by CLAIRE SIBLOT THE market for the Champion Hurdle was shaken up recently when Willie Mullins announced that his star hurdler Faugheen will not defend his crown in the premier 2m hurdle race of the season at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Mullins announced that Faugheen had suffered a suspensory ligament injury, which rules him …[Read More]
THE dreams start now. The crisp autumnal mornings give birth to the hopes of hundreds of owners, trainers and jockeys. Jump racing is back in earnest this month and with it the glorious visions of Cleeve Hill in March and Aintree in April. But there’s no need to remind Richard Johnson. He has already amassed …[Read More]
SOMEBODY asked me who I was going to back for the Champion Hurdle the other day. I replied in the style of Ruby Walsh: “I’m going to wait until the last possible moment and consider all the options. Why the rush?” Ruby must be getting bored of being quizzed about who he is going to …[Read More]
by MICHAEL SUTTON There will be few more popular winners at the Cheltenham Festival than if Rock On Ruby wins the World Hurdle. The Festival at Cheltenham in 2015 is already shaping up to be an illustrious roll call of former winners. There may be no Quevega this year but Willie Mullins will still be sending Hurricane …[Read More]
THE Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock is not always the most informative when it comes to the Cheltenham Festival. Rooster Booster was the last Champion Hurdler to win it and that was in 2004, a year after he slalomed up the hill to victory in the big one. But I’ve not totally given up on …[Read More]
THERE were Cheltenham Festival clues aplenty at the weekend’s International meeting at Prestbury Park. The New One grabbed most of the headlines and confirmed his status as favourite for the Champion Hurdle with a fluent success in the StanJames.com International Hurdle. I suspect the winning margin would have been bigger if he hadn’t rapped the …[Read More]
ALAN King must have walked under a few ladders this season. It is fair to say his luck has been out and his vets must be among the busiest in racing. Consider some of the King big guns who will be absent from the Cheltenham Festival: Medermit, Montbazon, Invictus and Batonnier to name a few. …[Read More]
Jack Milner of BetVictor previews day one of the Cheltenham Festival. THE only thing bigger than the anticipation of the first day of the festival is the roar of the crowd before the Supreme Novices Hurdle. A year’s worth of ante-post scribbling, analysis and portfolio-building is now meaningless, and it boils down to horse and …[Read More]
RACNG is a joyous sport. But it does have the ability to leave you with a gut-wrenching feeling of emptiness. The sad death of Darlan was such a moment today. Here was the heir to the Champion Hurdle throne, lobbing along at the last flight on his way to a likely victory, but within a …[Read More]
THE weather is awful and the picture is decidedly foggy surrounding the Champion Hurdle. Looking for ante-post value has been made more difficult by the interrupted preparations of so many of the main contenders. But with the last four winners among the 34 entered, it could be the toughest race to win at the Cheltenham …[Read More]
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