Cheltenham – Live Updates

Our coverage of Cheltenham will see a daily review of the action with exclusive insight from one of the country’s leading bookmakers as well as exclusive predictions from our horse racing experts including Adam Norman – who will be at Prestbury Park all week.

We will also bring you the latest news below….

That’s it for Cheltenham 2017 – thanks for joining us!

  • THE GRAND ANNUAL 

  • MARTIN PIPE CONDITIONAL

  • FOXHUNTERS

  • SIZING JOHN WINS GOLD CUP

  • ALBERT BARTLETT

  • COUNTY HURDLE

  • TRIUMPH HURDLE

  • NEARLY HERE

Check out our FRIDAY preview here…

  • READY FOR CHELTS

  • GOING IS GOOD

  • WELCOME TO GOLD CUP DAY

It is the final day of the Cheltenham festival and it is the big one today, Gold Cup today.

  • THAT’S ALL FOLKS

Join us again in the morning for the final day of Cheltenham.

  • KEN MUIR

  • MARES NOVICE

  • STABLE PLATE

  • STAYERS HURDLE

  • RYANAIR CHASE

  • PERTEMPS FINAL

  • JLT NOVICES HURDLE

  • CLOSE TO THE OFF

  • DOUVAN REASONING

Jockey Ruby Walsh on Douvan’s failure on Wednesday: “I don’t know how you can put it into words – shock, maybe – but it wasn’t happening from a long way out. He wasn’t jumping with his usual fluency. He was erratic and he even put down on me at the fence past the stands.

“When I faced into the back straight I was struggling to keep up with Special Tiara and from the top of the hill I was hoping for a miracle and it never came off.

“When he guessed at the first, then gave the second so much air, I knew it wasn’t the normal Douvan. He’s stiff and sore today and I think he’ll be scanned later in the week, but he’s standing up. He’s OK, and lives to fight another day. He’ll definitely race again.”

  • CHANGE IN CONDITIONS

  • CHAMPIONS LOVE IN

  • THURSDAY PREVIEW

Thursday at Cheltenham

  • MORNING – GOING CONFIRMED

  • DOUVAN UPDATE

  • CHAMPION BUMPER

  • FRED WINTER

  • CROSS COUNTY

  • QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE

  • CORAL CUP

  • RSA NOVICES CHASE

  • NEPTUNE NOVICES HURDLE

  • BIG BET ON DOUVAN

  • TWISTON-DAVIES INJURY

Jockey Willy Twiston-Davies fractured two vertebrae in a fall from 6/1 favourite Foxtail Hill in the final race of the first day of The Festival 2017 yesterday.

Foxtail Hill, trained by Willy’s father Nigel Twiston-Davies, fell at the eighth fence in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase. The jockey walked to the ambulance, but subsequent checks at Gloucester Royal Hospital revealed that he had fractured his T8 and T9 vertebrae.

On Wednesday morning, Willy tweeted: “In hospital with broken T8, T9 and a few broken ribs. Will know more tomorrow.”

  • NEPTUNE FAVOURITE IN FINE FORM

Trainer Harry Fry said: “We’re looking forward to running him and hopefully he’ll give a good account of himself. We’ve gone for the Neptune because with the drying ground we think the step up in trip will suit him better than the two miles.

“It was soft ground when he won over that trip at Haydock so we feel the extra distance on this ground will play to his strengths. We’ve been very happy with his run up to the race. He’s had a couple of away-days.”

  • WEDNESDAY ACTION

And don’t forget we have a full preview of all the Wednesday action for you right here!

Wednesday at Cheltenham

  • DAY TWO IS NEARLY HERE

  • HOW IS THE GOING?

  • EDWULF UPDATE

Great news that Edwulf, who collapsed yesterday after finishing his race in the JT McNamara Challenge Cup, is up and about and trainer Jospeh O’Brien is ‘very positive’ about him.

  • HAPPY DOUVAN DAY!

  • IRELAND LEAD 4-3 IN BETBRIGHT CUP

  • ELLIOTT ON TOP

Gordon Elliott took three winners on the first day and said: “I can’t believe it, it is brilliant and credit to everyone at home, the staff and the owners – it is brilliant.” Will we say more of the same?

  • MORNING FROM PRESTBURY PARK

  • THAT’S ALL FOLKS…

That’s it for the day and we will be back first thing in the morning, why not look ahead or Wednesday with our preview brought to you with Labbrokes’ Nicola McGeady

Wednesday at Cheltenham

  • CLOSE BROTHERS’ NOVICE

  • NATIONAL HUNT CHASE

  • MARES HURDLE

  • CHAMPION HURDLE

  • ULTIMA HANDICAP

  • ARKLE CHASE

  • SUPREME HURDLE
    Labaik has been called plenty of names in the past after refusing to race on two of his last three starts under rules however, he can now be called  Cheltenham Festival winner and is 33/1 with BetVictor for next year’s Champion Hurdle.Spokesperson Jack Milner: “With BetVictor’s Run for your Money’ concession Gordon Elliott’s gelding attracted nibbles of support this morning and, after his impressive successive in the curtain-raiser is 33/1 to land next year’s Champion.”

  • HENDERSON’S HOPES FOR RSA CHASE

Nicky Henderson is hopeful of RSA glory on Wednesday with Might Bite,  Whisper and O O Seven all going to post for the Seven Barrows handler.

“We run three in here with considerable hope. Everyone is in very good order and entitled to be here.

“The caution with Might Bite is the track. What he was doing at Kempton in the Feltham (Kauto Star Novices’ Chase) was quite extraordinary and I think he has got into being favourite for this because of what he was going to achieve before he fell at the last. It was going to be mighty impressive.

“He had just gone round on his own and he was in second gear and they couldn’t go with him. His jumping has been very good, but it took a lot of time to get it together early on in the year.

“I am nervous about Cheltenham, but, to be fair, I have never seen him school so well as he did Friday. He was fantastic.”

  • LEGEND ABOUT TO MEET HIS PUBLIC – STEP-ASIDE AP!

  • HORSES WILL SOON BE PARADING

  • CH’TIBELLO CONFIRMED AS NON-RUNNER IN CHAMPION HURDLE

  • TONY McCOY FANCIES MY TENT OR YOURS IN CHAMPION HURDLE

Speaking in his WIlliamHill Blog – Tony McCoy reveals his pick for the Champion Hurdle.
“My dark horse for the Festival would be My Tent Or Yours in the Champion Hurdle. I think he has a good each-way chance in a race where Petit Mouchoir and The New One will be ridden positively. I think the one to beat is Yanworth given what he’s achieved. He’s won on two tracks that didn’t suit his strengths and Mark Walsh got off him the other day after schooling and said that he jumped brilliantly.”

  • CONFIDENCE ABOUT PETIT MOUCHOIR

  • NON-RUNNERS

A couple of non-runners confirmed for the opening day.
2.50pm Ultima Handicap Chase
21    ANTONY (FR) (Self Certificate, Temperature)

4.10pm OLBG Mares’ Hurdle
4      COLIN’S SISTER (Vet’s Certificate, Bruised Foot)

  • MELON ON THE DRIFT IN SUPREME

The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Ballyandy has joined long time antepost favourite Melon as 3/1 joint favourite for the opening race of the 2017 Cheltenham Festival the Skybet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – but the firm still think Melon will go off favourite for starters.

Spokesperson Charlie McCann: “We have taken more bets on Ballyandy than Melon overnight and in the early salvos this morning but still feel the Mullins/Walsh factor will ensure Melon goes off favourite for the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Yanworth looks assured of heading the market in the Champions Hurdle with Buveur D’Air noticeably weak.”

  • EARLY LOOK AT THE OPENER

First race is still a few hours away – but he is a quick look at what we think will happen in the Supreme…

 

  • MORE ON THE GOING

  • Q&A – POINTERS

Our Cheltenham quick-fire Q&A could provide some real pointers for the festival…take a quick look.

Cheltenham quickfire Q&A

  • EVERYONE IS GETTING EXCITED

  • GOOD TO SOFT GOING

  • HAPPY CHELTENHAM DAY

  • SEE YOU BRIGHT AND EARLY

  • Q&A SIGNS AND INSIGHTS – CHECK IT OUT

David Pipe tipped up his own Moon Racer in our Q&A – check it out here with over 20 experts.

  • FANCY FROM MOON RACER

  • BOOKMAKERS COULD BE PUNISHED ON TUESDAY

Bookies fear big a Tuesday from the Mullins-Walsh team.

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins are the ultimate Cheltenham dream team. Many punters look no further than these two on the opening day. The Irishmen have the ability to make or break our week and this year will be no different.

“The last couple of years have left us facing up to record-breaking Ruby Tuesdays, but Melon and Limini could combine to heap further misery on the bookies.”

  • MULLINS CAMP HAVE A GOOD LOOK AROUND

  • RUBY WALSH EXPLAINS LIMINI DECISION

“I suppose I’ve thought for a while this was going to happen, and still at 11.30 on Sunday morning I wasn’t sure (what to ride), and I suppose I’ve gone with recent form and Limini’s recent form is better than Vroum Vroum Mag’s,” said Walsh.

  • ALAN KING HAPPY WITH YANWORTH

  • MULLINS HOPEFUL OF FRUITFUL OPENER WITH MELON

“Melon is a horse with plenty of ability who jumps well. He’s a fine, strong, tall horse who has the ability but doesn’t have the experience. The form in the two-mile division is not as strong as other years. We’ll find out on the day, I suppose,” said Willie Mullins, the defending champion trainer at Cheltenham.

“Fiveforthree won the Neptune after one run and Melon has plenty of jumping experience at home. He seems a natural jumper.”

  • OUR OPENING DAY PREVIEW

Tuesday at Cheltenham

  • CLERK OF THE COURSE IN UPBEAT MOOD

Cheltenham’s clerk of the course Simon Claisse “can’t wait” for The Festival 2017 to start tomorrow.

“We had a good day yesterday [Sunday] with visits from Nicky Henderson, Alan King, Jonjo O’Neill and Ben Pauling, all very happy with and complimentary about the track, and agreeing with the going description of Good to Soft on the chase and hurdle courses, Old and New, and good to soft, Good in places on the cross country course.

“We had a little bit of rain last night just as it was getting dark, but nothing overnight, so the going description remains as above with a glorious outlook for the week – warm and sunny.

“There may be a bit of rain around on Friday but that’s a long way off. We’re in good shape. I can’t recall the place looking quite as ‘forward’ as it does at the moment – you can tell in the town, the daffodils are out. Preparations have gone very well and I can’t wait for the meeting to start.”

  • FESTIVAL Q&A

Cheltenham quickfire Q&A

  • DOUVAN LEADS TEN-HORSE QUEEN MOTHER FIELD

Douvan is one of ten runners confirmed in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

The Irish wonder-horse is seen as the banker for the whole meeting. He will be up against Special Tiara, Fox Norton, Sizing Granite, God’s Own, Sir Valentino, Garde La Victoire, Simply Ned, Top Gamble and Traffic Fluide.

  • WALSH CONFIRMED ON MELON

Ruby Walsh has been confirmed on board favourite Melon for the opening race of the Festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

  • WILLIE MULLINS CAMP IN GOOD SPIRITS

  • DAN SKELTON RULES OUT VALUE AT RISK

  • EVERYONE IS GETTING EXCITED…

  • TRADING STAR CAAN BERRY LOOKS AT CHELTENHAM FOR US 

  • ADAM NORMAN DELIVERS HIS PRE-CHELTENHAM COLUMN

  • PRESTBURY PARK LOOKING GLORIOUS

  • APPLE’S JADE LEADS OUT ELLIOTT GANG

  • TIZZARD CAMP IN CONFIDENT MOOD AHEAD OF GOLD CUP

Assitant trainer Joe Tizzard believes Cue Card and Native River are in perfect shape ahead of Friday’s big day at Cheltenham when the pair go for Gold Cup glory.
Both are already challenging for favourtism ahead of the blue riband event and Tizzard is very happy.

“Both Native River and Cue Card schooled on Tuesday. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Cue Card school so well it was like he was on springs. Native River was really good, too. I rode Native River myself and he felt superb.

“There is not much between them. They’ve both had beautiful prep runs and they are going into the Gold Cup in their best form, I’m sure of it. All we need now is a bit of luck and what will be will be.”

“If they jump the last upsides that would be fantastic and I’ll just be shouting them both on. I’ll take a 1-2 either way round.”

“If they jump the last upsides that would be fantastic and I’ll just be shouting them both on. I’ll take a 1-2 either way round.”

  • RUBY WALSH CONFIRMED ON LIMINI

And if you need to catch up on the weekend news – Vroum Vroum Mag will be going up against stablemate Limini on Tuesday in the Mares Hurdle and Ruby Walsh has opted for favourite Limini.

Read the full story here…

  • IRISH CONTINGENT ALREADY SETTLING IN

  • EMPIRE OF DIRT WON’T SWITCH TO GOLD CUP

Gigginstown Stud have revealed that despite Don Poli pulling out of the Golf Cup, Empire of Dirt will stick to going in the Ryanair Chase.
Trainer Gordon Elliott had confirmed they were considering moving Empire of Dirt, but they will be going with him in the Ryanair.
Speaking on At The Races, Eddie O’Leary said of the Irish Gold Cup runner-up: “I’d say we will probably go to the Ryanair with Empire Of Dirt, all going well. He has a good chance.”

  • NEON WOLF GOES IN NEPTUNE; AMERICAN PULLS OUT

  • LATEST GOING FROM CHELTENHAM

  • PAUL NICHOLLS RULES OUT MOVEWITHTHETIMES
    Paul Nicholls has lost one of his big hopes for the Cheltenham Fetsival with the news that Movewiththetimes will not be going in the Supreme Novices Hurdle because of injury.
    The six-year-old was one of the favourites for the Surpeme – which is the Festival opener on Tuesday.
    Nicholls revealed; “Movewiththetimes was a little bit sore behind after a routine canter this morning and it looks like he has pulled a muscle behind. I’m gutted that he will not be able to go to Cheltenham as he was one of my best chances of the week.”
  • Lets bring you up-to-date with some of the news from the last 24 hours…
  • MONDAY – 7.45 – Monday morning and we will bring you the latest news, including Adam Norman’s pre-Cheltenham column.

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