CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL PREVIEW
The Grand National may be the nation's favourite horse race, and the Derby is certainly the most glamorous, but when the real afficionado looks at the racing calendar what catches the eye first is the Cheltenham Festival - and the Gold Cup in particular.
It may not attract the vast TV audience of Aintree's National or pull in the paupers and princes like the Epsom classic, but the Gold Cup has a special place in every racing fan's heart. Just think back to the way Desert Orchid won the nation's hearts after his exploits over the jumps at Cheltenham during the 80s, winning the Gold Cup in 1989, and you can begin to understand the special flavour that the meeting generates.
It is not just about emotion, though. The numbers are staggering. Forget the credit crunch for a moment and consider this: in excess of £600 million will be gambled on the Cheltenham Festival, which begins on Tuesday March 11th and concludes on Friday 14th. Indeed bets on the 25 races in Festival week make up 10 per cent of most bookies' annual turnover, and can fundamentally affect their end-of-year balance sheet.
For race fans, the Festival is much more than simply money changing hands - it is the most anticipated week in the racing calendar. Crowds of 230,000 are expected to indulge in the festivities.
Communications Manager of Cheltenham Racecourse, Andy Clifton, tries to explain the magic that the Festival generates. "It is an amazing, unique atmosphere," says Clifton. "There is a real sense of magic about the Festival.
"The gates open at 10.30am and by 11 o'clock there are tens of thousands of people here. They come to have a good time, but they are interested in the racing as well.
"And what makes Cheltenham Festival special is the racing, which is of the highest possible class - it is the best quality jump racing of the season, bar none.
"Owners, trainers and jockeys would swap 20 winners in the rest of the season for one at Cheltenham - it is that important. It means everything to everyone connected with the sport to have a winner at the Cheltenham Festival."
Away from the racetrack there is a plenty of entertainment for everyone. Jazz and Calypso music is played in every enclosure, and the trade stands offer a plethora of goods, ranging from hats, shoes and scarves to bespoke rocking-horses and jewellery.
In the four days of racing, an expected 20,000 bottles of champagne, 220,000 pints of Guinness and 10,000 gallons of tea and coffee will be slurped.
Aside from the various restaurants which supply 48,000 people with four-course meals, the crowd will eat hot-dogs, burgers and sandwiches that, if they were laid in a straight line, would stretch three miles.
Add into the mix the 10,000 Irish punters, who make the trip especially and who provide their own brand of friendly rivalry, and the breath-taking backdrop of the Cleve Hills, and you have a unique, highly-successful occasion.
Irish tipster Aidan O'Shea is relishing the prospect of this year's big races. "I can't wait," he admits. "The gambling starts all the way back in September and staggering amounts are laid on.
"The strange thing about Cheltenham, and it adds to the mystique of the Festival, is that horses can run badly all season and then turn it on for the big occasion. The big fields and strong pace can mean there are always a few surprise winners.
"The Irish come over in their droves with wads of cash. The first big race, on Tuesday, the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, is the big one for the Irish."
The race offers the most sought after prize for two-mile hurdlers in the world, and in seven out of the last nine races, an Irish horse has crossed the finish line first. Further, an Irish horse has won in each of the last four years.
"The Irish have probably the favourite for this year too," adds O'Shea. "Sizing Europe, trained by Henry de Bromhead, is the talk of the town - he is the new hot-shot.
"Sublimity, who won last year's race, is out to defend the title too. In that race Sublimity saw off Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace, and it signalled an end of an era - the old champions were beaten."
On Wednesday the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase will take centre stage. It is, as O'Shea says, "traditionally the most exciting race of the season. You have the best two-mile chasers hurling themselves over the fences.
"It will be a small field this year, but the two horses to watch out for are Voy Por Ustedes and, from Paul Nicholls' stable, Twist Magic."
On Thursday, also the Festival's second Ladies Day, the long distance hurdlers contest The Ladbrokes World Hurdle. In this three-mile contest, Inglis Drever will be trying to win the race for the third time.
"The star of the show undoubtedly is Inglis Drever, trained up north by Howard Johnson," continues O'Shea.
"He destroys fields, and doesn't receive as many plaudits as he should because he is not the most graceful horse.
"He looks as though he is travelling slower than he is. But he is like a street-fighter and always finds more energy. He looks unbeatable at the minute."
Then on Friday comes the big one - the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, the highlight of the entire season. And this year there are two very special horses going for racing's top prize: the Paul Nicholls-trained pair Kauto Star and stablemate Denman.
"The real story of the Festival is the race between these two horses," says O'shea.
Kauto Star is looking to add his name to those of legends Golden Miller, Arkle and Best Mate, as multiple winners of Jumping's Blue Riband event. But Denman should provide more than a test.
"This is the match-up we have been waiting for all season and potentially it is one of the best ever Gold Cup match-ups in history," enthuses O'Shea.
"Denman is the up-and-coming horse, and a really good challenger to Kauto Star, last year's winner. Not many other horses are expected to get involved.
"The standard in this year's Gold Cup is phenomenal - it could be the best Gold Cup in decades. Everyone is just hoping that both horses make it to the Friday fit."
The Grand National may be the nation's favourite horse race, and the Derby is certainly the most glamorous, but when the real afficionado looks at the racing calendar what catches the eye first is the Cheltenham Festival - and the Gold Cup in particular.
It may not attract the vast TV audience of Aintree's National or pull in the paupers and princes like the Epsom classic, but the Gold Cup has a special place in every racing fan's heart. Just think back to the way Desert Orchid won the nation's hearts after his exploits over the jumps at Cheltenham during the 80s, winning the Gold Cup in 1989, and you can begin to understand the special flavour that the meeting generates.
It is not just about emotion, though. The numbers are staggering. Forget the credit crunch for a moment and consider this: in excess of £600 million will be gambled on the Cheltenham Festival, which begins on Tuesday March 11th and concludes on Friday 14th. Indeed bets on the 25 races in Festival week make up 10 per cent of most bookies' annual turnover, and can fundamentally affect their end-of-year balance sheet.
For race fans, the Festival is much more than simply money changing hands - it is the most anticipated week in the racing calendar. Crowds of 230,000 are expected to indulge in the festivities.
Communications Manager of Cheltenham Racecourse, Andy Clifton, tries to explain the magic that the Festival generates. "It is an amazing, unique atmosphere," says Clifton. "There is a real sense of magic about the Festival.
"The gates open at 10.30am and by 11 o'clock there are tens of thousands of people here. They come to have a good time, but they are interested in the racing as well.
"And what makes Cheltenham Festival special is the racing, which is of the highest possible class - it is the best quality jump racing of the season, bar none.
"Owners, trainers and jockeys would swap 20 winners in the rest of the season for one at Cheltenham - it is that important. It means everything to everyone connected with the sport to have a winner at the Cheltenham Festival."
Away from the racetrack there is a plenty of entertainment for everyone. Jazz and Calypso music is played in every enclosure, and the trade stands offer a plethora of goods, ranging from hats, shoes and scarves to bespoke rocking-horses and jewellery.
In the four days of racing, an expected 20,000 bottles of champagne, 220,000 pints of Guinness and 10,000 gallons of tea and coffee will be slurped.
Aside from the various restaurants which supply 48,000 people with four-course meals, the crowd will eat hot-dogs, burgers and sandwiches that, if they were laid in a straight line, would stretch three miles.
Add into the mix the 10,000 Irish punters, who make the trip especially and who provide their own brand of friendly rivalry, and the breath-taking backdrop of the Cleve Hills, and you have a unique, highly-successful occasion.
Irish tipster Aidan O'Shea is relishing the prospect of this year's big races. "I can't wait," he admits. "The gambling starts all the way back in September and staggering amounts are laid on.
"The strange thing about Cheltenham, and it adds to the mystique of the Festival, is that horses can run badly all season and then turn it on for the big occasion. The big fields and strong pace can mean there are always a few surprise winners.
"The Irish come over in their droves with wads of cash. The first big race, on Tuesday, the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, is the big one for the Irish."
The race offers the most sought after prize for two-mile hurdlers in the world, and in seven out of the last nine races, an Irish horse has crossed the finish line first. Further, an Irish horse has won in each of the last four years.
"The Irish have probably the favourite for this year too," adds O'Shea. "Sizing Europe, trained by Henry de Bromhead, is the talk of the town - he is the new hot-shot.
"Sublimity, who won last year's race, is out to defend the title too. In that race Sublimity saw off Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace, and it signalled an end of an era - the old champions were beaten."
On Wednesday the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase will take centre stage. It is, as O'Shea says, "traditionally the most exciting race of the season. You have the best two-mile chasers hurling themselves over the fences.
"It will be a small field this year, but the two horses to watch out for are Voy Por Ustedes and, from Paul Nicholls' stable, Twist Magic."
On Thursday, also the Festival's second Ladies Day, the long distance hurdlers contest The Ladbrokes World Hurdle. In this three-mile contest, Inglis Drever will be trying to win the race for the third time.
"The star of the show undoubtedly is Inglis Drever, trained up north by Howard Johnson," continues O'Shea.
"He destroys fields, and doesn't receive as many plaudits as he should because he is not the most graceful horse.
"He looks as though he is travelling slower than he is. But he is like a street-fighter and always finds more energy. He looks unbeatable at the minute."
Then on Friday comes the big one - the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, the highlight of the entire season. And this year there are two very special horses going for racing's top prize: the Paul Nicholls-trained pair Kauto Star and stablemate Denman.
"The real story of the Festival is the race between these two horses," says O'shea.
Kauto Star is looking to add his name to those of legends Golden Miller, Arkle and Best Mate, as multiple winners of Jumping's Blue Riband event. But Denman should provide more than a test.
"This is the match-up we have been waiting for all season and potentially it is one of the best ever Gold Cup match-ups in history," enthuses O'Shea.
"Denman is the up-and-coming horse, and a really good challenger to Kauto Star, last year's winner. Not many other horses are expected to get involved.
"The standard in this year's Gold Cup is phenomenal - it could be the best Gold Cup in decades. Everyone is just hoping that both horses make it to the Friday fit."
Labels: Cheltenham Festival, Gold Cup, Horse racing
