Cheltenham Festival.

Nicholls keen on Kauto Star's Gold Cup chance


CHAMPION trainer Paul Nicholls was brimming with confidence on Wednesday about the chances of Kauto Star regaining his crown in the Totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham in three weeks time as he predicted "he is the one they have to beat."


Speaking at his press open day, Nichols said of the nine-year-old who bounced back to his best when winning the King George for a third time: "We have learned now that he needs to be fresh.

"There are not many horses who have had the defeats he has had - like against Denman last year - and bounced back to show top-class form. I think Kempton on Boxing Day was one of his very best runs.

"We are going to Cheltenham this time with him fresh, and knowing that he does stay and does go on soft ground.

"I am very happy with him, and think he is the one they have to beat."


Almost sharing second-favouritism with last year's Gold Cup hero Denman is last weekend's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner Neptune Collonges, who restored his reputation following an uncharacteristic fall in Ireland over Christmas.

"He has now won three Grade ones in Ireland and who knows what would have happened had he stood up there over Christmas as he does gallop right to the line," Nicholls continued.

"He was back here Monday morning at 7am after running on Sunday and has got over that well.

"He will start cantering tomorrow and is a year younger than Kauto and Denman so there could still be improvement in him.

"He is right in the mix in the Gold Cup and wasn't beaten far last year, although he did have the race run to suit.

"He only has to improve a couple of lengths on last year."

Nice pic on the home page of Kauto and Denman

I see Martin Pipe is on holiday in SA, is he visiting any racetracks???

Pipe has 26 of 216 entries in Pipe festvial handicap


THE new Cheltenham Festival race being staged in honour of jumping legend Martin Pipe has attracted a modern day record for the meeting of 216 entries - and a colossal 26 of them hail from the stable of the former champion trainer's son David.

None of the other festival handicaps, for which entries were revealed on Thursday, attracted more than 150 possible runners, but the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, a 2m41/2f handicap with a 0-140 rating barrier, has immediately established its popularity.

David Pipe said: "It would obviously be fantastic to win the race, especially its first running, and Dad, who is on holiday in South Africa, has been on the phone checking to see what I've entered!"


Like Pipe, Tony Martin knows how to make the knees of bookmakers wobble, and he did so once again when four of the trainer's horses figured prominently at the head of Coral's first show of betting on a selection of the festival handicaps.

Martin, who saddled Xenophon to land the 2003 Coral Cup, is responsible for both the sponsor's and Totesport's 10-1 favourite for the 2009 running, though the horse in question, Psycho, is also Coral's 8-1 joint-favourite with Numide for the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.



RELATED LINKS

* »William Hill Trophy card
* »Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle card

Martin's presence towards the head of the handicaps' markets is far from restricted to the meeting's hurdles events, with novices Clarified and Northern Alliance two of three 10-1 co-favourites for the Festival Plate, for which former Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle victor Massini's Maguire is the other market leader.



In addition, Clarified, Northern Alliance and stablemate Aggie's Lad are all bracketed among the 12-1 co-second favourites for the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase, which has Massini's Maguire and last year's Coral Cup winner Naiad Du Misselot as its 10-1 joint-favourites. Northern Alliance is also one of five 10-1 co-favourites with Coral for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.

The Francois Doumen-trained Millenium Royal is the sponsors8-1 favourite for the William Hill Trophy, for which Totesport make Can't Buy Time 10-1 market leader.

CHAMPION HURDLE favourite Binocular was one of a number of Cheltenham Festival prospects to be put through their paces at Nicky Henderson's Seven Barrows base on Thursday morning.

The five-year-old is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles this season and is as short as even-money to claim the Smurfit Kappa-sponsored hurdling crown next month.

He popped over four hurdles on Thursday morning to ready him for the task ahead, while Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate Barbers Shop was another to be seen in action.

"Everything went very well and we schooled the whole lot this morning - it was their last real school before Cheltenham," said Henderson.

"Binocular went very well and we may look to give him a racecourse gallop somewhere but we will see.

"Barbers Shop and numerous others also worked and we were very happy with all of them.

"Barry (Geraghty) and AP (McCoy) were both here so everything is ready. It's been a very, very busy morning.

Possibly true Cat,but get a few mails from Les etc this one is from James Goodman.
Many don't post on site as they expect stick, so they prefer to just read.
Its difficult for me to get local stories to match the overseas press, and to be fair I rely on the locals to help contribute to the site on SA news.

Dave
Its a few years since i went to Cheltenham but will be going this year so am interested in your thoughts.
Should be a gr8 meeting and i am so looking forward to being there.
Kind Regards
James

Wonderful.

I will be in London on the morning of 6 March and will be at a Coral’s betting shop asap.

They might change their mind before then if they have a deluge of bets.

Regret I still have not decided whether it is worth my while to get onto the Internet at home.


See you on Saturday.

Les

So for me, its worth it.

I made the trip to Cheltenham in 2005 and, frankly, since then I have pretty much lost all interest in South African racing unless I am desperate for a bet.

Cheltenham rekindled all the 'romance' which used to captivate me in the local fare when I was younger ; the crowds, the horses, the recognition of the athlete, the excitement of the betting ring ( about 300 bookmakers ), the sheer spectacle of the event.

We somewhat lamely laud the July & Met. With respect - they are barely even race meetings any longer as they are populated by the 'beautiful people', socialites and serial binge drinkers. Horses barely get a mention in most of the hospitality tents.

At Cheltenham there is only one topic - the business in hand. And once you have seen them turn for home down that famous hill into the dip and thereafter dig deep up the dog leg finish most other racing venues are comparatively a mite trivial.

But , hey, that's just my opinion and I am not asking anyone to agree with me. I can pretty much predict that Tellytrack won't as it is sure to cut into the festival's Grade 1 events to show us PE and other notable centres. They have done it every year in the past so why stop now.......

As to local interest in the event - who knows. Much of it probably takes place on Betfair so it is probably difficult to guage. Only nutters and the disadvantaged would put up with the tote dividends.........

Thank you Garrick a perfect reply.

I for one enjoy the international flavour of this site so keep it going Scotia. Watching the best horses at the top of their game wherever they are in the world is surely better than watching some MR60 handicap at an empty track in SA.

I went to the Cheltenham Gold Cup last year to watch Denman take on Kauto. Whilst Im a flat racing fan thru and thru and dont enjoy the potential dangers of jump racing one can only marvel at the athletisicm of the jump horses, the strength and fearless attitude of the jockeys and the general excitement of the racing public. The racecourse is also set in the rolling hills of the beautiful Cotswolds and must be one of the most scenic courses in the world.

GB is 100% correct about the racing being virtually the sole attraction, which is the trend of UK racing in general. There are so many ardent racing fans in the UK, which creates a great atmosphere and real sense of appreciation for the sport.

The Denman VS Kauto rivalry last year captured the imagination of the entire country. Denman put Kauto to the sword with a performance that will probably never be matched again. Kauto will be close to odds on to win again with Denman battling to regain form after his heart problems.

Cats, I dont know u from a bar of soap and can only form an opinion based on your postings but it seems u have an intense dislike for everyone and everything excluding yourself and your own views. Quoting Robert Mugabe does lend any credibility to your intelligence and I advise u to open your mind and take a trip to the Cheltenham festival if u ever find yourself in the UK. I have a hunch that being the passionate racing fan that u undoubtably are, u might actually enjoy yourself...

Cat

Jumps racing is referred to as "National Hunt" and is relevant to local racing. Many a time I have heard racing people referring to a less than brilliant ride by a jockey as "he made a National Hunt of that one, didn't he !!"

I will be in the UK for the festival this year. I am so looking forward to it, the excitement is unbearable. I am looking for others of a similar mind to form a circle with. Are you in ?

Enjoy Gajima, hope work doesn't get in the way?