Big three all stand their ground in Champion Chase
In what could be race of the Festival, only Mister McGoldrick and Native Upmanship were withdrawn from the two-mile showpiece at yesterday’s five-day confirmation stage.
Azertyuiop’s trainer Paul Nicholls still has Armaturk, Cenkos and Kadarann engaged, with Well Chief’s handler Martin Pipe also having the Oliver Carter-owned Venn Ottery entered.
nKieren Fallon has been granted a licence which will enable him to ride in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival next week.
The six-time champion Flat jockey is expected to get the leg up on the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Refinement, who runs in the colours of Michael Tabor.
Fallon successfully applied to the Jockey Club for a jumps licence that will restrict him to riding in National Hunt Flat races, similar to the licence granted to Michael Hills in 2003 when he rode Be Fair in the same race.
Jamie Spencer, whom Fallon replaced at No. 1 jockey at Coolmore last month, is also planning to ride in next Wednesday’s closing event aboard the Martin Pipe-trained Buena Vista.
He landed the race in 2002 on Edward O’Grady’s Pizarro, who just edged out the Magnier-owned Rhinestone Cowboy in a pulsating finish.
nGeorge Duffield yesterday announced his retirement from the saddle after giving up on his battle to recover from an injured shoulder.
The 58-year-old rider hurt himself when a two-year-old reared up on him in the stalls at his wife Anne’s base in Yorkhire last July, and underwent surgery to repair the damage.
Duffield, who rode his first winner in 1967, ends his career 10th in the all-time British list with 2,547 victories, 46 winners behind Edward Hide.
