The Greatest Show on Earth

Ask a racing fan when his wife's birthday is, and he may have to pause momentarily to assure himself of the correct answer. Ask him when the Cheltenham racing festival takes place, and you can be certain of a swift response: mid-March.

Cheltenham racecourse is composed of an outstanding natural landscape. The rolling hills of the Cotswalds coupled with the sharp backdrop of Cleeve Hill help to create the unique experience that is Cheltenham. Ancient Romans flocked in the thousands to the Coliseum to watch great battles. Aspiring gladiators challenged reigning champions, new heroes were crowned and old warriors carried out on their shields.

Modern times and racing fans will wend their path to Cheltenham, a magnificent natural amphitheatre to rival that of Rome, and similar scenes can be expected. Former champions will return, some will leave victorious, and others, having given there all, will be deposed.

In terms of National Hunt racing, the Cheltenham Festival is the greatest show on earth. The whole of the National Hunt season leads to this one week. Expectations will be high, hopes will be dashed, and new champions will be crowned.

If you have never been to Cheltenham, there are two things you must know, which you cannot realize or grasp through the pixels of a TV screen. The roar of the crowd during a driving finish is incredible - the sound reverberates around the venue - and it's amazing to see that the horses are not unnerved.

Secondly, the climb up the hill toward the finish line as seen on TV is far steeper than it appears. When you have the opportunity to stand at the last hurdle and gaze upward toward the finish line, you quickly appreciate how brave the horses are in their battle from the last, and you begin to understand why the complexion of the race can change many times over that short distance.

Whether you choose to watch from the comfort of your own home or from the Cheltenham grandstand, excitement is assured. You will be treated to four days of high-quality racing, laced with thrills and spills.



Top Jockeys and Trainers
If a trainer or jockey has one winner at the festival, it brings with it significant bragging rights. The competition at the festival is fierce, so to claim the mantle of leading rider or trainer is a significant achievement. Each year, The Ritz Club sponsors the leading jockey and trainer awards, and the list of recipients of the Ritz Club trophies reads like a who's who of racing.

This year we can expect that the names added to the honour roll will be familiar ones. The all-conquering Ruby Walsh and Paul Nicholls are hot favourites in their respective classes with such artillery as Kauto Star and Twist Magic.



Key Races
Cheltenham Gold Cup - This is potentially one of the most exciting races we will see for years, as it will provide the stage for the first clash of the Paul Nicholls' stablemates Kauto Star and Denman. These are two outstanding chasers. Kauto Star was victorious in this race last year, whilst Denman was last season's leading novice.

This year they have been specifically campaigned to ensure that their first clash would be in chasings elite contest, the Gold Cup. Kauto Star had a faltering start to his season when he tasted a shocking defeat at the hands of Monet's Garden in Aintree's Old Roan Chase. He has since gotten his season back on track with repeat victories in the Betfair Chase and the King George.

Denman is in the ascendancy this season, and with a breathtaking victory in the Hennessy, which he followed up with victory in the Lexus Chase, he is now a chasing star. Blessed with bundles of class and a high cruising speed, his slick jumping will be putting his rivals, including Kauto Star, to the test from some way out in this race.

With these two outstanding horses heading the field, it's hard to see how, barring accidents, that any other horse will get a look in. Last year's placed horses Exotic Dancer and Turpin Green will be back in an effort to gain revenge. Aces Four from the Ferdy Murphy stable will form part of the new generation seeking glory, and with a clear round of jumping, this horse is more than capable of making his way into the frame.

Champion Hurdle - When punters think of this race, a string of racing greats springs to mind. Recent years have seen domination by the Irish challengers, including last year's glorious victory of Sublimity. Previous to that, Brave Inca landed the spoils, whilst dual winner Hardy Eustace and three-time winner Istabraq landed previous runnings.

The gallant grey, Rooster Booster, is the most recent home-trained winner, and this year's renewal is an intriguing one in so far as it is possible to make a strong case for a number of the contenders.

Straw Bear will be the leading home contender, but I would readily dismiss this one on the basis that, despite finishing runner-up in the Supreme Novice Hurdle, he is not ideally suited for the undulations of the unique Cheltenham course. Osanna was a ready winner of the Boylesports Hurdle and is on hand to strengthen the home challenge, along with last season's leading juvenile hurdler, Katchit.

The Irish Challenge is a similar mixed bunch, and despite being the reigning champion, Sublimity still has plenty to prove. He folded tamely behind Osana in the Boylesports, and he will need to repeat last year's victory before he is accepted amongst the ranks of racing greats. Hardy Eustace and Harchibald are standing dishes in these two-mile championship events, and their presence is assured again this year.

Whatever the outcome of this race, it's unlikely that we will be blown away by the performance, and whatever horse you choose to punt, it is likely to have many detractors - so whatever you choose, you probably won't be far wrong, as plenty will be in contention turning for home.

Champion Chase - This is traditionally one of the more exciting races at the festival, as the equine elite jump 10 fences at speeds of up to 40 mph over the minimum trip of two miles. Recent years have seen great battles between Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop, and Well Chief.

More recently, Voy Por Ustedes has claimed the mantle of champion chaser, and he returns this year to defend his crown. Opposition is thin on the ground, and the Paul Nicholls-trained Tingle Creek Chase winner Twist Magic is the only opposition that warrants further consideration in a substandard renewal of the contest. Irish challenger Mansony is probably next best, but needs to improve a little further still to ruffle the feathers of the leading two.

World Hurdle - This race was formerly run under the guise of the Stayer's Hurdle, and recent renewals have seen Inglis Drever record back-to-back victories. This year he will start a warm favourite in his bid to record a hat trick of victories. Wichita Lineman and Blazing Baily will prove to be the toughest opposition on the day, but both have their work cut out to deprive Inglis Drever of his hat trick.

Ryanair Chase - A recent addition to the race schedule, the Ryanair Chase is designed to cater to the horses that find the slog of the Gold Cup a bit too much, and that find the speed of the Champion Chase taking them off their feet.

Thus far, we have been treated to some magnificent runnings of this race, and when you take a look at the likely protagonists for the upcoming renewal, an exciting race looks to be in store.

My Way De Solzen, Our Vic, Jack The Giant, The Listener, and Monet's Garden have won a host of races this season, and between them, they make up the bulk of the home challenge. The Irish contingent will consist of the much improved Mossbank and the infrequently seen In Compliance. There isn't a lot to choose between the main protagonists, and I suspect another thrilling finish will be in store this year, with many in contention turning for home.

Supreme Novice Hurdle - When the tapes go up for the traditional curtain raiser of the festival, and as the runners make their initial climb up the Cheltenham hill, they will be met with an almighty cheer from the crowd. This race can easily be distilled into two categories - the overhyped Irish favorite versus the unassuming English challengers.

Historically, this has been a fierce betting heat, with past winners including Brave Inca, Like A Butterfly, Noland, and Arcalais. Last year, the Irish outsider Ebaziyan landed the spoils in a race in which the Irish were apparently poorly represented.

This year, the principals include last year's Champion Bumper winner Cork All Star, who looks certain to improve for the expected better underfoot conditions than which he has been performing during the winter months. Noel Meade has a disappointing record at the festival, but this year his challenge in the shape of Muirhead looks very worthy of further consideration. The English challenge comes in the form of the Nicky Henderson-trained Khyber Kim and the Paul Nicholls-trained Breedsbreeze.

Triumph Hurdle - Twenty-something inexperienced juvenile hurdlers, racing at breakneck speeds over the minimum trip, is a minefield for punters. More recently, Katchit and Detroit City have proved to be of a higher standard than some previous winners, but this year we may not be so lucky. The leading challengers consist of Celestial Halo from the Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh partnership, and Franchoek from the Alan King stable, which has been successful in two of the last three runnings of the event. Whichever horse you choose to back, good luck, because you are going to need it in this race.

Arkle Novices Chase - This is one of the most exciting and intriguing races of the festival, as young pretenders seek confirmation that they have made the transfer from promising hurdler and embryonic chaser to leading novice. The past winners of this race read like an all-star cast of racing greats. Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop, and Flagship Uberalles have landed this prize in the past, while more recently we have seen My Way De Solzen and Voy Por Ustedes claim the honour.

This year's collection of two-mile novice chasers does not appear to be an inspiring bunch. The promising Tidal Bay rates a worthy favourite for the Howard Johnson stable, with David Pipe's Acambo adding to the home challenge. Ireland's principal representation is likely to come in the shape of Glencove Marina and last year's County Hurdle winner Pedrobob.

Champion Bumper - This is a race that, thus far, has been farmed by the Irish challengers, with Irish stables providing the winner for 12 of the last 15 runnings. This race often provides a springboard for greatness, as the list of past winners includes Florida Pearl, Monsignor, and Alexander Banquet, to name but a few. The home challenge will be led by Wincanton winner The Nightingale, and impressive Newbury winner The Big Orse.

However, the Irish again look to have a stranglehold on the event, and this year it looks within the grasp of the hugely impressive Leopardstown winner Time Electric. Every so often, a special horse comes along that takes your eye out. This is him, and I expect to hear plenty more of him in the years to come. In the absence of Time Electric, I would be a major fan of The Big Orse, who also looks highly promising.

Cross County Chase - What this race lacks in class it makes up for in spectacle and excitement. In completing the three-mile, seven-furlong course, the horses will jump hurdles, fences, stone walls, logs, banks, double banks, ditches, and more.

In its short time on the schedule, this has been a race held tightly by the market principles. The Irish have also had a good run with Spot The Difference and Heads On The Ground securing victories. One bookmaker is famed for describing this race as "the one where they go around and around in the middle of the course until the favorite is in front and then they run up the home straight." It might not be the most attractive of betting opportunities, but it will certainly provide plenty of excitement.

Horses to Watch
Kauto Star - The reigning Gold Cup champion will be out to repeat his victory. If he has a chink in his armor, it is that he is prone to the odd blunder and has fallen at the festival before. That said, he is the one they all have to beat.

Denman - It's unusual to highlight two horses in the same race, but this one proves the exception. His flawless jumping is matched only by his near flawless race record, which reads 12 starts, 11 wins, one second. His only defeat came in the Sun Alliance Hurdle, where Nicanor proved to have too much speed for him after the last.

Inglis Drever - Formerly a high-class novice hurdler and now the leading staying hurdler in training by some way. He's seeking a hat trick of victories in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, so it's difficult to see how he won't be passing the post in front.

Voy Por Ustedes - Despite being deposed as the favourite for the Champion Chase by Twist Magic, he is still the one they have to beat. Cheltenham brings out the best of him, and in a race in which only two seem to count, this chap is the value.

Time Electric - Special is the word I choose to describe this horse. He was superbly impressive in his debut victory at the Leopardstown Christmas festival, and he looks to be a horse with a very bright future. He looks certain to improve for the expected better ground at the Cheltenham Festival; the 14/1 that's currently available will look like massive value when the day arrives.

According To John - Third in last year's Sun Alliance Chase behind Denman, this horse appears to be very well handicapped. His season has been curtailed by niggling training problems, and his festival target looks uncertain. One thing that is certain is that whichever race he runs in at the festival, he will be worth backing.

Snowy Morning - His long-term target may be the Grand National, but he seems to be very well treated and he looks capable of being competitive in the William Hill Handicap Chase.

Chomba Womba - Cheltenham has added a mares-only hurdle to wrap up proceedings, and this mare may well wrap things up for the punters. Formerly trained in Ireland but now in the care of Nicky Henderson, she has been extremely impressive this season and looks worth following.

Kia Kaha - He's somewhat inexperienced, but he was the subject of a mighty gamble at the Paddy Power meeting. Running in the colors of JP McManus, this chap looks like he may be competitive in the County Hurdle.

Roll Along - A former course winner over hurdles, this chap has always looked like he would make it as a chaser. The Sun Alliance Chase will be a competitive affair, and he may prove to be the answer.

Cheltenham Facts and Figures
• 50,000 people will attend each of the four days of racing; 10,000 of them will be Irish.
• More than 200,000 pints of Guinness are consumed at the festival.
• In excess of £500 million in bets will be wagered at the Cheltenham festival.
• The Cheltenham festival is comprised of 25 races.
• The richest race of the week is the Gold Cup, which carries a prize pool of £425,000.