Cheltenham News - Cheltenham Betting Tips, Cheltenham Festival Tips 2013

Cheltenham Tips Friday 2013

March 15, 2013 By simon

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Cheltenham Festival 2013 Friday 15 March.

1-30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Juvenile Grade 1) (4-yo) 2013

One of my favourite races of the Festival, usually unearths a high class horse for the future and it has traditionally paid to follow Nicky Henderson in this. Some interesting stats;

· Last time out winners are 11 from 15,
· Prominent runners have won 9 of the last 15
· 11 of the 15 had a run in the last 42 days
· 10 of the 15 could be found in the first four in the betting.
· 7 of the 15 raced in a Class 1 race last time out from just 93 runners
· CAUTION: Horses returning after a break of more than 42 days have only won 2 of the last 15 renewals from 89
· Held up runners have won 3 from 15 from 163 runners

I did read one preview saying that four year olds had a 100% record in this race! This is a very good renewal of the Triumph. I have a short list of TWO exceptional contenders; ROLLING STAR and OUR CONNOR. Bristish v Irish. There is very little between them according to my ratings with the marginal preference being for the Nicky Henderson trained ROLLING STAR. We last saw him at Cheltenham beating Irish Saint and he looked mightily impressive. He went down as the Triumph Hurdle horse and I still think he is the best. Our Connor is respected and the smart bet is to Dutch them both. But preference is for Rolling Star at 4/1.

MAX BET WIN ROLLING STAR 4/1

2-05 Vincent O Brien County Handicap Hurdle

This is a minefield of a handicap, with 28 runners and if you find the winner of this you will be richly rewarded. Sounds easy, it is nothing of the sort! My tentative bet here is an each way (small stakes only) on RANJAAN for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh who have had a contrasting Festivals so far. This is somewhat speculative as I think the horse will appreciate the better ground. We have had heavy going most of the season and the better ground combined with a favourable mark could give us a decent run.

RANJAAN EW 16/1

2-40 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

Only eight running’s of this race to day so little can be learned from the statistical trends;

· All 8 winners raced in a Class 1 race last time out, that’s from just 60 runners
· The top 5 in the betting have won 7 of the 8 renewals.
· 7 of the 8 winners were 1st or 2nd last time out.

That’s not really of much help! I have three in the ratings that are on the short list;

· AT FISHERS CROSS- 100
· BALLYCASSEY- 96
· AFRICAN GOLD 92

The form of AT FISHERS CROSS could hardly look any better. Beating The New One last time out and he is my firm bet here. FRICAN GOLD also has had his form franked at Sandown on Saturday and at 13/2 is a great bet each way.

AT FISHERS CROSS WIN 11/4

AFRICAN GOLD EW 13/2

3-20 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase

This is the blue riband of National Hunt Racing. The Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. It has been won by some greats down the years and in recent times they include DENMAN and KAUTO STAR. Imperial Commander is now out and the sad demise of Synchronised, last year’s winner, means the only previous winner in this field is Long Run. This is the most wide open Gold Cup seen for sometime.

TRENDS- POSTIVES:

· 13 of the winners in the last 15 renewals had a previous run at a past Festival, which is 9% better than expected and 10 winners had either won or placed in a past Festival race from 103 runners, that’s 7% better than expected. Neither of those are massively strong statistics since past festival form horses are over bet, but it can’t be ignored when narrowing the field.
· 8 of the last 15 ran in a Grade 1 race last time out from just 51 runners, which is 49% better than expected.
· Irish Breds have won 12 of the 15, 34% better than expected.
· If we add in Grade 2 last time out then 13 of the 15 ran in a Grade 1 or 2 last time out, 30% more than expected.
· 12 of the last 15 were in the top 3 in the betting.
· 10 of the last 15 ran at exactly 3 miles last time out
· Horses winning last time out won 8 of the last 15 renewals.

A field of 11 horses contest the 2013 Gold Cup, competitive but there is no one stand out horse, all have questions to answer. These are the horses I see as the main players.

BOBS WORTH, cky Henderson thinks a huge amount about Bob’s Worth. Bred by his jockey Barry Geraghty it would be an extra special win for him. He comes here with just one run under his belt this season although that was a 3 ¼ length beating of Tidal Nay in the Hennessy Gold Cup, his Cheltenham record reads 1-1-1-1. Henderson’s record with horses at Cheltenham is second to none. Off a long rest is not no good. Bobs Worth is the favourite and rightly so!

SIR DES CHAMPS, also has an unbeaten Cheltenham and Festival but his form this year is not good enough to land this. Would need to improve on what we have seen.

SILVINIACO CONTI is the big hope and the up and coming chaser to fill the boots of Denman and Kauto Star. Nicholls is bullish and what he has done this season puts him in the mix. Could give Bobs Worth a race.

LONG RUN bids to regain his crown but vibes are not good. Cheek Pieces will be worn and he doesn’t look the horse of old. Won the King George, yes, but just, and should be not match for Bobs Worth or Conti.

Of the outsiders the each way play in the race is THE GIANT BOLSTER 14/1. David Bridgewater is a hard worker and he has trained this horse to get 100% out of it. If you put 100% in you reap what you sew. Placed in a Gold Cup already he has a real chance at value odds.

For me the outstanding two horses are BOBS WORTH and SILVINIACO CONTI. A pro bet would be to Dutch the two. Put a gun to my head and I will go for Bobs Worth

BOBS WORTH WIN @ 11/4

THE GIANT BOLSTER EW @ 14/1

For me the festival is more or less over after the Gold Cup. The last three races are an amateur riders race and the Pipe and Henderson races where they throw plenty at them. These are the picks for the last three races;

4.00 CGA Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup

He may be a veteran but Chapoturgeon is a festival favourite. He looked to have retained plenty of his old ability when last seen winning at Newbury. Still part owned by former trainer Paul Nicholls and he could yet provide Nicholls with some festival glory. 9/2 is not the best price but he has the credentials to win this.

CHAPOTURGEON EW @ 11/4

4-40 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle

This is the Martin Pipe race and it is quite obvious that son David Pipe would love to win it. Usually he would fire many bullets at this race, but today he fires one, the four timer seeking GEVREY CHAMBERTIN. There is no doubting his credentials and the only worry is the rise in the weights. However the fact that Pipe fires only one at this prize he really wants to win is a big tip in itself!

GEVREY CHAMBERTIN EW 9/2

5-15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup

Like the Pipe race Nicky Henderson would love to win the race named after his father. Unlike David Pipe, Nicky Henderson fires six bullets at this target! I think it is a strong possibility he will hit the target and the horses I like are the classy Petit Robin and French Opera. Both have been high class horses in their time and if they recapture just a small amount of their past form then they will play a massive role in this. 20/1 each way each of two is not a bad bet!

PETIT ROBIN EW 20/1
FRENCH OPERA EW 18/1

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Cheltenham Tips 2013 for Day 3

March 14, 2013 By simon

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Thursday 14 March 2013 Cheltenham Festival Tips for Day 3 by Carl Harris

Wednesday was VERY good with Back In Focus and The New One Landing Max Bets. Sizing Europe without Sprinter Sacre at Evens made it a clean sweep of the Max Bets. Hadrians Approached and Master of the Sea were placed ew and also collected. Thursday Going: GOOD TO SOFT / SOFT IN PLACES

1-30 JEWSON NOVICE CHASE

Dynaste is a MAXIMUM BET and is my best bet of the week. I can not see this beaten. He has been sensational this year and David Pipe has elected for this as opposed to the RSA Chase. Captain Conan would have been a good favourite had Dynaste gone for the RSA but with Dynaste in the race I can see now other outcome other than a convincing Dynaste Win.

DYNASTE is a MAXIMUM BET take 7/4 early!

2-05 PERTEMPS FINAL

We go from a relatively easy race to kick off to anything but, this is an ultra-competitive handicap with only 13 pounds between all 24 runners. There are plenty with solid claims here, infact you could back half the field and still not find the winner. Therefore I advise playing it small in this race but I do like the market leader here

Sam Winner (Win) trained by Paul Nicholls is a six year old who was smart over hurdles as a juvenile and came back after a year off to beat Peddlers Cross in a jumpers bumper. That was his second run back and I am hoping that he is lining up here on a fair mark. Certainly man of the moment Ruby Walsh is a big plus from the saddle. 4/1 is not huge but he looks to tick more boxes than most.

SAM WINNER, WIN BET 4/1

2-40 RYANAIR CHASE

Slight disappointing renewal of this, expected better in the build up to this. I have looked at this every which way and have looked for reasons to oppose Cue Card. I say that because I am not a fan of the horse, or the jockey, but I keep coming back, by default to Cue Card.

His most credible rivals are First Lieutenant and Riverside Theatre. I am never one to discount Nicky Henderson’s horses but I think this will be a tough task for Riverside. So the question is whether First Lieutenant will beat Cue Card and I think that Cue Card may have too much speed for him and am siding with the Joe Tizzard Cue Card.

CUE CARD WIN BET 10/3

3-20 THE WORLD HURDLE

Usually this is a simply one line preview, in so much as Big Buck’s has dominated this event and always wins. However for the first time in a while we have a competitive world Hurdle. The main line of form here is the race where REVE DE SIVOLA beat OSCAR WHISKY at Cheltenham on Heavy going. The ground will be better and suit Oscar Whiskey and I think he will turn that about and is the most likely winner!

I am backing OSCAR WHISKY to win here and having an each way bet on one of my favourite horses in training, GET ME OUT OF HERE (ew). This is somewhat speculative, but this horse has plenty of ability and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gives the principals something to think about. Decent value each way bet

OSCAR WHISKY WIN BET 4/1, GET ME OUT OF HERE ew 11/1

4-00 BYRNE GROUP PLATE

HUNT BALL. This time last year Hunt Ball was talked about as a Gold Cup horse. He was mightily impressive. He hasn’t had a great year (like many of us) mainly due to the bad going. On better ground, in the Grade 3 Handicap I am very strong on this one; the forgotten horse!

HUNT BALL. 7/1 Each Way Bet.

4-40 AMATEUR HANDICAP

GALAXY ROCK. EACH WAY on Galaxy Rock is the only bet I will be having but not to any major stakes. The ground has come right for him and we know he goes round Cheltenham well. In fact regulars will remember him last year bolting up at Cheltenham under McCoy.

Galaxy Rock EW @ 14/1

Good Luck!

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Tony McCoy wins second Cheltenham Gold Cup on Synchronised

March 17, 2012 By Greg Wood

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• Synchronised leads home 50-1 outsider The Giant Bolster
• Long Run finishes third under Sam Waley-Cohen

Tony McCoy struggled to remember his first Gold Cup winner after riding his second on Synchronised here on Friday, because “I’ve had a lot of bangs on the head since then”. Yet the qualities that have set him apart from this and every other generation of jump jockeys are as vital as ever, and in Synchronised he had an ideal partner, one that would answer every demand on the long climb to the winning post.

Synchronised is never going to be a “traveller” in a contest run at a championship pace, and through the first two miles of the race he needed some coaxing from the saddle to stay in touch with the leaders, as most eyes concentrated on Kauto Star’s brief, valedictory performance.

As the field climbed towards the ditch on the hill for the final time, though, he was still in touch as Time For Rupert, The Giant Bolster and Long Run, the 7-4 favourite and defending champion, sorted themselves out for the drive to the line.

The Giant Bolster, a 50-1 outsider, briefly threatened to seize the initiative as Long Run struggled to find a finishing kick, but McCoy had Synchronised at full gallop between the last two fences and as a former winner of the Welsh National, he was sure to keep it up all the way up the hill. Synchronised passed the post two-and-a-quarter lengths in front of The Giant Bolster, with Long Run one-paced in third.

“He doesn’t have the physique to be a horse that’s going to travel in a Gold Cup, but he’s all heart and will to win,” McCoy said. “It was just about tagging on to the back of them for as long as I could, and I knew that he was going to come home better than any of them.

“It’s crazy to say it, but he’s not really a chaser. You only have to look at him to realise that, but I just wanted to get to the other side of the fences as quickly as possible and not ask him too many big questions as far as jumping was concerned. I was niggling, slapping and cajoling him all the way round. I was never going well, but I was never in a position I couldn’t win from.”

Synchronised is bred to win a Derby rather than a Gold Cup, and Sadler’s Wells, his sire, is the first horse to have produced a winner of both races. In terms of his connections, however, his pedigree is all National Hunt, as he runs in the colours of JP McManus and is trained by Jonjo O’Neill, who won the 1986 Gold Cup on Dawn Run.

O’Neill is now a member of an exclusive club of two – along with Fred Winter – having both ridden and trained a winner of chasing’s championship race.

“Words can’t put it together really,” O’Neill said. “He’s a smashing little horse with the heart of a lion, and I knew going down the back that he had a chance, as so long as he kept jumping he was going to come home. The problem is keeping him up there, and AP really got him motivated.”

McManus has now won all three of jumping’s most important prizes, with Istabraq – another son of Sadler’s Wells – having taken three Champion Hurdles from 1998, and Don’t Push It carrying his green and gold silks to victory in the Grand National two years ago.

“There’s been some great moments here,” McManus said, “but I think this will stand out with the best of them. AP’s first winner for me was riding the dam of Synchronised, called Mayasta.

“I didn’t [back him], but it wasn’t Jonjo’s fault that I didn’t as they gave me every encouragement and it doesn’t take away from the pleasure of winning the Gold Cup, I can tell you that.”

Sam Waley-Cohen, the rider of Long Run, said that his mount “turned in and jumped the last well and I thought he’d travel forward but he just didn’t, no excuses”. His mount’s third place added £44,000 to Nicky Henderson’s haul from the meeting, however, while his stable-mate, Burton Port, finished fourth, worth another £22,000.

Henderson sent out the first, second and fourth in the closing race, the Grand Annual Chase, and is now just a few thousand pounds behind Paul Nicholls in the 2012 trainers’ championship with Aintree’s Festival meeting likely to decide the outcome.

Greg Wood

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Filed Under: Cheltenham Festival 2012, Cheltenham News, Horse racing, News, Sport, The Guardian Tagged With: Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Tony McCoy

Nicky Henderson breaks Cheltenham Festival record with seven wins

March 16, 2012 By Chris Cook

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• Bellvano victory in last race seals memorable week
• Paul Carberry excels with brilliant waiting ride

It surprised no one that Nicky Henderson trained the winner of the final race at the Cheltenham Festival, bringing to a close what has surely been the most successful week of his career. Bellvano’s victory in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual, named after the trainer’s late father, was a seventh of the meeting for Henderson, two more than the previous record for a trainer at the Festival, which was held by Paul Nicholls.

It is the third Festival training record that Henderson has broken this week. His four winners on Wednesday was an unprecedented haul for a single day at the meeting, while his career total of 46 Festival wins is six clear of the previous best, set by Fulke Walwyn.

Asked to reflect on his week’s work, Henderson said: “You know we work 365 days, we’ll start planning again on Sunday. It does come down to four days and when it goes like this, you’ve got to make the most of it because everybody knows what’s around the corner.”

Bellvano was giving a ride of great poise and confidence by Paul Carberry, who seemed to have too much ground to make up even as he turned for home, yet remained motionless. While impressed, Henderson would not accept it as a candidate for best ride of the week.

“Nothing will beat the ride Barry [Geraghty] gave Riverside Theatre, it wouldn’t be possible,” he said, referring to the winning ride in the Ryanair Chase. “That was just outstanding. It’s been an amazing week and it’s finished with an emotional day.”

Paul Nicholls had much less reason to celebrate as his dozen runners on Friday failed to make the winner’s enclosure. By the end of the Festival, it was widely accepted that something had affected the general health of his string, though it did not stop Big Buck’s from landing a fourth World Hurdle, while Rock On Ruby, trained from a satellite yard, gave him a first Champion Hurdle success.

“We’re going to parade both those horses [Big Buck's and Rock On Ruby] through Ditcheat tomorrow because they’re two wonderful horses,” Nicholls said. “Other than that, it’s been a bit of a topsy-turvy week.

“But at the end of the day, I did warn everyone a month ago that I had a little bit of a problem with the coughing. We always try and be up front and we knew we were going to struggle a bit.

“Some have run really well and somethings just haven’t gone to plan. What A Friend falling [in the Gold Cup], it’s just been one of them weeks, but listen, if you won the Champion Hurdle every year, you’d take that. We’ll get them fit and fresh for Aintree.”

Nicholls and Henderson end the week neck and neck in the trainers’ title race, which is decided by prize money. The issue is likely to be determined by their relative performances at the Grand National meeting.

There were three winners for trainers based in the north of England or Scotland on the Festival’s final day, taking the tally for such trainers to six this week. Arguably the most significant was Brindisi Breeze’s astonishing performance in making almost all the running to win the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle for Fife-based Lucinda Russell, the first Scottish Festival winner since Len Lungo’s Freetown in 2002.

The hot favourite for the race was the Irish-trained Boston Bob, who was restrained well behind what seemed a strong pace and cruised up to challenge under Ruby Walsh in the home straight, yet was unable to get past. A delighted Russell, achieving her first Festival win, ran across the paddock as Brindisi Breeze crossed the line to hug her partner, the former champion jockey Peter Scudamore, who was broadcasting for BBC Radio 5 Live.

“It means everything,” she said. “Oh dear, I didn’t wear the waterproof mascara. Good old Scotland, we’ve been trying really hard to get winners here at the Cheltenham Festival. I’m just delighted. It’s what you work for all winter.

“I’m so proud of this horse, he’s tough as anything, he kept galloping. He’s pretty slow up the gallops at home, we have to let him go in front and say to everyone, don’t pass him. He doesn’t like horses going past him.”

Russell, who has 62 horses in training and room for more, was asked if there were particular difficulties with being based in Scotland, in terms of winning major races in the south. “The only difficulty is that you tend to start longer odds when you come down south because nobody seems to take the form up north very seriously. But that’s changing.” She added that Brindisi Breeze would “make a better chaser” next season.

Malcolm Jefferson had to wait 17 years between his second Festival success and this third, here on Thursday, but added the fourth just one day later when Attaglance finished strongly to beat Toner D’Oudairies. “If I have to wait another 17 years, I don’t think I’ll be here,” the 65-year-old said.

The Triumph Hurdle was won by the 33-1 shot Countrywide Flame, trained by John Quinn, who, like Jefferson, is based in North Yorkshire. “This is a great boost for the yard. We’ve had a bit of a rough time lately,” he said, referring to the fatal injury sustained at Southwell this week by one of his best horses, Palawi.

Of Countrywide Flame, Quinn said: “He was well over-priced, as he’s not run a bad race this season. He’s won a Listed race and been placed in a Grade One but I did think he had a bit to find. He’s very tough and hardy and stuck at it really well but he’s not very big and he got buffetted about a bit through the race. Dougie [Costello, the jockey] gave him a great ride and got him back into the race.”

Costello, having his first Festival win, was ending a dreadful run of 66 consecutive losers. He reported that one trainer had recently booked him “because you’re on the cold list, like me”.

There were two Irish-trained winners on the Festival’s final day, taking the total for the week to five, the lowest total since 2007 and eight fewer than last year. Four of the successful raiders were trained by members of the Mullins family, Tom landing the County Hurdle with Alderwood to add to the three winners earlier in the week from the stable of his brother, Willie.

“He’s been working very well in the past three weeks,” Mullins said, “and everything was right for him. That’s my first winner and I hope it’s not the last. It’s great to do it and match Tony [another brother] and Willie and my father and my first cousin, Seamus, in having winners at the Festival. I’ve been feeling left out.”

When it was pointed out that all the Irish winners to that point had been Mullins-trained, he replied: “I hope the Irish have more winners than the Mullinses.”

That came to pass when Salsify held off Chapoturgeon in the Foxhunter Chase for Cork-based Rodger Sweeney, ridden by the trainer’s son, Colman. The jockey had shed two stones since November to make the necessary weight.

As on Day Three of the Festival, there were no serious equine injuries to add to the five fatalities through the first two days and nor were there any major problems for the jockeys, though Robert Kirk went to hospital with a suspected neck injury. He was able to walk back to the weighing room.

The final-day crowd was 70,458, a new record for the Festival, and took the total for the four days to 236,730, another record.

Chris Cook

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Filed Under: Cheltenham Festival 2012, Cheltenham News, guardian.co.uk, Horse racing, News, Sport Tagged With: Cheltenham Festival, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls

Cheltenham Festival: day four – in pictures

March 16, 2012 By Tom Jenkins, Steven Bloor, Jonny Weeks

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It’s Gold Cup day at Cheltenham and all eyes are on Kauto Star to see if he can win the prestigious trophy for a third time

Tom Jenkins

Steven Bloor

Jonny Weeks

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Filed Under: Cheltenham Festival 2012, Cheltenham News, Editorial, guardian.co.uk, Horse racing, Sport Tagged With: Cheltenham Festival, Kauto Star

Cheltenham Festival: day four – in pictures

March 16, 2012 By Tom Jenkins, Steven Bloor, Jonny Weeks

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It’s Gold Cup day at Cheltenham and all eyes are on Kauto Star to see if he can win the prestigious trophy for a third time

Tom Jenkins

Steven Bloor

Jonny Weeks

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Filed Under: Cheltenham Festival 2012, Cheltenham News, Editorial, guardian.co.uk, Horse racing, Sport Tagged With: Cheltenham Festival, Kauto Star

Kauto Star almost certain to be retired after pulling up in Gold Cup

March 16, 2012 By Sport: Cheltenham festival | guardian.co.uk

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• ‘I would say it’s 90% certain that he’ll be retired,’ says owner
• Kauto Star the only horse to have ever regained the Gold Cup

After Kauto Star failed to finish in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, his owner, Clive Smith, said it was “90% certain” that the legendary 12-year-old would be retired.

Speaking after the race, Smith said: “The horse seems well in himself but I’ve had a word with Ruby [Walsh]. He said he jumped the first really well and the second really well but when he went to the water jump he just stretched a bit and possibly felt a pain inside.

“Ruby didn’t want to go on because of that – it was probably from the tumble he had two weeks ago. I think we probably will retire him. We said we wouldn’t say anything today but I think it’s a very good bet we’ll do that.

“What a great career he’s had and he’s been a wonderful horse. I’ve been so proud to own him and also the support of everybody has been absolutely tremendous.

“I would say it’s 90% certain that he’ll be retired. Someone will have to come up with a very good reason for me not to retire him.”

Kauto Star is the only horse to have won the King George five times and the only horse to have ever regained the Gold Cup.

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Filed Under: Cheltenham Festival 2012, Cheltenham News, guardian.co.uk, Horse racing, News, Sport Tagged With: Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Kauto Star

Tony McCoy wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup as Kauto Star pulled-up

March 16, 2012 By Will Hayler

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• Synchronised triumphs under never-say-die ride
• Favourite Long Run finishes back in third

Tony McCoy, jump racing’s most famous son, triumphed aboard 8-1 chance Synchronised as former champions Kauto Star pulled-up and Long Run finished third in a dramatic Betfred Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Hopes that Kauto Star might deliver an incredible third success in the race were dashed early on. He lost his position from an early stage and was pulled up by Ruby Walsh before the runners had even completed a circuit of the contest.

Favourite Long Run held every chance at the final fence, but was simply unable to match the determined finish of the winner, who didn’t always jump with aplomb but stayed on determinedly to overhaul the leaders having turned for home back in sixth place.

The Giant Bolster, belying his 50-1 odds, finished a brilliant second, two and a quarter lengths behind the winner with Long Run a further three-quarters of a length back third.

A year ago this week the pint-sized Synchronised was running over four and quarter miles in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter, finishing a laboured third of the four finishers.

But this season has seen a revolution in the form of the JP McManus-owned horse, who took some notable scalps in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on his latest start.

He had been under consideration for the Irish Hennessy last month, but the decision was taken to wait for Cheltenham.

“A big, big team effort has gone into this horse at home,” said trainer Jonjo O’Neill, who himself won the Gold Cup as a jockey aboard Dawn Run in 1986. “He came home and he just wasn’t right and took a long time to recover. I can’t tell you everything, because I’ll give all my secrets away, but he wasn’t right.”

McCoy, whose only previous success in the race came 15 years ago aboard Mr Mulligan, showed his delight as he punched the air all the way back to the winner’s enclosure.

“It was always going to be the case that he might get a bit outpaced and might get into a bit of trouble, but he’s got so much heart,” he said. “Whatever he’s got in class, he’s got so much more in heart. Like me, he’s not a looker, but he’s got more will to win than any other horse I’ve sat on.

“It’s the big races like these that everyone wants to win and I’ve been lucky enough to do it now for JP in this race, the Champion Hurdle and the Grand National. Jonjo was happy and confident and I knew he’d run a big race. People give Jonjo a bit of stick and think that it’s a closed shop at Jackdaws Castle but he’s come here with a few and won three races now this week and I don’t think he gets the recognition he deserves.”

David Bridgwater, trainer of the runner-up, was also celebrating the performance of his charge.

“I’ve put my cock on the block with this horse this season and I told everyone I knew he was good enough to run a big race,” he said.

An unprecedented round of applause had broken out in the stands as Walsh dropped Kauto Star out of the race and trotted him back to the unsaddling area, before watching the climax of the race on the adjacent big screen.

Owner Clive Smith said that there would be no immediate decision over the future of Kauto Star, although he made it clear that he was pleased with the decision of Walsh to pull the horse up rather than persevere.

It was only an hour earlier that McCoy had belatedly broke his duck for the Festival when forcing 20-1 chance Alderwood home in the County Hurdle.

The champion survived interference on the final bend which nearly brought his mount down, gathered the winner together and brought him back to challenge and defeat Edgardo Sol by three-quarters of a length.

Winning trainer Tom Mullins was celebrating his first Festival victory.

“We’ve had a few chances over the years, but I was beginning to think I’d never be able to match Willie (his brother) and my father (Paddy) so this is just brilliant,” he said.

Northern stables have traditionally struggled at the Festival in recent years, but Countrywide Flame supplemented the Coral Cup success earlier this week of the Malcolm Jefferson-trained Cape Tribulation.

An unconsidered 33-1 chance, Countrywide Flame came from a long way off the pace to win the JCB Triumph Hurdle. One of the first to be asked a question by jockey Dougie Costello, he ate up the ground in the closing stages and won going away, beating Hisaabaat by three lengths.

“I expected him to run a good race as he’s never run a poor race over hurdles yet, but I didn’t think he would win,” said Quinn.

“He’s very tough and hardy and stuck at it really well. He’s not very big, and got buffeted about, but he jumped brilliantly.

“I’m delighted to have another winner for the north, I was delighted for Malcolm (Jefferson) on Thursday and I’m delighted for myself today. He’ll go to Aintree now.”

Lucinda Russell became the first Scottish trainer to taste victory at the meeting for 10 years when Brindisi Breeze delivered a high-class performance to floor well-backed favourite Boston Bob.

It was jumping which won the day for the 7-1 chance, as he met every hurdle on the perfect stride, repeatedly taking ground out of his rivals.

Despite showing far less fluency, Boston Bob looked as if he might peg back the leader on the run to the final flight, but another flying leap under Campbell Gillies sealed success for Brindisi Breeze.

“I was getting ready for people to can Campbell for going too soon, but they just kept jumping and galloping and he’s such a genuine horse,” said Russell, whose partner Peter Scudamore is far more familiar with Cheltenham Festival glory from his days in the saddle.

“He’s a real athlete. He had his ears pricked the whole way round.”

Will Hayler

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Filed Under: Cheltenham Festival 2012, Cheltenham News, guardian.co.uk, Horse racing, News, Sport Tagged With: Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Kauto Star, Long Run, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Ruby Walsh, Tony McCoy

Cheltenham Gold Cup preview – video | Chris Cook

March 16, 2012 By Chris Cook, Andy Gallagher, Richard Sprenger

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On the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, Chris Cook looks forward to its highlight, the Gold Cup

Chris Cook

Andy Gallagher

Richard Sprenger

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Filed Under: Cheltenham Festival 2012, Cheltenham News, Editorial, guardian.co.uk, Horse racing, Horse racing tips, Sport Tagged With: Cheltenham, Cheltenham Festival, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Kauto Star

Stable lad Conor Murphy returns to work after £1m win at Cheltenham

March 16, 2012 By Sport: Cheltenham festival | guardian.co.uk

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• Murphy says he is still in shock after accumulator win
• Nicky Henderson describes bet as ‘amazing piece of foresight’

The stable lad Conor Murphy was back at work at Nicky Henderson’s yard this morning despite winning around £1m on a Cheltenham accumulator.

Henderson has sent out six winners at the Festival meeting this week with Murphy having backed five of those late last year to land a bumper pay-out.

Speaking to NewburyToday, Murphy said that he is still in shock after the win. “I still cannot believe it, even this morning it is still sinking in. I haven’t even thought about the money yet. It was just pure luck. I put the bet on just before Christmas in December, I just picked the five best horses and hoped for a lot of luck, I didn’t think much about it.”

Sprinter Sacre kicked off his winning spree with victory in Tuesday’s Arkle, Simonsig in the Neptune Investment Novices’ Hurdle and Bobs Worth in the RSA Chase obliged on Wednesday along with Finian’s Rainbow, who is looked after by Murphy, in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Riverside Theatre’s win in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday sealed the bonanza for Murphy despite his poor start. “From the moment it set off it never looked like winning, he made loads of mistakes and looked miles off. I could not believe it when he came back to win,” he said. “I wasn’t really thinking about the bet when they all started coming in; you try so hard to get even one winner here, the day just draws you in.”

Speaking on Friday morning, Henderson said he was delighted for Murphy: “Everybody here is absolutely thrilled for him. It was just an amazing piece of foresight. Just the chances of all five getting to Cheltenham and all of them running in the right races, that would be long odds, particularly as with Simonsig we didn’t even know what race he would be running in until the other week. The chances of them getting there must have been at least 100-1 and the chances of them all winning, that must have been a 1,000,000-1.”

Henderson described Murphy as one of the “linchpins here [at the stables]” saying: “He’s the most lovely man, though, a fantastic guy and very quiet. He rides out Finian’s Rainbow every day of the week and he would probably know more than anyone else in the world about that horse.”

The only Henderson-trained winner Murphy did not have in his accumulator was Une Artiste, who triumphed in Wednesday’s Fred Winter at 40-1. However, Henderson revealed that Murphy could not possibly have included that filly as she was not even part of his team at the time he placed the bet. “He’s backed five out of our six winners and he couldn’t even have backed the other one as she wasn’t in the yard then, she was still in France,” he said.