Cheltenham takes centre stage
There is no finer sight than a competitive field of steeplechasers battling it out around Cheltenham in front of the TV cameras and that is the treat jump fans can look forward to next week.
Prestbury Park hosts the weekend’s major meeting, when the feature race on Saturday is the £110,000 (€159,400) bonusprint.com Gold Cup over two miles five furlongs.
Champion trainer Martin Pipe took the first of Cheltenham’s major handicap chases last month, the Paddy Power Gold Cup, with subsequent Hennessy hero Celestial Gold, and he is sure to have a very strong hand again.
The Nicholashayne yard is expected to be represented by Our Vic, who was the stable’s first choice for the Paddy Power until injury ruled him out. He has been targeted at next Saturday’s race ever since and is sure to attract plenty of interest from punters.
The last two runnings of the race formerly known as the Tripleprint Gold Cup have been won by Nicky Henderson with Iris Royal and Fondmort, and the latter is entered again.
Paddy Power placed horses Thisthatandtother and Monkerhostin could also spice up the contest, along with the likes of Armaturk, Farmer Jack and Redemption, and it is certainly a race to savour.
Main event on a notably high-class undercard is the Grade Two totesport Bula Hurdle, which is sure to attract a host of Champion Hurdle hopefuls and is the intended target of former champion Rooster Booster.
Channel 4’s cameras will be at the course on Friday, too, when one of the contests on show is the Sporting Index Handicap Chase over the track’s cross country course.
Feature event is the £50,000 (€72,400) Mears Group Handicap Chase over an extended three miles and a furlong, won last season by Kingscliff.
Doncaster also performs for the cameras on Saturday, while there are a couple of Grade Two events at Lingfield in the December Novices’ Chase and the Summit Junior Hurdle.
The midweek fare is modest, but Rakti heads a host of Flat stars in action in the Far East next Sunday when Sha Tin stages the Hong Kong international meeting featuring the Mile, the Sprint, the Cup and the Vase.
Fixtures (Flat in capitals)
Monday: Ayr, Newcastle, WOLVERHAMPTON
Tuesday: Fontwell, Sedgefield, SOUTHWELL
Wednesday: Leicester, LINGFIELD, Newbury
Thursday: Huntingdon, Ludlow, Taunton
Friday: Cheltenham (C4), Doncaster. WOLVERHAMPTON
Saturday: Cheltenham (C4), Doncaster (C4), Lingfield, SOUTHWELL, WOLVERHAMPTON.
Sunday: Musselburgh, SOUTHWELL
