Monday, February 6, 2006

McCOY IS THE FESTIVAL’S LEADING JOCKEY

McCoy is closely followed by Mick FitzGerald with a dozen wins and Richard Johnson, who has 11 successes, while Barry Geraghty is next with nine wins to his name. The hugely competitive nature of The Festival is demonstrated by the fact that the Racing Post Leading Rider Award has been won by five different jockeys for each of the past five Festivals.

The previous winners of the Racing Post Leading Rider Award are listed below. (On some occasions the winner was decided on the number of placed horses partnered):

2005 Graham Lee (3)
2004 Ruby Walsh (3)
2003 Barry Geraghty (5)
2002 Richard Johnson (2)
2001 Cancelled - foot & mouth
2000 Mick FitzGerald (4)
1999 Mick FitzGerald (4)
1998 Tony McCoy (5)
1997 Tony McCoy (3)
1996 Richard Dunwoody (2)
1995 Norman Williamson (4)
1994 Charlie Swan (3)
1993 Charlie Swan (4)
1992 Jamie Osborne (5)
1991 Peter Scudamore (2)
1990 Richard Dunwoody (2)
1989 Tom Morgan (2)
1988 Simon Sherwood (2)
1987 Peter Scudamore (2)
1986 Peter Scudamore (2)
1985 Steve Smith Eccles (3)
1984 Jonjo O'Neill (2)
1983 Graham Bradley (2)
1982 Jonjo O'Neill (1)
1981 John Francome (3)
1980 Jim Wilson (3)

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham’s Managing Director, said: “The Festival brings together the best jump horses in Britain and Ireland, with raiders from further afield, and the intensity of the competition is shown by five different jockeys taking the Racing Post Leading Rider Award at the past five Festivals.

“The Festival is one of the few sporting arenas where leading professionals and leading amateurs compete side by side and a victory over the four days is sure to be the highlight of any jockey’s career.”

THE RACING POST AGREES MAJOR CHELTENHAM SPONSORSHIP

The Racing Post Plate, formerly run as the Mildmay of Flete Chase, takes place on the third day of The Festival, Thursday, March 16. The newspaper will also be sponsoring both the Leading Rider Award and Leading Trainer Award at the four-day Festival.

The two-year contract also makes the Racing Post the Official Racing and Betting Newspaper to the Festival.

Edward Gillespie, Managing Director of Cheltenham Racecourse, commented: "We are delighted that the premier racing and betting paper is sponsoring this superb race and the two awards. The Racing Post has been a supporter of Cheltenham and the Festival for many years and this deal further cements our relationship."

Jeremy Reed, Managing Director of the Racing Post, added: "The Cheltenham Festival is one of the leading events in the racing calendar and for many the pinnacle of the racing year. Bringing together the Racing Post with such a great event further demonstrates our commitment to horseracing.

"With our sponsorship of the Racing Post Chase in February and the Racing Post Trophy in October, this new Cheltenham opportunity is a wonderful complement to our sponsorship portfolio."

The Racing Post Plate boasts a prize fund of £75,000 and is the fifth of Cheltenham’s valuable two and a half mile handicap chases run throughout the season, following on from the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Robin Cook Memorial Gold Cup, Unicoin Homes Handicap Chase and the Ladbrokes Trophy. The first running of the two mile, four and a half furlong event in 1951 resulted in a dead-heat between Slender and Canford.

Over the years, plenty of well-known names have scooped the prize including the dual winners The Tsarevich (1985/86) and Elfast (1992/94), as well as the likes of future Grand National winner Specify (1969) and Cheltenham specialist Half Free (1984).

In more recent times, Martin Pipe has been the man to follow with four wins in the last eight runnings - Terao (1997), Majadou (1999), Dark Stranger (2000) and Blowing Wind (2002). Last year’s race saw a 25/1 shock when Liberthine came home the seven-length victor in the hands of talented amateur Sam Waley-Cohen to give trainer Nicky Henderson a third success in the contest.

The award for leading jockeys will be decided on the number of winners ridden over the four days with placed horses taken into consideration in the event of a tie. The trainers’ award will be decided on the number of winners, with prize money won taken into consideration if there is a tie.

This year’s contest for the Racing Post Leading Rider Award looks as open as ever. With defending champion Graham Lee and previous winners Ruby Walsh, Tony McCoy, Richard Johnson, Barry Geraghty and Mick Fitzgerald all leading contenders, along with the likes of Paul Carberry, Timmy Murphy and Robert Thornton.

MAGUIRE HOPING ILLUSION CAN LORD IT AT THE FESTIVAL

With 29 winners to his name so far this season (up to and including February 2), Maguire is looking to beat his best total of 46 achieved during the 2003/04 season. With the likes of Idle Talk and Lord Of Illusion in his armoury - trained by Gloucestershire handler Tom George, to whom Maguire is stable jockey and the trainer of Galileo - the rider is hopeful of adding to his Cheltenham tally.

Maguire revealed: “Lord Of Illusion loves Cheltenham and he loves good ground. He looked a real improving sort last season but needed his first couple of runs back this time. His run behind Joaaci at Cheltenham (beaten a length and three quarters in the Cheltenham Racing Limited Handicap Chase on New Year’s Day) was an excellent effort. He’s in the totesport Gold Cup and I think he’ll also be entered in the William Hill National Hunt Chase - but I’d say he’s a definite for Cheltenham.

“Idle Talk (entered in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and the totesport Gold Cup) is an out-and-out stayer and really needs soft ground. I’m looking forward to getting on him again - he’ll have improved from his last run (a victory in a novices’ chase at Exeter on January 2), is a really exciting horse and a great long-term prospect.”

Another horse on whom Maguire has enjoyed success this season is Attorney General, trained by Jim Old. The partnership are two from two this campaign, most recently when accounting for Stormez by 10 lengths under top weight in the intercasino.co.uk Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, a performance that had the son of Sadler’s Wells earmarked for a possible crack at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. He had previously demonstrated his aptitude for Prestbury Park with a victory in a qualifier for the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle on December 9.

Maguire explained: “Attorney General is a little star who has kept improving this season. I’m not sure about the form of the race last time, but he couldn’t have done any more under top weight. He’s the type of horse that you have to keep asking him for more in a race, but he gives his all and is so gutsy. We’ll just have to see whether or not he’s up to competing in the top class races.”

Other possible mounts at The Festival include Europa, trained by Ferdy Murphy, who could bid for the Mildmay Of Flete, in which he was brought down last year.

Having experienced the joy of partnering a winner at The Festival, Maguire is keen to ensure that winner number two is not long in coming.

He added: “Winning on Galileo was just unbelievable - it was only the horse’s second run over hurdles and it was such a surprise really.

“It means the world to ride a winner at the Cheltenham Festival - everyone takes notice when you have success there, and hopefully this year I’ll go with my strongest book of rides yet.”

LEADING CURRENT JOCKEYS AT THE FESTIVAL

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE JOCKEYS

Tim Molony 4 (1951 Hatton’s Grace, 1952, 1953 and 1954 Sir Ken)
Steve Smith Eccles 3 (1985, 1986 and 1987 See You Then)
Ron Smyth 3 (1941 Seneca, 1942 Forestation, 1948 National Spirit)
Charlie Swan 3 (1998, 1999 and 2000 Istabraq)
Jimmy Uttley 3 (1968, 1969 and 1970 Persian War)
Fred Winter 3 (1955 Clair Soleil, 1959 Fare Time, 1961 Eborneezer)

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE JOCKEYS

Pat Taaffe 5 (1960 and 1961 Fortria, 1964 Ben Stack, 1966 Flyingbolt, 1970 Straight Fort)
Robert Earnshaw 3 (1983, 1984 and 1985 Badsworth Boy)
Tommy Carmody 2 (1978 Hilly Way, 1986 Buck House)
Dave Dick 2 (1962 Piperton, 1965 Dunkirk)
Barry Geraghty 2 (2003 and 2005 Mosocw Flyer)
Mouse Morris 2 (1976 and 1977 Skymas)
Frank ‘Bonky’ Nash 2 (1967 and 1968 Drinny’s Double)
Bill Smith 2 (1972 and 1974 Royal Relief)

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE JOCKEYS

Tommy Carberry 2 (1975 Brown Lad, 1977 Town Ship)
Stuart Shilston 2 (1982 & 1986 Crimson Embers)
Tommy Carmody 2 (1987 & 1988 Galmoy)
Charlie Swan 2 (1990 Trapper John, 1993 Shuil Ar Aghaidh)
Mark Perrett 2 (1991 King’s Curate, 1994 Balasani)
Jamie Osborne 2 (1992 Nomadic Way, 1997 Karshi)
Thierry Doumen 2 (2002 & 2003 Baracouda)

THE SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE /totesport CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DOUBLE

1929 Dick Rees (Champion - Royal Falcon, Gold Cup - Easter Hero)
1930 Tom Cullinan (Brown Tony/Easter Hero)
1932 Ted Leader (Insurance/Golden Miller)
1933 Bill Stott (Insurance/Golden Miller)
1935 Gerry Wilson (Lion Courage/Golden Miller)
1949 Aubrey Brabazon (Hatton’s Grace/Cottage Rake)
1950 Aubrey Brabazon (Hatton’s Grace/Cottage Rake)
1953 Tim Molony (Sir Ken/Knock Hard)
1961 Fred Winter (Eborneezer/Saffron Tartan)
1995 Norman Williamson (Alderbrook/Master Oats)
1997 Tony McCoy (Make A Stand/Mr Mulligan)

No jockey has ever ridden the winners of the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at the same Festival or the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, Ladbrokes World Hurdle and totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup at the same Festival. Therefore, no jockey has won all four championship races at the same Festival.

WINNING RECORDS OF SELECTED JOCKEYS AT THE FESTIVAL

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

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