Monday, March 14, 2005

RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
THE FESTIVAL 2005
CHELTENHAM, MONDAY, MARCH 14

Revealing that the Cross-Country course, on which the inaugural running of the Sporting Index-sponsored chase is run tomorrow, is

GOOD TO SOFT
Simon Claisse, clerk of the course at the Prestbury Park track, said: “The ground is drying out very slowly, but, though the weathermen are predicting no rain on Tuesday, there is an 80% chance that we could get between five and six millimetres throughout Wednesday.

“However, temperatures are also due to rise - 13 degrees tomorrow and going up to 18 or 19 degrees by Friday - so, should the rain not materialise, there must be a strong possibility that we will have to water on Wednesday evening.

“The trainers who have walked the course have been very complimentary and reckon it is lovely ground, and the fact that we have six yards of fresh turf on the inside to save for Friday is a big bonus.”

Racing on the first two days will be staged on the Old Course, with the final two days switching to the New Course.

GILLESPIE IN BUOYANT MOOD

Asked how confident he was that the first-ever four-day Cheltenham Festival would be a success, Edward Gillespie, managing director at the home of steeplechasing, insisted yesterday that “racegoers will be the judge and jury”.

However, advance sales for the 2005 Festival could hardly be better, and Gillespie was in buoyant mood as he looked ahead to what promises to be 24 fantastic races.

He said: “The important facts and figures are that there will be 55,000 here on each of the first three days, and 65,000 on Friday to see the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“The Best Mate Enclosure is sold out for all four days, but, while Friday has been a sell-out across the board since the middle of January, there are still tickets for Club and Tattersalls available for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and they can be purchased from the two kiosks situated at the entrance to the racecourse.

“Everything is set fair, and there is a real buzz about the place, from the jockeys and trainers who have popped in to walk the course en route to either Stratford or Taunton today down to the caterers who are assembling the food.

“By close of play tonight, there will be 200 horses on-site, half of them Irish-trained, including the eight-strong challenge from across the water for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.”

However, the extra day has not increased sales from Ireland, and Gillespie attributes that to the fact that “Irish folk are cash-rich but time-poor.”

Elaborating on that, he added: “Tullys, who are Ireland’s major travel agents, are bringing over 1,300, which is the same as last year, but they tell me that some of their clients have booked a day trip on the Tuesday and another one for the Friday. They just cannot spare the time to come over for the entire meeting.”

There are 5,300 staff employed at Cheltenham, including 3,000 on the catering side, and not only does the extra day provide increased employment for them but it has also boosted local revenue by around 10%.

Gillespie concluded: “The supplementary entry stage has been a big success, with Farmer Jack benefiting from the late withdrawal of Best Mate in the Gold Cup, while we are also very excited to have Kieren Fallon ride in the Bumper.

“The Bumper is a hugely popular race, and our ultimate aim is to also have Frankie Dettori riding in it. I know he is very keen to give it a go, and we would love to have him involved.”


TOTESPORT CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP PREVIEW

Andrew Thornton has only had two rides in the totesport Gold Cup - and he can boast a winner and a second!

Thornton, successful on Cool Dawn in 1998 and beaten only half a length on Sir Rembrandt 12 months ago, rides Kingscliff in this year’s Cheltenham showpiece, and the defection of Best Mate has only helped increase his optimism.

“You can never be confident about anything in a Gold Cup, but I honestly can’t see Kingscliff finishing out of the first three,” declared Thornton.

“I rode him at Robert Alner’s last week, and he feels a 7lb better horse than he did going into the King George Chase, in which he ran such a great race to chase home Kicking King at Kempton on Boxing Day.

“It was not an easy decision deserting Sir Rembrandt, who ran the race of his life last year, but he is a better horse on soft ground and it does not look as if he is going to get his conditions.

“Add to that the fact that Kingscliff has never been beaten around Cheltenham and is a horse with unlimited potential, and I felt it tilted the scales in his favour.

“But punters should not underestimate Sir Rembrandt. I don’t subscribe to the view that his form has been disappointing this year, and we know he likes Cheltenham, too.”

The Irish have saddled the winner of chasing’s most coveted crown only once (Imperial Call in 1996) since Dawn Run in 1986, but with Beef Or Salmon and Kicking King leading this year’s challenge, the boys in green are beginning to grow in confidence.

Beef Or Salmon, who beat Best Mate in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, blotted his copybook when beaten by Rule Supreme in the Irish Hennessy, but an impressive gallop last Friday has put the spring back in Michael Hourigan’s step, and he is hopeful of taking his revenge on the Mullins horse.

Kicking Kick, written off a month ago when he scoped badly, has climbed off the canvas to stake his place in the field, but, inevitably, a cloud remains over the King George VI Chase winner, who is unproven over this distance.

Paul Nicholls doubted whether Strong Flow would ever race again last summer when the x-rays revealed a bad knee injury, but the patience and skill of the Ditcheat trainer and his staff have paid off, and, while the 2003 Hennessy winner, who ran an encouraging race when splitting Farmer Jack and Celestial Gold in the Aon Chase at Newbury, has not won at Cheltenham, Ruby Walsh reckons he is one of the best jumpers he has ridden and does not foresee that being a problem.

Farmer Jack, supplemented for £17,500, has never looked as effective around Cheltenham, but the Prestbury Park track certainly suits Celestial Gold, whose owner David Johnson expects a big run and reckons his horse is “cast iron each-way.”

Another for whom the formidable Cheltenham fences hold no terrors is the 2004 Scottish National winner Grey Abbey, who bolted up by 16 lengths in the Pillar Chase here in January, but Howard Johnson, his trainer, will be doing a non-stop rain dance between now and Friday.

RICHARD HUGHES LATEST BUMPER RECRUIT


Richard Hughes is the latest Flat jockey to join the jumping boys in grabbing a slice of the action for Wednesday’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper, having secured the ride on Jim Gorman’s Tiddle About.

Hughes will be at Cheltenham on the first three days, cheering on the horses trained by his father Dessie, which include reigning title-holder Hardy Eustace in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle, but he is delighted to get amongst the action.

He said: “It’s always a great craic, and Tiddle About is a four-year-old filly, who has finished second in both her races, so she gets all the allowances and, hopefully, will give me a good ride.”

Joining Hughes - unplaced in the last two years - in flying the flag for the Flat boys are Kieren Fallon, who rides Michael Tabor’s Refinement, runner-up last year, and Jamie Spencer, who outgunned Norman Williamson three years ago to win on Pizarro and who now teams up with Martin Pipe for Buena Vista.

GREAT SUPPORT FOR NEW RACES

Tomorrow’s two new races, the Sporting Index Handicap Chase and the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, have both attracted maximum fields with a string of other hopefuls failing to make the cut for both events.

No fewer than 22 horses were eliminated at today’s declaration stage from the first running of the Ù75,000 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, which brings the curtain down on day one of The Festival.

Ante-post market leaders Nanga Parbat, trained by Paul Nicholls, and Maralan, from Oliver Brady’s stable in Ireland, are among those eliminated. There are 24 runners.

Meanwhile the first Festival race over Cheltenham’s unique Cross-Country Course, the Sporting Index Handicap Chase, has had nine eliminations.

The 16 runners heading to post are headed by Spot Thedifference, trained in Ireland by Enda Bolger and the winner of both Cross-Country events staged at Cheltenham already this season.

The remaining four races have all been well supported with 21 due to go to post for the opening Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and 19 - the highest number since 1987 - set to line up in The Irish Independent Arkle Chase.

Eight of the 15 declarations for the Smurfit Champion Hurdle are trained in Ireland while 20 are set to contest the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase.

PUBLIC WEIGH-IN FOR GOLD CUP WINNING JOCKEY

For the first time at The 2005 Festival, winning jockeys will be weighed-in in the winner’s enclosure after seven races including the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The successful jockeys will weigh-in on scales by the winning podium for each of the three races followed by amateur riders’ events - the Coral Cup on Wednesday, Mildmay of Flete Handicap Chase on Thursday and the following day’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The winning rider will also weigh-in in public for the final contest each day, the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle on Tuesday, the Weatherbys Champion Bumper on Wednesday, the following day’s Pertemps Final and the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle on Friday.

THE QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
Class A, Grade One, £250,000 Total Prize Fund. 3.15pm, Cheltenham, Wednesday, March 16. For five-year-olds and upwards, 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 remained), Ù12,500 supplementary entry stage March 11 (0 extra entries received), five-day confirmation stage March 11 (10 remained), final declaration 10.00am, March 14 (8 declarations). Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Sunday, March 13.

Form Horse Age/Wgt Owner Trainer Jockey
1) 211-1231 AZERTYUIOP (FR) 8-11-10 John Hales Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh
2) 41-1U4605 CENKOS (FR) 11-11-10 Judy Stewart Paul Nicholls Joe Tizzard
3) U4-5221121 CENTRAL HOUSE 8-11-10 John Kenny Dessie Hughes IRE Paul Carbery
4) 14P-23235 KADARANN (IRE) 8-11-10 Notalotterry Paul Nicholls Paddy Brennan
5) 1U1-1111 MOSCOW FLYER (IRE) 11-11-10 Brian Kearney Jessica Harrington IRE Barry Geraghty
6) 15P-11111 ONEWAY (IRE) 8-11-10 Mark Rimell Mark Rimell Graham Lee
7) 50FP-30P VENN OTTERY 10-11-10 Oliver Carter Martin Pipe
8) 111-23F12 WELL CHIEF (GER) 6-11-10 David Johnson Martin Pipe Timmy Murphy

8 declarations
2 Irish-trained

FASCINATING QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHAMPION CHASE IN PROSPECT

The 2005 renewal of the Grade One Queen Mother Champion Chase is all set to live up to its billing as the championship contest for two-mile chasers.

All of the “Big Three” - Azertyuiop, Moscow Flyer and Well Chief - have been declared at the final declaration stage.

Azertyuiop is seeking his third consecutive Festival success, having landed the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy in 2003 and this race last year, when Moscow Flyer unseated his rider. Moscow Flyer is also after a third success at The Festival, having been victorious in the 2002 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy and also in the 2003 Queen Mother Champion Chase. The pair met earlier this season in the Tingle Creek Trophy at Sandown, where Moscow Flyer prevailed by a length and a half with Well Chief a short-head back in third. Azertyuiop apparently failed to stay on his next start when third to Kicking King in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day but returned to winning ways last time out in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury. Moscow Flyer has had one outing since Sandown, comfortably winning a Grade Three event at Punchestown on January 30.

Well Chief, last season’s Irish Independent Arkle Trophy victor, subsequently landed the Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham under top weight before going down by two and a half lengths to Azertyuiop at Newbury.

The two other principal contenders would appear to be Mark Rimell’s hugely progressive Oneway, winner of all his five starts in handicap company this season and the second Irish contender Central House, trained by Dessie Hughes and successful in a Grade One and two Grade Two contests in Ireland this season.

In addition to Azertyuiop, Paul Nicholls will also be represented by the veteran Cenkos, third in 2002 and 2003, and also Kadarann.

Completing the field is the Venn Ottery, owned by Oliver Carter. He ran well for a long way when fifth last year but pulled very hard when pulling up on his first start for Martin Pipe in the Vodafone Gold Cup at Newbury.

QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE FACTS

1. The National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase was first run in 1959 and the Queen Mother’s name was added to the race title in 1980, the year of her 80th birthday.

2. The race’s roll of honour includes plenty of multiple winners. Badsworth Boy (1983-85) is the only three-time winner. The double winners are Fortria (1960 and 1961), Drinny’s Double (1967 and 1968), Royal Relief (1972 and 1974), Skymas (1976 and 1977), Hilly Way (1978 and 1979), Pearlyman (1987 and 1988), Barnbrook Again (1989 and 1990), Viking Flagship (1994 and 1995).

3. Irish-trained runners have a good record in the Queen Mother Champion Chase winning 17 of the 45 runnings. Moscow Flyer, trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Barry Geraghty, was the most recent Irish-trained success in 2003.

4. Tom Dreaper has the best record of any trainer in the race winning six runnings with Fortria (1960 and 1961), Ben Stack (1964), Flyingbolt (1966), Muir (1969), and Straight Fort (1970). Of current trainers, Arthur Moore (Drumgora 1981 and Klairon Davis 1996) and Paul Nicholls (1999 Call Equiname and Azertyuiop 2004) have the best record.

5. Flyingbolt was the shortest-priced winner when succeeding at 1/5 in 1966 while Another Dolly, who was awarded the 1980 race at odds of 33/1, provided the biggest upset.

6. Pat Taaffe is the most successful rider with five wins but no current jockey has won more than one Queen Mother Champion Chase.

7. The oldest horse to have triumphed was the 12-year-old Skymas in 1977 while the youngest victor was the six-year-old Inkslinger in 1973.

8. A small but select field usually lines up for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. The largest field was in 1999 when 13 runners went to post while only five runners lined up in 1985, 1972, 1968, 1964, 1963 and 1961.

9. The most successful owners are George Ansley, who enjoyed three wins with Fortria (1960 and 1961) and Straight Fort (1970) and Doug Armitage who had three victories with Badsworth Boy (1983, 1984 and 1985).

10. Michael Dickinson trained the winner for three consecutive years with Rathgorman (1982) and Badsworth Boy (1983 & 1984). His mother Monica had taken charge of the training operation for Badsworth Boy’s final success in 1985.

11. In 1986, the Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Buck House subsequently met with that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup heroine Dawn Run in a special match race at Punchestown in April, 1986. It was Dawn Run who prevailed by two and a half lengths.

12. The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy is a good guide for future success in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Azertyuiop (2004), Moscow Flyer (2003), Flagship Uberalles (2002), Klairon Davis (1996) and Remittance Man (1992) all won the novices’ event before their Queen Mother Champion Chase victory.

PREVIOUS RESULTS -
QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

2004-WINNER-AZERTYUIOP 7-11-10 Owner-John Hales; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-15/8
2ND Flagship Uberalles 10-11-10 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey; Richard Johnson; SP-14/1
3RD Tiutchev 11-11-10 Owner-The Liars Poker Partnership; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-16/1
8 ran, Time-3m 54.10s, Dist-9, 1½ 5/6 Fav Moscow Flyer (UR)

2003-WINNER-MOSCOW FLYER 9-12-00 Owner-Brian Kearney; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-7/4 Fav
2ND-Native Upmanship 10-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Arthur Moore IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-12/1
3RD Cenkos 9-12-00 Owner-Judy Stewart; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-7/1
11 ran, Time-3m 53.70s, Dist-7, 3

2002-WINNER-FLAGSHIP UBERALLES 8-12-00 Owner-Elizabeth Gutner & Michael Krysztofiak Racing; Trainer-Philip Hobbs; Jockey-Richard Johnson; SP-7/4 Fav
2ND-Native Upmanship 9-12-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Arthur Moore IRE; Jockey-Conor O’Dwyer; SP-9/1
3RD-Cenkos 8-12-00 Owner-Judy Stewart; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Timmy Murphy; SP-66/1
12 ran, Time-4m 7.70s, Dist-3, ½

2001- Cancelled

2000-WINNER-EDREDON BLEU 8-12-00 Owner-Jim Lewis; Trainer-Henrietta Knight; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-7/2
2ND-Direct Route 9-12-00 Owner-Michael Thompson; Trainer-Howard Johnson; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-5/1
3RD-Flagship Uberalles 6-12-00 Owner-Elizabeth Gutner & Michael Krysztofiak Racing; Trainer-Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Joe Tizzard; SP-11/10 Fav
9 ran, Time-3m 44.6s, Dist-sh, 6

1999-WINNER-CALL EQUINAME 9-12-00 Owner-Mick Coburn, Paul Barber and Colin Lewis; Trainer Paul Nicholls; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-7/2
2ND-Edredon Bleu 7-12-00 Owner-Jim Lewis; Trainer-Henrietta Knight; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-3/1 Fav
3RD-Direct Route 8-12-00 Owner-Chris Heron; Trainer-Howard Johnson; Jockey-Norman Williamson;
SP-11/2 13 ran, Time-3m 59.2s, Dist-1¼, 3½

1998-WINNER-ONE MAN 10-12-00 Owner-John Hales; Trainer-Gordon Richards; Jockey-Brian Harding; SP-7/2
2ND-Or Royal 7-12-00 Owner-David Johnson; Trainer-Martin Pipe; Jockey-Tony McCoy; SP-7/2
3RD-Lord Dorcet 8-12-00 Owner-John Hogg; Trainer-Alistair Charlton; Jockey-Brian Storey; SP-50/1
8 ran, Time-3m 50.8s, Dist-4, 5 5/2 Fav Ask Tom (6th)

1997-WINNER-MARTHA’S SON 10-12-00 Owner-Paddy Hartigan and Michael Ward-Thomas; Trainer-Tim Forster; Jockey-Rodney Farrant; SP-9/1
2ND-Ask Tom 8-12-00 Owner-Brian Stewart-Brown; Trainer-Tom Tate; Jockey-Russ Garritty; SP-6/1
3RD-Viking Flagship 10-12-00 Owner-Roach Foods Ltd;Trainer-David Nicholson; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-3/1
6 ran, Time-3m 50.1s, Dist-2½, ½ 5/2 Fav Strong Promise (5th)

1996-WINNER-KLAIRON DAVIS 7-12-00 Owner-Chris Jones; Trainer-Arthur Moore IRE; Jockey-Francis Woods; SP-9/1
2ND-Viking Flagship 9-12-00 Owner-Roach Foods Limited; Trainer-David Nicholson; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-9/4
3RD-Sound Man 8-12-00 Owner-David Lloyd; Trainer-Edward O’Grady IRE; Jockey-Richard Dunwoody; SP-11/8 Fav
7 ran, Time-4m 0.4s, Dist-5, 1¼

1995-WINNER-VIKING FLAGSHIP 8-12-00 Owner-Roach Foods Ltd; Trainer- David Nicholson; Jockey-Charlie Swan; SP-5/2 Fav
2ND-Deep Sensation 10-12-00 Owner-Robin Eliot; Trainer-Josh Gifford; Jockey-Norman Williamson; SP-14/1
3RD-Nakir 7-12-00 Owner-Jim Lewis; Trainer-Simon Christian; Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-7/2
10 ran, Time-4m 6.30s, Dist-5, 2½

1994-WINNER-VIKING FLAGSHIP 7-12-00 Owner-Roach Foods Ltd; Trainer- David Nicholson; Jockey-Adrian Maguire; SP-4/1
2ND-Travado 8-12-00 Owner-Mrs Michael Ennever; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Jamie Osborne; SP-100/30
3RD-Deep Sensation 9-12-00 Owner-Robin Eliot; Trainer-Josh Gifford; Jockey-Declan Murphy; SP-15/2
8 ran, Time-4m 0.8s, Dist-nk, 1 11/4 Fav Remittance Man (Fell)

QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
ROLL OF HONOUR
(Queen Mother Champion Chase since 1980, previously National Hunt Two-Mile Champion Chase from when first run in 1959)

Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
2004 Azertyuiop 7-11-10 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls John Hales 15/8 8
2003 Moscow Flyer 9-12-00 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington IRE Brian Kearney 7/4F 11
2002 Flagship Uberalles 8-12-00 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs Elizabeth Gutner/Michael Krysztofiak 7/4F 12
2001 No Race (Foot and Mouth)
2000 Edredon Bleu 8-12-00 Tony McCoy Henrietta Knight Jim Lewis 7/2 9
1999 Call Equiname 9-12-00 Mick Fitzgerald Paul Nicholls Mick Coburn,Paul Barber,Colin Lewis 7/2 13
1998 One Man 10-12-00 Brian Harding Gordon Richards John Hales 7/2 8
1997 Martha’s Son 10-12-00 Rodney Farrant Tim Forster Paddy Hartigan/Michael Ward-Thomas 9/1 6
1996 Klairon Davis 7-12-00 Francis Woods Arthur Moore IRE Chris Jones 9/1 7
1995 Viking Flagship 8-12-00 Charlie Swan David Nicholson Roach Foods Ltd 5/2F 10
1994 Viking Flagship 7-12-00 Adrian Maguire David Nicholson Roach Foods Ltd 4/1 8
1993 Deep Sensation 8-12-00 Declan Murphy Josh Gifford Robin Eliot 11/1 9
1992 Remittance Man 8-12-00 Jamie Osborne Nicky Henderson Jim Collins Evs F 6
1991 Katabatic 8-12-00 Simon McNeill Andrew Turnell Pell-Mell Partners 9/1 7
1990 Barnbrook Again 9-12-00 Hywel Davies David Elsworth Mel Davies 11/10F 9
1989 Barnbrook Again 8-12-00 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth Mel Davies 7/4F 8
1988 Pearlyman 9-12-00 Tom Morgan John Edwards Valerie Shaw 15/8F 8
1987 Pearlyman 8-12-00 Peter Scudamore John Edwards Valerie Shaw 13/8F 8
1986 Buck House 8-12-00 Tommy Carmody Mouse Morris IRE Mrs Phil Purcell 5/2 11
1985 Badsworth Boy 10-12-00 Robert Earnshaw Monica Dickinson Doug Armitage 11/8 5
1984 Badsworth Boy 9-12-00 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson Doug Armitage 8/13F 10
1983 Badsworth Boy 8-12-00 Robert Earnshaw Michael Dickinson Doug Armitage 2/1 6
1982 Rathgorman 10-12-00 Kevin Whyte Michael Dickinson J Lilley 100/30 9
1981 Drumgora 9-12-00 Frank Berry Arthur Moore IRE D Monahan 25/1 9
1980 *Another Dolly 10-12-00 Sam Morshead Fred Rimell Ian Urquhart 33/1 7
1979 Hilly Way 9-12-00 Mr Ted Walsh Peter McCreery IRE J W Sweeney 7/1 9
1978 Hilly Way 8-12-00 Tommy Carmody Peter McCreery IRE J W Sweeney 7/1 10
1977 Skymas 12-12-00 Mouse Morris Brian Lusk IRE Mathew Magee 7/2 8
1976 Skymas 11-12-00 Mouse Morris Brian Lusk IRE Mathew Magee 8/1 7
1975 Lough Inagh 8-12-00 Sean Barker Jim Dreaper IRE A Martin 100/30 8
1974 Royal Relief 10-12-00 Bill Smith Edward Courage Edward Courage 6/1 6
1973 Inkslinger 6-12-00 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore IRE Mrs M Jenney 6/1 6
1972 Royal Relief 8-12-00 Bill Smith Edward Courage Edward Courage 15/8 5
1971 Crisp 8-12-00 Paul Kelleway Fred Winter Sir Chester Manifold 3/1 8
1970 Straight Fort 7-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE George Ansley 7/4F 6
1969 Muir 10-12-00 Ben Hannon Tom Dreaper IRE Waring Willis 15/2 11
1968 Drinny’s Double 10-12-00 Frank Nash Bob Turnell Paul Mellon 6/1 5
1967 Drinny’s Double 9-12-00 Frank Nash Bob Turnell Paul Mellon 7/2 8
1966 Flyingbolt 7-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Mrs Jean Wilkinson 1/5F 6
1965 Dunkirk 8-12-00 Dave Dick Peter Cazalet Bill Whitbread 8/1 6
1964 Ben Stack 7-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE Anne, Duchess of Westminster 2/1 5
1963 Sandy Abbot 8-12-00 Stan Mellor George Owen Mrs J D McKechnie 5/1 5
1962 Piperton 8-12-00 Dave Dick Archie Thomlinson Archie Thomlinson 100/6 7
1961 Fortria 9-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE George Ansley 2/5F 5
1960 Fortria 8-12-00 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper IRE George Ansley 15/8F 7
1959 Quita Que 10-12-00 Bunny Cox Dan Moore IRE Mrs D R Brand 4/9F 9

*Another Dolly finished second to Chinrullah, who was subsequently disqualified after failing a post-race urine test




BITS AND PIECES

Ireland have won the last four runnings of the Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the traditional curtain-raiser, and they are responsible for two of the leading players this year in Justified and Publican.

Jonjo O’Neill has won the last three runnings of the NH Chase - his two entries this year are Classic Native and Golden Rambler.

Mouse Morris, who saddles the much-fancied Keepatem for JP McManus in the NH Chase, won the race as a jockey 31 years ago on the Edward O’Grady-trained Mr Midland.

Violet O’Leary, who owns Missed That, ante-post favourite for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, won the race eight years ago with the never-to-be-forgotten Florida Pearl.

Jonjo O’Neill is on a hat-trick in the Pertemps Final - this year he relies on Hautclan and Take Five.

Richard Johnson has won three of the last four runnings of the Mildmay of Flete Chase - his ride this year is Lacdoudal.

Martin Pipe, on a hat-trick in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup, will be hoping that Darren Edwards and Maximize can repeat last year’s success and be the first dual winner since Glyde Court (1985-6).

Owner Paul Green, who won the Kim Muir with Honey Mount in 2000, has booked Tom Greenall - third last year on favourite Ibis Rochelais - for Persian Waters in the amateurs’ race.

All 12 winners of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper have been Irish-bred, yet Missed That, this year’s red-hot favourite, was bred in Britain.

The last nine favourites for the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase have all been beaten.

The first of Edward O’Grady’s 17 winners at the Festival came with Mr Midland in the NH Chase 31 years ago - the Tipperary trainer tries again with Oh So Lively.

Noel Meade’s only success at the Festival was with Sausolito Bay in the 2000 Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The leading Irish trainer pins his hopes on Wild Passion in the meeting’s traditional curtain-raiser.

Nicky Henderson has sent out 25 winners at the meeting, but the last two years have produced blanks.

The first of Tony McCoy’s 15 winners at The Festival came via Kibreet in the 1996 Grand Annual - the champion rides Great Travel in the race this year for Paul Nicholls.

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

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