Cheltenham Festival
1.00pm Virgin Media One
There is an old saying in Gloucestershire that many believe to be a blow-in from Kerry: “If you can see the Cotswolds from Cheltenham’s grandstands, it’s going to rain. If not...it’s already raining!” An amusing aphorism which holds little water, however, particularly after the winter that never was. The sprinklers, you see, have been pouring it on Prestbury Park these past few weeks in the final build-up to the famous festival.
A quarter of a million racegoers will have passed through the turnstiles by Friday, with 60,000 tickets booked by Irish pilgrims for the annual four-day festivities.
28 races of the highest calibre will deliver a rugby-like score between Britain and Ireland...and the Prestbury Cup to the victor. Bragging rights, to be fair, are not automatically entitled to the winning side, without the Gold Cup or Champion Hurdle listed among the spoils.
Tuesday: England’s flagship, Buveur D’Air, goes into battle for a third consecutive triumph in the Champion Hurdle (3.30pm). Invincible, boast the Brits, but they haven’t reckoned on two female pirates who have crossed the Irish Sea: Laurina and Apple’s Jade. Opportunity knocks for the Emerald Isle, yet not without difficulty. For the Irish camp is split as to whom they should follow. And me? I choose the line of least resistance and manfully side with Cumann na mBan!
1.30: Al Dancer (GB)/Klassical Dream (IRL)
2.05: Defi De Seuil (GB)
2.50: Mall Dini (IRL)
4.10: Stormy Ireland (IRL)
5.30: OK Corral (GB) (nap)
Britannia rules the waves in Wednesday’s Champion Chase(3.30), as the English man-o-war, Altior, will be in cruise control throughout. Ruby rides Footpad and is worth a flutter as second-best to the hot favourite. 2.10: Delta Work (IRL)
4.10: Tiger Roll (IRL) (nap)
5.30: Envoi Allen/Blue Sari (IRL)
Thursday: Michael O’Leary would be wise to divert Road to Respect to the shorter Ryanair Chase (2.50) which he sponsors, instead of going for Gold on Friday – a bridge too far in my formbook. If O’Leary declines, Monalee gets the nap vote.
3.30: Paisley Park (GB) /Supasundae e.w. (IRL)
Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30) is a fascinating renewal that ought to provide the perfect showdown for the blue riband of jump racing. So, without further ado, let’s cut to the (steeple)chase.
Clan des Obeaux, Might Bite and title-holder, Native River, are best of the home guard. Willie Mullins launches a twin assault with Bells Hill and Kemboy. But listen up...for there is a sleeping giant in the racetrack stables waiting to take to the field. His handler comes from the stony walls of Craughwell, Galway, where he runs a small yard with no more than a handful of charges. Pat Kelly is a unique and gifted trainer who shuns publicity and the limelight. Instead, he lets his horses do the talking... which is exactly what will be expected when it comes to Presenting Percy!
1.30: Sir Erec (IRL) nap.
4.10: Gilgamboa (IRL) Road to Rome (GB)
Ray Rosenstock