UK Horse Racing Tips

Hi Horseracingtips.org.uk ,

Just wanted to let you know about what we’re up to for Cheltenham on Sunday

We’ve got the exclusive rights to livestream the official Cheltenham Festival preview from Cheltenham on Sunday 19.00! Our colleague Dean will be on the panel, giving tips and asking questions the public ask on twitter (using #askOLBG). It should be an excellent event so we’d love it if you felt the urge to shout about it and participate yourself!

The livestream will be here – (event over)

We will be giving and taking loads of valuable tips and insider insights on the night so it’s well worth watching!

Cheers
Jess

National Hunt racing doesn’t get any better than the 2013 Cheltenham Festival. For excitement, anticipation and passion make sure you are part of the action with four days of outstanding racing from the 12th – 15th March.

Bring racing alive.

Friday 15th March sees the most prestigious of all National Hunt races – the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This race is open to horses five years and older contesting a distance of 3m 21/2f . Often referred to as the Blue Riband of jump-racing, it was inaugurated in 1924 when Red Splash led the way, trained by Fred Withington and ridden by Dick Rees. 

This race has been won by a number of outstanding horses, many becoming part of our rich racing heritage.

Only three horses have won this race aged five, all in the 1920 -30s. The most notable being a true racing legend Golden Miller. The oldest winning horses were Silver Fame (1951) & What A Myth (1969). Both were twelve years old. Since 1970, no horse has won aged over ten years. 

Easter Hero, trained by Jack Anthony, was the first horse to win the race in consecutive years (1929 – 30). However, this record was put in the shade by the outstanding talent of Golden Miller who – still to this day – is the most successful race horse having won five times 1932 – 1936. He may well have won in 1937 but for the race being abandoned due to the course flooding. Just for good measure, he won the Grand National in 1934. He was the only horse to have ever done this in the same year. A statue of Golden Miller stands tall near the parade ring at Cheltenham Racecourse. 

We had to wait until 1948 to see another inspirational horse who heralded the talents of trainer Vincent O’Brien. Remarkably Cottage Rake failed three different vet examinations before starting his jumping career. Owned by Frank Vickerman, this Irish horse won the Gold Cup three times in succession. This horse helped the Gold Cup become popular with Irish race fans.

In 1964 Arkle won his first of three races, trained by Tom Dreaper, and owned by the Duchess of Westminster. He became a racing legend. This Irish-bred horse was  said to gain his strength from drinking Guinness twice a day. He is the highest rated steeplechaser by Timeform (212).    

In 1970 we saw another supreme talent in the shape of L’Escgot. He went on to win the race the following year and often remembered for halting the winning run of Red Rum in the 1975 Grand National. 

Other favourites include Burrough Hill Lad (1984), Dawn Run, the most successful racemare in the history of National Hunt racing. She was the only horse to complete the Champion Hurdle – Gold Cup double. And the only horse to complete the English, Irish & French Champion Hurdle treble. Another favourite was seen with Desert Orchid, the popular winning grey in 1989. Many still recall his bold-jumping style and iron will to beat the mud loving Yahoo in a race to the line.

In more recent times Best Mate, trained by Henrietta Knight and ridden Jim Culloty, proved victorious winning three consecutive races from 2002. He was one of the most loved horses in the history of horse racing in the UK. He matched the record of Arkle. He was never out of the first two in all his 22 starts or fell at a fence or hurdle. His career earning were over one million pounds.

Kauto Star was the first horse ever to regain the Gold Cup in 2009 after being successful two years earlier. His trainer, Paul Nicholls, won the race in 2008 with Denman. 

Synchronised is the most recent winner when ridden by Tony McCoy, in the familiar racing silks of J.P. McManus. 

Long Run won the race in 2011 and makes a return to this year’s 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup. He is one of the major fancies alongside rivals such as Bobs Worth, Sir Des Champs, Silviniaco Conti & First Lieutenant.
What’s your fancy for the big race? 

The World Hurdle, formerly the Stayers’ Hurdle, is run over 3 miles on the New Course at Cheltenham and forms the centrepiece of the third day of the Cheltenham Festival. The most notable absentee from this year’s renewal, due off at 3.20 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, 2013, is Paul Nicholls’ 10-year-old Big Buck’s, who suffered a tendon injury in December and isn’t expected to race again before November.

The absence of Big Buck’s, who’s won the last four renewals of the World Hurdle, means that the contest has a more open look to it this year. Nicky Henderson’s 8-year-old Oscar Whisky (4/1) heads the betting, but is closely attended by Nick Williams’ 8-year-old Reve De Sivola (5/1) and Noel Meade’s 6-year-old Monksland (6/1).

Reve De Sivola is rated 1lb inferior to Oscar Whisky, according to official BHA ratings, but beat Nicky Henderson’s charge by a neck in the Cleeve Hurdle, over 3 miles on heavy going, at Cheltenham in January. Reve De Sivola reverted to the smaller obstacles in December, after nearly a year off, and has thrived since. He finished second, beaten 9 lengths, behind Big Buck’s in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his seasonal reappearance and followed that performance with an impressive 14-length win in the Long Walk Hurdle, over 3 miles 1 furlong at Ascot, later the same month. He’s clearly a force to be reckoned with at this level and, although his two wins this season came on heavy going, he won on good and soft going as a novice.

Oscar Whisky also has excellent credentials, having failed by just a neck to overhaul Reve De Sivola in the Cleeve Hurdle on only his second attempt 2 miles 4½ furlongs. He ran in the World Hurdle last year, finishing fifth, beaten 13½ lengths by Big Buck’s and, strictly on that form, is held by Alan King’s 6-year-old Smad Place (20/1). However, now that he’s conclusively proved his stamina over 3 miles, there may be more to come from the Oscar gelding and he deserves his position at the head of the market.

Monksland finished third, beaten 18 lengths, by Simonsig in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and has won two of his three starts this season. He appeared to improve for the step up to 3 miles in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and although he’s rated inferior, by some way, to Oscar Whisky and Reve De Sivola, according to the BHA, he remains unexposed over staying distances.

Donald McCain’s 8-year-old Peddlers Cross (12/1), who finished second in the 2011 Champion Hurdle, is another who’s reverted to hurdles this season after an unsuccessful spell over fences. He’s only rated slightly inferior to Oscar Whisky and Reve De Sivola, according to the BHA, but had to work harder than expected to beat Cue To Cue, to whom he’s rated 35lb superior, in a small race over 2 miles 6 furlongs at Musselburgh earlier this month. Whether he’s still worthy of a handicap mark of 165 is debatable.

The Cheltenham Festival  2013. 

From Tuesday 12th – Friday 15th March we witness four days of outstanding racing.  Bring racing alive.

Tuesday 12th March – Champion Day

The roar of the crowd…

Gates open at 10:30am First race: 1:30pm Last race: 5:15pm 

Wednesday 13th March – Ladies Day

Here come the girls…

Gates open 10:30am First race: 1:30pm Last race: 5:15pm 

Thursday 14th March – St Patrick’s Thursday 

Join the party…

Gates open 10:30am First race 1:30pm Last race: 5:15pm   

Friday 15th March – Cheltenham Gold Cup Day 

It’s showtime…

Gates open: 10:30am First race 1:30pm  Last race: 5:15pm