Monday, February 23, 2004

PIZARRO O'GRADY'S MAIN HOPE FOR THE FESTIVAL

Speaking today on a Cheltenham Racecourse-organised media day at his Co. Tipperary yard, O'Grady said: "Pizarro is our great white hope. The trip at Leopardstown [2m 5f] is as short as he would have wanted and he will improve for the step up in trip to three miles at Cheltenham.

"I've never won a Royal & SunAlliance Chase and would like to win it. He likes the track and is probably unlucky not to have won two out of two there. He's better going left-handed, likes Cheltenham and history has proved it is a great place for horses for courses.

"I'm very hopeful about it and anything we take over there has a chance."

O'Grady also had news that his Smurfit Champion Hurdle contender Back In Front is lame and the trainer is facing an uphill struggle to get the 2002 Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle victor to the Festival next month (March 16, 17 & 18).

"He's lame on his near fore. He worked very well in a racecourse gallop last Wednesday and was sound on Thursday. I've no idea what's the matter with him but he pulled-up not 100% sound on Friday and is still not right.

"We have had the vet, farrier and chiropractor in and haven't come to a conclusion why he is lame. His participation at Cheltenham in is the balance.

"I've got to be realistic that there is a hill to climb and not a lot I can do. As every morning comes, the hill is getting steeper."

Among O'Grady's other Cheltenham contenders is Sidalcea, a half-sister to Best Mate, who is on course for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

"She run runs on Thursday in a fillies' bumper at Limerick and that will show us if she should be heading over to Cheltenham. She gets a 7lb allowance there which is a big help. We will try and get Jamie Spencer to ride, it would be silly not to.

"We might also run Overbury Affair in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. He will run next Saturday and we will decide after that."

The trainer could also be represented in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase by General Montcalm, who finished second at Fairyhouse on Saturday in the John McCarthy Memorial Hunters Chase.

"He was maybe unlucky to be touched off in the Hunter Chase on Saturday and could still go for the Christie's Foxhunter Chase."

Among O'Grady's other Cheltenham representatives could be Turtleback, who is entered in the Coral Cup and the Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle, and John Oliver, a possible runner in either the Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices' Hurdle or the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.

He has trained 17 Cheltenham Festival winners so far during his career, and is third in the list of most successful current trainers at the meeting.

23 GOING FORWARD FOR SATURDAY'S RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP INCLUDING HAYDOCK SPECIALIST KINGSMARK

Kingsmark, joint top-weight with Artic Jack on 11st 12lb after the weights rose by 1lb, is among 23 high-class chasers who go forward at today's five-day confirmation stage for the extended three and a half mile handicap chase.

Bridget Nicholls has already confirmed Cheltenham winner Lord Noelie an intended runner, while other likely participants include 2002 Martell Cognac Grand National winner Bindaree, Bear On Board, who has been successful in his last three races, and Artic Jack who won Haydock's Peter Marsh Chase in January when staying on well to beat Kingscliff by 13 lengths.

Simpson said: "I haven't seen what is left in yet but our intention is to run Kingsmark in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup because there's nothing else that he can run in - it's as simple as that.

"He's not entered for Cheltenham and this is going to be one of his prep races towards the Grand National. So yes we want to run but we're not going to unless the ground is right and there has got to be some cut in it."

The 11-year-old has an exceptional record at Haydock, where he won the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase three years in succession between 2000 and 2002. He also finished third in this season's renewal of the same contest in November and has been placed twice in the Tommy Whittle Chase at the course.

Despite the Roselier 11-year-old being beaten at least 35 lengths on both of his starts this term, Simpson reports him in good form.

"Kingsmark is absolutely fine. He's getting that little bit older and that little bit wiser. I'm not trying to make excuses for the horse but the ground was too fast for him on both occasions this season," he continued.

"We haven't had the right sort of conditions and when the conditions have been right, there hasn't been a race for him so it's been unfortunate. He's a lightly-raced horse and he runs extremely well around Haydock and that is a big plus. He also jumps extremely well."

Kingsmark finished fourth to Bindaree in the 2002 Grand National and Simpson is keen to stress that the horse's whole season has been planned with the Liverpool event in mind.

He said: "This is his prep race before going to Aintree. We are purposely missing out Cheltenham [in mid March] and we haven't put him in any races there at all because of the time limit - he needs four or five weeks between his races."

Ruby Walsh rode Kingsmark when he ran so well in the Grand National, while David Dennis has ridden him on his last four starts.

"I don't know who will ride Kingsmark at Haydock as we haven't looked at the jockey situation. It's not something that we get too concerned about until nearer the time," added Simpson.

"We'll see who's available - I don't know what David's plans are and Ian Williams may require him somewhere. I don't think jockeys will be too difficult although having said that there are a number of jockeys who are on the sidelines at the moment."

Saturday's Tote Eider Chase hero Tyneandthyneagain, who gets a 5lb penalty, has been left in by trainer Richard Guest, who also has Red Striker engaged.

Last year's Red Squre Vodka Gold Cup runner-up You're Agoodun is one of five possible runners for champion trainer Martin Pipe - the others are Stormez, Akarus, Jurancon II and Imperial De Thaix. Paul Nicholls, successful with Shotgun Willy in last year's Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, could run Exit To Wave who has been third on three of his four starts this season including in a handicap chase at Sandown earlier this month.

Jonjo O'Neill has three still in - Joss Naylor, Native Emperor and World Wide Web - while Len Lungo is going to delay a decision on Joe Blake's participation until closer to the race.

The Scottish trainer said today: "We'll see what the ground is come the weekend. If it's sticky ground at Haydock, I'll probably give the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup a miss. It's three and a half miles and he couldn't do that and then go to the Cheltenham Festival. The horse is well. I saw him work this morning and I'm happy with him."

The declared runners for the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup are made on Thursday, February 26.

The going is currently good at Haydock, with showers forecast for tomorrow. There is an excellent supporting card on Saturday, when racing starts at 1.25pm, with the Grade Two Red Square Vodka Prestige Novices' Hurdle(1.55pm) attracting among others Royal Rosa, Fundamentalist, Grey Report, Special Rate, Eric's Charm, Accipter and Comply Or Die who are all in the betting for Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle at next month's Cheltenham Festival.

THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP

Class A, Grade Three, Total Prize Fund £120,000. 2.25pm Haydock Park, Saturday, February 28, 2004. For 5yo+, 3m 4 1/2f. Penalties: after February 7, a winner of a Class A or B steeple chase 5lb - no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb. Entries closed February 4, entries and weights revealed February 11 (36 entries), five-day confirmation stage February 23 (23 remain), final declaration stage 10.15am, February 26. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 23.

24/13-36 KINGSMARK (IRE) 11-11-12 Sir Robert Ogden Martin Todhunter
PU3/-131 ARTIC JACK (FR) 8-11-12 Trevor Hemmings Sue Smith
06-F216 BINDAREE (IRE) 10-11-08 Raymond Mould Nigel Twiston-Davies
1222-233 STORMEZ (FR) 7-11-07 David Johnson Martin Pipe
U0P-541 LORD NOELIE (IRE) 11-11-06 Executive Racing Bridget Nicholls
0/-22P2101 TYNEANDTHYNEAGAIN 9-11-03 (5lbx) Norman Mason Richard Guest
5/1110-2 JOSS NAYLOR (IRE) 9-11-01 Darren Mercer Jonjo O'Neill
1P20U-3 YOU'RE AGOODUN 12-10-13 Jeff Lammiman Martin Pipe
P/5022U- RED STRIKER 10-10-12 Norman Mason Richard Guest
3P-2212 NATIVE EMPEROR 8-10-11 J C, J R and S R Hitchins Jonjo O'Neill
13-1452 JURANCON II (FR) 7-10-11 David Johnson Martin Pipe
3122035 JUST IN DEBT (IRE) 8-10-09 J W Hazeldean Martin Todhunter
6P02-FP AKARUS (FR) 9-10-08 A J White Martin Pipe
UP-3533 EXIT TO WAVE (FR) 8-10-08 Malcolm Pearce & Gerry Mizel II Paul Nicholls
41F/31-12 JOE BLAKE (IRE) 9-10-07 Ronnie Bartlett Len Lungo
12-P111 BEAR ON BOARD (IRE) 9-10-05 J E Brown Alan King
2/24-322 WAIN MOUNTAIN 8-10-05 Bill Smith and Mick Dudley Jim Old
110-121 WORLD WIDE WEB (IRE) 8-10-01 J P McManus Jonjo O'Neill
4-31P4P EBONY LIGHT (IRE) 8-10-01 Roger Bellamy Ginger McCain
1-1PP10 BALLYBROPHY (IRE) 9-10-00 Keith Berry Simon Sherwood
145F35 MERCHANTS FRIEND (IRE) 9-10-00 Magic Moments Charlie Mann
F41-001 COQ HARDI DIAMOND (IRE) 10-9-10 Catherine Howard Noel Meade IRE
P-00220 IMPERIAL DE THAIX (FR) 8-9-03 Jeff Lammiman Martin Pipe

23 entries remain after the five-day confirmation stage
1 Irish-trained

BREAKDOWN OF TRAINERS WITH ENTRIES IN THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP WITH PAST SUCCESSES

5 Entries
Martin Pipe (1998 Dom Samourai)

3 Entries
Jonjo O'Neill

2 Entries
Richard Guest
Martin Todhunter

1 Entry
Alan King
Len Lungo
Charlie Mann
Ginger McCain
Noel Meade IRE
Bridget Nicholls
Paul Nicholls (2003 Shotgun Willy)
Jim Old
Simon Sherwood
Sue Smith (2000 The Last Fling)
Nigel Twiston-Davies (2001 Frantic Tan)

HISTORY

Haydock's most valuable jump race, the £120,000 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup, previously known as the De Vere Gold Cup, the Greenalls Grand National Trial and the Greenall Whitley National Trial, takes place for the 32nd time on Saturday, February 28. The prize money has trebled in 10 years.

This prestigious extended three and a half mile handicap, supported by Red Square Vodka for the second time in 2004, always attracts some of the top chasers and is the ideal stepping stone for the Martell Cognac Grand National. It was first run in 1968 and the distance raced over was three miles up to and including the 1990 renewal.

Red Rum ran at Haydock before all of his five Grand Nationals and, more recently, Party Politics (1992) and Earth Summit (1998) have used the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup before going on to victory at Aintree.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Shotgun Willy won the 2003 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup in a thrilling finish, beating the Martin Pipe-trained duo of You're Agoodun and Iris Bleu with his half-brother, Welsh National winner Mini Sensation, Martell Cognac Grand National victor Bindaree and Take Control, the 2002 Scottish Grand National hero, all behind him.

Frantic Tan enjoye0d a runaway success when winning for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies in 2001, while The Last Fling completed a memorable treble when he won the chase in 2000, having already landed the Edward Hanmer Memorial Chase and Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.

The Peter Beaumont-trained Young Kenny jumped to the front and never looked likely to relinquish his lead when he scored in 1999. The Ardross gelding went on to justify favouritism in that year's Scottish Grand National by nine lengths. Champion trainer Martin Pipe has also had a winner as some bold jumping from Dom Samourai earned a well-deserved victory in 1998.

Suny Bay produced a near-faultless display of jumping to triumph in 1997 and was well-backed for the Grand National at Aintree, where he finished the 25-length runner-up to Lord Gyllene. He filled the same position at Liverpool the following season, this time 11 lengths adrift of Earth Summit.

In 1993 the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup was won by top weight Party Politics, who had taken previous year's Grand National by two and a half lengths from Romany King.

Not just a pointer towards Grand Nationals, the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup also bodes well for future Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winners. Adrian Maguire rode Cool Ground to victory at Haydock in 1992 and was again in the saddle when defeating The Fellow by a short-head at Prestbury Park in the Cheltenham Gold Cup less than a month later.

The 1988 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup winner Yahoo was narrowly beaten by Desert Orchid at Cheltenham in 1989, while both Earls Brig (1985) and Sunset Cristo (1981) won at Haydock before finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Peter Easterby-trained Alverton, the 1979 Haydock victor, followed up in that year's Gold Cup when he justified joint-favouritism at Cheltenham under a fine ride from Jonjo O'Neill to defeat Royal Mail by 25 lengths.

Three years earlier Royal Frolic also achieved this magnificent big race double for owner Sir Edward Hanmer. He ran on well in the Gold Cup to beat Brown Lad by five lengths in an 11-strong field which also consisted of Glanford Brigg (the 1974 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup hero) in fifth and beaten favourite Bula one place further back.

Bregawn was hampered two out when the length second behind Scot Lane in the 1982 renewal of the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup. The following year he went on to triumph in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, where he rewarded favourite backers when five lengths too powerful for Captain John.

THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP ROLL OF HONOUR (1968-2003)

Year Name Age/wgt Trainer Jockey Owner SP Runners

2003 SHOTGUN WILLY 9-11-12 Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh Graham Roach 10/1 17
2002 Meeting Abandoned
2001 FRANTIC TAN 9-10-04 Nigel Twiston-Davies Carl Llewellyn The Bunkers Hill Mob 7/2 fav 18
2000 THE LAST FLING 10-11-01 Sue Smith Seamus Durack Trevor Hemmings 5/1 7
1999 YOUNG KENNY 8-10-00 Peter Beaumont Brendan Powell Gareth Read 9/1 13
1998 DOM SAMOURAI 7-10-00 Martin Pipe Chris Maude Brian Kilpatrick 10/1 15
1997 SUNY BAY 8-10-08 Charlie Brooks Jamie Osborne Uplands Bloodstock 7/2 5
1996 LO STREGONE 10-10-00 Tom Tate Charlie Swan Sylvia Clegg 7/2 11
1995 NUAFFE 10-11-00 Pat Fahy IRE Sean O'Donovan John Doyle 4/1 10
1994 Meeting Abandoned
1993 PARTY POLITICS 9-11-07 Nick Gaselee Carl Llewellyn PatriciaThompson 16/1 9
1992 COOL GROUND 10-11-03 Toby Balding Adrian Maguire Whitcombe Manor Stables 12/1 11
1991 TWIN OAKS 11-11-00 Gordon Richards Neale Doughty John Moreton 7/4 fav 15
1990 RINUS 9-10-04 Gordon Richards Richard Dunwoody A M Proos 11/2 11
1989 ETON ROUGE 10-10-01 Mercy Rimell John Bryan Mrs Bryan Jenks 11/2 4
1988 YAHOO 7-10-10 John Edwards Tom Morgan Alan Parker 11/4 fav 8
1987 Meeting Abandoned
1986 Meeting Abandoned
1985 EARLS BRIG 10-10-06 William Hamilton Phil Tuck William Hamilton 3/1 9
1984 MIDNIGHT LOVE 9-10-03 Denys Smith Chris Grant Carpenters Paints Ltd 14/1 10
1983 RIGHTHAND MAN 6-10-09 Michael Dickinson Robert Earnshaw Muriel Haggas 9/4 fav 10
1982 SCOT LANE 9-10-00 Martin Tate Craig Smith T Isherwood 14/1 12
1981 SUNSET CRISTO 7-11-07 Ray Hawkey Chris Grant Miss C Hawkey 5/1 jfav 8
1980 CAVITY HUNTER 7-11-01 Tony Dickinson Ridley Lamb F Tyldesley 4/1 9
1979 ALVERTON 9-11-05 Peter Easterby Jonjo O'Neill Snailwell Stud 2/1 fav 13
1978 RAMBLING ARTIST 8-10-06 Anthony Gilliam Jonjo O'Neill E Robbins 3/1 8
1977 GENERAL MOSELLE 8-10-03 Harry Wharton Ian Watkinson Mrs F Metcalfe 15/2 10
1976 ROYAL FROLIC 7-10-09 Fred Rimell Mr Sam Morshead Sir Edward Hanmer 3/1 fav 7
1975 THE BENIGN BISHOP 8-11-08 Ken Oliver Ron Barry D Oliver 4/1 6
1974 GLANFORD BRIGG 8-10-07 Jack Hardy Steve Holland P Harper 4/1 fav 12
1973 TREGARRON 6-10-06 Ken Oliver Colin Tinkler H Blyth 7/1 11
1972 YOUNG ASH LEAF 8-11-08 Ken Oliver Tommy Stack R McDonald 6/1 9
1971 RAINBOW VALLEY 8-10-13 Tony Dickinson Michael Dickinson Monica Dickinson 7/2 6
1970 Meeting Abandoned
1969 TWO SPRINGS 7-10-04 George Owen Roy Edwards D H Barnes 5/1 6
1968 HALF AWAKE 8-10-13 David Thomson Tommy Stack David Thomson 7/2 9

Run over three miles until 1990

ORDER OF RUNNING - RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP DAY
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2004

Time Race Distance Prize Money
* 1.25pm Garswood Handicap Chase 2m £30,000-added (17 entries received today)
* 1.55pm Red Square Vodka Prestige Novices' Hurdle (Grade Two) 2m 7 f £30,000-guaranteed (21 entries received today)
* 2.25pm RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP 3m 4 f £120,000-guaranteed (23 five-day confirmations today)
3.00pm Thyson Technology 10th Anniversary Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f £25,000-added (38 entries received today)
3.35pm Rectangle Group Novices'' Handicap Steeple Chase 2m 6f £10,000-added (29 entries received today)
4.05pm Red Square Vodka Fixed Brush'' Novices'' Hurdle Final 2m 4f £20,000-added (31entries received today)
4.40pm Castle Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race 2m £2,500-added (76 entries received today)

TOTAL PRIZE MONEY £237,500

* BBC Televised Races

FACTS AND FIGURES FOR THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP

- The late Ken Oliver has the best record of trainers in the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup having won the race three times with Young Ash Leaf in 1972, Tregarron the following season and The Benign Bishop in 1975. Two other late trainers - Tony Dickinson and Gordon Richards - also won this heat twice. The former scored with Rainbow Valley in 1971 and Cavity Hunter in 1980, while Richards struck with Rinus in 1990 and Twin Oaks the following year. No current trainer has won the race more than once.

- Four jockeys have won this contest twice. The first was Tommy Stack, victorious on Half Awake in 1968 and Young Ash Leaf in 1972, followed by the now leading trainer Jonjo O'Neill, who won with Rambling Artist in 1978 and Alverton the following year. Chris Grant was successful on Sunset Cristo in 1981 and Midnight Love in 1984 while the only current jockey to have scored twice is Carl Llewellyn, on Party Politics in 1993 and Frantic Tan in 2001.

- Eight-year-olds have the best record, having won on nine occasions. Next best are nine-year-olds with seven successes followed by both seven-year-olds and10-year-olds on six victories, six-year-olds with two wins while Twin Oaks is the oldest scorer at age 11 in 1991.

- No owner has won the race on more than one occasion.

- Last year the Paul Nicholls-trained Shotgun Willy produced the best weight-carrying effort when shouldering 11st 12lb to victory. At the other end of the weight spectrum, four horses have borne the minimum of 10st to glory - Scot Lane in 1982, Lo Stregone in 1996, Dom Samourai in 1998 and Young Kenny in 1999.

- Favourites have a fair record, having been successful eight times in 31 renewals (25.8%). The longest-priced winner was Party Politics in 1993, when Nick Gaselee's charge was sent off at 16/1.

- The most horses to go to post was 18 in 2001, the year that Nigel Twiston- Davies's Frantic Tan justified favouritism, while 17 ran last year.

- Party Politics, successful in 1993, had won the previous season's Martell Cognac Grand National and he finished second in the Aintree contest again in 1995. In the 1997 Red Square Vodka Gold Cup winner Suny Bay went on to finish runner-up at Aintree and filled the same position again in the following year's renewal of the Martell Cognac Grand National.

- Three Red Square Vodka Gold Cup winners have also prevailed in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup. The most recent was Cool Ground, who won both great races in 1992. Before that Alverton achieved the same feat in 1979, while Royal Frolic completed the double in 1976.

RECORD OF CURRENT TRAINERS IN THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP SINCE 1988

Kim Bailey
2003 4 Wonder Weasel

Toby Balding
1992 1 COOL GROUND
1990 4 Bishops Yarn
1988 5 Burannpour

Peter Beaumont
2003 13 Bobby Grant
2001 PU Young Kenny
2000 2 Niki Dee
2000 4 Young Kenny
1999 1 YOUNG KENNY
1999 11 Island Chief
1996 PU Jodami

Sue Bramall IRE
1998 PU Antonin

Owen Brennan
1998 3 Strath Royal

Steve Brookshaw
2001 PU No Retreat

Julie Camacho
1998 PU Avro Anson

Henry Cole
1995 PU Just So

Norman Dalgetty
1999 PU Davy Blake

Tim Easterby
1996 PU Scotton Banks

David Elsworth
1995 PU Cool Ground

Pat Fahy IRE
1998 PU Dun Belle
1995 1 NUAFFE

Don Forster
2003 PU Kit Smartie

Nick Gaselee
1996 PU Party Politics
1995 PU Party Politics
1993 1 PARTY POLITICS
1992 5 Party Politics

Paddy Heffernan IRE
1998 PU Shanagarry

Nicky Henderson
2000 PU Fiddling The Facts
1999 2 Fiddling The Facts

Philip Hobbs
2001 PU Atavistic
1999 7 Mudahim
1988 3 Mr Moonraker

Ron Hodges
1990 5 Highway Express

Malcolm Jefferson
2001 11 Tullymurry Toff
2000 3 Tullymurry Toff

Henrietta Knight
2003 10 Southern Star

Richard Lee
1991 PU Sandicliffe Boy
1990 7 Travel Over

Bruce Mactaggart
1995 6 Plenty Crack
1993 F Plenty Crack
1991 5 Plenty Crack

Charlie Mann
2001 6 Moral Support

John Manners
1999 5 Cavalero

Tony Martin IRE
2001 9 Hollybank Buck
2000 5 Hollybank Buck

Ginger McCain
2003 15 Amberleigh House
2001 10 Hanakham

Rod Millman
1998 PU Kendal Cavalier

Paddy Mullins IRE
1996 PU Bart Owen

Ferdy Murphy
2001 5 Streamstown
1992 PU On The Twist
1991 4 On The Twist

Pat Murphy
2003 7 Supreme Glory
2001 4 Supreme Glory

Paul Nicholls
2003 1 SHOTGUN WILLY
1999 10 Earthmover
1998 F Belmont King
1998 PU Court Melody
1996 4 Deep Bramble
1995 4 Vicompt De Valmont

Jonjo O'Neill
2003 11 Carbury Cross
2003 PU Mini Sensation
2001 PU Radiation
1992 PU Boreen Owen

Andrew Parker
2003 9 Hugo De Grez

Martin Pipe
2003 2 You're Agoodun
2003 3 Iris Bleu
2003 12 Take Control
2001 3 Take Control
2001 PU Royal Predica
2001 UR You're Agoodun
1999 8 Dom Samourai
1999 9 Eudipe
1999 PU Cyborgo
1998 1 DOM SAMOURAI
1996 5 Riverside Boy
1996 PU Miinnehoma
1995 2 Riverside Boy
1995 5 Run For Free
1993 4 Riverside Boy
1991 2 Bonanza Boy
1991 3 Aquilifer

Mark Pitman
2001 PU Browjoshy

Richard Price
1995 PU Capability Brown

Andrew Reid
1992 UR David's Duky

Mary Reveley
1998 PU Into The Red
1997 2 INTO THE RED

Nicky Richards
2000 PU Feels Like Gold

Oliver Sherwood
1999 3 Him Of Praise
1998 2 Him Of Praise

Sue Smith
2003 14 Ardent Scout
2001 8 The Last Fling
2000 1 THE LAST FLING
1993 PU Kildimo
1992 2 Kildimo
1992 F Withy Bank
1991 7 Withy Bank

Tom Tate
1998 7 Lo Stregone
1997 5 Lo Stregone
1996 1 LO STREGONE

Nigel Twiston-Davies
2003 8 Bindaree
2001 1 FRANTIC TAN
1998 5 Earth Summit
1996 PU Earth Summit

John Upson
1991 8 Over The Road

Paul Webber
2003 6 Frosty Canyon

Venetia Williams
2003 5 Jocks Cross
2001 2 Jocks Cross
1999 6 General Wolfe

RECORD OF CURRENT JOCKEYS IN THE RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP SINCE 1988

Leighton Aspell
2003 7 Supreme Glory
2001 4 Supreme Glory

Paul Carberry
1996 2 Tartan Tyrant

Brian Crowley
2003 5 Jocks Cross
2001 2 Jocks Cross

Jim Culloty
2003 10 Southern Star
2001 PU No Retreat

Sean Curran
1999 5 Cavalero

Tony Dobbin
2000 PU Feels Like Gold
1998 PU Into The Red
1997 2 INTO THE RED

Tom Doyle
2003 6 Frosty Canyon

Seamus Durack
2001 8 The Last Fling
2000 1 THE LAST FLING
1999 PU Cyborgo

Dominic Elsworth
2003 14 Ardent Scout

Noel Fehily
2001 6 Moral Support

Barry Fenton
1998 PU Shanagarry

Des Flavin
2003 4 Wonder Weasel

Francis Flood
2000 5 Hollybank Buck

Russ Garritty
2003 13 Bobby Grant
2001 PU Young Kenny

Barry Geraghty
2003 PU Mini Sensation

Rodi Greene
2003 12 Take Control
2001 PU Royal Predica

Richard Guest
2001 11 Tullymurry Toff
1992 2 Kildimo
1990 4 Bishops Yarn
1988 5 Burannpour

Richard Johnson
1999 2 Fiddling The Facts
1998 4 Call It A Day

Graham Lee
2000 3 Tullymurry Toff

Carl Llewellyn
2003 8 Bindaree
2001 1 FRANTIC TAN
1996 PU Party Politics
1993 1 PARTY POLITICS

Warren Marston
2003 15 Amberleigh House
1995 3 Superior Finish

Jimmy McCarthy
1999 3 Him Of Praise

Tony McCoy
2001 3 Take Control
1999 9 Eudipe
1996 4 Deep Bramble

Richard McGrath
2001 PU Radiation

J P McNamara
2001 5 Streamstown

Ollie McPhail
1999 4 Forest Ivory

Timmy Murphy
1999 10 Earthmover
1998 F Belmont King

Paul Robson
2003 9 Hugo De Grez

Tom Scudamore
2003 3 Iris Bleu

Tom Siddall
2003 11 Carbury Cross

Sam Stronge
2001 UR You're Agoodun

Andrew Thornton
2001 PU Browjoshy
2000 PU Fiddling The Facts

Robert Thornton
2003 2 You're Agoodun
1998 PU Court Melody
1997 3 St Mellion Fairway

Ruby Walsh
2003 1 SHOTGUN WILLY

Frank Windsor Clive
2001 7 Eltigri

Steve Wynne
2001 10 Hanakham

GOING ON RED SQUARE VODKA GOLD CUP DAY

2003 Good, Good To Soft In Places
2002 Abandoned
2001 Soft
2000 Soft, Heavy Patches
1999 Soft, Heavy Patches
1998 Good To Soft changed to Soft after second race
1997 Good
1996 Soft
1995 Heavy
1994 Abandoned
1993 Good
1992 Good To Soft
1991 Good To Soft
1990 Heavy
1989 Heavy
1988 Good To Soft
1987 Abandoned
1986 Abandoned
1985 Good To Soft
1984 Good
1983 Good To Soft
1982 Good To Soft
1981 Heavy
1980 Soft
1979 Good
1978 Good To Soft
1977 Good
1976 Firm
1975 Soft
1974 Soft
1973 Soft
1972 Soft
1971 Good
1970 Abandoned
1969 Good
1968 Good

615 HANDICAPPERS ADDED TO CHELTENHAM LINE-UP

Rhinestone Cowboy, who already holds entries for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle and Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle, is one of 135 horses entered in the CORAL CUP, run on Wednesday, March 17. If taking up the handicap option, Rhinestone Cowboy's amateur rider J P Magnier would be able to use his 5lb claim. Hand Inn Hand and Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle winners Hardy Eustace (2003) and Galileo (2002) are other eyecatching entries as well as Colm Murphy's stable star, the novice Brave Inca.

The WILLIAM HILL NATIONAL HUNT HANDICAP CHASE, run on Tuesday, March 16, has 73 entries including recent AON Chase first and second, Shooting Light and Irish Hussar, Tripleprint Gold Cup hero Iris Royal, and Peter Bowen's stable star Swansea Bay.

There are 114 entries for the FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHASE for amateur riders on the same day, among them the 2002 winner The Bushkeeper, no less than 17 horses from Martin Pipe's stable, recent Newbury winner Joly Bey and Sky Bet Chase winner Tyneandthyneagain.

Tuesday also features the PERTEMPS FINAL (HANDICAP HURDLE), for which there are 48 entries, including 12 from Ireland and 10 from champion trainer Martin Pipe's stable. Recent Haydock scorer Tardar and the past two winners, Inching Closer (2003) and Freetown (2002), are among those with entries.

Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Fondmort, 2003 Cathcart Chase heroine La Landiere and Iris Royal are among the 74 entries for the MILDMAY OF FLETE CHALLENGE CUP on Wednesday, March 17, while there are 62 engaged in the following day's GRAND ANNUAL CHASE including Victor Chandler Chase hero Isio and last year's winner Palarshan.

There are few more hotly-contested prizes at the Festival than the VINCENT O'BRIEN COUNTY HANDICAP HURDLE, which brings the curtain down on proceedings on Thursday, March 18, and the 2m 1f event has 109 entries this year, of which Martin Pipe and Nicky Henderson each account for 10. No less than 14 horses who ran in the Tote Gold Trophy have been entered for this race while Macs Joy and Kilbeggan Lad, who finished first and second at Leopardstown on February 8 before the placings were reversed in the stewards' room, could reoppose.

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham's Managing Director, commented: "We have seen some tremendous finishes in handicaps this season both over hurdles and fences. The seven handicaps form an integral part of the Festival, adding another element to the uniqueness of the whole event."

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

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