THE OPEN 2007 - GREATWOOD HURDLE DAY
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
CHELTENHAM, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18
RECORD OVERALL ATTENDANCE
Today’s crowd came to 14,439 meaning that the total attendance at The Open 2007 was 70,194. This a new record overall attendance for the three-day meeting.
The Open 2006 welcomed 68,791, the previous record.
Yesterday, Paddy Power Gold Cup day, saw a record 33,404 come racing. This was an increase of 3,332 (+10.8 per cent) on the previous record of 30,072 for Paddy Power Gold Cup day last year.
A new record attendance of 22,351 for the Friday of The Open, Countryside Day, was recorded the day before. The previous record for the day came last year when 21,505 attended.
LEADING TRAINER STANDINGS AT THE END OF THE OPEN 2007
TRAINER 1st 2nd 3rd
Nigel Twiston-Davies 2 1 1
Jonjo O’Neill 2 - -
Alan King 1 3 -
Paul Nicholls 1 3 -
Philip Hobbs 1 1 1
Henry de Bromhead IRE 1 1 -
Gordon Elliott IRE 1 1 -
Tom Hogan IRE 1 - 1
Enda Bolger IRE 1 - -
Noel Chance 1 - -
Victor Dartnall 1 - -
Henrietta Knight 1 - -
Eric McNamara IRE 1 - -
Charlie Mann 1 - -
Ferdy Murphy 1 - -
David Pipe - 1 4
Willie Codd IRE - 1 -
Sabrina Harty - 1 -
Tom McCourt IRE - 1 -
Gary Moore - 1 -
Simon Sherwood - 1 -
Alison Thorpe - 1 -
David Broad - - 1
Khalil Burke - - 1
Paul D’Arcy - - 1
Francois Doumen FR - - 1
Brendan Duke - - 1
Nick Gifford - - 1
Mark Gillard - - 1
Mick Quinlan - - 1
Philip Rothwell IRE - - 1
Venetia Williams - - 1
LEADING JOCKEY STANDINGS AT THE END OF THE OPEN 2007
JOCKEY 1st 2nd 3rd
Paddy Brennan 2 - 2
Tony McCoy 2 - 1
Graham Lee 2 - -
Robert Thornton 1 3 -
Richard Johnson 1 1 1
Ruby Walsh 1 1 -
Timmy Murphy 1 - 3
Noel Fehily 1 - 1
Joey Elliott 1 - -
Tony Evans 1 - -
Mr J T McNamara 1 - -
Tom Siddall 1 - -
Ms Katie Walsh 1 - -
James White 1 - -
Jamie Moore - 1 2
Shane Jackson - 1 1
Paul Carberry - 1 -
Davy Condon - 1 -
Mark Darcy - 1 -
Dominic Elsworth - 1 -
David England - 1 -
Mick Fitzgerald - 1 -
Shane Hassett - 1 -
Jason Maguire - 1 -
Sam Thomas - 1 -
Mr Brian Toomey - 1 -
Paul O’Neill - - 2
Kevin Clarke - - 1
Kevin Coleman - - 1
Mr Richard O’Sullivan - - 1
T J Phelan - - 1
GUINNESS MOMENT ON SECOND DAY WON BY TONY MCCOY
The second “Guinness Moment” of The Open, which was between Franchoek, L’Antartique and Tony McCoy, has gone to Tony McCoy.
The champion jump jockey was voted the winner, by 11am today, for his ride on Kia Kaha in yesterday’s opener, the Ryman The Stationer Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
The Guinness Moment on Friday went to Spot Thedifference.
THE OPEN BUMPER CALLED OFF
The last race of The Open 2007, the Open Bumper, which had been due off at 4pm, has had to be abandoned.
When the hurdles were taken out of the ground for this National Hunt Flat contest, the holes left were found to be full of water and, in the interests of safety, the race was called off.
Moon Over Miami took this afternoon’s opening Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase by eight lengths from Predateur and compensated for a defeat last time at Kempton.
The Lambourn trainer said: “That was good and he jumped well. Noel [Fehily] gave him a lovely ride.
“He did it well and settled well and a lot of thanks has to go to Jeremy Young, my head lad, who has been the making of this horse. He rides him every day and we have a very good, steep surface which we put in in July and our horses have been very fit this year.
“Jeremy used to work for Paul Nicholls and Paul’s former wife, Bridget, who is now married to Jeremy, is my secretary and they are invaluable to the team.
“He has been a different horse this year, but in the summer I thought that he would be my Arkle horse.
“He wants a bit of rain and I was gutted when he got beaten at Kempton. They didn’t go fast enough there but this is a good horse. Everything went wrong there that could have gone wrong and he won a Listed race on the Flat.
“He has now come to Cheltenham twice and won here twice. The Arkle is the obvious target. The plan was to come here and I’m not sure what we will do now, but he’s a proper horse.”
Paddy Power introduced the winning six-year-old at 25/1 for the Irish Independent Arkle Chase here on March 11, while fellow Irish bookmakers Cashmans were more impressed, going 20/1.
Noel Fehily added: “Charlie has done a very good job with this horse who can hopefully go to the top.”
Jockeys who rode in the opener, the Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase, on day three of the Open Meeting, generally described the ground as soft.
Noel Fehily, who rode the winner, Moon Over Miami, said: “It’s soft. Very testing.”
Sam Thomas and Jamie Moore, who rode the second and third, and Timmy Murphy who finished fifth on Nous Voila, also called the ground soft, while Oliver Dayman said: “It’s definitely getting soft - the rain has got in.”
Dougie Costello, who rode faller Leslingtaylor, said: “He wants top of the ground, and it was definitely too soft for him, but I would call it good to soft and soft in places.”
Jockey Tom Siddall rode his first Cheltenham winner when Mendo came with a rattle up the rail to win the Browne’s Gazette Intermediate Handicap Hurdle.
Siddall, who rode Mendo for trainer Noel Chance, said: “I’d like to thank the owners and Noel for giving me the chance on him.
“He jumped and travelled so well that he always gave me confidence that we would get to the leaders after the last, but the ground has really helped him.”
Chance said Mendo’s next run would be in a novices’ chase. He added: “He gets three miles, but he’s got pace - he’s not a slow horse.
“We’ll look for a two-and-a-half-mile novices’ chase, and he doesn’t need ground this soft. He won on good ground at Ascot last year when Rose Davidson nearly nicked the race [on runner-up Modicum]. Rose has received some stick, but that was a fine effort, and you have to remember she is an amateur.”
Irish trainer Willie Codd almost had a winner here with just his second runner, but Vale Of Avocia was unable to catch winner Mendo up the famous Cheltenham slope.
Codd said: “I am delighted with her as she was staying on really well and it’s a dream to win here. I’m thrilled as she’s tiny.
“She won three on the bounce in Ireland during the summer and we’ll take her home and try and get some black type in a Listed mares’ race. She might come across here again as well if I can find the right race.
“It was lucky that it rained last night as she needs to get her toe in. She’ll go over fences eventually and she has schooled very well.
“This is only my second runner here - the other one was Tenshookmen five years ago and he won five under Rules.
“I am a former point-to-point rider and Eastern champion in Ireland. Gordon Elliott was a contemporary of mine and I was delighted to see him do so well last year.
“My main business is a point-to-point yard with 30 horses altogether, three of which run under Rules.”
Nick Gifford, trainer of third-placed Sobers, added: “I am very, very pleased as he showed greenness when he hit the front and pricked his ears. This was only his fifth run over hurdles.
“I am over the moon with him and he’ll go novice chasing next.”
Kalca Mome managed to get the better of last season’s Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Voy Por Ustedes, but winning trainer Philip Hobbs was realistic enough to concede that his winner was receiving 26lb from the runner-up.
The Minehead trainer said of his 9/4 winner: “He likes soft ground and conditions have come right.
“It was a brave performance and he has been a star for us as we have had him since he was four and he just keeps winning.
“He might not have beaten the second off level weights!
“Obviously it was a small runner field and anything can happen then. His ideal conditions are two miles on a stiff track on soft ground and he got that today. I have no fancy targets for him.
“This was the plan and when I saw the entries I thought that it was ideal.”
Winning jockey Richard Johnson commented: “It is very cold out there - the wind down the backstretch is unbelievable.
“He loves soft ground and there was no pace so he was handier than usual. This horses loves Cheltenham - he won here last season.”
GROUND
The going was officially changed to SOFT after the first.
Voy Por Ustedes, who won the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham’s Festival in March, was floored on his seasonal debut in the paddypower.com Handicap Chase.
The concession of 26lb to strongly-fancied Kalca Mome on stamina-sapping rain-soaked ground proved just too much for the Alan King-trained Voy Por Ustedes, but the trainer had no regrets. His horse showed plenty of enthusiasm and pulled in the early stages of the race, but was caught on the run to the line.
King said: “As they ran to the last I thought ‘oh, shit’ he’s going to get mugged. It would have been lovely to win, but I said beforehand it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he was beaten first time out.
“There are two races we want to win - the Tingle Creek Chase [to be sponsored for the first time by Paddy Power] and the Champion Chase. This will have put him spot on for Sandown.
“I’m delighted we’ve had a race, because he was too gassy early on and the run will have done him good. All in all he’s come out of it with a lot of credit.” Voy Por Ustedes remains unchanged as 4-1 favourite for the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase with Paddy Power.
Pauntley Gofa, a 100-1 shot trained at Sherborne in Dorset by Mark Gillard, picked up nearly £4,000 for finishing third, and owner Tim Seegar said: “The plan was to pick up some place money and it’s worked out better than we expected. The ground is now so wet they are getting through it, and he stayed on well up the hill.”
Irish trainer Henry De Bromhead saddled his first Cheltenham winner - and enjoyed his biggest-ever success - when Sizing Europe won the £100,000 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.
Ridden by Timmy Murphy, five-year-old Sizing Europe powered clear and made light of extremely wet and windy conditions, despite carrying 11st 6lb. He beat Osana and Chivalry by 4l and 1l in the style of a very useful horse.
Last year’s winner of this race, Detroit City became a leading contender for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, run at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Asked whether his horse could head for that race, De Bromhead said: “I’m a dreamer, so I’ll certainly be hoping he could be that good.
“I’ve no plan for him now, but we’ll look for a conditions race and take on some of the good horses at level weights. He was on a good mark for this race, so we thought we’d try and pinch it.”
Sizing Europe ran off a straight line after jumping the last, and De Bromhead said: “Conditions were pretty horrendous, so you could forgive him, but he hung when he won at Newbury a year ago, so maybe it’s something we have to look at.
“It’s phenomenal to win a race at Cheltenham, and pretty amazing to do so in such a valuable event. We’ll really enjoy the moment.”
For the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, Sizing Europe was given a price of 16-1 by Paddy Power and 20-1 by Cashmans.
Race 4 - Greatwood Handicap Hurdle
Placed quotes
OSANA FINE SECOND UNDER TOP-WEIGHT
Osana, who carried 11st 12lb, might not have won this afternoon’s feature Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, but he still managed to finish second to Sizing Europe.
The runner-up’s trainer, David Pipe, as he was attempting to escape the desperate weather, said: “That was a very good performance especially in these conditions.
“I have no idea where he will run next.”
Paul Beck, owner of third-placed Chivalry, said: “I’m pleased especially as he is a horse that was virtually finished at one stage.
“He might go for the Ladbroke Hurdle at Ascot and we’ll probably have to look at level weight races now.
“I bought the horse with Guesty (Richard Guest) in 2005 and he had really bad back problems.
“He’s had two runs in three years and takes a bit of training. I’m pleased when they complete at Cheltenham.
“It’s special to have had two thirds today [Sobers was third in the Browne’s Gazette Intermediate Handicap Hurdle] and this fellow would have preferred better ground.”
Razor Royale made light of the dreadful conditions to land the Gideon Kasler Novices’ Hurdle by a length and a half from Nenuphar Collonges.
Winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “He was very impressive despite being a bit green in front. But with this wet weather, you’re not going to gallop into that.
“I have no idea where he will run next but it will be in a better novice hurdle. I’m chuffed to bits with that.”
Paddy Power introduced the winner into the betting for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle at 20/1.
Razor Royale was an impressive winner of the Gideon Kasler Novices’ Hurdle, but third-placed What A Buzz lived up to his name for owner/breeder Derek Beresford.
The Jamie Moore-ridden What A Buzz - who started at 80-1 - is trained in Newmarket by Paul d’Arcy, a Flat trainer best known for the Irish 2,000 Guineas victory of Indian Haven.
D’Arcy said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with that. It was his first run over hurdles and conditions are really horrible. Jamie said he jumped well for a novice.
“I’ve no idea where we’ll go next because he will have had a hard race on that ground. We’ll give him a few days off and see how he is.”
Beresford bred What A Buzz out of the mare G’ime A Buzz, who he still owns. She is now 19 years old.
GOING CHANGE
The going changed at 12.15pm to GOOD TO SOFT, SOFT IN PLACES from Good To Soft earlier in the day.
There had been nine millimetres of rain from 3am up to that point.
The going could change again if the rain continues.
All the rail on the inside of the hurdle course has been moved since racing yesterday to provide fresh ground on the inside.
Winds of around 25 miles per hour are being experienced but racing is in no danger at the moment.
RAIN TURNS GROUND ‘GOOD TO SOFT’
Steady rain greeted early visitors to Cheltenham racecourse this morning, when clerk of the course and racing director Simon Claisse described the going as ‘good to soft’.
However, he warned the ground could ride soft by the first race if the rain persists.
Claisse was among the first to set foot on the track this morning, stepping out of his car in darkness at 5.15am.
“I tend to feel my way around at that time of the morning,” he said. “It was very wet and cold, but I like to get the first going update on the phone line by 6am. Trainers start ringing in by then, and Talk Sport puts out a bulletin at 6.30am.
“But as much as taking a view about the state of the ground I also wanted to check whether the plastic [rails etc] has been knocked about. We had winds of up to 33mph last night, but everything was in place.”
Despite today’s weather, Claisse and just about every other person involved in jump racing will have been pleased to see rainfall. Weeks of largely dry weather have made life difficult for trainers and clerks of course in particular.
Claisse said: “As far as the course for our Boylesports International meeting on December 14 and 15 goes, this rain is very welcome - the ground on that track has been firm.
“The course we’ve been using for the current meeting has been watered for two months, but has been produced in wonderful condition and is a great credit to the groundstaff.”
L’ANTARTIQUE COULD RETURN TO CHELTENHAM IN NEW YEAR
Ferdy Murphy gave a very positive bulletin about L’Antartique this morning following the gelding’s victory in yesterday’s £120,000 Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. His stablemate Three Mirrors, who ran in the race but was unplaced, is also in good health.
On another busy day for the Leyburn-based trainer, Murphy gave his update by mobile phone from Carlisle, where he saddles eight runners on this afternoon’s card.
He said of L’Antartique: “If I had entered him today I could have run him - he’s that well, and so is Three Mirrors. They are both bucking this morning.
“They were turned out in a loose school and had a roll and a buck and a kick. To see them you would never think they had both been in such a competitive race.
“Three Mirrors lost a shoe, but is perfectly sound, and the plan is to take him back to Cheltenham next month for the boylesports.com Gold Cup. L’Antartique will probably go to Leopardstown for the Lexus Chase, but then we might look at the Letheby & Christopher Chase, which is a good trial for the totesport Gold Cup and run at Cheltenham in January.”
Murphy added: “I was back at my office in Yorkshire last night at 7pm, did a couple of hours work and was in bed just after 9pm. I don’t drink and it’s a very busy time of year for trainers.”
PADDY FEARS AS PUNTERS HOME IN ON 11-2 MOME
Bookmaker Paddy Power fears Kalca Mome could hit his turnover today in a race sponsored by the Irishman’s company.
Kalca Mome is one of six runners in the paddypower.com Handicap Chase (2.20), and while Voy Por Ustedes will take a lot of beating, punters were looking for value alternatives this morning.
Paddy Power spokesman Tony Coleman reports: “Voy Por Ustedes is a worthy favourite, but the biggest danger, River City, is weak in the market, and the Philip Hobbs-trained Kalca Mome is proving popular with each-way and forecast punters. He is now 11-2 from 6-1.”
With four non-runners in the Browne’s Gazette Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (1.45) Paddy Power has revised his prices, and now makes the Eric McNamara-trained Irish raider Hot Port a 6-1 shot from 10-1.
In the day’s most valuable race, the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2.55), the same firm has cut John Quinn’s Pevensey to 6-1 from 13-2 and Platin Grounds, from Nigel Twiston-Davies’ stable, to 14-1 from 16-1.
FIRST RACE RESULT
1.10pm INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER NOVICES’ CHASE
Class 1, Grade 2, £45,000 guaranteed. For 4yo+, 2m. Weights: 4yo 10st 11lb; 5yo+ 11st 4lb. Penalties: after April 28, 2007, a winner of a Class 3 chase 4lb; of a Class 1 or 2 chase 6lb. Allowances: fillies & mares 7lb. Penalty Values: 1st: £25,659; 2nd: £9,625.50; 3rd: £4,819.50; 4th: £2,403; 5th: £1,206; 6th: £603
1) MOON OVER MIAMI (Anne Fulton & M T Lynch) Charlie Mann 6-11-04 Noel Fehily 10/1
2) PREDATEUR (T Kilduff, C Donlon, L Scott-Macdonald) Paul Nicholls 4-10-11 Sam Thomas 9/4 Fav
3) DEV (Liam Mulryan) Mick Quinlan 7-11-04 Jamie Moore 20/1
4) ADMIRAL PEARY (The late Lady Maria Coventry) Dr Philip Pritchard 11-11-04 Oliver Dayman
5) NOUS VOILA (David Johnson) David Pipe 6-11-04 Timmy Murphy
FELL 2 OUT) TRAMANTANO (Raymond Mould) Nigel Twiston-Davies 8-11-08 Paddy Brennan
FELL 2 OUT) PAPINI (Newbury Racehorse Owners Group) Nicky Henderson 6-11-08 Mick Fitzgerald
FELL 4 OUT) LESLINGTAYLOR (Marie Taylor) John Quinn 5-11-10 Dougie Costello
8 ran Non-Runner: Classic Croco (Ground)
Distances: 8, 17, 9, dist
Breeder: R Kuhne ua Breeding: b g Dashing Blade - Miss Esther (GER)
Tote Win: £11.70 Places: £2.20; £1.10; £4.90 Exacta:£41.60
Winning Trainer: Charlie Mann Born: April 3, 1958 Based: Whitcombe House Stables, Upper Lambourn, Hungerford, Berkshire Date of first licence: August 1, 1993 Aintree Festival wins: John Smith’s Novices’ H’cap Chase (2004 Keltic Bard) Big Race Wins: Anglo Irish Private Banking Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Moon Over Miami), Charisma Gold Cup (1995, General Rusty), Grand Pardubice (1995, Its A Snip), Mitsubishi Shogun Game Spirit Chase (1999 Celibate), BMW Chase (1999, Celibate), Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase (2007 Moon Over Miami) Number of Winners (1993/94-2006/07): 15; 16; 17; 24; 25; 37; 20; 43; 35; 27; 37; 26; 23; 33; Wins this Season: 7
Winning Jockey: Noel Fehily Date Of Birth: December 24, 1974 Based: c/o Charlie Mann, Whitcoombe Stables, Maddle Road, Upper Lambourn, Berkshire Background: Stable jockey to Charlie Mann and named as Jonjo O’Neill’s second jockey in November 2005. Riding Weight: 9st 9lb First Winner: Ivy Boy, Plumpton, November 16, 1998 Aintree Festival Wins: John Smith’s Handicap Hurdle (2007 Two Miles West), John Smith’s Extra Cold Handicap Hurdle (2007 Alberta’s Run) Other Big Race Wins: Anglo Irish Private Banking Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Moon Over Miami); Ashelybank Investments Future Champions Novices’ Chase (Keltic Bard 2004); Britannia Building Society English Summer National (2005 Rheindross); totesport Lanzarote Hurdle (2006 Buck Whaley (dead-heated with Rayshan)), Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase (2007 Moon Over Miami) Number of Wins (1998/99-2006/07): 13; 16; 42 (Top conditional rider of 2000/01); 36; 35; 52; 56; 52; 75 Wins This Season: 19
SECOND RACE RESULT
1.45pm BROWNE’S GAZETTE INTERMEDIATE
HANDICAP HURDLE
Class 3, £25,000 guaranteed. For 4yo+ rated 0-135 which prior to April 30, 2006, had not won a hurdle, 2m 5f. Minimum weight 10st. Penalties: after November 10, each hurdle race won 7lb. Penalty Values: 1st: £15,657.50; 2nd: £4,625; 3rd: £2,312.50; 4th: £1,157.50; 5th: £577.50; 6th:£290
1) MENDO (Mrs M C Sweeney) Noel Chance 7-11-07 Tom Siddall 16/1
2) VALE OF AVOCIA (O O’Mahony) Willie Codd p6-10-11 Shane Jackson (5) 18/1
3) SOBERS (Paul Beck) Nick Gifford 6-11-06 Paul O'Neill 9/1
4) LEADING CONTENDER (Joanna Peppiatt) Philip Hobbs 6-11-09 Tom O'Brien 8/1
5) RIO DE JANEIRO (Fraser Miller Racing) Emma Lavelle 6-11-08 Noel Fehily
6) COUNTING HOUSE (Wally Sturt) Jim Old 4-11-04 Jason Maguire
7) HEREDITARY (Peter Oppenheimer) Linda Jewell p5-11-02 David England (5)
8) COURT RULER (Derek & Cheryl Holder) Evan Williams 5-11-01 Alan O'Keeffe
9) AT THE MONEY (Harold Nass) James Eustace 4-11-07 Mark Bradburne
10) PORTLAND BILL (Alvin Trowbridge) Robert Alner 7-11-02 Paddy Brennan
11) THE SLIOTAR (George Haine) George Haine 6-11-07 Jamie Moore
12) HOT PORT (Still Together Syndicate) Eric McNamara IRE 5-10-12 K T Coleman (3)
13) POCKET TOO (Oaktree Racing) Taffy Salaman 4-10-02 Kevin Tobin (7)
PU) KHASAB (Carol Skan) Philip Hobbs 6-11-02 Richard Johnson 7/2 Fav
PU) BOSS IMPERIAL (Ron Davies) Lucy Wadham 4-10-07 Matty Roe (10)
PU) LA DAME BRUNE (John & Barbara Cotton) Nicky Henderson 5-11-07 Mick Fitzgerald
PU) PARADI (David Johnson) David Pipe 4-11-07 Timmy Murphy
PU) GO FREE (Pete Smith Car Sales) John O'Shea 6-11-02 David Crosse
PU) ROBIN DE SHERWOOD (Sir Robert Ogden) Paul Nicholls 4-11-12 Sam Thomas
19 ran Non-Runners: Rustarix (Vet’s Certificate), Im Spartacus (Vet’s Certificate), Rajeh (Ground), Dancing Lyra (Ground), Top The Charts (Vet’s Certificate)
Distances: 1, .75, 1.25, 1.75, .5, 20, .75, 4, 7, 1.75, 14, .75
Breeder: P E Atkinson Breeding: b g Alderbrook - Ina’s Farewell
Tote Win: £24.90 Places: £4.20; £3.40; £2.30; £3.10 Exacta: £925.90
Winning Trainer: Noel Chance Based: Saxon House Stables, Upper Lambourn, Hungerford, Berkshire Date of First Licence: February 1975 Cheltenham Festival Wins (3): Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Chase (1999 Looks Like Trouble), Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (1997 Mr Mulligan, 2000 Looks Like Trouble) Big Race Wins Include: Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (1996 Mr Mulligan), James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase (2000 Looks Like Trouble), Pillar Property Chase (2000 Looks Like Trouble) Number of Winners (1994/95-2006/07): 0; 13; 9; 10; 4; 15; 16; 15; 20; 17; 20; 11; 12; Wins this Season: 1
Winning Jockey: Tom James Siddall Date of Birth: August 13, 1977 Based: Broardway, Worcestershire Riding Weight: 10st Wins (1997/98-2006/07): 3; 8; 6; 8; 13; 12; 25; 8; 3; 5; First Cheltenham Winner: Mendo (Browne’s Gazette Intermediate Handicap Hurdle) Wins This Season: 12
THIRD RACE RESULT
2.20pm paddypower.com HANDICAP CHASE
Class 2, £50,000 guaranteed. For 4yo+, 2m. Minimum weight 10st. Penalties: after November 10, each chase won 5lb. Penalty Values: 1st: £31,315; 2nd: £9,250; 3rd: £4,625; 4th: £2,315; 5th: £1,155; 6th: £580
1) KALCA MOME (Miss I D Du Pre) Philip Hobbs 9-10-00 Richard Johnson 9/4
2) VOY POR USTEDES (Sir Robert Ogden) Alan King 6-11-12 Robert Thornton 8/11 Fav
3) PAUNTLEY GOFA T (T J C Seegar) Mark Gillard 11-9-11 T J Phelan (3)
4) RIVER CITY (Mrs S Rowley-Williams) Noel Chance 10-11-03 Tony McCoy
5) DALRIATH (Mrs S M Richards) Michael Chapman 8-9-09 David Cullinan (5)
5 ran Non-Runners: Hasty Prince (Ground), Granit Jack
Distances: nk, 14,22, 9
Breeder: Alexandre-Rene Deschere Breeding: b g En Calcat (FR) - Belle Mome (FR)
Tote Win: £3.60 Places: £1.80; £1.20 Exacta: £5.40
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: Cheltenham Festival Wins (11): Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (1990 Moody Man, 2002 Rooster Booster), Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap (1996 Kibreet), Coral Cup H’cap Hurdle (2000 What’s Up Boys, 2004 Monkerhostin), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2002 Flagship Uberalles), Smurfit Champion Hurdle (2003 Rooster Booster), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2003 One Knight), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2004 Made In Japan, 2006 Detroit City), Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (2007 Massini’s Maguire) Aintree Festival wins: John Smith’s Novices’ Handicap Chase (2007 Private Be), John Smith’s Topham Chase (1997 Bells Life, 2001 Gower-Slave), Citroen C6 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (1996 Pleasure Shared), John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle (1996 Pleasure Shared), John Smith’s Extra Cold H’cap Hurdle (1999 Papo Kharisma), John Smith’s Top Novices’ Hurdle (2000 Phardante Flyer, 2001 Ilico II, 2002 In Contrast), John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase (2000 Bells Life), John Smith’s Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle (2000 Lord Brex, 2006 Detroit City), John Smith’s Mildmay Novices’ Chase (2001 What’s Up Boys), John Smith’s Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle (2006 Wellbeing) Other major wins include: Anglo Irish Bank Novices’ Hurdle (2005 Boychuk), Aon Chase (2005 Farmer Jack), Betfred Gold Cup (2006 Lacdoudal), Bonusprint.com Gold Cup (2004 Monkerhostin), boylesports.com International (2002 Rooster Booster, 2006 Detroit City), Concord At jet.com Juv Nov’s Hurdle (2005 Fair Along), Edinburgh Woollen Mill Champion Novices’ Chase (1999 Bouchasson), Greatwood H’cap Hurdle (2002 Rooster Booster, 2006 Detroit City), Haldon Gold Cup (2005 Monkerhostin), Hennessy Gold Cup (2001 What’s Up Boys), Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase (2006 Fair Along), Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase (1989 Joint Sovereignty), Racing Post Chase (1999 Dr Leunt, 2002 Gunther McBride, 2005 Farmer Jack), Bonusprint.com Champion Hurdle Trial (2004 Rooster Booster), Rendlesham Hurdle (2004 Monkerhostin), Scottish Champion Hurdle (2003 In Contrast, 2006 Noble Request), Sodexho Prestige Henry VIII Nov Chase (2006 Fair Along), Totesport Becher Chase (1997 Samlee), Vodafone Gold Cup (2005 Supreme Prince), William Hill Handicap Hurdle (1998 Polar Prospect), Unicoin Homes Novices’ Chase (2006 Boychuk) Number of Winners (1990/91-2006/07): 33; 51; 37; 64; 86; 77; 64; 71; 84; 120; 82; 119; 134; 121; 121; 112; 111; Winners this Season: 34
Winning Jockey: Richard Johnson Date of birth: 21/07/77, Madley, Hereford Background: Parents Keith and Sue have a farm in Madley. Joined David Nicholson, aged 16 First winner 30 April 1994, Rusty Bridge, Exeter Married to Fiona, daughter of trainer Noel Chance Cheltenham Festival wins: (13) Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle (1999 Anzum), Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup H’cap Chase (2000 Dark Stranger, 2003 Young Spartacus), Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup (2000 Looks Like Trouble), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2002 Flagship Uberalles), County Hurdle (2002 Rooster Booster), Smurfit Champion Hurdle (2003 Rooster Booster), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2003 One Knight), Cathcart Chase (2003 La Landiere), Coral Cup (2004 Monkerhostin), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2004 Made in Japan, 2006 Detroit City), Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (2007 Massini’s Maguire) Leading Rider At the Festival: 2002 (2). Aintree Festival Wins: John Smith’s Top Novices’ Hurdle (1997 Midnight Legend, 2000 Phardante Flyer, 2002 In Contrast, 2005 Mighty Man), 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), Sportsman Anniversary 4yo Novices’ Hurdle (2000 Lord Brex, 2006 Detroit City), John Hughes Trophy Chase (2001 Gower-Slave) Red Rum Handicap Chase (2002 Dark N’ Sharp), John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle (2006 & 2007 Mighty Man) Other Big Race Wins: Aon Chase (2004, Shooting Light, 2005 Farmer Jack), BMW Chase (2003 Flagship Uberalles), Bonusprint.com Gold Cup (2004 Monkerhostin), Boylesports.com International (2006 Detroit City), Bula Hurdle (2002 Rooster Booster), Concorde at Jet.com Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle (2005 Fair Along), Greatwood Hurdle (2006 Detroit City), Haldon Gold Cup (2005 Monkerhostin), Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (2004 Florida Pearl), Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (2006 Fair Along), Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase (2006 Fair Along), James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase (2000 Looks Like Trouble), Pendil Novices’ Chase (2003 Hand Inn Hand), Pillar Property Chase (2003 Behrajan), Racing Post Chase (2000 Gloria Victis, 2001 Young Spartacus, 2002 Gunter Mcbride, 2005 Farmer Jack), Rendlesham Hurdle (2004 Monkerhostin), Red Square Vodka Champion Hurdle Trial (2004 Rooster Booster), Tingle Creek Trophy (2000 Flagship Uberalles), Tote Silver Cup (2002 Behrajan), Scottish Champion Hurdle (2003 in Contrast), Welsh National (1999 Edmond) Number of Wins (1993/94-2006/2007): 1; 12; 53; 102; 120; 133; 143; 161; 132; 147; 186; 135; 167; 154 Wins This Season: 56
FOURTH RACE RESULT
2.55pm GREATWOOD HANDICAP HURDLE
Class 1, Grade 3, £100,000 guaranteed. For 4yo+, 2m .5f. Minimum weight 10st. Penalties: after November 3, a winner of a Class 1 to 3 hurdle 6lb (no penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb). Penalty Values: 1st: £57,020; 2nd: £21,390; 3rd: £10,710; 4th: £5,340; 5th: £2,680; 6th: £1,340
1) SIZING EUROPE (Alan Potts) Henry De Bromhead IRE 5-11-06 Timmy Murphy 5/1 Fav
2) OSANA (Thomas Barr) David Pipe 5-11-12 Jason Maguire 8/1
3) CHIVALRY (Paul Beck) Venetia Williams 8-11-01 Paul O'Neill 16/1
4) TROUBLE AT BAY (Nigel Bunter) Alan King 7-11-03 Robert Thornton 33/1
5) PIGEON ISLAND (Raymond Mould) Nigel Twiston-Davies t4-10-08 David England (5)
6) PLATIN GROUNDS (D J & S A Goodman) Nigel Twiston-Davies 5-10-10 Paddy Brennan
7) VICTRAM (Pinheads Pizza Syndicate) Adrian McGuinness IRE 7-10-08 Kevin Tobin (7)
8) LEAD ON (B K Peppiatt) Philip Hobbs 6-11-04 Richard Johnson
9) MOUNTAIN (Gay Smith) Jonjo O'Neill 4-11-01 Tony McCoy
10) ORBIT O'GOLD (Mighty Macs Syndicate) Noel Meade IRE p5-11-06 Niall Madden
11) HEATHCOTE (B Siddle & B D Haynes) Gary Moore 5-11-02 Jamie Moore
12) MANHATTAN BOY (Big Apples) Philip Hobbs 5-10-01 Darren O'Dwyer (7)
13) FRENCH SAULAIE (Carol Skan) Philip Hobbs 6-11-04 Tom O'Brien
14) INGRATITUDE (Club Ism & Jsc Sport) Nicky Henderson 4-10-08 Mick Fitzgerald
15) MILL HOUSE GIRL (Charles Harte) Shane Donohoe IRE 6-10-09 Shane Jackson (5)
16) CHIARO (Andrew Cohen) Philip Hobbs 5-10-11 T Molloy (7)
PU) PEVENSEY (Dum Spiro Spero) John Quinn 5-11-00 Dougie Costello
PU) WIZARD OF US (P Currey) Mick Mullineaux 7-10-07 Alan O'Keeffe
PU) ORPEN WIDE (Andy & Bev Wright) Michael Chapman b5-10-06 David Cullinane (5)
Winning Trainer: Henry De Bromhead Born: 28/10/72 Based: Knockeen, Co Waterford, Ireland Date of first trainer’s licence: January 2000 Background: Worked as assistant for Sir Mark Prescott. Took over from father Harry. Had first winner in Britain when Sizing Europe won the City Inn National Hunt Maiden Hurdle at Newbury on November 24, 2006. First Winner: Fidalus, Tramore, January 1, 2000 Big Race Wins: Langtons House Handicap Hurdle (2004 Whatareyouhaving), Murphys Handicap Hurdle (2004, Whatareyouhaving, 2005 Whatareyouhaving), Greatwood Hurdle (2007 Sizing Europe - first Cheltenham winner) Wins in Britain 2006/07: 1; Wins in Britain This Season: 1
Winning Jockey: Timothy James Murphy Date of birth: August 20, 1974 First winner: Gayloire (Kilmuckridge point to point, Co Wexford) General: Rode the last ever winner over jumps at Nottingham - Dominie (29/2/96) Cheltenham Festival Wins: (6) Mildmay of Flete Chase (1997 Terao, 2004 Tikram), Vincent O’brien County Hcap Hurdle (1999 Sir Talbot, 2005 Fontanesi), Pertemps Final (2004 Creon), Irish Independent Arkle (2005 Contraband) Aintree Festival Wins: Cordon Bleu Hcap Hurdle (1999 Kinnescash), Unwins Wine Group Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle (2004 Al Eile), Baltika Beer Aintree Hurdle (2005 & 2007 Al Eile), Betfair Bowl (2006 Celestial Gold) Other major wins: Agfa Diamond Hcap Chase (1999 Clever Remark); Ascot totesport Chase (2006 Our Vic); Betfair Bowl (2006 Celestial Gold); Betfred Celebration Chase (2005 Well Chief); Charlie Hall Chase (2006 Our Vic); Commhoist Logistics Champion Hurdle Trial (2006 Al Eile); Ericsson Chase (2002 Beef Or Salmon); Faucets For Mira Showers Silver Trophy Chase (2006 Our Vic); Game Spirit Chase (2006 Don’t Be Shy, 2007 Well Chief); Hennessy Gold Cup (2004 Celestial Gold); Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (2004 Contraband, 2005 Racing Demon); Irish Hennessy Gold Cup (2003 Beef Or Salmon); John Smith’s Hurdle (2006 Redemption); Old Roan Chase (2005 Impek); Paddy Power Gold Cup (2004 Celestial Gold, 2005 Our Vic); Pierse Leopardstown Handicap Chase (2007 Point Barrow); Pillar Property Chase (1998 See More Business); Pricewaterhousecoopers Ascot Hurdle (1998 Juyush); Rehearsal Chase (1998 See More Business); Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (2004 Our Vic); Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (2005 Celtic Son); Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Nous Voila); Sunderlands Imperial Cup (2005 Medison); Swinton Handicap Hurdle (2003 Macs Joy); Tolworth Hurdle (2005 Marcel); Fraser Steele HBLB Chase (2007 Dempsey); Victor Chandler Chase (2005 Well Chief); woodiesdiy.com Christmas Hurdle (2006 Celestial Wave), Greatwood Hurdle (2007 Sizing Europe) Number of Wins (1995/96-2006/2007): 26; 28; 60; 73; 64; 54; 98; 42; 57; 143; 87; 98 Wins This Season: 35
FIFTH RACE RESULT
3.30pm GIDEON KASLER NOVICES’ HURDLE
Class 2, £20,000 guaranteed. For 4yo+, 2m 5f. Weights: 11st. Penalties: a winner of a Class 4 or 5 hurdle 5lb; of 2 hurdles of Class 1 to 3 hurdle 8lb. Allowances: fillies & mares 7lb. Penalty Values: 1st: £12,526; 2nd: £3,700; 3rd: £1,850; 4th: £926; 5th: £462; 6th: £232
1) RAZOR ROYALE (C Cornes) Nigel Twiston-Davies 5-11-00 Paddy Brennan 7/1
2) NENUPHAR COLLONGES (Top Brass Partnership) Alan King 6-11-00 Robert Thornton 11/4
3) WHAT A BUZZ (D M Beresford) Paul D'Arcy 5-11-00 Jamie Moore 80/1
4) ELUSIVE DREAM (Maggie Findlay) Paul Nicholls 6-11-08 Sam Thomas 4/6 Fav
5) COMMANDER KEV (Norma Kelly) Noel Chance 6-11-00 Richard Johnson
6) CARYS'S LAD (The Bellflower Cary) Mick Mullineaux 4-11-05 Tom Siddall
7) MOKUM (M S Cooke & Theo Paphitis) Tony Carroll 6-11-00 Noel Fehily
8) OLMETO COLLONGES (T Cole & A Finney) Henrietta Knight 5-11-05 Tony McCoy
PU) FINNEGANS RAINBOW (J E Reed) Michael Chapman 5-11-00 David Cullinane
PU) CHARMING OSCAR (Peter Partridge & R Kellow) Bob Buckler 5-11-00 Tom O'Brien
10 ran
Distances: 1.5, 17, 2.5, 1, 2.5, 3.5, hd
Breeder: Jeremiah Daly Breeding: b g Oscar (IRE) - Maypole Gayle
Tote Win: £7.50 Places: £2.10; £1.10; £18.80 Exacta: £20.30
Winning Trainer: NIGEL TWISTON-DAVIES Based: Grange Hill Farm, Naunton, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Date of birth: 16/5/57 Background: Rode as an amateur for Fred Winter, Fred Rimmell and Kim Bailey. Trained and rode first winner (Last Of The Foxes - Hereford 1982). Trained his 1,000th winner at Stratford in October 2006. Big Race Wins Include: Charlie Hall Chase (2005 Ollie Magern, 2007 Ollie Magern), Christmas Hurdle (1997 Kerawi), Classic Chase (2005 Baron Windrush), Elite Hurdle (2000 Mister Morose), Feltham Novices’ Chase (2004 Ollie Magern), Hennessy Gold Cup (2000 King’s Road), Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase (1998 Mister Morose, 2004 Fundamentalist), Open Trophy (2003 Shardam), Paddy Power Gold Cup (1992 Tipping Tim), Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Rimsky), Peter Marsh Chase (1995 Earth Summit), Rehearsal Chase (1995 Grange Brake), Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (1995 Sweet Duke, 2000 Beau), Scottish Champion Hdle (1994 Corrouge, 2000 Mister Morose), Scottish Grand National (1992 Captain Dibble, 1994 Earth Summit), Totesport Sandown Hcap Hurdle (2000 Rubhahunish), Welsh Champion Hurdle (2000 Mister Morose), Whitbread Gold Cup (2000 Beau) Cheltenham Festival wins (7): William Hill NH Chase (1992 Tipping Tim), Royal & SunAlliance Hdle (1993 Gaelstrom, 2004 Fundamentalist), Royal & SunAlliance C (1993 Young Hustler), Letheby & Christopher Supreme H (1994 Arctic Kinsman), JCB Triumph Hurdle (1998 Upgrade), Pertemps Final H’cap Hurdle (2000 Rubhahunish) Aintree Festival wins: John Smith’s Liverpool Hurdle (1987 Mrs Muck), betfair.com Handicap Chase (1994 Grange Brake), John Smith’s Topham Chase (1994 Indian Tonic), John Smith’s Red Rum Handicap Chase (1996 Arctic Kinsman), John Smith’s Extra Cold H’cp Hurdle (1998 The Proms), John Smith’s Grand National (1998 Earth Summit, 2002 Bindaree), John Smith’s Champion Standard NH Flat Race (1998 King’s Road, 2005 The Cool Guy), Citroen C6 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (1999 King’s Road), S&N Aintree Hurdle (2000 Mister Morose), John Smith’s Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle (2001 Docklands Limo) Wins (1982/3-2006/07): 0, 0, 4, 4, 1, 3, 2, 8, 19, 31, 76, 72, 81, 74, 52, 69, 65,87, 4, 35, 31, 79 ; 69; 59; 60 Wins this Season: 42
Winning Jockey: Paddy J Brennan Born: Ardrahan, Galway, April 13, 1981 Riding Weight: 9st 7lb Background: Spent one summer at Gerry Stack’s Co. Kildare yard, aged 14. Apprenticed to Jim Bolger for five years, riding eight winners. Secured a position with Paul Nicholls, before moving to Philip Hobbs. Appointed as retained rider for the powerful Howard Johnson/Graham Wylie team in May 2006. Joined Nigel Twiston-Davies in June 2007. Cheltenham Festival Wins (2): Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2006 Shamayoun), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (2007 Paddy Brennan) First Winner: Ivory Isle (Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap, Gowran Park, August 12, 1998) First Winner after riding out 3lb claim: French Executive (Sky Bet Sussex National, Plumpton, November 21, 2004) Last Winner with 3lb claim: Rollo (williamhill.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, Exeter, November 19, 2004) Aintree Festival Wins: John Smith’s Citroen C4 Picasso Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (2007 Tidal Bay), John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase (Ashley Brook 2005), John Smith’s Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle (2006 Wellbeing) Other Big Race Wins: Grand Sefton Handicap Chase (2005 Hakim); intercasino.co.uk Molyneux Novices’ Chase (2006 Lennon); Sea Pigeon Handicap Hurdle (2002 Benbyas); Wensleydale Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Degas Art) Charlie Hall Chase (2007 Ollie Magern) Number of Wins (2000/01-2006/07): 3; 9; 15; 19; 67* (*Champion Conditional Jockey); 60; 80 Wins This Season: 42
SIXTH RACE 4.00pm THE OPEN BUMPER - abandoned
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