Friday, March 12, 2010

BIG BUCK’S HEADS 16 IN LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE

Big Buck’s was a very impressive scorer in the 2009 Ladbrokes World Hurdle and he heads the 16 confirmations for the three-mile event this time around. Trained by Paul Nicholls, the seven-year-old has won on his two outings this season, both at Newbury, and is sure to be a short price to claim a second success in the contest.

Howard Johnson saddled the great Inglis Drever to a record three victories in the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle and the County Durham trainer hopes that the enigmatic Tidal Bay can emulate his illustrious former stable mate with victory in the three-mile hurdling championship at Cheltenham on Thursday.

Tidal Bay is acquainted with Festival glory, having triumphed in the 2008 Grade One The Irish Independent Arkle Novices’ Chase.

The nine-year-old, a high-class novice hurdler in his younger days, looked destined for the top over fences but problems with his jumping prompted Johnson into a rethink earlier this year.

After a below par effort in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in December, Tidal Bay reverted to the smaller obstacles in the Grade Two Betfair Cleeve Hurdle over the course and distance on Festival Trials Day, January 30, and landed the spoils by five lengths from Time For Rupert with Katchit back in third.

Johnson revealed today: “I had been thinking about putting Tidal Bay back over hurdles because he wasn’t having a cut at his jumps. He was just backing off a bit.

“I was pleased with the way he won the Betfair Cleeve Hurdle, he has a good record round Cheltenham. He’s in good order and as long as they don’t put too much water on and the ground is good, he’ll be fine.

“He’s good but he’s no Inglis Drever, you only get one like him and it was some achievement to win three Ladbrokes World Hurdles. It would be good to win another one with Tidal Bay but as long as he comes back safe and well, that’s the main thing.”
Other possible starters include last year’s third Powerstation, one of seven possible runners from Ireland that also includes the 2006 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition, who has scored in Grade Two company over hurdles on his last two outings.

A total of 18 horses have stood their ground in the Ryanair Chase, with half of those trained in Ireland. Among the Irish-trained contingent is Tranquil Sea, who registered a major victory at Cheltenham earlier this season when winning the Grade Three Paddy Power Gold Cup at The Open in November.

The current market leader in the Ryanair Chase is Poquelin, from the stable of champion trainer Paul Nicholls and runner-up to Tranquil Sea in the Paddy Power Gold Cup when conceding 2lb to that rival. The seven-year-old subsequently landed the Grade Three Boylesports.com Gold Cup over the course and distance on December 12, his most recent appearance.

The Queen went close to enjoying a winner at The Festival when Barbers Shop was runner-up in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase two years ago and the same horse is set to carry the Royal silks in the Ryanair Chase, having finished third behind the mighty Kauto Star on his latest appearance in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Barbers Shop’s trainer Nicky Henderson could also be represented by Petit Robin, third in last season’s Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Jack The Giant, a high-class performer at his best but not seen out since winning at Ascot in November, 2008.

Voy Por Ustedes is a regular at The Festival, having taken The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy in 2006 and the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase the following season. Last year, he was the two-length runner-up to Imperial Commander in the Ryanair Chase and could attempt to go one better this year, while Schindlers Hunt, third 12 months ago, is another possible starter.

Day three of The Festival kicks off with the £80,000 Listed Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase (1.30pm) for which there are 62 acceptors, followed by the £75,000 Listed Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (2.05pm), where the 66 acceptors include last year’s victor Kayf Aramis. Also on Thursday’s six-race card are the £80,000 Grade Three Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase (4.00pm, 54 confirmations) and the £55,000 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Handicap Chase, for amateur riders, which has attracted 64 acceptors.

Thursday, March 18, concludes with the Festival Ladies Charity Sweepstake in aid of Cancer Research UK. The flat race, run over one mile and five furlongs, takes place at 5.15pm.

GOING

The going at Cheltenham remains:

Old Course - used on Tuesday & Wednesday: Good to Soft, Good in Places

New Course - used on Thursday and Friday: Good to Soft, Good in Places

Cross Country Course: Good, Good to Soft in Places

VENETIA WILLIAMS ANNOUNCED AS WINNER OF CHELTENHAM LADIES’ AWARD

Commenting on the news, Edward Gillespie, Managing Director of Cheltenham, declared: “I am delighted that after a stellar year in a wonderful career Venetia Williams has been recognised in this way.

“The victory of Mon Mome in last year’s Grand National did as much as anything in the last 12 months to highlight the contribution that women make to the wonderful sport of Jump racing and it would be fitting if Venetia was able to add to her Festival tally next week.”

Venetia Williams said: “I’m honoured to have been chosen to receive this award, which owes much to the fantastic team that I work with at home and the loyal owners who have supported me over the years since I began training.”

The award will be presented in a ceremony before racing on Ladies Day, Thursday, March 18, in the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham Racecourse.

The Festival starts on Tuesday, March 16, and concludes on Friday, March 19.

Venetia Williams biography

Venetia Williams always knew that her life was going to revolve around horses. After briefly considering a career as a show jumper, she has dedicated her life to Jump racing. One of the first ladies to ride in the John Smiths Grand National, Venetia spent time as assistant trainer to John Edwards and Martin Pipe as well as a spell with Barry Hills, and in 1995 she set up on her own with less than a dozen horses in beautiful countryside close to the River Wye in rural Herefordshire. From relatively humble beginnings, she now has 100 boxes with a strike rate which is the envy of most other trainers. Williams has trained the winners of scores of big races, including the Hennessy Gold Cup, the King George VI Chase, the Paddy Power Gold Cup, the Coral Welsh National and five Cheltenham Festival races, including two in 2009. Until April last year, she was probably best known for her superb handling of the tiny but gallant mare Lady Rebecca, who lit up Jump racing for five years, but that all changed when Mon Mome galloped clear of the Grand National field for a famous victory at 100/1, elevating his trainer to international prominence. Venetia Williams has been the top female Jump trainer for a number of years and is quite clearly one of the leading ladies of Jump racing. Her successes last spring have done as much as anything in the last 12 months to highlight the role of women in Jump racing.

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