Tuesday, December 1, 2009
,center>WEST HOPING GOLAN CAN SHOW THE WAY AT CHELTENHAM ONCE AGAIN
Meeting: The Boylesports International
Dates: Friday & Saturday - December 11 & 12
Gates Open: 10.00am both days
First Race: 12.05pm Friday, 12.10pm Saturday
Admission prices from £9. Go to www.cheltenham.co.uk for further information
Trainer Sheena West is looking forward to seeing her crack hurdler Golan Way return to Cheltenham to contest the extended two and a half mile £42,500 Grade Two Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle (3.40pm), the final race on the second day of the Boylesports International, Saturday, December 12.
The five-year-old was victorious on his first four starts over hurdles last season, culminating in a game all-the-way success at Cheltenham in the Grade Two Sharp Novices’ Hurdle at The Open in November, 2008.
A mistake at the fourth flight cost Golan Way momentum when coming home 11th in the Grade One Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at The Festival in March, but he made a pleasing seasonal return at Chepstow on October 24, finding only Mr Thriller too strong in a Listed Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles.
West reported today: “Golan Way is heading to Cheltenham next weekend for the Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle. He worked this morning and I was pleased with him - he’s ready to race and pretty versatile regarding the ground.
“I thought that his run at Chepstow was pretty good at the time and, looking back, it was certainly no great sin to be beaten by Mr Thriller. Golan Way just seems to be all stamina nowadays and the step up in distance suited him there.
“Ultimately, he could want three miles but I want to step him up in increments to see how he progresses. It’s very difficult to find races over two and a half miles for hurdlers like him - there aren’t too many handicaps open to him so he has to go up against the top horses now. The track suits him and a real stamina test will play to his strengths.
“I think that we are now noticing how good he was last season. Although he won over two miles, he hasn’t really got the high cruising speed that you need in the top two-mile races. He wants another season over hurdles before we go chasing with him and I can see him becoming a proper chaser as a six-year-old.”
The fantastic seven-race card on Saturday, December 12, also features one of the season’s top Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Trials in the shape of the two mile, one furlong £150,000 Grade Two Boylesports.com International (3.05pm), which the reigning Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdler Punjabi plus runner-up Celestial Halo are on target for, as well as the prestigious £150,000 Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup (2.25pm) over two miles, five furlongs.
Friday’s seven-race programme features the £50,000 Listed Neptune Investment Management Handicap Chase (1.50pm) over an extended three miles, one furlong, which was won in 2008 by subsequent John Smith’s Grand National hero Mon Mome.
DENMAN HEROICS HELP TO PRODUCE FESTIVAL TICKETS SURGE
Cheltenham Racecourse revealed today that Denman’s historic Hennessy Gold Cup win at the weekend helped to produce a bumper day for Festival ticket sales on Monday. With less thank a week to go until the cheapest advance prices for Festival tickets end and the wins by Big Buck’s, Denman and others heightening anticipation of another memorable Festival, tickets were in high demand.
Cheltenham’s Communications Manager, Andy Clifton, said: “Monday was an excellent day for Festival sales, with tickets for totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Day in particular demand.
“We are always busy this week as the best value ticket prices end on December 7, but on Monday we sold over 50% more tickets than on the corresponding day last year.
“Clearly, racegoers don’t want to miss any of the excitement next March, with Denman v Kauto Star III at the top of the bill, and after the action over the last couple of weekends, who can blame them?”
The Festival 2010 runs from Tuesday, March 16, to Friday, March 19. Tickets purchased on or before Monday, December 7, are up to £10 cheaper than the on-the-day price. Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup day (Friday, March 19) is highly likely to be a sell out, as it has been for many years.
Tickets are available online at www.cheltenham.co.uk (no booking fee) or on 0844 579 3003.
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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