edredon Bleu), SCILLY ISLES NOVICES' CHASE (2001 Best Mate), HALDON GOLD CUP (2001 Best Mate) Number of Wins (1995/96-2000/01): 40; 32; 31; 34; 42; 43

THE QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

Class A, Grade One, Total Prize Fund £250,000 Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 12, 2003, 2m. For 5yo & upwards. Weights: 5yo 11st 9lb; 6yo & upwards 12st. Allowances: mares 5lb. Entries closed January 1, entries released January 6 (23 entries), forfeit stage February 19, £12,500 supplementary stage March 7, five-day confirmation stage March 7, overnight declaration stage, 10.15am March 11. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to & including the racing of Friday, January 3, 2003.


Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
131-342 ARMATURK (FR) 6 Barry Marshall Paul Nicholls
44351-1 CENKOS (FR) 9 Judy Stewart Paul Nicholls
2311-3F DARK'N SHARP (GER) 8 Ascot Five Plus One Richard Phillips
243-121 EDREDON BLEU (FR) 11 Jim Lewis Henrietta Knight
4/112-4P FLAGSHIP UBERALLES (IRE) 9 Elizabeth Gutner & Michael Krysztofiak Racing Philip Hobbs
4011-44 FLORIDA PEARL (IRE) 11 Violet O'Leary Willie Mullins IRE
1153-31 FONDMORT (FR) 7 Bill Brown Nicky Henderson
64P-331 GEOS (FR) 8 Thurloe Finsbury Nicky Henderson
211-U21 KADARANN (IRE) 6 Notalotterry Paul Nicholls
622-P50 KILLULTAGH STORM (IRE) 9 Rose Boyd Willie Mullins IRE
02/212-2 LADY CRICKET (FR) 9 David Johnson Martin Pipe
5F6-550 LATALOMNE (USA) 9 Alderclad Roofing/K M Everitt Brian Ellison
4F2-132 LOGICIAN (NZ) 12 Robert Roulston Andrew Balding
1/13r5-1 MACS GILDORAN 9 Margaret McManus Willie Mullins IRE
F11-1U1 MOSCOW FLYER (IRE) 9 Brian Kearney Jessica Harrington IRE
212-215 NATIVE UPMANSHIP (IRE) 10 Sue Magnier Arthur Moore IRE
136P-3F REDEMPTION 8 John Duggan & Michael Purtill Paul Webber
1122-22 SEEBALD (GER) 8 The Macca & Growler Partnership Martin Pipe
0/1F411- STRONG RUN (IRE) 10 Michael D McGrath Noel Meade IRE
U5/3154- TIUTCHEV 10 The Liars Poker Partnership Martin Pipe
0U2-302 TURGEONEV (FR) 8 David Sills Tim Easterby
0022-36 WAHIBA SANDS 10 David Johnson Martin Pipe
1/F11//2-1 YOUNG DEVEREAUX (IRE) 10 Paul Barber, Mick Coburn, Colin Lewis 2 Paul Nicholls

23 entries
6 Irish-trained entries


Breakdown of Entries per Trainer and Past Successes in the Queen Mother Champion Chase

4 Entries
Paul Nicholls (1999 Call Equiname)
Martin Pipe

3 Entries
Willie Mullins IRE

2 Entries
Nicky Henderson (1992 Remittance Man)

1 Entry
Andrew Balding
Tim Easterby
Brian Ellison
Jessica Harrington IRE
Philip Hobbs (2002 Flagship Uberalles)
Henrietta Knight (2000 Edredon Bleu)
Noel Meade IRE
Arthur Moore IRE (1996 Klairon Davis, 1981 Drumgora)
Richard Phillips
Paul Webber

QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE FACTS

1. The National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase was first run in 1959 and the Queen Mother's name was added to the race title in 1980, the year of her 80th birthday.

2. The race's roll of honour includes several multiple winners. Badsworth Boy (1983-85) is the only three-time winner. The double winners are Fortria (1960 and 1961), Drinny's Double (1967 and 1968), Royal Relief (1972 and 1974), Skymas (1976 and 1977), Hilly Way (1978 and 1979), Pearlyman (1987 and 1988), Barnbrook Again (1989 and 1990), Viking Flagship (1994 and 1995).

3. Irish-trained runners have a good record in the Queen Mother Champion Chase winning 16 of the 43 runnings. Klairon Davis, trained by Arthur Moore, was the most recent winner sent over from the Emerald Isle in 1996. Moore's father Dan trained the first winner - Quita Que in 1959 and followed up with Inkslinger in 1973.

4. Tom Dreaper has the best record of any trainer in the race winning six runnings with Fortria (1960 and 1961), Ben Stack (1964), Flyingbolt (1966), Muir (1969), and Straight Fort (1970). Of current trainers, Arthur Moore (Drumgora 1981 and Klairon Davis 1996) has the best record.

5. Flyingbolt was the shortest-priced winner when succeeding at 1/5 in 1966 while Another Dolly, who was awarded the 1980 race at odds of 33/1, provided the race's biggest upset.

6. Pat Taaffe is the most successful rider with five wins but no current jockey has won more than one Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Tote Betting on Friday, January 3:
Moscow Flyer 3/1
Cenkos 4/1
Edredon Bleu 8/1
Flagship Uberalles 9/1
Native Upmanship 12/1
Dark'N Sharp 14/1
Fondmort 16/1
Seebald 16/1
Lady Cricket 20/1
Latalomne 25/1
Tiutchev 25/1
Wahiba Sands 25/1
Young Devereaux 25/1
Armaturk 33/1
Strong Run 33/1
Turgeonev 50/1

QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE ANALYSIS

The Queen Mother Champion Chase has attracted 23 top-class chasers, including a record six entries from Ireland - one more than the previous joint-highest total of five received last year, in 2001 and 1999.

Last year's hero Flagship Uberalles, trained by Philip Hobbs, will be looking to bounce back to his best form after losing his chance in the Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown last month when stumbling on landing at the fifth obstacle, and then being pulled up in the longer Pertemps King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Paul Nicholls, successful in this event in 1999 with Call Equiname, has made four entries - Cenkos, Armaturk, Kadarann, and Young Devereaux. The former finished third here last season and has subsequently won both the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Celebration Chase at Sandown in April and the Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Trophy by 14 lengths.

Armaturk was runner-up to the Nicky Henderson-trained Geos in the skybet.com Castleford Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day, while Kadarann got off the mark for the season by winning the 40th Anniversary Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on December 14. Young Devereaux put in a magnificent effort on only his second start in just under three years to win the cantorindex.co.uk Handicap Chase at Ascot just before Christmas.

The Martin Pipe-trained Seebald was only beaten a length (giving 25lb) by Young Devereaux in the last-named event and he is one of four entries who could attempt to give the champion trainer his first Queen Mother Champion Chase victory.

Pipe's quartet is completed by Lady Cricket, the 2000 Thomas Pink Gold Cup winner who ran creditably to finish runner-up to stable-companion Blowing Wind in last year's Mildmay Of Flete Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the National Hunt Festival, Tiutchev, who won the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase three seasons ago when trained by Nicky Henderson, and Wahiba Sands, sixth behind the 2002 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate in the Pertemps King George VI Chase on his last outing.

The Irish raiders are led by the Willie Mullins-trained trio of Killultagh Storm, Macs Gildoran and Florida Pearl.

The last-named has been one of the mainstays of Irish chasing in recent years and his victory in last season's renewal of the Pertemps King George VI Chase was the only time that Best Mate has been beaten at level weights over fences. The Florida Son gelding did not fare so well in the 2002 running but to finish fourth on ground which was too soft for him was still an excellent effort. His next outing is likely to be in the Irish Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown - a contest which he has already won three times.

Macs Gildoran was successful in a handicap chase at Fairyhouse at the beginning of December on his first start in almost a year, while Killultagh Storm finished fifth and eighth respectively in this season's Thomas Pink Gold Cup and Tripleprint Gold Cup at Prestbury Park.

Arthur Moore has won the Queen Mother Champion Chase more than any other trainer with entries for this year's heat (twice with Drumgora in 1981 and Klairon Davis in 1996) and he is represented by Native Upmanship. The ten-year-old was successful in both the Martell Melling Chase and the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase in 2002. Both of these contests were over two-and-a-half miles and despite finishing runner-up in this race last term there is a suspicion that this two-mile trip might be a bit too sharp for him.

The Irish entry is completed by the Jessica Harrington-trained Moscow Flyer, the current ante-post favourite who won last season's Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase and has subsequently won two Graded races by wide margins in Ireland since November, and Strong Run, trained by Noel Meade.

Other notable entries include Edredon Bleu, who was saddled by Henrietta Knight to win this championship event in 2000, and Latalomne, trained by Brian Ellison, who is convinced that his charge may have won last season's renewal if he hadn't taken a tumble at the second last when still full of running.

IRISH-TRAINED ENTRIES IN THE QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

4011-44 FLORIDA PEARL (IRE) 11 b g Florida Son - Ice Pearl (Flatbush)
Owner: Violet O'Leary Trainer: Willie Mullins IRE
Florida Pearl has been in the upper echelons of the Irish chasers for a number of years. Despite being placed in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup twice, some pundits believe that he doesn't truly stay the extended 3m 2f of chasing's Blue Riband. While he has been entered in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the last time that he ran over the minimum trip was when winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in 1997. Winner of the Pertemps King George VI Chase in 2001, he ran a solid race again this season on his last start when fourth to last year's Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Best Mate on ground that was too soft for him. Also entered in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

622-P50 KILLULTAGH STORM (IRE) 9 b g Mandalus - Rostrevor Lady (Kemal)
Owner: Rose Boyd Trainer: Willie Mullins IRE
The second of Willie Mullins's three possibles for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, this Mandalus gelding has often shone on the home gallops only to fail when it actually matters. Although he was a reasonable sixth in last season's Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap, the nine-year-old actually received weight off a couple of his rivals and, on that showing and his outings to date this term, he might struggle in what is a championship contest.

1/13r5-1 MACS GILDORAN 9 b g Gildoran - Shamrock Bridge (Golden Love)
Owner: Margaret McManus Trainer: Willie Mullins IRE
The lightly-raced Macs Gildoran has been entered for both the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. Always highly-rated by handler Willie Mullins, he has suffered a number of setbacks. On his most recent start he won a handicap chase at Fairyhouse last month on his first start for almost a year. While no victory can be too harshly criticised, this success came off a mark of 121 and he clearly has some way to progress if he is to perform at this level.

F11-1U1 MOSCOW FLYER (IRE) 9 b g Moscow Society - Meelick Lady (Duky)
Owner: Brian Kearney Trainer: Jessica Harrington IRE
Recently nominated by Timeform's Jim McGrath as his best Cheltenham Festival hope, Moscow Flyer was among the top novice chasers last season and his five victories included the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival. He has won two of his three starts this season against more-seasoned campaigners and we will never know if he should be unbeaten as he was unlucky to part company with pilot Barry Geraghty in the Mitsubishi Shogun Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown last month when baulked by opponent Flagship Uberalles.

212-215 NATIVE UPMANSHIP (IRE) 10 ch g Be My Native - Hi' Upham (Deep Run)
Owner: Sue Magnier Trainer: Arthur Moore IRE
A top-class chaser who is cared for by one of the shrewdest trainers in the business, Native Upmanship, despite finishing runner-up to Flagship Uberalles last season, is almost certainly better over further than two miles. The last time that he scored over the minimum distance was in November, 2000, and that success came on heavy ground, which he is unlikely to encounter at Prestbury Park in March. The son of Be My Native was tried over three miles last time in the Pertemps King George VI Chase but blatantly didn't stay, and it is a great pity for connections that this contest is not run over two and a half miles which would be ideal.

0/1F411- STRONG RUN (IRE) 10 b g Strong Gale - Arctic Run (Deep Run)
Owner: Michael D McGrath Trainer: Noel Meade IRE
The Noel Meade-trained Strong Run finished last season in a blaze of glory, winning the Grade 1 B.M.W. Chase at Punchestown by a short-head from fellow Queen Mother Champion Chase entry Killultagh Storm. This horse was always going to be a chaser and as he hates winter ground, it is not too surprising that he has yet to make his seasonal bow.

QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
ROLL OF HONOUR

(Queen Mother Champion Chase since 1980, previously National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase from when first run in 1959)

Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
2002 Flagship Uberalles 8-12-00 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Elizabeth Gutner/Michael Krysztofiak 7/4F 12
2001 No Race (Foot and Mouth)
2000 Edredon Bleu 8-12-00 Tony McCoy Henrietta Knight Jim Lewis 7/2 9
1999 Call Equiname 9-12-00 Mick Fitzgerald Paul Nicholls Mick Coburn,Paul Barber,Colin Lewis 7/2 13
1998 One Man 10-12-00 Brian Harding Gordon Richards John Hales 7/2 8
1997 Martha's Son 10-12-00 Rodney Farrant Tim Forster Paddy Hartigan/Michael Ward-Thomas 9/1 6
1996 Klairon Davis 7-12-00 Francis Woods Arthur Moore IRE Chris Jones 9/1 7
1995 Viking Flagship 8-12-00 Charlie Swan David Nicholson Roach Foods Ltd 5/2F 10
1994 Viking Flagship 7-12-00 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson Roach Foods Ltd 4/1 8
1993 Deep Sensation 8-12-00 Declan Murphy Josh Gifford Robin Eliot 11/1 9
1992 Remittance Man 8-12-00 Jamie Osborne Nicky Henderson Jim Collins Evs F 6
1991 Katabatic 8-12-00 Simon McNeill Andrew Turnell Pell-Mell Partners 9/1 7
1990 Barnbrook Again 9-12-00 Hywel Davies David Elsworth Mel Davies 11/10F 9
1989 Barnbrook Again 8-12-00 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth Mel Davies 7/4F 8
1988 Pearlyman 9-12-00 Tom Morgan John Edwards Valerie Shaw 15/8F 8
1987 Pearlyman 8-12-00 Peter Scudamore John Edwards Valerie Shaw 13/8F 8
1986 Buck House 8-12-00 Tommy Carmody Mouse Morris IRE Mrs Seamus Purcell 5/2 11
1985 Badsworth Boy 10-12-00 Robert Earnshaw Monica Dickinson Doug Armitage 11/8 5
1984 Badsworth Boy 9-12-00 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson Doug Armitage 8/13F 10
1983 Badsworth Boy 8-12-00 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson Doug Armitage 2/1 6
1982 Rathgorman 10-12-00 Kevin Whyte Michael Dickinson J Lilley 100/30 9
1981 Drumgora 9-12-00 Frank Berry Arthur Moore IRE D Monahan 25/1 9
1980 *Another Dolly 10-12-00 Sam Morshead Fred Rimell Ian Urquhart 33/1 7
1979 Hilly Way 9-12-00 Mr Ted Walsh Peter McCreery IRE J W Sweeney 7/1 9
1978 Hilly Way 8-12-00 Tommy Carmody Peter McCreery IRE J W Sweeney 7/1 10
1977 Skymas 12-12-00 Mouse Morris Brian Lusk IRE Mathew Magee 7/2 8
1976 Skymas 11-12-00 Mouse Morris Brian Lusk IRE Mathew Magee 8/1 7
1975 Lough Inagh 8-12-00 Sean Barker Jim Dreaper IRE A Martin 100/30 8
1974 Royal Relief 10-12-00 Bill Smith Edward Courage Edward Courage 6/1 6
1973 Inkslinger 6-12-00 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore IRE Mrs M Jenney 6/1 6
1972 Royal Relief 8-12-00 Bill Smith Edward Courage Edward Courage 15/8 5
1971 Crisp 8-12-00 Paul Kelleway Fred Winter Sir Chester Manifold 3/1 8
1970 Straight Fort 7-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE George Ansley 7/4F 6
1969 Muir 10-12-00 Ben Hannon Tom Dreaper IRE Waring Willis 15/2 11
1968 Drinny's Double 10-12-00 Frank Nash Bob Turnell Paul Mellon 6/1 5
1967 Drinny's Double 9-12-00 Frank Nash Bob Turnell Paul Mellon 7/2 8
1966 Flyingbolt 7-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Mrs Jean Wilkinson 1/5F 6
1965 Dunkirk 8-12-00 Dave Dick Peter Cazalet Bill Whitbread 8/1 6
1964 Ben Stack 7-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Anne, Duchess of Westminster 2/1 5
1963 Sandy Abbot 8-12-00 Stan Mellor George Owen Mrs J D McKechnie 5/1 5
1962 Piperton 8-12-00 Dave Dick Archie Thomlinson Archie Thomlinson 100/6 7
1961 Fortria 9-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE George Ansley 2/5F 5
1960 Fortria 8-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE George Ansley 15/8F 7
1959 Quita Que 10-12-00 Bunny Cox Dan Moore IRE Mrs D R Brand 4/9F 9

*Another Dolly finished second to Chinrullah, who was subsequently disqualified after failing a post-race urine test


THE 2002 QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE RESULT IN DETAILM

Class A, Grade One, Total Prize Fund £220,000 2.35pm, Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 13, 2002, 2m. For 5yo & upwards. Weights: 5yo 11st 9lb; 6yo & upwards 12st. Allowances: mares 5lb. Penalty Values: 1st: £127,600; 2nd: £48,400; 3rd: £24,200; 4th: £11,000; 5th: £5,500; 6th: £3,300

1) FLAGSHIP UBERALLES (Elizabeth Gutner & Michael Krysztofiak Racing) Philip Hobbs 8-12-00 Richard Johnson 7/4F
2) NATIVE UPMANSHIP (Sue Magnier) Arthur Moore IRE 9-12-00 Conor O'Dwyer 9/1
3) CENKOS (Judy Stewart) Paul Nicholls 8-12-00 Timmy Murphy 66/1
4) EDREDON BLEU (Jim Lewis) Henrietta Knight t10-12-00 Tony McCoy 5/1
5) TIUTCHEV (The Liars Poker Partnership) Nicky Henderson 9-12-00 Mick Fitzgerald 5/1
6) KNIFE EDGE (J P McManus) Michael O'Brien IRE 7-12-00 Paul Carberry 10/1
7) TURGEONEV (David Sills) Tim Easterby 7-12-00 Russ Garritty 25/1
8) FADALKO (Sir Robert Ogden) Paul Nicholls 9-12-00 Ruby Walsh 14/1
9) WAHIBA SANDS (David Johnson) Martin Pipe 9-12-00 Tony Dobbin 20/1
10) DESERT MOUNTAIN (Frank Golding) Paul Nicholls 9-12-00 Joe Tizzard 50/1
11) NORDANCE PRINCE (Pinks Gym & Leisure Wear Ltd) Venetia Williams 11-12-00 Norman Williamson 66/1
F11) LATALOMNE (Akv Cladding/Alderclad Roofing) Brian Ellison 8-12-00 Vinnie Keane 14/1

12 ran
Distances: 3, 1/2, 5, hd, 3 1/2, 1 1/2, 6, 3, 11, 5
Breeder: Miss E C Holdsworth Breeding: br g Accordion - Fourth Degree (Oats)
Totes: Win: £2.60 Places: £1.50; £2.40; £8.90 Exacta: £18.80

Winning Trainer: Philip Hobbs Based: Sandhill, Bilbrook, Minehead, Somerset Date of Birth: 26/7/55 Riding Career: Professional NH 1975-86, rode 160 winners Date of first trainer's licence: August 1, 1985 Wins this season: 103 Cheltenham Festival wins: (4) Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (1990 Moody Man), Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap (1996 Kibreet), Coral Cup H'cap Hurdle (2000 What's Up Boys), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2002 Flagship Uberalles) Wins (1990/91-2000/01): 33; 51; 37; 64; 86; 77; 64; 71; 84; 120; 82 Horses in training (1990-2001): 44; 53; 60; 52; 47; 65; 72; 80; 81; 81; 82; 99 Other major wins: Thomas Pink Gold Cup Chase (1989 Joint Sovereignty), Becher Handicap Chase (1997 Samlee), William Hill Handicap Hurdle (1998 Polar Prospect), Wensleydale Hurdle (Navarre Samson 1998), Racing Post Chase (1999 Dr Leunt, 2002 Gunther McBride), Edinburgh Woollen Mill Champion Novices' Chase (1999 Bouchasson), Hennessy Gold Cup (2001 What's Up Boys), John Hughes Trophy Handicap Chase (1997 Bells Life, 2001 Gower-Slave), Belle Epoque Sefton Novices' Hurdle (1996 Pleasure Shared), Crowther Homes Becher Chase (1997 Samlee), Barton & Guestier Hcap Hurdle (1999 Papo Kharisma), Barton & Guestier Top Novices' Hurdle (2000 Phardante Flyer, 2001 Ilico II), Martell Fox Hunters' Chase (2000 Bells Life), Glenlivet Anniversary 4yo Novices' Hurdle (2000 Lord Brex), Heidsieck Monopole Mildmay Novices' Chase (2001 What's Up Boys)

Winning Jockey: Richard Johnson Date of birth: 21/07/77 Wins (1993/94-2000/2001): 1; 12; 53; 102; 120; 133; 143; 161 Wins This Season: 102 Cheltenham Festival Wins: (4) Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle (1999 Anzum), Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup H'cap Chase (2000 Dark Stranger), Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup (2000 Looks Like Trouble), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2002 Flagship Uberalles) Other Big Race Wins: Barton & Guestier Top Novices' Hurdle (1997 Midnight Legend, 2000 Phardante Flyer), Belle Epoque Sefton Novices' Hurdle (1997 Forest Ivory), Martell Cup Chase (1998 Escartefigue), Heidsieck Monopole Mildmay Novices' Chase (1999 Spendid, 2001 What's Up Boys), Glenlivet Anniversary 4yo Novices' Hurdle (2000 Lord Brex), John Hughes Trophy Chase (2001 Gower-slave), Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle (1999 Anzum), James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase (2000 Looks Like Trouble), Welsh National (1999 Edmond), Racing Post Chase (2000 Gloria Victis, 2001 Young Spartacus, 2002 Gunther McBride)

IRISH THOROUGHBRED NEWS

Not surprisingly, Rock Of Gibraltar is one of four nominations for the Horse Of The Year Award and the record-breaking son of Danehill has also been put forward for the Male Turf Horse Award.

In the latter category, he is joined by Breeders' Cup and dual Derby hero High Chaparral while other leading Irish-bred performers Street Cry (Older Colt, Horse or Gelding) and multiple winner Golden Apples (Female Turf Horse) are also nominated for the awards, which will be presented at the end of this month.

O'BRIEN PUTS 54 IN 2004 DERBY

Aidan O'Brien, who has won the last two runnings of the Epsom Derby, has entered 54 yearlings for the race next year.

O'Brien won the race in 2001 with Galileo and High Chaparral last year; Brian Boru and Spartacus are his leading hopes for this year's renewal.

In total, the 2004 race has attracted 560 entries at the yearling stage. Other Irish trainers with entries at this early stage are Paddy Mullins, Willie Mullins, Dermot Weld, Jim Bolger, Joanna Morgan, Charles O'Brien and John Oxx who won with Sinndar in 2000.

FLORIDA PEARL GETS CHAMPION ENTRY

Leading Irish chaser Florida Pearl has been entered for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham for the first time.

The Willie Mullins-trained 11-year-old has a tremendous record at Cheltenham. He won the Champion Bumper at the 1997 Festival and scored a famous victory in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase 12 months later.

He was third to See More Business in the 1999 Gold Cup and runner-up to Looks Like Trouble the following year but was unplaced behind Best Mate in last season's race.

He has also been entered for the Gold Cup in March and this race remains his target, according to Mullins.

SACKVILLE BACK ON TOP

Sackville (Satco), winner of the Grade 2 Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock last month, was back in the winners' enclosure after a comfortable success in the Wilf Dooly Chase at Tramore.

The 10-year-old ran well in defeat behind Beef Or Salmon in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas and will now go for the Pillar Property Chase at Cheltenham later this month.

INCA TRAIL ON THE MARK

Best Mate's full brother Inca Trail won on only his second start over hurdles at Ludlow on Friday.

The Irish-bred son of Un Desperado won the 1871 Maiden Hurdle and will be entered for both novice hurdle events at the Cheltenham Festival.

Trainer Henrietta Knight is favouring the Gerrard Wealth Supreme Novices' Hurdle at this stage and Inca Trail may go to Cheltenham without another run.

ENTRIES CLOSING FOR JANUARY N.H. SALE

Entries are closing for the two-day Tattersalls (Ireland) January National Hunt Sale to be held later this month.

The sale will be held on January 27 and 28 and is for horses in and out of training, untried and unbroken stock and yearlings and broodmares.

Entries can be made by email to entry@tattersalls.ie and the company's website can be found at www.tattersalls.ie.

INWARD BUYER PROGRAMME CONTINUES

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing's Inward Buyer Programme will continue to operate in 2003.

Under the Inward Buyer Programme, Irish Thoroughbred Marketing contributes to the airfares of foreign purchasers at the public sales (Goffs and Tattersalls) in Ireland. For further information please contact +353-1-2897302.

SKYBET.COM TO SPONSOR GREAT YORKSHIRE CHASE

A Showcase Handicap and Listed Race over three miles, The skybet.com Great Yorkshire Chase offers prize money of 50,000 and heads a quality programme on Saturday, 25 January, with all seven races sponsored by Sky Bet, including the main supporting races, The skybet.com River Don Novices' Hurdle (a Grade 2 contest with a total prize fund of 30,000) and The skybet.com Mansion House Handicap Chase ( 20,000 added).

Sky Bet also support the opening race on Friday, 24 January The skybet.com Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, Channel 4's live lunchtime trifecta race.

First held in 1948, The Great Yorkshire Chase provides an opportunity for potential Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National contenders to compete for valuable prize money and prepare for the big Spring Festivals. Last year's winner, Moor Lane headed the betting market for The Martell Grand National after his success at Doncaster, although the gelding didn't take part in the Aintree spectacular.

Sky Bet Managing Director Nick Rust was delighted to have secured such a high profile race in the National Hunt calender. "When you consider that last year's race produced the ante post favourite for the Grand National and the third placed horse Frenchman's Creek went on to win at the Cheltenham Festival then the significance of the The Great Yorkshire Chase quickly becomes apparent.

"At Sky Bet we have been gradually developing our race sponsorship portfolio and I think it's fair to say our agreement with Doncaster Racecourse is our most prestigious sponsorship so far."

Doncaster's Chief Executive, John Sanderson, said "Sky Bet are a most welcome addition to our family of sponsors at Doncaster.

"skybet.com Great Yorkshire Chase Day is the most important day in our Jumping season and to have the support of an organisation like Sky Bet is a wonderful boost to both Doncaster Racecourse and Jump racing in the north."

For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink Archive

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