Monday, January 10, 2005

MATE AMONG 40 GOING FOR GOLD - 19 IN QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

All the leading contenders are entered for the Blue Riband of steeplechasing, which will be run on the final day of the first-ever four-day Festival this year and carry £350,000 in prize money.

Stan James King George VI Chase winner Kicking King is one of five Irish-trained entries along with Beef Or Salmon, who lowered Best Mate's colours in last month's Lexus Chase at Leopardstown, and 2004 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup third Harbour Pilot.

Last year's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup second Sir Rembrandt and his stablemate, the King George VI Chase third Kingscliff, have been entered by Robert Alner, while Martin Pipe has four possibles to give him a first success in the premier chase, Celestial Gold, Our Vic, Therealbandit and Tiutchev.

Among the exciting younger performers entered are Nigel Twiston-Davies's novice chasers Fundamentalist and Ollie Magern, Iris's Gift, who won what is now the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the 2004 Festival, last season's Hennessy Gold Cup hero Strong Flow, Murphy's Cardinal, from Noel Chance's dual Gold Cup-winning stable, and Ferdy Murphy's exciting novice Your A Gassman. The sole entry from France is Solarius, trained by Richard Chotard for Kent-based owner Fergus Wilson.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase never attracts a huge field but there are rarely few more exciting events than the two-mile contest, run this year on Wednesday, March 16.

Last year's winner Azertyuiop is set to do battle with his old rival Moscow Flyer, who fell in 2004 following his success 12 months earlier, while last season's Irish Independent Arkle Chase victor Well Chief adds further spice to this year's two-mile championship.

Paul Nicholls accounts for no less than six of the 19 entries and - along with Azertyuiop - his representatives are Armaturk, Cenkos, Great Travel, Kadarann and Thisthatantother.

Last week's skybet.com Castleford Chase winner Mister McGoldrick, Mark Rimell's stable star Oneway, recent Leopardstown Grade 1 winner Central House, 2002 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Flagship Uberalles and Fundamentalist are among the other entries.

There are once again supplementary entry stages five days before each race, costing £17,500 for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and £12,500 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's Managing Director, said: "The countdown to this year's inaugural four-day Festival really gets underway today with the announcement of the entries for the two flagship events over fences, the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and Queen Mother Champion Chase.

"Both races are already eagerly-anticipated as Best Mate bids to extend his amazing record of success and there promises to be a great battle for the two-mile chasing crown."

Simon Claisse, Cheltenham's Clerk of the Course, added: "The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup entries are more than we could have hoped for and while the Queen Mother Champion Chase entries are slightly down in numbers on last year, they are very much in line with expectations given the strength of the principals and the addition of the two-and-a-half mile Daily Telegraph Trophy Chase to The Festival."

THE totesport CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

Class A, Grade One, £350,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, Friday, March 18. For five-year-olds and upwards, three miles, two and a half furlongs. Weights: 5yo: 11st; 6yo+: 11st 10lb; mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed January 5, entries revealed January 10 (40 entries). Forfeit stage February 22, £17,500 supplementary entry stage March 12, five-day confirmation stage March 12, final declaration 10.00am, March 16. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Friday, January 7.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
0/43-045 ASTONVILLE (FR) 11 Fergus Wilson Michael Scudamore
1112P-2 BALLYCASSIDY (IRE) 9 Roddy Owen & P Fullagar Peter Bowen
4-15131 BEEF OR SALMON (IRE) 9 Joe Craig Michael Hourigan IRE
1/211-12 BEST MATE (IRE) 10 Jim Lewis Henrietta Knight
111U-2P CALLING BRAVE (IRE) 9 Sir Robert Ogden Nicky Henderson
3321-11 CELESTIAL GOLD (IRE) 7 David Johnson Martin Pipe
P/4P-213 CHIVES (IRE) 10 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
21-112U FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 7 Gripen Nigel Twiston-Davies
P/6111-1 GREY ABBEY (IRE) 11 Ken & Elinor Roper, Norman Furness Howard Johnson
0U3-24P HARBOUR PILOT (IRE) 10 Kays Syndicate Noel Meade IRE
231111//- HEROS COLLONGES (FR) 10 John Hales Paul Nicholls
21/211-2 IRIS'S GIFT 8 Robert Lester Jonjo O'Neill
121/P2P- IRISH HUSSAR (IRE) 9 Major Christopher Hanbury Nicky Henderson
5/U136-3 KEEN LEADER (IRE) 9 Adair Catherwood Jonjo O'Neill
2-B1211 KICKING KING (IRE) 7 Conor Clarkson Tom Taaffe IRE
11/112-2 KINGSCLIFF (IRE) 8 Arnold Sendell Robert Alner
4-404P1 LE DUC (FR) 6 Judy Stewart Paul Nicholls
4F6-514 LE ROI MIGUEL (FR) 7 Judy Stewart Paul Nicholls
11-1F3P LORD SAM (IRE) 9 Plain Peeps Victor Dartnall
111/1-14 MURPHY'S CARDINAL (IRE) 9 Mr & Mrs T Conway Noel Chance
111421 OLLIE MAGERN 7 Roger Nicholls Nigel Twiston-Davies
3111/F-1 ONE KNIGHT (IRE) 9 Robert Gibbs Philip Hobbs
1/2113-F OUR VIC (IRE) 7 David Johnson Martin Pipe
P11B-33 PIZARRO (IRE) 8 Edward Wallace Edward O'Grady IRE
4P-0456 PRESENT BLEU (FR) 10 Fergus Wilson Michael Scudamore
022U/-P0 RED STRIKER 11 Norman Mason Richard Guest
302-132 ROYAL AUCLAIR (FR) 8 Clive Smith Paul Nicholls
12F-30U ROYAL EMPEROR (IRE) 9 Widdop Wanderers Sue Smith
31133F RULE SUPREME (IRE) 9 John Fallon Willie Mullins IRE
P62-242 SIR REMBRANDT (IRE) 9 Alan Hordle Robert Alner
402151 SOLARIUS (FR) 8 Fergus Wilson Richard Chotard FR
11F111- STRONG FLOW (IRE) 8 Barry Marshall Paul Nicholls
1126PF TAKE THE STAND (IRE) 9 The Courters Peter Bowen
1F0-010 THEREALBANDIT (IRE) 8 David Johnson Martin Pipe
22F31-P TIUTCHEV 12 The Liars Poker Partnership Martin Pipe
F11P-12 TRABOLGAN (IRE) 7 Trevor Hemmings Nicky Henderson
FUP-441 TRUCKERS TAVERN (IRE) 10 Margaret Scholey Ferdy Murphy
562-412 TURNIUM (FR) 10 Fergus Wilson Michael Scudamore
50FP-30 VENN OTTERY 10 Oliver Carter Oliver Carter
11211U YOUR A GASSMAN (IRE) 7 Walter Gott Ferdy Murphy

40 entries
5 Irish-trained
1 French-trained

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

5 Entries
Paul Nicholls (1999 SEE MORE BUSINESS)

4 Entries
Martin Pipe

3 Entries
Nicky Henderson
Michael Scudamore

2 Entries
Robert Alner (1998 COOL DAWN)
Peter Bowen
Ferdy Murphy
Jonjo O'Neill
Sue Smith
Nigel Twiston-Davies

1 Entry
Oliver Carter
Noel Chance (1997 MR MULLIGAN, 2000 LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE)
Richard Chotard FR
Victor Dartnall
Richard Guest
Philip Hobbs
Michael Hourigan IRE
Howard Johnson
Henrietta Knight (2002, 2003 & 2004 BEST MATE)
Noel Meade IRE
Willie Mullins IRE
Edward O'Grady IRE
Tom Taaffe IRE

THE totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup
Analysis

There are a total of 40 entries for the 2005 £350,000 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, which moves to become the highlight of Friday's card at the new four-day Festival.

This year's renewal of chasing's Blue Riband could see history made with Best Mate seeking a fourth consecutive success. Henrietta Knight's charge has already equalled the feats of Cottage Rake and Arkle in winning the contest thrice and, if he is successful again this year, he will join the great Golden Miller in becoming only the second horse to win the contest more than three times.

After winning on his seasonal debut at Exeter, Best Mate had to be content with second place behind Beef Or Salmon in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on December 28, when a combination of heavy ground and a head injury proved against him. He was found to be coughing the day after the race. Beef Or Salmon will be making his third attempt at the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, having fallen in 2003 and finished fourth last year.

Best Mate defeated Sir Rembrandt and Harbour Pilot in 2004 and both horses could reoppose once again this year. Sir Rembrandt could be joined by his stable companion Kingscliff, winner of the Christie's Foxhunter Chase at the 2003 Festival and a most encouraging second behind Kicking King on his seasonal debut in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

In addition to Beef Or Salmon, Harbour Pilot and Kicking King, there are two more Irish entries in the shape of Edward O'Gray's Pizarro, third behind Beef Or Salmon and Best Mate last time out at Leopardstown and the Willie Mullins-trained Rule Supreme, the 2004 Royal & SunAlliance Chase hero.

Truckers Tavern finished runner-up to Best Mate in 2003 and recently returned to form when taking the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day. He is one of two entries for Ferdy Murphy, who also has the highly-promising novice Your A Gassman engaged.

The trainer with the highest number of entries is Paul Nicholls, who has five horses engaged. The pick of these is Strong Flow, who recorded a stunning success in last season's Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury while still a novice. He has yet to start this season. Ditcheat-based Nicholls could also run Heros Collonges, not seen out since recording a facile success in a novice chase at Kempton in January 2002 for Guillaume Macaire, recent Cheltenham handicap scorer Le Duc, Le Roi Miguel, fourth in the King George VI Chase at Kempton last time out, and Royal Auclair, victorious in the Cathcart Chase at the 2002 Festival and second on his latest start behind Therealbandit in the Mears Group Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on December 10.

Martin Pipe has yet to add to the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup to his illustrious CV and has four entries this year to try and rectify this. These include Celestial Gold, who has already demonstrated considerable improvement this year to win both the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham's Open Meeting and the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury.

He could be joined by Our Vic, who was leading when falling at the last in the bonusprint.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month, Tiutchev, winner of the Grade Two Martell Cup at Aintree last season but pulled up in the King George last time, and Therealbandit, who landed the Mears Group Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on December 10 before finishing down the field in the King George. The latter ran in last year's totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup while still a novice, finishing seventh.

Another trainer still seeking success in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup is Lambourn-based Nicky Henderson. The Seven Barrows handler has three to choose from including Irish Hussar, pulled-up behind Best Mate last year, Calling Brave, a four-time winner last year but pulled-up in the King George on his latest start, and the exciting novice Trabolgan, beaten a short-head by Ollie Maghern last time out in the Feltham Novices' Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Ollie Maghern, who also finished runner-up to Celestial Gold in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, is one of two entries for Nigel Twiston-Davies. The Naunton handler's other entry is the hugely-promising Fundamentalist, last season's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle victor and victorious at Cheltenham earlier this season in the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase. He disappointed on his latest visit to Prestbury Park when unseating Carl Llewellyn in the Unicoin Homes "Dipper" Novices' Chase on New Year's Day but was subsequently found to be suffering from sore shins.

Other trainers doubly represented included Jonjo O'Neill. The master of Jackdaws Castle has both Keen Leader, a disappointing sixth behind Best Mate last year but still a horse of great promise, and Iris's Gift, last season's Ladbrokes World Hurdle victor who has yet to start over fences.

Sue Smith has both last year's Royal & SunAlliance Chase runner-up Royal Emperor and Chives, victorious in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock Park this season, engaged while Welsh handler Peter Bowen has made entries for Take The Stand, who was going well under top weight when falling four out in the Welsh National and Ballycassidy, second on his sole start this season behind Stormez in the Servo Computer Services Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on November 13.

The pick of the remaining entries are Grey Abbey, triumphant under top weight in last season's Scottish National at Ayr and successful on his seasonal debut in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby in October, the 2003 Royal & SunAlliance Chase victor One Knight, Noel Chance's promising young chaser Murphy's Cardinal and the Victor Dartnall-trained Lord Sam who has also shown a great deal of potential but was another to disappoint badly last time out in the King George at Kempton.

Also included in the entries are the Richard Guest-trained veteran Red Striker, well-beaten on his two starts this season, and the enigmatic Venn Ottery, who showed tremendous improvement last season to finish fifth to Azertyuiop in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. He is now back with his original trainer and owner, Oliver Carter.

The Kent-based former teacher-turned property magnate, Fergus Wilson, has four entries in 2005. Three of these, all apparently no-hopers, are trained by Michael Scudamore - Astonville, Present Bleu and Turnium. Present Bleu was actually a Grade One winner in France in 2002 although his form has tailed off since then.

Wilson's remaining entry, Solarius is trained in France by Richard Chotard and was last seen out when landing a claiming hurdle at Cagnes-Sur-Mer on Christmas Day.

THE QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

Class A, Grade One, £250,000 Total Prize Fund. Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 16. For five-year-olds and upwards, about two miles. Weights: 5yo: 11st 6lb; 6yo+: 11st 10lb; mares allowed 7lb. Entries closed January 5, entries revealed January 10 (19 entries). Forfeit stage February 22, £12,500 supplementary entry stage March 11, five-day confirmation stage March 11, final declaration 10.00am, March 14. Form figures supplied by Weatherby and are correct up to and including the racing of Friday, January 7.

Form Horse Age Owner Trainer
24-1143 ARMATURK (FR) 8 Barry Marshall Paul Nicholls
211-123 AZERTYUIOP (FR) 8 John Hales Paul Nicholls
41-1U46 CENKOS (FR) 11 Judy Stewart Paul Nicholls
U4-5221 CENTRAL HOUSE 8 John Kenny Dessie Hughes IRE
322P-55 FLAGSHIP UBERALLES (IRE) 11 J P McManus Philip Hobbs
21-112U FUNDAMENTALIST (IRE) 7 Gripen Nigel Twiston-Davies
011213- GOLDEN ROW (IRE) 11 William Roche Mary Hallahan IRE
1244-11 GREAT TRAVEL (FR) 6 Judy Stewart Paul Nicholls
14P-232 KADARANN (IRE) 8 Notalotterry Paul Nicholls
1F-3411 MASTER REX 10 Louise Challis Ben De Haan
1F-1531 MISTER MCGOLDRICK 8 Richard Longley Sue Smith
1U1-111 MOSCOW FLYER (IRE) 11 Brian Kearney Jessica Harrington IRE
133-443 NATIVE UPMANSHIP (IRE) 12 Sue Magnier Arthur Moore IRE
0/112-FF NON SO (FR) 7 ROA Dawn Run Partnership Nicky Henderson
15P-111 ONEWAY (IRE) 8 Mark Rimell Mark Rimell
2U1214 RATHGAR BEAU (IRE) 9 One-O-Eight Racing Club Eamon Sheehy IRE
1F22-22 THISTHATANDTOTHER (IRE) 9 Graham Roach Paul Nicholls
50FP-30 VENN OTTERY 10 Oliver Carter Oliver Carter
111-23F WELL CHIEF (GER) 6 David Johnson Martin Pipe

19 entries
5 Irish-trained

BREAKDOWN OF ENTRIES BY TRAINER WITH PAST SUCCESSES IN THE QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

6 Entries
Paul Nicholls (1999 CALL EQUINAME, 2004 AZERTYUIOP)

1 Entry
Oliver Carter
Ben De Haan
Mary Hallahan IRE
Jessica Harrington IRE (2003 MOSCOW FLYER)
Nicky Henderson (1992 REMITTANCE MAN)
Philip Hobbs (2002 FLAGSHIP UBERALLES)
Dessie Hughes IRE
Arthur Moore IRE (1996 KLAIRON DAVIS, 1981 DRUMGORA)
Martin Pipe
Mark Rimell
Eamon Sheey IRE
Sue Smith
Nigel Twiston-Davies

QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
ANALYSIS

The 2005 renewal of the £250,000 Queen Mother Champion Chase has attracted 19 entries, with five of these trained in Ireland.

Ditcheat-based Paul Nicholls dominates the entries with six possibles engaged. Heading Nicholls' sextet is Azertyuiop, successful at the Festival in 2003 when taking the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy and last year when he ran out the nine-length winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The eight-year-old could be joined by stable companions Armaturk, Cenkos, third in both 2002 and 2003, the improving Great Travel, winner of both of his starts in handicap company this year, Kadarann and Thisthatandtother, runner-up twice already this season in both the Paddy Power and tripleprint.com Gold Cups at Cheltenham.

Azertyuiop's main rival for a repeat success is the Irish challenger Moscow Flyer. The Jessica Harrington-trained 11-year-old won the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy in 2002, the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2003 and unseated Barry Geraghty four fences from home in last year's renewal. He remains undefeated over fences when he has completed the course and proved a length and a half too strong for Azertyuiop when the pair met in the Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown on December 4.

Also included among the quintet of Irish contenders are the Dessie Hughes-trained Central House, last seen out when landing the Grade One Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 27, the veteran Native Upmanship, second in both the 2002 and 2003 Queen Mother Champion Chases, Rathgar Beau, successful twice in Grade Two company already this season and Golden Row, a fairly useful novice last season but not seen out since November, 2003.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase is one of the few races missing from Martin Pipe's CV and the champion trainer has just Well Chief engaged. Well Chief was a winner at last year's Festival when taking the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy by a length from Kicking King. He was then subsequently successful in a Grade One event at Aintree. On his seasonal debut, he ran very well to finish a close third behind Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop in the Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown before falling on his latest appearance in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on January 1.

Other contenders for this year's renewal include Flagship Uberalles, winner of the Irish Independent Arkle in 1999 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2002. He also finished second to Azertyuiop in last year's renewal and third to Edredon Bleu in 2000. Mister McGoldrick benefited from the fall of Well Chief when landing the Castleford Chase at Wetherby last time, but still ran out an impressive winner from Kadarran and Armaturk.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has entered his very exciting novice Fundamentalist, last season's Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle victor and victorious at Cheltenham earlier this season in the Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase. He disappointed on his latest visit to Prestbury Park when unseating Carl Llewellyn in the Unicoin Homes "Dipper" Novices' Chase on New Year's Day but was subsequently found to be suffering from sore shins. Nicky Henderson's sole entry is Non So, a useful novice last season but a faller on both his starts during the current campaign.

Two improving sorts for this year's contest are Mark Rimell's Oneway, an easy winner of his last three starts in handicap company and the Ben De Haan-trained Master Rex, who has won his last two races in minor handicap company.

Completing the entries is Venn Ottery. He showed tremendous improvement last season to finish fifth to Azertyuiop in this race and has been sent by owner Oliver Carter to point-to-point trainer Emma Oliver.

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