Thursday, March 18, 2010

THE FESTIVAL, CHELTENHAM
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
LADIES DAY, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010

GOING CHANGE AFTER THE FOURTH RACE

Simon Claisse, director of racing and clerk of the course at Cheltenham, changed the going description to Good, good to soft in places from Good to soft, good in places after the fourth race.

He will put two millimetres of water on two furlongs of the back straight after racing tonight to maintain good ground.

TONY MCCOY OKISH

Tony McCoy limped away from his second fall of the day when Song Of Songs came down two out in the Byrne Group Plate. He was shaken up but has not been stood down by the doctors so he is free to ride tomorrow.

TOTE TURNOVER UP

Today’s Tote on-course cash turnover was £2,147,000, up 10 per cent on last year’s figure of £1,917,000.

totewin has now beaten the official SP on 16 out of the 19 races so far at the Festival, with Great Endeavour's victory in the Byrne Group Plate proving particularly profitable this afternoon for anyone who had a bet with the Tote rather than with the bookies. David Pipe's gelding was returned at 18/1 but the totewin returned £31.30 to a £1 stake – a whole £12.30 more.

The totejackpot was not won again which means there is a huge rollover of £269,605 going on to the final day of the Festival.

There was also good news for anyone who backed the winner of totepool's Price Promise race of the day – the Pertemps Final – as Buena Vista returned £19.10 to a £1 stake which was £2.10 more than the returned SP of 16/1. Had the winner paid returned less, then totepool would have matched the SP.


GUINNESS AWARD - THIRD DAY CONTENDERS

The Guinness Award for the third day of The Festival is between a) Hadden Frost, b) Tony McCoy and c) Big Buck’s. Voting is open until 7pm.

KATIE WALSH WINS GUINNESS FESTIVAL AWARD ON THE SECOND DAY

The Guinness Festival Award for the second day of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival went to Katie Walsh for her brilliant winning ride on Poker de Sivola in the National Hunt Chase, her first victory at The Festival. With her brother Ruby becoming the winning-most jockey in Cheltenham history, following his victory on Sanctuaire, it was a great day for the Walsh family.

“I don’t want to sound soft, but this is definitely the best day of my life,” said Katie after her victory. “Winning at Cheltenham is something that everyone wants to do and I’m fortunate that it’s my turn this year,” she added.

Colm Murphy, who trained Big Zeb, the shock winner of the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Jason Maguire, who rode Peddlers Cross to victory in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle, were also on the shortlist of three drawn up by a panel of journalists. The public vote then determined that the prize went to Walsh.

The Guinness Festival Award winner on the opening day was Tony McCoy and the Awards continue through The Festival. Each day after the fourth race, the shortlist will be announced over the public address system, on racecourse TV screens, on Festival Radio and the racecourse website www.cheltenham.co.uk.

Racegoers can vote by texting ‘Festival’ with the selection ‘a’, ‘b’ or ‘c’ to 80818. There is no limit to the number of texts that can be sent*.

Superb trophies, donated by Waterford Crystal, will be presented to the award winners in the paddock the following day - with Friday’s winner receiving their trophy after the sixth race that day. On Saturday, March 20, Channel 4's Morning Line team will select the overall 2010 Guinness Festival Award winner.

Everyone texting a vote will be entered into a daily prize draw to win a fabulous trip to Punchestown for the second day of Festival, April 21, to watch the Guinness Gold Cup. The prize includes return flights for two to Dublin, overnight accommodation and reserved enclosure badges to the racecourse. For more information on the Punchestown Festival visit www.punchestown.com .

* Texts cost £1 plus the normal carrier tariff. Entrants must be over 18.

CARLY, BERNADETTE AND MOLLY SCOOP FASHION AWARDS

The Ladies Day Fashion Awards for the 2010 Cheltenham Festival were awarded as follows:

Best Dressed Lady: Carly Shave from Tottenham
Carly, who wore a black and white hooped suit, with a red blouse and shoes, won the use of a Alpha Romeo Mito for a year.

Best Accessories: Bernadette O’Sullivan from Milltown, Co. Kerry
Bernadette’s umbrella stole the show, but she may need it later.

Best Hat: Molly McGarvey from Miami.

This is Molly’s first Festival. She couldn’t find a winner yesterday and is banking on Big Buck’s today.

CARRUTHERS TEAM THINK BIG WITH SMALL HORSE

Defeats for Dunguib, Go Native and Master Minded have underlined the vulnerability of favourites at the Festival, and provided encouragement for rivals to Kauto Star in tomorrow's totesport Gold Cup.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Star and his stablemate Denman are booked for the first two places on their best form, but that has not deterred seven trainers from pitching horses in against the big two.

Mark Bradstock, trainer of Carruthers, probably echoes the views of these seven when he says: "Kauto Star's one of the best horses I've ever seen, but, as they say, if you're not in you can't win."

Bradstock trains Carruthers for a partnership including his father-in-law, Lord Oaksey, who rode 200 winners as an amateur, became a leading television pundit and racing journalist. Oaksey bred Carruthers out of the mare Plaid Maid.

"Carruthers was very small, almost a runt, as a foal and is not over big now," recalls Bradstock, who trained Plaid Maid to win five times. "But he's a lovely horse to deal with, just like his mother. Sadly she died last year - she haemorrhaged inside after giving birth but the foal survived and is a full-brother to Carruthers."

The foal and illustrious older brother were sired by Kayf Tara who stands at Overbury Stud in Gloucestershire and is currently Britain's leading jumping stallion. He has already come close to scoring at the Festival via his offspring The Package, Mad Max and Michael Flips, and his son Alfie Sherrin is a leading fancy for today's Pertemps Final.

Bradstock continued: "We've also got a very nice six-year-old out of the mare called Cuckoo Pen, who finished second in a bumper and had one run over hurdles. He's named after a field at Lord Oaksey's house. There's also a gorgeous Karinga Bay three-year-old and a two-year-old Overbury filly, who will hopefully keep the line going.

"We bought the mare to give my wife Sara's dad a bit of entertainment in retirement and it's gone from there. It's just really exciting to be heading to Cheltenham and we're looking forward to it.

"It's all systems go, but while I was delighted with his last run [when second in Cheltenham’s Argento Chase in January] this is a very big ask. He's an April 1 foal and still only seven."

The Injured Jockeys’ Fund, which Lord Oaksey jointly founded, will also be cheering on Carruthers tomorrow. When the horse was born, Oaksey placed £10 at 1,000/1 that he would one day win either a Gold Cup at Cheltenham or Ascot with the proceeds going to the IJF.

NATIONAL WINNER A GREAT RIDE FOR COLEMAN IN TOTESPORT GOLD CUP

Tomorrow’s totesport Gold Cup is graced by an outsider whose name is guaranteed to be recalled for decades to come.

As a 100-1 winner of the John Smith’s Grand National Mon Mome has a place in racing history reserved for only a handful of horses, and while he seems to offer little threat to Kauto Star and Denman in Cheltenham’s greatest steeplechase, jockey Aidan Coleman is delighted at the prospect of joining the line-up.

“To ride a National winner is always a bonus,” says Coleman, who has a bit of catching up to do. He opted not to ride the Venetia Williams-trained Mon Mome at Aintree, preferring to partner Stan, a reasonable decision given that his mount was half the odds of the eventual winner. Stan fell and Mon Mome carried Liam Treadwell into Aintree lore, but as stable jockey Coleman has taken the ride back this season, and enjoyed four good spins.

He says: “The big two [Kauto Star and Denman] are the obvious ones, but Mon Mome has run well at Cheltenham before, most recently when third in a novices’ hurdle in December.

“I hope he’ll be staying on and can pick up any pieces, and has serious possibilities of finishing four or fifth.

“Any rain would be appreciated because it would slow the faster horses down - Aintree winners are not the quickest - but Mon Mome is happiest on good ground, so we’ll take whatever the weather sends and not worry about it.”

Tomorrow’s race will tee Mon Mome up for Aintree, but is the white-hot heat of a totesport Gold Cup an ideal stepping stone? Coleman says: “Why not? There are only 11 runners and he would carry top-weight in any other race. Our options are very limited and we have to go where we can [even if Mon Mome finishes only sixth he will collect £6,365, more than paying the diesel from his Herefordshire stable].”

“Whatever happens tomorrow, I’m really looking forward to riding him at Aintree.”


TOM GREENALL DOUBT FOR CHRISTIE’S FOXHUNTER HOPE TRUST FUND

Amateur rider Tom Greenall may miss the ride on leading fancy Trust Fund in tomorrow’s Christie’s Foxhunter Chase.

Greenall suffered damage to a knee when Heathcliff fell in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase, and that injury means his teenage brother Jake could now gain a ride in the Festival’s hunter chase, while another brother, Oliver, could swop from Amicelli to Trust Fund..

Their father, Lord Daresbury, whose colours are set to be carried by both horses, said: “We just don’t know how bad Tom’s injury is, but I doubt he’ll be fit to ride.

“We’ll be discussing riding plans overnight and if Tom’s not fit then Jake will come into the equation. It is possible Oliver could switch to Trust Fund, but at this stage it has not been discussed.

Trust Fund won last year’s John Smith’s Fox Hunters’ Chase at Aintree under Tom, while Amicelli landed the 2008 Christie’s Foxhunter Chase under Oliver.

Twelve months ago Oliver unseated from Heathcliff in the Pertemps Final, suffered an internal injury and was forced to give up the ride on Amicelli in the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase - Tom acted as substitute and finished fourth.

First race
Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase


COPPER TAKES GOLD

Copper Bleu gave trainer Philip Hobbs and jockey Richard Johnson a second success at the 2010 Festival when capturing the opening Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase. The pair had also teamed up to win Tuesday’s Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Menorah.

“I thought Dickie was brilliant because the plan was to be handy but of course they went far too quick. The pace was tremendous and Dickie said he was virtually flat out the whole way,” said Hobbs. “This is only his fourth run over fences and he has taken a few runs to gets his act together chasing. He jumped brilliantly all the way.

“But on his fourth in last season’s Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, you would have had to give him a chance today.

“We have also had another issue with him because he has developed a breathing problem over the last few months and that’s why he had a tongue tie on today.

“There is a new 2m 5f handicap chase (the Betfair Novice Handicap Chase) at Punchestown and he could go for that.

“We thought we had one or two reasonable each-way chances going into the week and would have certainly settled for one winner so two is tremendous.”

Johnson added: “We couldn’t go much quicker than we did in the first half of the race but from the water jump they came back to us.

“He’s a very genuine horse but just didn’t totally know what to do.”

Appropriately the winner is owned by Jewson’s former chief executive Alan Peterson, who added: “People had doubts over his jumping but after his latest schooling session. This is a great victory for Philip and Sarah Hobbs and I thought Dickie gave him a fantastic ride.”


STEWARDS’ DECISIONS

Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase

The stewards inquired into the use of the whip by Richard Johnson on the winner Copper Bleu and found that he had used it with excessive frequency - they cautioned him to his future use of the whip.

50/1 OTHERMIX RUNS A BLINDER

Local Slad-base handler Tom George was understandably thrilled with the performance of 50/1 shot Othermix, the three and a half length runner-up in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase.

The six-year-old grey fought out the finish with eventual winner Copper Bleu and kept on gamely after being headed before the last

Tom George said: “He has run well and we are obviously all delighted. He is now starting to show the sort of form he had in France and is a horse that will keep on improving.

“He ran in blinkers for the first time today and they have just sharpened him up.

“We are only now getting him right and he could head to Aintree. He is an enormous horse and just coming to himself.”




MIDNIGHT JOINS FESTIVAL’S PLACED CLUB

Trainer Willie Mullins has a totesport Gold Cup contender in Cooldine, and the wellbeing of his chasers was given a boost when The Midnight Club finished third in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase.

The nine-year-old, who was ridden by Cooldine’s jockey Paul Townend, was just half a length behind runner-up Othermix, and Mullins said: “We’re absolutely delighted with him. He was flat out from start to finish, jumped great and it was a credit to him that he was able to run a race like that on that sort of ground.

“It was a worry that it would be too quick for him, and ideally we would have liked a three-mile novices’ handicap chase. The Jewson is only two miles five furlongs and there was nothing we could do about that.”

The Midnight Club ran with ear plugs, and Mullins said: “He just gets a little upset before a race with all the crowds, but if it was a smaller meeting we wouldn’t use them.”

Joe Tizzard, who unseated from Hey Big Spender, said: “He had a bit of a guess at the fence. Shame, he was going really well.”

Tony McCoy, whose mount Jered fell at the first, was initially attended by paramedics as he lay on the ground, but he was soon on his feet and walked into the weighing room.

GOING AFTER THE FIRST RACE

Richard Johnson, rider of the 3 ½ length winner Copper Bleu, said: “Good ground.”

Paddy Brennan, jockey of second placed Othermix, thought the ground: “Beautiful.”

Paul Townend, rider of third placed The Midnight Club, said: “Good, but a bit yielding in places.”

Niall Madden, rider of fourth home China Rock, described the ground as: “Not bad, it is a bit quicker down the back than it is on the straight.”

Paul Carberry, rider of Nicanor, said: “Good.”

Denis O’Regan, partner of Door Boy, said: “Good.”

Barry Geraghty, partner of Dave’s Dream, said: “Lovely good ground.”

Andrew Tinkler, rider of Tanks For That, said: “It is soft in places.”



Second race
Pertemps Final


FESTIVAL REGULAR VISTA LASTS HOME

Buena Vista was running at The Festival for the sixth year in succession and after a number of game efforts over the years, most notably a third in the 2006 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and a second in this race last year, finally gained a deserved victory when making nearly all to land the 2010 Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle.

Partnered by Hadden Frost, riding his first Festival winner, Buena Vista saw off the challenges of first Chamirey and then Prince Erik to score by five lengths at 16/1.

The nine-year-old is owned by Matt Archer, who is based in Cyprus, and the family of the late Jean Broadhurst, who passed away five years ago, and there were tears and lots of emotion in the winner’s enclosure.

Successful trainer David Pipe said: “What can I say about this horse? I think this is about the sixth time and he has run in the Bumper, the Supreme and the Arkle over the years.

“Now that he is older, he wants further and I wasn’t sure at first whether we should run today or wait for dad’s race (the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle) tomorrow.

“The key to this horse is that he wants better ground and when I looked at the weather forecast I decided that we should run today.

“It wasn’t the plan to go off in front but Hadden has done the right thing and let him bowl along.

“It’s a long way home here when you are out in front but fortunately he kept going.

“He has always been a decent horse and is part of the furniture at Pond House. He is a very straightforward horse. He can be a bit grumpy and keeps himself to himself but loves his grub.

“We didn’t have a winner at The Festival last year and have had two seconds this week, so it is a relief to get off the mark.”


HADDEN FROST WINS FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE FESTIVAL

Hadden Frost, the son of former jockey Jimmy Frost who now trains, emulated his father by winning at The Festival on Buena Vista in the Pertemps Final.

Buena Vista, running in his sixth Festival contest and second in this race last year, benefited from a positive ride.

Frost junior said: “It may have been Buena Vista’s sixth run at The Festival but he has always gone close. He is so gallant and gutsy.

“David (Pipe - the trainer) and connections have done well to get him here today - he is a consistent horse - and I would like to thank them for the opportunity to ride this horse.

“The blinkers just woke him up and he jumped well the whole time. You spend your whole childhood dreaming of winning at The Festival and it is just a dream. Then it comes true and you don’t know how to describe it.

“The Cheltenham roar is awesome - I want it again.

“We were going really well at the top of the hill and I just kept kicking.”

Jimmy Frost rode three winners at The Festival - most notable winning the Champion Hurdle on Morley Street in 1991.


WELD BOWS OUT OF THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL WITH PRINCE ERIK’S SECOND

Trainer Dermot Weld had his final runner at this year’s Festival with Prince Erik in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle, and the horse acquitted himself well, finishing second to Buena Vista, beaten by five lengths.

Weld said: “He stayed on very well, we were delighted with his performance. He followed up his good run at Leopardstown. He ran a lovely race and got a cracking ride from Robbie Power. We just met a horse that was too good for us today.

“I was hoping that the winner might run out of steam coming up the hill, but that doesn’t often happen with a Pipe horse. He’ll probably go back to a Flat handicap next.

“I’m leaving now because of a busy weekend at The Curragh. The horses have run very well. Elegant Concorde was badly hurt in the bumper yesterday. That was the only problem. I think the favourite came in on him coming up the hill and bumped him against the rails so he’s a pretty sore horse,” he added.

CHAMIREY PROVES BEST OF KING PAIR

Nothing could live with all-the-way winner Buena Vista in the Pertemps Final, but Chamirey ran a fine race, tracking the leader for much of the race before taking a valuable third place.

Chamirey was ridden by Wayne Hutchinson, because Alan King’s stable jockey, Choc Thornton elected to ride Trenchant, who finished sixteenth.

Barry Simpson, racing manager to Chamirey’s owner, Sir Robert Ogden, said: “He’s run very, very well. Blinkers [applied for the first time] sharpened him up and he jumped very well and accurately.

“He came off the bridle coming down and made a mistake at the second-last which may have cost him second place. I doubt he would have pegged back the winner in any case, but they went an end-to-end gallop and he stayed on.

“Wayne has won on Chamirey before and gave the horse a fine ride. He’s a very good and competent jockey. We feared the ground had gone against us and softer ground would be better, but Wayne said the horse loved it.”

Commenting on the application of blinkers, Simpson said: “We felt that when he was third at Haydock on his previous start he looked a one-paced type horse. Sometimes you need a bit of help to push him forward. He’s a solid horse, but not a spectacular horse, although you can never tell because they change and mature.”

STEWARDS’ DECISIONS

Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle

The stewards looked into the improvement shown by Buena Vista but decided not to hold an enquiry after being told by trainer David Pipe that the gelding was more suited by better ground and re-fitting of blinkers.

Robbie Power was asked about his use of the whip on the second Prince Erik. The stewards found that he had used his whip with excessive frequency and suspended Power for two days - April 1 and 3.

Third race
Ryanair Chase

ALBERTAS BACK IN RYANAIR WINNING RUN

Albertas Run, winner of the 2008 RSA Chase, came back for another slice of Grade One Festival glory when landing the Ryanair Chase.

Tony McCoy rode the nine-year-old to victory wearing the colours of Trevor Hemmings and for the stable of Jonjo O’Neill.

The winning trainer, celebrating his 17th Festival triumph, said: “The ground is right for him - it’s so important - and the trip suited him. He’s a very good horse on his day. He’d have won a King George VI Chase if it hadn’t been for Kauto Star, and then he’d have been a real hero.

“We were very pleased with his work and prep at home, and Dougie Costello, who rode him at Ascot [on his previous outing when second to the remarkable veteran Monet’s Garden] said ‘I really could have done with going faster on him’. That wasn’t Dougie’s fault because he was riding to instructions, but we knew the horse was in good order.

“A good gallop all the way was fine today. When you’ve got AP and Ruby up there in front they go a good gallop and not silly.

“He’s in the [John Smith’s] Grand National, and will probably run at Aintree, but in which race I’m not sure. I’ll talk to Michael Meagher [Hemmings’ racing manager] and Trevor and we’ll see how the horse comes out of today’s race.”

Michael Meagher, representing the owner who was not able to attend today because of a foot problem, said: “Albertas Run was absolutely brilliant today, and he had good horses in behind. To have a winner here and at Aintree is what the game is all about. He’s in the National, but we’ll think about that some other day.”


MASTERFUL MCCOY

Tony McCoy put up a masterful performance on 14/1 chance Albertas Run, going for home from the top of the hill and holding on to his lead by four and a half lengths from 11/4 favourite Poquelin.

The 14-time champion jockey moved onto 23 Festival successes after his second success of the 2010 meeting, following on from winning the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on the opening day on Binocular.

McCoy had a crashing fall in the first race when Jered came down at the first hurdle but bounced back.

McCoy said: “I must admit when I was on the ground the pain threshold was testing me to the limit.

“I had a nice ride on Albertas Run who won the RSA Chase a couple of years ago and I am delighted for Trevor (Hemmings the owner) who is not here because he has had a bit of problem with his foot.

“Jonjo (O’Neill - the trainer) and I asked Trevor if we could run in the Ryanair Chase rather than the Gold Cup because we thought he had a good chance.

“Trevor, being the man he is, was all on for it as long as I rode Albertas Run. I am delighted for Jonjo as well.

“I hope Trevor’s foot is sore after jumping up and down from this win!”


O’Neill added: “ A P (McCoy) is a very special fellow. There is no better man to ride a horse. He has got a few stitches but he will be all right - he is a magic man.”


STEWART PHILOSOPHICAL AFTER POQUELIN SECOND

Poquelin became the third straight favourite to be beaten on the third day of The Festival, when the 11/4 market leader went down by four and a half lengths to Albertas Run in the Ryanair Chase.

Owner Andy Stewart and trainer Paul Nicholls rushed off immediately afterwards to saddle their Ladbrokes World Hurdle hope Big Buck’s, with Stewart stopping briefly to state that he was philosophical in defeat.

“Disappointment? No, not at all. It’s horse racing, you come second, beaten by a Royal & Sun Alliance winner, and he didn’t just beat us, he won it very convincingly.

“The favourites can’t win all the time. That’s racing and I think it’s great,” he said.

The stewards looked into interference between the second and third but left the placings unaltered


J’Y VOLE TAKES THIRD FOR MULLINS

The Willie Mullins-trained J’Y Vole had a troubled passage in the Ryanair Chase but still finished a good third behind Albertas Run for owners the Hammer & Trowel Syndicate, who won Tuesday’s David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle with Quevega.

“Quevega was our banker for the week but we had a bit each way on J’Y Vole at 28s,” said Ger O’Brien, representing the owners.

“It was an awful pity what happened on the home turn because at that stage she seemed to be travelling the best. She jumped super and was bang in the mix going for home. I don’t think we’d have beaten McCoy (on Albertas Run) but we should have been second.”

Evan Williams, trainer of fourth-placed Deep Purple, said: “Our plan was always to go straight to Aintree but we decided to come here when he got his ground.

“In hindsight it might have been better if I’d waited but he’s run a blinder and deserves to win a Grade 1. We’ll have to see how he comes out of this and it’s weather dependant if he goes to Aintree.”


STEWARDS’ DECISIONS

Ryanair Chase

The stewards looked into possible interference on the final bend. They ruled that the third J’Y Vole, ridden by Davy Condon, had interfered with the second Poquelin by pushing through a gap which never looked like being big enough. They suspended Condon for four days - April 1, 3, 4 & 5.

Fourth race
Ladbrokes World Hurdle


BUCK’S FINALLY BRINGS BUCKS FOR PUNTERS

Punters finally had something to cheer about at the 2010 Festival when 5/6 favourite Big Buck’s, a banker this week for many, stormed three and a quarter lengths clear of Time For Rupert to take the Labrokes World Hurdle for a second consecutive year.

The success was welcomed by jockey Ruby Walsh and trainer Paul Nicholls, who have had several notable reverses including when odds-on Master Minded finished only fourth in yesterday’s Seasons Holiday Queen Mother Champion Chase.

“I was very nervous beforehand,” admitted Nicholls. “Master Minded was not good enough but we knew this horse had a big chance.

“He was very good today, I think it was his best ever performance and win number three next year is the plan. We might do fences one day, you never say never, but at the moment there is no point when he is so good at this.

“He’s a totally different horse on the track than at home and he didn’t work very well on Saturday morning, but that’s normal for him. He’s a character that you just have to kid along and get right. He’s a bit like Denman and you sometimes wonder how they can be so good when you look at them at home..

“We have sort of worked out that he is best fresh so have kept him for this. You always worry that you are going to get left in front too soon but he travelled well.”

Walsh added: “Time For Rupert is a fair horse and he beat me in a handicap at Aintree last year, but it’s a long way from that to here. I wanted to have a bit of company, I didn’t want to be my own too early. It’s a joy to be riding him, he travelled super and is just a very good horse.”

Owner Andy Stewart added: “He never came off the bridle and I think there were some good horses behind him

“There are four of us in our family and as far as I’m concerned the most important thing is that they are all here.

“My son Paul was in a wheelchair at last year’s Festival (following a skiing accident) and he is here today walking with sticks. Hopefully next year he will be back here walking without them.”


PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FROM ANDY STEWART AND PAUL NICHOLLS - THE OWNER AND TRAINER OF THE LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE WINNER BIG BUCK’S

Andy Stewart: “His last piece of work wasn’t impressive but he did not hit a flat spot in the race today. Well if he did, nobody saw it!

“When we won last year, my son Paul was in a wheelchair and this year he managed to walk up to the podium which was what he wanted to do. The Sunday after the Grand National he goes off to Miami for further treatment. The Spinal Research sponsorship will continue for the rest of the year and the charity is doing lots of research. I will be helping with the purchase of two machines to go to Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Life has been kind to us and I would like everyone to have access to the kind of treatment Paul has received in America.

“I thought Paul (Nicholls) was bonkers at the time when he suggested that Big Buck’s should go back over hurdles after he unseated Sam Thomas in the Hennessy last season, but he has seen off the likes of Punchestowns and Kasbah Bliss and I think he could be one of the best staying hurdlers we have seen.”

Paul Nicholls: “I was slightly worried about the ground today but when I looked at his form again I noticed that he has won twice on similar ground at Aintree.

“His last piece of work was moderate, but that’s just the way he is. He gives you a few sleepless nights, but is a very talented horse. He is a bit like Denman in that doesn’t always show much at home but is different when he gets to the racecourse.

“You always worry when short-priced favourites get beaten and obviously it was disappointing with Master Minded yesterday, but the sport has to move forward.

“In this game, you never say never but there is no point in Big Buck’s going back over fences when he is so good over hurdles. He will now go to Aintree and hopefully follow the same path back to Cheltenham next year. In that respect he is an easy horse to train as his route is mapped out.

“Looking ahead to the Gold Cup tomorrow, Kauto Star is amazing and just keeps coming back. Obviously, Denman had a setback at Newbury last time but he did a really hard piece of work this morning as he always does the day before the Gold Cup.

“Kauto Star will love this ground and Denman has good enough form on the ground too.

“Obviously, Denman has had a breathing operation and I think Paul Barber and Harry Findlay are wrong to say he wants heavy ground.

“Denman is a totally different horse to 12 months ago. He will look a lot tighter when you see him in the parade ring tomorrow.”


TIME FOR RUPERT BEST OF THE REST

“This was meant to be a quiet year. We thought we’d win one on a mark of about 145 and have a quiet time,” said trainer Paul Webber, after Time For Rupert upped his game once more to finish in second place in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, beaten just three and a quarter lengths by odds-on favourite Big Buck’s.

“He’s run a fantastic race. He’s always given us the impression that he’s improving about seven or eight pounds at a time. I thought that we would still be seven pounds short of Big Buck’s but he’s got closer than even that,” added Webber.

“William (Kennedy) has given him an inch-perfect ride. Absolutely no excuses just delighted to be as close to Big Buck’s as that and 11 lengths back to the third? It was a tremendous performance.

“Davy Russell [on War Of Attrition] said to Will when he pushed on, ‘Aren’t we going a bit soon?’ and Will said ‘You can wait for Big Buck’s, I’m not going to.’ We had a plan to set sail at the bit on the top and try and nick a length, but we couldn’t nick enough.

“All this horse does is gallop. He hasn’t got Big Buck’s speed and our only chance was to stretch everybody as much as possible.

“We have to think about Liverpool, but I guess Big Buck’s wouldn’t mind that either. We’ll see how he comes out of this race. I think next year - if that monster’s around - we’ll go jumping fences,” stated the trainer.

POWERSTATION LIGHTS UP FOR O’CONNELL AT THE FESTIVAL

Cheltenham brings out the best in ten-year-old Powerstation, as proven again today when he finished third in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle - he filled the same position 12 months ago, and the winner on each occasion was Big Buck’s.

Four times Powerstation has run at the track, and while yet to reach the winner’s spot his record is now two seconds (at non-Festival fixtures) and two thirds.

Formerly trained by Michael John Phillips, Powerstation was bought by his current trainer, Eamonn O’Connell, 18 months ago when he gained a trainer’s licence.

O’Connell said: “We’ve been unlucky to run up against a great stayer in Big Buck’s, and it was the same problem with Black Jack Ketchum when he was a novice.

“I’ve only been training for a year and a half. I’ve worked with horses over the years and decided to give it a go myself, but further back I loaded bags for Aer Lingus at Shannon Airport and did that for 17 years.

“I’ve got 13 horses at home, so to have a horse like Powerstation is unbelievable. He’s a tough horse and performs well any time of the year. He’s a particularly good horse over three miles on decent ground.

“He’s might go to Punchestown or for the French Champion Hurdle over three miles one furlong.”


TIDAL DIDN’T ENJOY IT

Tidal Bay, the 11/2 second favourite, could fare no better than seventh in the Grade One Ladbrokes World Hurdle.

His trainer Howard Johnson said: “He just didn’t seem to enjoy it today and ran with his head up, although he did run on at the end.

“We will take him home and have a look over him. He could maybe go to Aintree depending how he is.”




Fifth Race
Byrne Group Plate

COOK SERVES UP A FIRST FESTIVAL WIN

Danny Cook from Romford in Essex rode his first Festival winner when Great Endeavour won the Byrne Group Plate for trainer David Pipe.

Pipe was welcoming his second winner of the day following Buena Vista’s success in the Pertemps Final - the double paid 322-1.

Cook, a conditional jockey who claims a 3lb allowance and works at Pipe’s yard, scored in the colours of owner David Johnson, who was also represented by Chapoturgeon (7th) and Our Vic (14th).

Cook said: “He jumped and travelled so well I was just a passenger. I had him in the right positions and when he made his mind up he wanted to go on I didn’t want to disappoint him.

“He’s always been a well-balanced horse and his jumping was very good. It’s been very nice of Mr Johnson and David to give me such good rides. The horses have to be well trained at home and ready for this experience on the racetrack so it’s all down to the whole team at Pond House.

“Last year I had a second and fourth at the Festival, and I have been watching all the other lads riding winners and hoping my turn would come.”

Pipe said: “Danny’s given him a great ride - he won on him at Towcester and is very good for his 3lb claim. They went a good gallop and I was little concerned about the trip because he does stay further, but it’s another Festival winner for the yard.

“We entered him in the Jewson, but he missed the cut yesterday and so credit to Gail Harrison our secretary in the office who swapped the horse and put him in this race. We did consider putting Danny on Our Vic, and when I asked him which he would ride if given the choice he was adamant he would prefer to be on the less-exposed Great Endeavour.”




FROM DAWN TO DUSK ONE MISTAKE AWAY?


From Dawn To Dusk almost supplied trainer Philip Hobbs with his third victory at this year’s Festival. After making a bad mistake, he recovered to finish third to Great Endeavour in the Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase.

Sarah Hobb’s, the trainer’s wife, when asked if it was one mistake away from a victory, said: “Yes.”

“But we are absolutely thrilled. If he hadn’t made a mistake, you just don’t know. But he has run a blinder.

“Hopefully we’ll find a race at Aintree for him, but it’s has got to be good ground,” she added.

Mister McGoldrick, making his 85th racecourse appearance and his sixth at The Festival, ran a blinder. At the business end of the affairs for the entire race, the 13-year-old only flagged in the final few furlongs, finishing fourth at 33/1.

“He does particularly love it round here and he never does run a bad race, does he, unless there’s something wrong,” said his trainer Sue Smith.

“Throughout his life, he just gives you everything he’s got. He’s a super horse and I thought Jason [Maguire] gave him a superb ride today. At 13, it’s amazing. I wish I had as much energy as him,” she added.

J P McManus, owner of the second-place horse Sunnyhillboy, was succinct. “I think we were beaten by a better horse, no ifs and no buts. It’s as simple as that,” he said.

Race 6: Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase

BALLABRIGGS WINS ON AN EMPTY TANK

Ballabriggs ran the perfect race in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase, the final race of the third day of this year’s Festival.

Perfect, that is until the final furlong, when the nine-year-old, who started at 9/1, began treading water, with a frantic Richard Harding on board. A 10-length lead dwindled away rapidly to a winning distance of just half a length.

“That was agony,” said trainer Donald McCain Jnr.

“He’s a grand horse we’ve always thought the world of. He missed last season because he hurt his back and it’s probably been the making of him.

“He a good-travelling horse, but I always thought the three miles and one and a half furlongs here was testing him a bit. You could see he had his race won, but there wasn’t a lot left at the end - with 12 stone on his back - it was painful.

“Khachaturian leading probably made it harder, to be honest. It made it more of a test, which wasn’t up his street.

“He’s a smashing horse. He’s an absolute Christian. He’s just a joy to train,” he said.

Harding, the amateur rider brother of jump jockey Brian Harding, said: “I could hear them coming and I could see them behind me on the big screen. It was a nice feeling just to hold on.”

It was his third Festival success.

Owner Trevor Hemmings was gaining his second Festival win of the day following on from Albertas Run in the Ryanair Chase.

ALMOST A THREE-TIMER FOR PIPE TEAM

David Pipe came close to landing a treble on day three of The Festival when Faasel was a fast-finishing second in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase, going down by half-a-length to Ballabriggs.

Pipe said of the 20/1 chance: “He ran a blinder. First time out is probably the time to catch him and Josh Guerriero has given him a great ride.

“Faasel joined us a while ago but we decided to save him for this. I thought he would either runner a big race or a stinker. He has always been a talented horse, but is quirky.”


GUERRIERO BANNED FOR ONE DAY


Amateur rider Joshua Guerriero, who finished second in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase on Faasel, was found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency. The stewards suspended him for one day on a date to be notified.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL LADIES CHARITY SWEEPSTAKE IN AID OF CANCER RESEARCH UK

CHARITY RACE GOES TO DUBLIN-BASED BARRISTER ORNA MADDEN

The Cheltenham Festival Ladies Charity Sweepstake, a flat race run over a mile and five furlongs, saw a thrilling finish with Prince Picasso, partnered by Dublin-based barrister Orna Madden, getting up in the final strides to deny Devil To Pay by a short-head, who was partnered by Madden’s best friend Kate Doyle, a chartered surveyor and former three-day event rider.

Orna Maden said: “That was amazing. It was something of a surreal experience and it hasn’t really sunk in yet.

“I was chasing Kate Doyle early in the race. He travelled well and although I just lost a bit of ground at the halfway point, I was always happy.

“When I came round the last bend, I had plenty of horse underneath me and started to ride him although I’m sure it wasn’t pretty!

“To be honest, I thought I had no chance today. Prince Picasso was only the second choice as my original horse went lame.

“There was a lot of excitement and nerves toay. I would just like to thank Richard Fahey (trainer) and Aidan Ryan (owner) for all their help.

“I was a three-day event rider for 15 years but I stopped in around 2005 due to being so busy with my job. I had lost touch with the horse world but this was a great way to come back.

“Kate Doyle is my best friend and we did our fund-raising and training together.”

Katie Doyle, rider of second-placed Devil To Pay, was close to tears and said: “My best friend won so I have got to go and support her.”

Elisabeth Murdoch, rider of ninth-placed Al Amaan, said: “It was an amazing adrenaline rush and I just wish I’d done a bit better.”










THOMAS PINK LEADING RIDER AWARD

THIRD DAY STANDINGS

Jockey 1st 2nd 3rd
Ruby Walsh 3 2 -
Tony McCoy 2 3 -
Barry Geraghty 2 - 2
Richard Johnson 2 - 1
Paddy Aspell 1 - -
Danny Cook 1 - -
Hadden Frost 1 - -
Mr Richard Harding 1 - -
Adrian Heskin 1 - -
Andrew Lynch 1 - -
Jason Maguire 1 - -
Davy Russell 1 - -
Joe Tizzard 1 - -
Katie Walsh 1 - -
Paddy Brennan - 2 -
Daryl Jacob - 1 1
Andrew Tinkler - 1 1
Nina Carberry - 1 1
Johnny Farrelly - 1 -
Mr Josh Guerriero - 1 -
William Kennedy - 1 -
Richie McLernon - 1 -
Mr J T McNamara - 1 -
Timmy Murphy - 1 -
Robbie Power - 1 -
Robert Thornton - 1 -
Liam Treadwell - 1 -
Davy Condon - - 2
Andrew McNamara - - 2
Rhys Flint - - 1
Wayne Hutchinson - - 1
Graham Lee - - 1
Jimmy McCarthy - - 1
Robbie McNamara - - 1
Brian O’Connell - - 1
Michael O’Connor - - 1
Paul Townend - - 1
Mr Sam Waley-Cohen - - 1







THOMAS PINK LEADING TRAINER AWARD

THIRD DAY STANDINGS

Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd
David Pipe 2 3 -
Nicky Henderson 2 2 2
Paul Nicholls 2 2 -
Philip Hobbs 2 - 2
Donald McCain jnr 2 - -
Jonjo O’Neill 1 2 -
Willie Mullins IRE 1 - 2
Ferdy Murphy 1 - 2
Henry de Bromhead IRE 1 - -
Charles Byrnes IRE 1 - -
Michael Hourigan IRE 1 - -
Jimmy Moffatt 1 - -
Colm Murphy IRE 1 - -
Colin Tizzard 1 - -
Tom Cooper IRE - 1 1
Dermot Weld IRE - 1 1
Nick Williams - 1 1
Enda Bolger IRE - 1 -
Tom George - 1 -
Nick Gifford - 1 -
Noel Glynn IRE - 1 -
Henrietta Knight - 1 -
Nigel Twiston-Davies - 1 -
Paul Webber - 1 -
Philip Fenton IRE - - 1
John Kiely IRE - - 1
Alan King - - 1
Colm Murphy IRE - - 1
Eamon O’Connell IRE - - 1
Edward O’Grady IRE - - 1
Renee Robeson - - 1
Michael Smith - - 1










2010 FESTIVAL WINNERS SO FAR

TUESDAY
1.30pm Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade One)
MENORAH (Diana Whateley) Philip Hobbs 5-11-07 Richard Johnson 12/1
2.05pm Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy (Grade One)
SIZING EUROPE (Ann & Alan Potts Partnership) Henry de Bromhead IRE 8-11-07 Andrew Lynch 6/1
2.40pm William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade Three)
CHIEF DAN GEORGE (Maurice Chapman) James Moffatt 10-10-10 Paddy Aspell 33/1
3.20pm Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (Grade One)
BINOCULAR (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 6-11-10 Tony McCoy 9/1
4.00pm Glenfarclas Handicap Cross-Country Steeple Chase
A NEW STORY (Storey’s Over Syndicate) Michael Hourigan 12-9-07 Adrian Heskin (7) 25/1
4.40pm David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle (Grade Two)
QUEVEGA (Hammer & Trowel Syndicate) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-5 Ruby Walsh 6/4f

WEDNESDAY
1.30pm 140th Year Of The National Hunt Chase
POKER DE SIVOLA (David Johnson) Ferdy Murphy 7-11-06 Ms Katie Walsh 14/1
2.05pm Neptune Investment Management Novice
PEDDLERS CROSS (Tim Leslie) Donald McCain Jnr 5-11-7 Jason Maguire 7/1
2.40pm RSA Chase (Grade One)
WEAPON'S AMNESTY (Gigginstown House Stud) Charles Byrnes IRE 7-11-4 Davy Russell 10/1
3.20pm Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade One)
BIG ZEB (Patrick Redmond) Colm Murphy IRE 9-11-10 Barry Geraghty 10/1
4.00pm Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade Three)
SPIRIT RIVER (Michael Buckley) Nicky Henderson 5-11-2 Barry Geraghty 14/1
4.40pm Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Grade Three)
SANCTUAIRE (Jared Sullivan) Paul Nicholls 4-11-2 Ruby Walsh 4/1F
5.15pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade One)
CUE CARD (Jean Bishop) Colin Tizzard 4-10-12 Joe Tizzard 40/1

THURSDAY
1.30pm Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed)
COPPER BLEU (Alan Peterson) Philip Hobbs 8-11-1t Richard Johnson 12/1
2.05pm Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Listed)
1 BUENA VISTA (Matt Archer & The Late Jean Broadhurst) David Pipe 9-10-1b Hadden Frost (3) 16/1
2.40pm Ryanair Chase (Registered As the Festival Trophy Chase) (Grade One)
ALBERTAS RUN (Trevor Hemmings) Jonjo O'Neill 9-11-10 Tony McCoy 14/1
3.20pm Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade One)
BIG BUCK'S (The Stewart Family) Paul Nicholls 7-11-10 Ruby Walsh 5/6F
4.00pm Byrne Group Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade Three)
GREAT ENDEAVOUR (David Johnson) David Pipe 6-10-1 Danny Cook (3) 18/1
4.40pm Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateur Riders)
BALLABRIGGS (Trevor Hemmings) Donald McCain Jnr 9-11-12 Mr Richard Harding 9/1


WOMEN’S CHARITY RACE

Tension is building as the Women’s Charity Race approaches. The race, over 1m 5f, starts at 5:15pm and Camilla Henderson admitted she’s worried about riding at The Festival.

“Please don’t scare me any more. We are so scared about racing at such a big event,” she said. Henderson, daughter of trainer Nicky, is one of the 12 riders hoping to raise over £100,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Henderson has been working with former champion jockey Stan Mellor, but like many of the riders, is anxious that she hasn’t had enough time to prepare properly.

BETTING NEWS

Paul Nicholls sparked his Festival campaign into life with the bloodless victory of Sanctuaire in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle yesterday. If money talks, Nicholls could find his visits to the winner’s enclosure are far more frequent on Ladies Day.

The favourites have struggled so far, but there’s no sign that the support for Big Buck’s in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle (3.20pm) is waning. The race sponsors have declared his market position as “rock-solid” at 4/6. There is some interest on which horse will start as second favourite, with Ladbrokes reporting some support for the J P McManus-owned Karabak.

In the Ryanair Chase (2:40pm) it’s another Nicholls-trained horse that’s all the rage. Poquelin and Tranquil Sea were expected to vie for favouritsm, but with Nicholls talking up the horse, all the money has come for Poquelin, who now looks sure to start favourite. With Ladbrokes and William Hill, the horse has shortened from 7/2 to 3/1; with Paddy Power, the move is from 4/1 to 3/1. There has been some interesting support for Deep Purple at longer odds, notably from 25/1 to 18/1 with totesport.

The Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase (1:30pm) opens proceedings today, and yet again it’s the Nicholls stable which looks likely to provide the favourite. Rivaliste has been supported with Paddy Power, 7/1 to 6/1 and Skybet, 13/2 to 6/1. China Rock has also been backed with Ladbrokes, from 10/1 to 8/1.

The fourth favourite that seems primed to come from the Nicholls yard is Alfie Sherrin in the Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (2:05pm). Though unlikely to threaten him at the head of the market, there has nevertheless been sustained support for Smoking Aces with Skybet 10/1 to 9/1; Paddy Power 11/1 to 10/1; and William Hill and Coral 12/1 to 10/1.

The Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase (4:00pm) is designed to test the wit and imagination of any punter. I’m So Lucky, 12/1 to 10/1, with both Paddy Power and totesport is possibly the best backed horse in the race. Another attracting support in this race is the Philip Hobbs-trained From Dawn To Dusk - 33/1 to 16/1 with Stan James.

Hello Bud is the one punters want in the concluding Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase (4.40pm). The 12-year-old, will be ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies for his father Nigel and is 25/1 to 20/1 with Paddy Power, 25/1 to 18/1 with totesport, 28/1 to 14/1 with Stan James and 28/1 to 18/1 with Sky Bet. In the same race Paddy Power also report money for Galant Nuit -10/1 to 8/1.

INITIAL GOING REPORT

The going for day three of The Festival 2010, Thursday, March 18, has changed to:

New Course - Chase and Hurdle: Good to Soft, Good in places

GoingStick reading of 7.1 taken at 8.00am today.

Racing takes place on the New Course today and tomorrow, which was watered down the hill and in the home straight last night.

The forecast is for conditions to stay dry until mid afternoon and then a little light rain.

FIRST RACE RESULT

1.30pm JEWSON NOVICES' HANDICAP CHASE (LISTED)
£80,000 guaranteed, 2m 5f New Course. For 5yo+ Weights highest weight 11st 10lb Minimum weight 10-4 Penalties after February 28th, a winner of a chase 5lb (no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 10lb) Take The Breeze's Handicap Mark 148 Entries 90 pay £100 Confirmed 62 pay £300 Penalty value: 1st £45,608; 2nd £17,112; 3rd £8,568; 4th £4,272; 5th £2,144; 6th £1,072.

1 COPPER BLEU (IRE) (Alan Peterson) Philip Hobbs 8-11-1t Richard Johnson 12/1
2 OTHERMIX (FR) (Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd) Tom George 6-11-0b1 Paddy Brennan 50/1
3 THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE) (C C R Racing Syndicate) Willie Mullins IRE 9-11-1 Paul Townend 16/1
4 CHINA ROCK (IRE) (Michael O’Flynn) Mouse Morris IRE 7-11-3 Niall Madden 9/1
5 SEVEN IS MY NUMBER (IRE) (David Johnson) David Pipe 8-11-6 Danny Cook (3)
6 FIENDISH FLAME (IRE) (Mr & Mrs R Hall) Donald McCain Jnr 6-11-4 Jason Maguire
7 RIVALISTE (FR) (Jim Lewis) Paul Nicholls 5-10-13 Ruby Walsh 6/1F
8 TAKE THE BREEZE (FR) (Mr & Mrs G Calder) Paul Nicholls 7-11-7 Harry Skelton (3)
9 KING'S FOREST (IRE) (Richard Lavelle) Emma Lavelle 6-10-11 Jack Doyle
10 DAVE'S DREAM (IRE) (David Murdoch & Jenny Murdoch) Nicky Henderson 7-11-0 Barry Geraghty
11 GANSEY (IRE) (Trevor Hemmings) Sue Smith 8-10-13 Richard McGrath
12 WORKING TITLE (IRE) (Auld Hayes & Murphy) Nicky Henderson 8-10-13 Andrew Tinkler
F1st JERED (IRE) (J P McManus) Noel Meade IRE 8-11-4 Tony McCoy
F 5th LENABANE (IRE) (K McNulty) Dessie Hughes IRE 8-11-6 Paddy Flood
F DOOR BOY (IRE) (Andrea & Graham Wylie) Howard Johnson 7-11-1 Denis O'Regan
P NICANOR (FR) (P R Syndicate) Noel Meade IRE 9-11-2 Paul Carberry
P THE HOLLINWELL (Mr & Mrs Neil Iveson) Ferdy Murphy 7-11-0 Graham Lee
P TANKS FOR THAT (IRE) (Christopher Hanbury) Nicky Henderson 7-10-11 Andrew Tinkler
P AWESOME GEORGE (Gwen Meacham) Alan King 6-10-13 Charlie Huxley (3)
U HEY BIG SPENDER (IRE) (Brocade Racing) Colin Tizzard 7-11-8 Joe Tizzard

20 ran
Distances: 3 1/2, 1/2, 3 3/4, 8, 1/2, 2 1/4, 1 1/2, 6, 22, 6, 1/2
Breeder: Donal Coffey Breeding: b g Pistolet Bleu (IRE) - Copper Supreme (IRE)
Totes: Win: £12.00 Places: £2.60, £11.20, £5.10, £3.00 Exacta: £687.80

Winning Trainer: PHILIP HOBBS Based: Sandhill, Bilbrook, Minehead, Somerset Date of Birth: 26/7/55 Background: Philip was brought up surrounded by horses. His father Tony Hobbs farmed, and had a permit to train for many years, breeding several good horses to run in the family colours. After school at Kings College, Taunton, Philip went on to Reading University and achieved a BSc honours degree. He rode at Hickstead, show jumping as a junior, and rode several point-to-point winners and winners under National Hunt rules as an amateur before turning professional at the age of 21. Rode 160 winners in a ten year career including The Black and White Gold Cup at Ascot, The Killiney Novice Chase and The Midlands Grand National on such good horses as West Tip and Artifice. Date of first Trainer’s Licence: August 1, 1985 Cheltenham Festival Wins (13): Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase (2010 Copper Bleu), Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2010 Menorah), Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (1990 Moody Man, 2002 Rooster Booster), Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap (1996 Kibreet), Coral Cup H’cap Hurdle (2000 What’s Up Boys, 2004 Monkerhostin), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2002 Flagship Uberalles), Smurfit Champion Hurdle (2003 Rooster Booster), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2003 One Knight), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2004 Made In Japan, 2006 Detroit City), Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (2007 Massini’s Maguire) Number of Winners (1990/91-2008/09): 33; 51; 37; 64; 86; 77; 64; 71; 84; 120; 82; 119; 134; 121; 121; 112; 111; 108; 103; Winners this Season: 66

Winning Jockey: Richard Johnson Date of birth: 21/07/77, Madley, Hereford Background: Richard Johnson attended Belmont Abby school, the alma mater of Peter Scudamore, before leaving at 16 to take a job with then champion trainer David Nicholson. He was born and raised at Madley, Herefordshire,. where his parents have a farm. Johnson comes from racing stock as his mother Sue holds a licence to train, while his father Keith, who won the 1982 Midlands Grand National on Bridge Ash, and his grandfather Ivor were both good amateur riders. Johnson is unlucky to be riding in the same era as Tony McCoy as he has finished runner-up to his rival in the jockeys' championship on nine occasions. In 2007 he married Fiona Chance, daughter of the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Noel Chance. First winner 30 April 1994, Rusty Bridge, Exeter Cheltenham Festival wins: (15) Jewson Novices Handicap Chase (2010 Copper Bleu), Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2010 Menorah), Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle (1999 Anzum), Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup H’cap Chase (2000 Dark Stranger, 2003 Young Spartacus), Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup (2000 Looks Like Trouble), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2002 Flagship Uberalles), County Hurdle (2002 Rooster Booster), Smurfit Champion Hurdle (2003 Rooster Booster), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2003 One Knight), Cathcart Chase (2003 La Landiere), Coral Cup (2004 Monkerhostin), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2004 Made in Japan, 2006 Detroit City), Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (2007 Massini’s Maguire) Leading Rider At the Festival: 2002 (2). Number of Wins (1993/94-2008/2009): 1; 12; 53; 102; 120; 133; 143; 161; 132; 147; 186; 135; 167; 154; 122; 132; Wins This Season: 141



SECOND RACE RESULT

2.05pm PERTEMPS FINAL (HANDICAP HURDLE) (LISTED)
£75,000 guaranteed, 3m, New Course. For 5yo+ which have either Started, as defined in the Rules of Racing, in a Pertemps Hurdle Race (Qualifier) since the start of the current season, or any horses which were eliminated from a Qualifier, having been declared to run under the provisions of Rule (F)89 and Rule (F)90 at the declaration stage in such a race (In the event of the abandonment of a qualifier, any horse which had been declared to run in that race under Rule (F)89, or any horse entered to run if the time of abandonment was prior to the declaration stage, will be qualified to enter the Final) Minimum weight 10-0 Penalties after February 28th, a winner of a hurdle 5lb (no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb) Mr Thriller's Handicap Mark 155 Entries 85 pay £90 Confirmed 66 pay £270 Penalty value: 1st £42,757.50, 2nd £16,042.50, 3rd £8,032.50, 4th £4,005, 5th £2,010, 6th £1,005.

1 BUENA VISTA (IRE) (Matt Archer & The Late Jean Broadhurst) David Pipe 9-10-1b Hadden Frost (3) 16/1
2 PRINCE ERIK (Dr Ronan Lambe) Dermot Weld IRE 6-10-8 Robbie Power 16/1
3 CHAMIREY (FR) (Sir Robert Ogden) Alan King 7-10-4b1 Wayne Hutchinson 28/1
4 CROSS KENNON (IRE) (P & Mrs G Clarke) Jennie Candlish 6-10-3 Allan O'Keeffe 16/1
5 KAYF ARAMIS (Isobel Phipps Coltman) Nigel Twiston-Davies 8-11-6 Paddy Brennan 22/1
6 SMOKING ACES (IRE) (J P McManus) Tom Taaffe IRE 6-10-6p Paddy Flood
7 MONTANA SLIM (IRE) (Tracey O’Hare) Michael O'Hare IRE 8-10-9 Andrew Lynch
8 AINAMA (IRE) (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 6-10-10 Tony McCoy
9 BOULAVOGUE (IRE) (N O’Flaherty) Charlie Swan IRE 7-10-5 David Casey
10 SOUTH O'THE BORDER (Bryan Mathieson & David Sutherland) Nigel Twiston-Davies 8-10-6 Aidan Coleman
11 MAUCAILLOU (GER) (G Murtagh) Paul Nolan IRE 7-10-0 Alain Cawley (3)
12 ALFIE SHERRIN (Paul Barber & Margaret Findlay) Paul Nicholls 7-11-1 Ruby Walsh
13 BALLYFITZ (F Mills & W Mills) Nigel Twiston-Davies 10-11-1 Mr Sam Twiston-Davies (7)
14 PALYPSO DE CREEK (FR) (Alan Halsall) Charlie Longsdon 7-10-5 Tom Siddall
15 MR THRILLER (FR) (Joe Moran) David Pipe 5-11-12 Tom Scudamore
16 TRENCHANT (Peter Harding & Stephen Williams) Alan King 5-11-6b Robert Thornton
17 COLLEGE DAISY (IRE) (John Rogers) Dessie Hughes IRE 7-9-13 Ian McCarthy (5)
18 SPECIAL OCCASION (Peter Hart & Bill Bolsover) Paul Nicholls 6-10-2 Nick Scholfield
19 ROCCO'S HALL (IRE) (A Germano Terrinoni, D Cox, M Roberts) Edward O'Grady IRE 8-10-3 Niall Madden
P FREDO (IRE) (Jacky Allen) Ian Williams 6-10-5 Jason Maguire
P DON'T PUSH IT (IRE) (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill 10-10-11 Mr Alan Berry (3)
P TIME ELECTRIC (IRE) (Frances Duffin/Sean Corby) Tom Mullins IRE 8-10-9 Davy Russell
P SILK AFFAIR (IRE) (Liam Mulryan & Michael Fahy) Mick Quinlan 5-10-2 Tom O'Brien
P ERZEN (IRE) (J Duffy) Nicky Henderson 5-10-6 Barry Geraghty

24 ran
Distances: 5, hd, 1 1/2, 1 1/2, 1 1/2, 5, 3/4, 2 1/4, 1 3/4, 1/2, 1/2, 2, nse, 2 1/2, 1 1/4, 30, 1/2, 19
Breeder: Lodge Park Stud
Breeding: b g In The Wings - Park Special
Totes: Win: £19.10 Places: £3.50, £3.50, £9.30, £3.60 Exacta: £408.80

Winning Jockey: Hadden Frost Date Of Birth: July 19, 1990 Background: Son of Grand National and Champion Hurdle winning jockey turned trainer Jimmy Frost. Rode 49 winners on the Flat when apprenticed to Richard Hannon. Cheltenham Festival Wins(1): Pertemps Hurdle (2010 Buena Vista) Wins in a season (2007/08-2008/09): 1; 5 Wins this season: 9

Winning Trainer: DAVID PIPE Born: February 7, 1973 Based: Pond House, Nicholashayne, Wellington, Somerset Background: David Pipe is the son of 15-times champion jump trainer Martin Pipe. He started out riding in point-to-points in 1992, going on to record 22 wins over the next five seasons, plus two under Rules, which included victory aboard Bonanza Boy in the Ludlow Gold Cup. After finishing as a rider, he had spells with Michael Dickinson in the US, Criquette Head-Maarek in France and Joey Ramsden in South Africa, before setting up as a point-to-point trainer, handling the likes of Horus, Lord Atterbury and Celestial Gold, who went on to have successful careers under Rules when transferred to his father’s yard. Based at Purchas Farm, a mile away from his father’s Pond House, he sent out 164 point-to-point winners over six seasons, with Well Armed successful 15 times. He took over the reins at Pond House in Somerset following the retirement of his father on the last day of the 2005/06 jump season - Saturday, April 29. First Trainer’s Licence: May 2006 First winner under rules: Standin Obligation in the ‘Persimmon Homes Novices’ Chase’ at Kelso, May 9, 2006 - his first runner under rules Cheltenham Festival Wins (4): Pertemps Final (2010 Buena Vista), Ryanair Chase (2008 Our Vic), William Hill Trophy (2008 An Accordion), Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurde (2007 Gaspara) Aintree Festival Wins: John Smith’s Grand National (2008 Comply Or Die), totesport Bowl (2008 Our Vic, 2009 Madison Du Berlais Wins (2006/07-2008/09): 134; 100; 76; Wins This Season: 84



THIRD RACE RESULT

2.40pm RYANAIR CHASE (REGISTERED AS THE FESTIVAL TROPHY CHASE) (GRADE ONE)
£250,000 guaranteed, 2m 5f, New Course. For 5yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 11th; horses which are not qualified a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered - such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including March 11th would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final) Weights 11st 10lb Allowances mares 7lb Entries 43 pay £250 Confirmed 18 pay £250 Penalty value: 1st £142,525, 2nd £53,475, 3rd £26,775, 4th £13,350, 5th £6,700, 6th £3,350.

1 ALBERTAS RUN (IRE) (Trevor Hemmings) Jonjo O'Neill 9-11-10 Tony McCoy 14/1
2 POQUELIN (FR) (The Stewart Family) Paul Nicholls 7-11-10 Ruby Walsh 11/4F
3 J'Y VOLE (FR) (Hammer & Trowel Syndicate) Willie Mullins IRE 7-11-3 Davy Condon 28/1
4 DEEP PURPLE (Paul Green) Evan Williams 9-11-10 Paul Moloney
5 VOY POR USTEDES (FR) (Sir Robert Ogden) Alan King 9-11-10b1 Robert Thornton
6 SCOTSIRISH (IRE) (Double R Stables Syndicate) Willie Mullins IRE 9-11-10 Paul Townend
7 BARBERS SHOP (The Queen) Nicky Henderson 8-11-10p Barry Geraghty
8 JACK THE GIANT (IRE) (Hanbury Syndicate) Nicky Henderson 8-11-10 Andrew Tinkler
9 TRANQUIL SEA (IRE) (Nelius Hayes/D Cox) Edward O'Grady IRE 8-11-10 Andrew McNamara
10 PETIT ROBIN (FR) (Mr & Mrs John Poynton) Nicky Henderson 7-11-10 Paul Carberry
11 PLANET OF SOUND (Charles Lloyd-Baker) Philip Hobbs 8-11-10 Richard Johnson
P BARKER (IRE) (E Duignan) Willie Mullins IRE 9-11-10 David Casey
U SCHINDLERS HUNT (IRE) (Slaneyville Syndicate) Dessie Hughes IRE 10-11-10 Paddy Flood

13 ran
Distances: 4 1/2, nse, 5, 6, 5, 4, 5, 2, 3 1/2, 9
Breeder: Oliver & Salome Brennan Breeding: b g Accordion - Holly Grove Lass
Totes: Win: £16.50 Places: £3.70, £1.90, £7.80 Exacta: £54.40

Winning Jockey: Anthony Peter McCoy MBE Date of Birth: 04/05/74 Background: McCoy started out with Billy Rock then tried his luck as a Flat jockey with Jim Bolger. Since growing too heavy and turning to jump racing he has not looked back. He was champion conditional rider in Britain in 1994/5 when attached to Toby Balding's Hampshire yard and took his first senior title in 1995/96 season with 174 wins. His domination has brought 14 consecutive jump jockey's titles. McCoy broke Peter Scudamore's record of 221 wins in the 1997/8 season with 253 successes and broke his own record for the fastest 200 winners in the 1999/2000 season, ending up with 245 successes. In 2001/02 he beat by 20 the record of 269 winners in any season set by Sir Gordon Richards. He has passed the double century mark five times. He had a fairytale 1998 Cheltenham Festival, riding a record five winners, and also rode a rare double the previous year on Make A Stand in the Champion Hurdle (for his boss Martin Pipe) and Mr Mulligan in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. McCoy added a second Champion Hurdle when successful on Brave Inca in 2006. In April, 2004, he left Martin Pipe's stable after accepting a reportedly huge offer from J P McManus and rides for McManus's principal trainer in Britain, Jonjo O'Neill. McCoy, O'Neill and McManus teamed up to capture the Irish Grand National with Butler's Cabin in April 2007. McCoy cracked a vertebra in a terrible fall Warwick in January, 2008, but was back in winning action with Alberta’s Run at the Cheltenham Festival in March. His wife Chanelle gave birth to their daughter Eve in late 2007. Tony was awarded an MBE in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours. 1000th Win Over Jumps In Britain: Majadou, Cheltenham, December 11, 1999 2000th Win Over Jumps In Britain: Corporate Player, Wincanton, January 17, 2004 3000th Win Over Jumps In Britain: Restless D’Artaix, Plumpton, February 9, 2009 First Winner: Thurles, 26/03/92, Legal Steps (First winner in Britain: 07/09/94, Exeter, Chickabiddy) Cheltenham Festival Wins: (23) Ryanair Chase (2010 Albertas Run), William Hill Trophy (2009 Wichita Lineman), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2008 Alberta’s Run), Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (1996 Kibreet, 1998 Edredon Bleu), Irish Independent Arkle Chase (1997 Or Royal, 1998 Champleve, 2004 Well Chief), Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (1997 Make A Stand, 2006 Brave Inca, 2010 Binocular), Totesport Gold Cup (1997 Mr Mulligan), Cathcart Chase (1998 Cyfor Malta, 2002 Royal Auclair), Pertemps Final (1998 Unsinkable Boxer), Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle (1998 Blowing Wind), Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1999 Hors La Loi III), Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup Hcap Chase (1999 Majadou), Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (2000 Edredon Bleu), Weatherbys Champion Bumper (2003 Liberman), Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase (2006 Reveillez), Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Black Jack Ketchum, 2007 Wichita Lineman) Leading Rider at The Festival: 1997 (3), 1998 (5). Wins 1994/5-2008/09: 74; 175; 189; 253; 186; 245; 191; 289; 257; 209; 199; 178; 184; 140; 186; Wins this season: 184

Winning Trainer: JONJO O’NEILL Born: April 13, 1952 Based: Jackdaws Castle, Gloucestershire Background: Jonjo O’Neill was a highly successful jump jockey and has established himself at the top of the training ranks in recent seasons. In spite of an appalling list of injuries, he was champion jockey on two occasions (1977/78 and 1979/80), and he set a then record for a season of 149 winners in his first championship year. The most sensational moment of his riding career came when he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Dawn Run in 1986 as the mare became the only horse to win that trophy after having previously taken the Champion Hurdle (1984), also with O’Neill in the saddle. He also won the Gold Cup on Alverton in 1979, though he had a dreadful record in the Grand National, in which he never completed the course in spite of having had a number of fancied rides. He retired from the saddle at the end of the 1985/86 season and, having survived lymphatic cancer not long after that, started training near Penrith, Cumbria, in 1987. He forged a reputation with horses such as Vicario Di Bray, winner of the 1989 Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock, and Legal Right, who landed the Grade Three Tripleprint (now Boylesports) Gold Cup at Cheltenham in 1999 and went on to capture the BGC Silver Cup at Ascot as well as the Grade Two Tommy Whittle Chase. He moved to his present base at Jackdaws Castle in Gloucestershire, not far from Cheltenham, when the yard was bought by owner J P McManus in 2001. Cheltenham Festival Wins (17): Ryanair Chase (2010 Albertas Run), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2008 Alberta’s Run), Pertemps Final (1991 Danny Connors, 2003 Inching Closer, 2004 Creon); National Hunt Chase (1995 Front Line, 2002 Rith Dubh, 2003 Sudden Shock, 2004 Native Emperor, 2007 Butler’s Cabin); Vincent O’Brien County H’cap Hurdle (2000 Master Tern), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2003 Spectroscope), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (2004 Iris’s Gift), Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Black Jack Ketchum, 2007 Wichita Lineman), Christie’s Foxhunter Chase (2007 Drombeag), William Hill Trophy (2009 Wichita Lineman) Number of Winners (1995/96-2008/09): 18; 17; 32; 38; 44; 58; 113; 114; 102; 96; 105; 126; 106; 97; Wins this Season: 96




FOURTH RACE RESULT

3.20pm LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE (GRADE ONE)
£260,000 guaranteed, 3m, New Course. For 4yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 11th; horses which are not qualified a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered - such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including March 11th would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final) Weights 4yo.11st 1lb; 5yo+ 11st 10lb Allowances fillies and mares 7lb Entries 35 pay £310 Confirmed 15 pay £310 Penalty value 1st £148,226, 2nd £55,614., 3rd £27,846, 4th £13,884, 5th £6,968, 6th £3,484.

1 BIG BUCK'S (FR) (The Stewart Family) Paul Nicholls 7-11-10 Ruby Walsh 5/6F
2 TIME FOR RUPERT (IRE) (Littlecote Racing Partnership) Paul Webber 6-11-10 William Kennedy 16/1
3 POWERSTATION (IRE) (Fat Frog Syndicate) Eamon O'Connell IRE 10-11-10 Andrew McNamara 33/1
4 KARABAK (FR) (J P McManus) Alan King 7-11-10 Tony McCoy
5 EBADIYAN (IRE) (Rita Shah) Oliver Brady IRE 5-11-10 John Cullen
6 OSCAR DAN DAN (IRE) (Frances Duffin/D Hutton/Sean Corby) Tom Mullins IRE 8-11-10 Paul Carberry
7 TIDAL BAY (IRE) (Andrea & Graham Wylie) Howard Johnson 9-11-10 Denis O'Regan
8 COUSIN VINNY (IRE) (Festival Syndicate) Willie Mullins IRE 7-11-10 Paul Townend
9 LIE FORRIT (IRE) (J McNeill, C McNeill, L Gillies) Willie Amos 6-11-10 Campbell Gillies
10 FAIR ALONG (GER) (Alan Peterson) Philip Hobbs 8-11-10p Rhys Flint
11 KATCHIT (IRE) (D S J P Syndicate) Alan King 7-11-10 Robert Thornton
12 WAR OF ATTRITION (IRE) (Gigginstown House Stud) Mouse Morris 11-11-10 Davy Russell
13 CAPE TRIBULATION (David Abell) Malcolm Jefferson 6-11-10 Phil Kinsella
P SENTRY DUTY (FR) (Peter Spiller) Nicky Henderson 8-11-10 Barry Geraghty

14 ran
Distances: 3 1/4, 11, 1/2, 1/2, 2 1/2, 1/2, 3, 12, 4, 11, 4 1/2, 25
Breeder: Robert O’Callaghan Breeding: b or br g Cadoudal (FR) - Buck’s (FR)
Totes: Win: £1.90 Places: £1.10, £3.20, £6.10 Exacta: £14.70

Winning Trainer: PAUL NICHOLLS Date of birth: 17/05/62 Based: Heighes House, Manor Farm Stables, Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, Somerset Background: Paul Nicholls, the son of a policeman, was born in Olveston, Bristol, on April 17, 1962, and has been training at Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat, Somerset, since taking out a licence on November 1, 1991. He started out as a jump jockey and twice rode the winner of the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Newbury, in 1986 and 1987. He partnered 130 winners between 1980 and 1989, and nominates the best horses he rode as Broadheath, Playschool and Seagram. Between 1989 and 1991, he was assistant trainer to former Devon-based David Barons, who sent out Seagram to win the 1991 Grand National at Aintree during that time. Having strongly challenged Martin Pipe for the jump trainers’ championship for several years, most notably when pushing his great rival right to the last day of the 2004/05 campaign, he claimed his first title in the 2005/06 season. Nicholls pulled off the amazing feat of saddling seven winners and three seconds from his 10 runners on Saturday, November 7, 1998, and made history when he became the first trainer to saddle six winners on the same card, at Wincanton, his local track, on Saturday, January 21, 2006. Cheltenham Festival Wins (27): Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2010 Sanctuaire), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (2009 & 2010 Big Buck’s), Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase (2009 Chapoturgeon), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2008 Celestial Halo), Irish Independent Arkle Novices’ Chase (1999 Flagship Uberalles, 2003 Azertyuiop), Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (1999 Call Equiname, 2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 & 2009 Master Minded), totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (1999 See More Business, 2007 & 2009 Kauto Star, 2008 Denman), Christie’s Foxhunter Chase (2004 Earthmover, 2005 Sleeping Night), Johnny Henderson Grand Annual (2004 St Pirran, 2007 Andreas), Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle (2004 Sporazene, 2006 Desert Quest, 2009 American Trilogy), Ryanair Chase (2005 Thisthatandtother, 2007 Taranis), Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Noland), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2006 Star De Mohaison, 2007 Denman) First Trainer to Saddle Six Winners on One Card: Saturday, January 21, 2006, at Wincanton Number of Winners (1992/03-2008/09): 20; 29; 28; 53; 56; 82; 110; 71; 83; 136; 152; 127; 152; 148*; 124*; 151* (first trainer to win more than £4 million in prize money in a season);155*; *Champion Trainer Wins this Season: 103

Winning Jockey: Ruby Walsh Born: May 14, 1979 Background: Ruby (short for Rupert) is associated with the powerful stables of Paul Nicholls in Britain and Willie Mullins in Ireland. He is the son of 11-times Irish amateur champion jockey, Ted Walsh, now a trainer. Ruby is the second of Walsh's four children and his younger sister Katie is a successful amateur. He followed in his father's footsteps when capturing the Irish amateur riders’ championship (1996-97) at the age of 19 while still studying for his Leaving Certificate. He was crowned champion Irish National Hunt jockey in his first season as a professional (1998/99) and has taken the title a further five times (2000/2001, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/7 and 2007/08). Walsh has won the John Smith's Grand National twice. His first success came in 2000 on his first ride in the race aboard Papillon, trained by his father, less than a month after returning from a fractured leg sustained in a fall in October, 1999, in the Czech Republic. The Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter provided him with a second success in 2005. He followed Papillon's Aintree triumph with an Irish Grand National victory aboard his father's Commanche Court but surpassed that achievement in the 2004/2005 season when his John Smith's Grand National success aboard Hedgehunter was augmented by wins in the Welsh National (Silver Birch) and Irish Grand National (Numbersixvalverde). He narrowly missed out in that season's Scottish Grand National when his mount, Cornish Rebel, finished a short-head second to Joes Edge. In the 2008/09 season he was leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival for a fourth time. First Winner: Siren Song, Gowran Park, July 25, 1995 Cheltenham Festival Wins (27): Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2010 Sanctuaire), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (2009 & 2010 Big Buck’s), David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle (2009 & 2010 Quevega), Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (2008 Fiveforthree, 2009 Mikael D’Haguenet), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2008 Celestial Halo), Weatherbys Champion Bumper (1998 Alexander Banquet, 2005 Missed That), Mildmay Of Flete (2002 Blowing Wind), Irish Independent Arkle (2003 Azertyuiop), Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 & 2009 Master Minded), Grand Annual (2004 St Pirran), County Hurdle (2004 Sporazene, 2006 Desert Quest), Ryanair Chase (2005 Thisthatandtother, 2007 Taranis) Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Noland), William Hill Trophy (2006 Dun Doire), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2007 Denman, 2009 Cooldoine), totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (2007 Kauto Star) 1,000th Winner in Ireland: Rare Article, Smirnoff (Mares) Maiden Hurdle, Thurles, May 4, 2008 (became only the second jockey to complete the feat after Charlie Swann) Number of Wins in Britain (1998/99-2008/09): 1; 1; 5; 13; 77; 62; 81; 69; 73; 69; 69 Wins in Britain This Season: 64



FIFTH RACE RESULT

4.00pm BYRNE GROUP PLATE (HANDICAP CHASE) (GRADE THREE)
£80,000 guaranteed For 5yo+ Minimum weight 10-0 Penalties after February 28th, a winner of a chase 5lb (no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb) Our Vic's Handicap Mark 157 Entries 81 pay £100 Confirmed 54 pay £300 Penalty value 1st £45,608, 2nd £17,112, 3rd £8,568, 4th £4,272, 5th £2,144, 6th £1,072.

1 GREAT ENDEAVOUR (IRE) (David Johnson) David Pipe 6-10-1 Danny Cook (3) 18/1
2 SUNNYHILLBOY (IRE) (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill 7-10-0 Richie McLernon (3) 6/1F
3 FROM DAWN TO DUSK (Charles Lloyd-Baker) Philip Hobbs 11-10-3 Richard Johnson 20/1
4 MISTER MCGOLDRICK (Richard Longley) Sue Smith 13-10-11 Jason Maguire 33/1
5 GWANAKO (FR) (The Stewart Family) Paul Nicholls 7-11-8 Ruby Walsh 20/1
6 IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) (Mrs B Mulryan/Mrs Noeleen McCreevy) Dessie Hughes IRE 10-11-4 David Casey
7 CHAPOTURGEON (FR) (David Johnson) Paul Nicholls 6-11-7 Timmy Murphy
8 I'M SO LUCKY (Sheila Brookhouse) David Pipe 8-10-4 Denis O'Regan
9 THE SAWYER (BEL) (D Fear) Bob Buckler 10-10-10 Nathan Sweeney (7)
10 WATCH MY BACK (Tony Ambler) Ferdy Murphy 9-10-11 Graham Lee
11 JAYO (FR) (Peter Garvey) Willie Mullins IRE 7-10-11 Paul Townend
12 PRIVATE BE (David & Daphne Walsh) Philip Hobbs 11-10-6 Tom O'Brien
13 MY PETRA (Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes) Nicky Henderson 7-10-12 Barry Geraghty
14 OUR VIC (IRE) (David Johnson) David Pipe 12-11-12b Tom Scudamore
15 AIGLE D'OR (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 7-10-1 ow1lb Paul Carberry
16 KNIGHT LEGEND (IRE) (Martin St Quinton) Philip Hobbs 11-10-5 Rhys Flint (3)
F 2 out SONG OF SONGS (J P McManus) James Fanshawe 8-10-7 Tony McCoy
P ATOUCHBETWEENACARA (IRE) (Paul Beck) Venetia Williams 9-10-10 Aidan Coleman
P TAROTINO (FR) (John Webb) Alan King 8-10-11 Robert Thornton
P MADE IN TAIPAN (IRE) (Franes Duffin/Sean Corby) Tom Mullins IRE 8-11-4 Davy Russell
P VICTORIAS GROOM (GER) (P Betts) Lucy Wadham 8-10-1 Dougie Costello
P CHANGING COURSE (IRE) (Ann & Alan Potts Partnership) Henry De Bromhead 8-10-1 Andrew Lynch
P MOUNT OSCAR (IRE) (Jean Bishop) Colin Tizzard 11-10-8 Joe Tizzard
P MARTYS MISSION (IRE) (The Stewart Family) Richard Rowe 8-10-4 Liam Treadwell

24 ran
Distances: 1 1/4, 3/4, 3 1/2, 8, 3 1/2, 6, 3, 1/2, 12, 7, 2, 2 1/4, 22, 2, 2 1/4
Breeder: Kevin Roche
Breeding: gr g Great Palm (USA) - Strong Irish (IRE)
Totes: Win: £31.30 Places: £8.00, £2.40, £3.90, £7.70 Exacta: £218.00

Winning Trainer: DAVID PIPE Born: February 7, 1973 Based: Pond House, Nicholashayne, Wellington, Somerset Background: David Pipe is the son of 15-times champion jump trainer Martin Pipe. He started out riding in point-to-points in 1992, going on to record 22 wins over the next five seasons, plus two under Rules, which included victory aboard Bonanza Boy in the Ludlow Gold Cup. After finishing as a rider, he had spells with Michael Dickinson in the US, Criquette Head-Maarek in France and Joey Ramsden in South Africa, before setting up as a point-to-point trainer, handling the likes of Horus, Lord Atterbury and Celestial Gold, who went on to have successful careers under Rules when transferred to his father’s yard. Based at Purchas Farm, a mile away from his father’s Pond House, he sent out 164 point-to-point winners over six seasons, with Well Armed successful 15 times. He took over the reins at Pond House in Somerset following the retirement of his father on the last day of the 2005/06 jump season - Saturday, April 29. First Trainer’s Licence: May 2006 First winner under rules: Standin Obligation in the ‘Persimmon Homes Novices’ Chase’ at Kelso, May 9, 2006 - his first runner under rules Cheltenham Festival Wins (5): Byrne Group Plate (2010 Great Endeavour), Pertemps Final (2010 Buena Vista), Ryanair Chase (2008 Our Vic), William Hill Trophy (2008 An Accordion), Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurde (2007 Gaspara) Aintree Festival Wins: John Smith’s Grand National (2008 Comply Or Die), totesport Bowl (2008 Our Vic, 2009 Madison Du Berlais Wins (2006/07-2008/09): 134; 100; 76; Wins This Season: 85

Winning Jockey: Danny Cook Born: Romford, 1983 Background: formerly with Barry Leavy, whom he joined in May, 2004. Also worked for Jim Old. Became an amateur for David Pipe in 2007 and took out a conditional licence for the 2008/09 season. Cheltenham Festival Wins (1): Byrne Group Plate (2010 Great Endeavour) First Winner: Debbie (Bet365 Call 0800 322365 Novices’ Hurdle, Hereford, October 17, 2004) Number of Wins (2001/2002-2006/07): 0; 0; 0; 3; 0; 4; 22 Wins This Season: 20



SIXTH RACE RESULT

4.40pm FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP HANDICAP CHASE (AMATEUR RIDERS)
£55,000 guaranteed, 3m 1f, 110y, New Course. For 5yo+ Rated 0-140 Minimum weight 10-0 Penalties after February 28th, a winner of a chase 5lb (no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb) Ballabriggs's Handicap Mark 140 Entries 97 pay £65 Confirmed 64 pay £195 Penalty value: 1st £33,011, 2nd £10,312.50, 3rd £5,153.50, 4th £2,579.50, 5th £1,287, 6th £649.

1 BALLABRIGGS (IRE) (Trevor Hemmings) Donald McCain Jnr 9-11-12 Mr Richard Harding 9/1
2 FAASEL (IRE) (Hush Hush Partnership) David Pipe 9-11-7b Mr Josh Guerriero 20/1
3 GALANT NUIT (FR) (David Parry) Ferdy Murphy 6-11-5 Miss Nina Carberry 11/2F
4 MA YAHAB (M Pilkington) Venetia Williams 9-10-12 Mr Harry Challoner (3) 14/1
5 KHACHATURIAN (IRE) (Brendan Richardson & John Glews) Donald McCain Jnr 7-11-7 Mr Colin Motherway
6 LYSANDER (GER) (The Piranha Partnership) Ian Williams 11-10-9 Mr David Stratton (7)
7 HELLO BUD (IRE) (Seamus Murphy) Nigel Twiston-Davies 12-11-6 Mr Sam Twiston-Davies (3)
8 SAPHIR DES BOIS (FR) (F Lloyd) Jonjo O'Neill 6-11-0 Miss Jenny Carr (7)
9 BOYCHUK (IRE) (Diana Whateley) Philip Hobbs 9-11-6b Mr Derek O'Connor
10 OODACHEE (Modreeny Syndicate) Charlie Swan IRE 11-11-5 Mr John O'Meara
F 2nd last ISN'T THAT LUCKY (Valda Burke) Jonjo O'Neill 7-11-2 Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
F FINGER ONTHE PULSE (IRE) (J P McManus) Tom Taaffe IRE 9-11-9 Mr Andrew Duff
F PARSONS LEGACY (IRE) (Rodney Offer) Philip Hobbs 12-11-4 Mr Shaun Parish (7)
F HEATHCLIFF (IRE) (George Brookes & Family & Lord Daresbury) Richard Lee 8-11-4v1 Mr Tom Greenall
P ZITENKA (IRE) (Jennifer Pallister) Tim Easterby 8-11-4 Mr Oliver Greenall
P MR ROBERT (IRE) (P Cunningham) Evan Williams 9-11-3 Mr Nick Williams
P KIA KAHA (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill 8-11-2 Mr Alan Berry
P FREDS BENEFIT (IRE) (M Osbourne & D Power) David Pipe 9-11-2 Mr Paul Roche
P SHILLINGSTONE (Robert Alner) Robert & Sally Alner 8-11-1 Mr Mark Walford (5)
P BUCK THE LEGEND (IRE) (Alan Parker, C Fell, A Harris) Nigel Twiston-Davies 8-10-9 Mr Sam Drinkwater (7)
P I'MONCLOUDNINE (IRE) (F Matthews) Niall Mulholland 7-11-2 Mr Jamie Codd
P NOSTRINGSATTACHED (IRE) (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill 9-11-8 Mr J T McNamara
P FALTERING FULLBACK (Cck Syndicate) Eric McNamara IRE 7-11-9 Mr Robbie McNamara
P BURREN LEGEND (IRE) (Thomas Thompson) Richard Rowe 9-10-10 Mr Joshua Moore (3)

24 ran
Distances: 1/2, 3/4, 3, 6, 12, 6, 5, 6,8
Breeding: b g Presenting - Papoose (IRE)
Breeder: Mrs S Jackson
Totes: Win: £9.30 Places: £3.50, £5.50, £2.10, £3.70 Exacta: £216.60

Winning Trainer: DONALD MCCAIN JNR Born: March 13, 1970 Based: Bankhouse, Cholmondley, Cheshire Background: Donald McCain Jnr is the son of Ginger McCain, trainer of the legendary Red Rum, the only horse to win the John Smith’s Grand National three times (1973, 1974 and 1977) and also Amberleigh House, the 2004 victor. Donald learnt to ride on his sister Joanne’s pony Gambol and rode in his first race on the Flat aged 15 (his father told a few white lies so he could ride) at Haydock Park. He subsequently became a jump jockey, firstly as an amateur and then a professional, riding around 40 winners under Rules. He rode several times over the Grand National fences, finishing fifth aboard Harley in the 1992 Fox Hunters’ Chase and 17th on Sure Metal in the 1996 Grand National. He also spent time working in the stables of Luca Cumani, Sir Michael Stoute and Oliver Sherwood. Donald subsequently became assistant trainer to his father at Bankhouse Stables at Cholmondeley in Cheshire and played a significant role in Amberleigh House’s Grand National victory in 2004. He was expected to take over the licence from his father at the start of the 2006/7 jump season, but had to wait until June, 2006, before he was able to train in his own name as he needed to complete the appropriate British Horseracing Authority courses. Donald is assisted by Ginger McCain, while his wife Sian trains point-to-pointers Date of First Trainer’s Licence: June 2006 First Winner as a Licenced Trainer: Bearaway, Newton Abbot, June 8, 2006 Cheltenham Festival Wins (4): Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (2010 Peddlers Cross), David Nicholson Mares Hurdle (2008 Whiteoak), Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Handicap Chase (2007 Cloudy Lane, 2010 Ballabriggs) Big Race Wins: Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (2006 Ebony Light, 2009Cloudy Lane), Altcar Novices' Chase (2009 Will Be Done), Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle (2010 Peddlers Cross), Prestige Novices' Hurdle (2010 Wymott) Wins (2006/07-2008/09): 40; 58; 62; Wins This Season: 69

Winning Jockey: Mr Richard Harding Born: July 13, 1981 Background: Brother of jockey Brian Harding, who partnered One Man to success in the 1998 Queen Mother Champion Chase Cheltenham Festival Wins (3): Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup (2006 You’re Special, 2010 Ballabriggs), Letheby & Christopher National Hunt Chase (2006 Hot Weld) First Win: Winter Star, Musselburgh, 18/12/05 Wins in Britain (2005/06-2008/09): 3; 0; 0; 0 Wins in Britain this season: 1




CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL LADIES CHARITY SWEEPSTAKE
(IN AID OF CANCER RESEARCH UK)

1m 5f

1 PRINCE PICASSO Richard Fahey Orna Madden
2 DEVIL TO PLAY Alan King Kate Doyle
3 MISTER WALL STREET Ferdy Murphy Helen Needham
4 CONNECTIVITY Eric McNamara IRE Caitrin O’Rourke
5 LOU’S COOLE GIRL Edward O’Grady IRE Rachel Kane
6 GANDALF Amy Weaver Amy Weaver
7 KNOW THE LAW Nicky Henderson Camilla Henderson
8 WATERGATE Paul Nicholls Georgie Browne
9 AL AMAAN Paul Nicholls Elisabeth Murdoch
10 ISABELONABICYCLE Jonjo O’Neill Germaine Oliver
11 STOP THE SHOW Richard Phillips Annie Adams
12 INTERSKY EMERALD Elaine Curran Elaine Curran

Distances: sh, 4 ½, 3/4, 1 ½, 4, nk, 7, 24, 14, 19, dist

Tote: Wins: £21.70 Places: £3.80, £3.00, £3.20 Exacta: £221.60

Winning Rider: Orna Madden Background: A practising barrister in Dublin, Madden is a Board member of the Whitfield Cancer Centre in Waterford. She is an Advanced level eventer and has represented Ireland at the European Young Rider Championships

POLLENATOR AMONG SUPERB ENTRY OF 77 FOR INVESTEC OAKS AT EPSOM DOWNS

ROYAL ASCOT RACING CLUB AIMING FOR MORE INVESTEC DERBY GLORY WITH PROMPTER

“She is on course to make her seasonal return in the 1000 Guineas. We can’t say for sure until she does her first couple of pieces of serious work, but she looks stronger this year and she has physically done really well from two to three.

“She showed plenty of speed in her juvenile campaign but you would have to think that she will better going further. The improvement last season ultimately came from stepping up to a mile at Doncaster. She was stopped a couple times in that race but she overcame that to win, so I think that she would have won more comfortably with a clear run.

“The form of that race has worked out really well and it was just unfortunate that she wasn’t entered in the Fillies’ Mile but it closed before Doncaster. On the one hand, it was great to see Hibaayeb win, but it would have been great to have a winner in front of our members at Ascot.

“My gut feeling is that she could straight to the Investec Oaks after Newmarket. She won’t need a trial from a fitness perspective because she is very much like her sire - she’s a busy filly who likes to get on with it. It depends what happens in the Guineas, but we could possibly look at something like the Musidora to test her over an extended trip.”

With eight Investec Oaks wins to his name, no current trainer can hold a candle to Henry Cecil’s record in the mile and a half Classic. A quartet of entries from the master of Warren Place includes Newmarket Listed scorer Timepiece as well as Principal Role, Kithonia and Aviate, who have all made winning starts to their careers.

Aidan O’Brien is also no stranger to success in the Investec Oaks, having sent out Shatoush (1998), Imagine (2001) and Alexandrova (2006) to victory. Ireland’s champion trainer is responsible for 17 of the 32 Irish-trained entries, headed by You’ll Be Mine, who was third behind Hibaayeb in the Fillies’ Mile, and Group Two Debutante Stakes winner Lillie Langtry.

The Ballydoyle contingent also features Leopardstown Group Three scorer Cabaret, Debutante Stakes runner-up Devoted To You, Listed winner Lady Lupus and Famous, runner-up to the Kevin Prendergast-trained Termagant in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh in August.

Jim Bolger saddled Jet Ski Lady to win the Investec Oaks in 1991 and a quartet of entries from the Co Carlow handler include Curragh maiden winners Sagacious and Gile Na Greine, while Dermot Weld, successful with Blue Wind in 1981, has entered three horses headed by Listed runner-up Sense Of Purpose.

Last year’s Fillies’ Mile heroine Hibaayeb has been transferred to the Godolphin operation, having previously been trained by Clive Brittain, and the daughter of Singspiel may be joined in the Investec Oaks by new stable companions Long Lashes, a Group Three winner at Newmarket, and Wedding March, who took fourth in the Group One Prix Marcel Boussac for former handler Andre Fabre.

A total of five entries from Godolphin’s trainer Saeed bin Suroor, who sent out Moonshell (1995) and Kazzia (2002) to glory in the Investec Oaks, also includes Wolverhampton maiden scorer Hudoo and Siyaadah, successful in the Listed UAE 1,000 Guineas at Meydan in February.

Sir Michael Stoute, a dual Investec Oaks winner with Fair Salina (1978) and Unite (1987) has entered four fillies, including Hymnsheet, a debut scorer at Yarmouth, while John Dunlop, who has also twice been victorious in the fillies Classic with Circus Plume (1984) and Salsabil (1990) may be represented his year by Mudaaraah, who landed a Listed contest at Sandown in July.

Other notable entries include Namaskar and Dyna Waltz, from the stable of John Gosden, and impressive Nottingham maiden scorer Ceilidh House, who represents the same owner/trainer combination of Julian Richmond-Watson and Ralph Beckett, successful in the 2008 Investec Oaks with Look Here.

In addition to Pollenator, the Royal Ascot Racing Club could also be dreaming of Classic glory at Epsom Downs with Prompter, who holds an entry in the £1.25 million Investec Derby on Saturday, June 5.

The Michael Bell-trained colt, who is also by Motivator, became his sire’s first winner when comfortably taking a Chester maiden at the start of August prior to disappointing when coming home sixth in the Group Three Solario Stakes at Sandown later the same month.

He ended his season with a far better effort, going down by a head to fellow Investec Derby hopeful Morana in the Group Three Autumn Stakes at Ascot at the start of October.

Herbert continued: “Prompter has done very well but he is more wintry than some of the other colts at Michael’s yard and he is taking his time to come to hand in terms of his coat.

“He has plenty of time before his intended seasonal return in the Dee Stakes at Chester. He has won round the course so it seemed such an obvious race to target.

“He was a fine horse last year - you could see that he had every chance of developing over the winter - and he has certainly done that. Hayley gave him a very clever ride in the Autumn Stakes and it looked like she had stolen the race but Morana nabbed him.

“He will be better this year and Michael has always thought very highly of him. He was gutted when Prompter didn’t run well in the Solario Stakes but I think that the ground might have been to quick for him. He was immature then and Michael’s horses weren’t particularly firing at the time.

“Hayley Turner has been on board on all four of Prompter’s starts so far and I would think that she would be continue her association with the colt. She would have every chance of riding him at Epsom, although it’s obviously early days at the moment.

“We are really excited about him. He’s a lovely horse but we have to find out whether he is up to the standard of the Investec Derby.”


THE 2010 INVESTEC OAKS

Class 1, Group 1, £350,000 Total Prize Fund. Epsom Downs, Friday, June 4, 2010. For three-year-old fillies only. One mile & four furlongs. Weights: 9st each. Entries closed March 16, entries revealed March 18 (77 entries). Scratchings deadline noon, May 20, 2010. £20,000 supplementary entry stage and six-day confirmation stage May 29, final declaration stage 10.00am, June 2. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and include the racing up to and including Monday, March 15.

Form Horse Owner Trainer

43133- AKDARENA Kirsten Rausing Jim Bolger IRE

ALL FOR GLORY (USA) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor David Wachman IRE

2- ALSALWA (IRE) Hamdan Al Maktoum Kevin Prendergast IRE

ATTRACTIVE (IRE) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor David Wachman IRE

(1)- AVIATE Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil

0(2)- AWE INSPIRING (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

3- BE MY STORM (IRE) Moyglare Stud Farms Ltd Dermot Weld IRE

6-(1) BEBOPALULA (IRE) Phil Cunningham Barry Hills

0302-(5)(2) BIKINI BABE (IRE) Alan Spence Mark Johnston

5233- BLACK EYED SUSAN (IRE)Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

BLAST FURNACE (IRE) Andrew Black Peter Chapple-Hyam

2125- BLUE MAIDEN Peter Charter Charlie McBride

2110- CABARET (IRE) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith Aidan O'Brien IRE

CATCHAFALLINGSTAR Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

1- CEILIDH HOUSE Julian Richmond-Watson Ralph Beckett

10- CHAMPAGNELIFESTYLE Champagne Friday Barry Hills

(5)(5)2- DAINTY (USA) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor David Wachman IRE

0- DANCE ON BY (IRE) Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

DELICATE CHARM (IRE) Anne Marie O'Brien Aidan O'Brien IRE

3312- DEVOTED TO YOU (IRE) Diane Nagle & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

1(2)(1)- DIAM QUEEN (GER) Jaber Abdullah Luca Cumani

32(1)5- DYNA WALTZ George Strawbridge John Gosden

(6)- ELDALIL Hamdan Al Maktoum Sir Michael Stoute

241524- FAMOUS (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

GAKALINA (IRE) Nurlan Bizakov Jeremy Noseda

014541- GALLIC STAR (IRE) Jon and Julia Aisbitt Mick Channon

6- GAY MIRAGE (GER) Bjorn Nielsen Michael Jarvis

3(3)2- GERTRUDE BELL Rachel Hood John Gosden

(2)4- GIANTS PLAY (USA) Renata Jacobs Sir Michael Stoute

15- GILE NA GREINE (IRE) Jackie Bolger & Harry Dobson Jim Bolger IRE

5- GOLDEN WATERS R Crutchley Eve Johnson Houghton

3221- HIBAAYEB Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

(1)- HUDOO Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

1- HYMNSHEET Cheveley Park Stud Sir Michael Stoute

0- ICE EMPRESS (IRE) Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

0- ISSABELLA GEM (IRE) Dennis Shaw Clive Cox

140435- JIRA Saeed Manana Clive Brittain

1- KITHONIA (FR) Niarchos Family Henry Cecil

0541- LADY LUPUS (IRE) Anne Marie O'Brien Aidan O'Brien IRE

121310- LILLIE LANGTRY (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

1140- LONG LASHES (USA) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

LOVEISALLYOUNEED (IRE) Sue Magnier & Mrs Roisin Henry Aidan O'Brien IRE

33124- MARIE DE MEDICI (USA) Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum Mark Johnston

33- MEEZNAH (USA) Saif Ali & Saeed H Altayer David Lanigan

45- MISS MIRACLE D J Burke & Peter Alderson Clive Cox

MOST STRIKING (USA) Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith David Wachman IRE

10120- MUDAARAAH Hamdan Al Maktoum John Dunlop

5- MUJDEYA Hamdan Al Maktoum John Gosden

1- NAMASKAR Khalid Abdulla John Gosden

0- PEACEFUL SOUL (USA) Saif Ali & Saeed H Altayer David Lanigan

00(1)- PERFECT VISION Mildmay Racing Clive Cox

346- PICTURE PERFECT (IRE) Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier David Wachman IRE

524- PINK SYMPHONY Fitri Hay Paul Cole

13- PIPETTE George Strawbridge Andrew Balding

62211- POLLENATOR (IRE) The Royal Ascot Racing Club Richard Hannon

1- PRINCIPAL ROLE (USA) Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil

3- RADIO WAVE Khalid Abdulla John Gosden

2- REMEMBER WHEN (IRE) Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor Aidan O'Brien IRE

31- REVERED Khalid Abdulla Sir Michael Stoute

(1)- RUMOUSH (USA) Hamdan Al Maktoum Marcus Tregoning

1- SAGACIOUS (IRE) Miss A H Marshall Jim Bolger IRE

SAJJHAA Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum Michael Jarvis

3215- SENSE OF PURPOSE (IRE) Moyglare Stud Farms Ltd Dermot Weld IRE

(5)- SHIP'S BISCUIT Philip Newton Sir Michael Stoute

106-(1)(3) SIYAADAH Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

SLIABH NA MBAN (IRE) Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

(1) SRDA (USA) Saeed Manana Clive Brittain

SUN SEEKER (IRE) Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier Jeremy Noseda

SWEET DREAMS BABY (IRE) Diane Nagle/Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

11- TERMAGANT (IRE) Jorg Vasicek Kevin Prendergast IRE

2(1)1- TIMEPIECE Khalid Abdulla Henry Cecil

TOOTSIE WOOTSIE (IRE) Anne Marie O'Brien Aidan O'Brien IRE

03- UNITY (IRE) Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier David Wachman IRE

14- WEDDING MARCH (IRE) Godolphin Saeed bin Suroor

WELCOME ADDITION (USA) Bertram Firestone Dermot Weld IRE

WINGS OF GRACE (USA) Stronach Stables Partnership Jim Bolger IRE

413- YOU'LL BE MINE (USA) Roisin Henry & Sue Magnier Aidan O'Brien IRE

77 Entries

32 Irish-trained





Breakdown of trainers with past successes in the Investec Oaks



17 Entries

Aidan O’Brien IRE(1998 Shahtoush, 2001 Imagine, 2006 Alexandrova)



6 Entries

David Wachman IRE



5 Entries

John Gosden

Sir Michael Stoute (1978 Fair Salinia, 1987 Unite)

Saeed bin Suroor (1995 Moonshell, 2002 Kazzia)



4 Entries

Jim Bolger IRE (1991 Jet Ski Lady)

Henry Cecil (1985 Oh So Sharp, 1988 Diminuendo, 1989 Snow Bride, 1996 Lady Carla, 1997 Reams Of Verse, 1999 Ramruma, 2000 Love Divine, 2007 Light Shift)



3 Entries

Clive Cox

Dermot Weld IRE (1981 Blue Wind)



2 Entries

Clive Brittain (1992 User Friendly)

Barry Hills

Michael Jarvis (2005 Eswarah)

Mark Johnston

David Lanigan

Jeremy Noseda

Kevin Prendergast IRE



1 Entry

Andrew Balding (2003 Casual Look)

Ralph Beckett (2008 Look Here)

Mick Channon

Peter Chapple-Hyam

Paul Cole

Luca Cumani

John Dunlop (1984 Circus Plume, 1990 Salsabil)

Richard Hannon

Eve Johnson Houghton

Charlie McBride

Marcus Tregoning

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

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