News & Media

There is now less than a week until jump racing’s showpiece event gets underway.

Here’s the latest instalment of our daily digest ahead of the Green Team’s invasion of Prestbury Park…

Twelve left standing in Champion Hurdle

State Man leads the dozen contenders left in the running for the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.

The two-time Irish Champion Hurdle winner is joined by stablemates Lossiemouth, also left in the Mares’ Hurdle, Zarak The Brave and Echoes In Rain from Closutton while Irish Point and Pied Piper represent Gordon Elliott.

Nicky Henderson, who saw stable star Constitution Hill ruled out through injury earlier this week, has supplemented Iberico Lord.

Faugheen groom turns back the clock

Speaking of the Champion Hurdle, few can forget when Faugheen triumphed in the race nine years ago.

His groom, John Codd, had one of the best seats in the house and told Denis Kirwan how he kept a cool head while all around him lost theirs.

McManus snaps up key contenders

JP McManus has added Meetingofthewaters and Its On The Line to his team of Festival chances ahead of the big kick-off.

Meetingofthewaters, trained by Willie Mullins, is currently the 5/1 favourite for the Ultima – a race not won by an Irish trainer since 2006.

The seven-year-old won the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas but unseated Brian Hayes on his return to Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival a month ago.

Regarding the acquisition, McManus's racing manager Frank Berry told The Racing Post: "Meetingofthewaters looks a nice progressive chaser and he was very good when winning the Paddy Power at Leopardstown over Christmas. He was impressive there and looks like he's a decent chance next week. Hopefully he's lucky and he's a nice addition."

Its On The Line, favourite for the Hunters’ Chase, has won four of his last five outings and is trained by Emmet Mullins.

Cromwell confirms Stayers’ route

Yesterday’s column revealed Gavin Cromwell ‘leaning towards’ the Stayers’ Hurdle for Flooring Porter – today the trainer has confirmed his star will go for a hat-trick.

Writing in his William Hill Racing blog, Cromwell said: “He’s in mighty form at home and we know how well he goes at Cheltenham and in this race so we’re looking forward to it.

“He schools over both fences and hurdles at home, and we just feel the Stayers’ Hurdle suits him better and is the race he has the best chance in.”

The National Hunt Chase had been his other option but now the 2021 and 2022 winner – and half of Galway, led by the Flooring Porter syndicate – will now take centre stage in Thursday’s feature.

Weather watch in Gloucestershire

It has been a dry and mild day in Cheltenham and another is expected tomorrow.

Rain is due to arrive on Friday evening into Saturday morning, with more showers expected on Sunday.

Did you know…

Five tons of cheese are apparently eaten during the course of the week by hungry Festival-goers.

That’s in addition to nine tons of potatoes and five tons of salmon, the majority of which one would have to assume are devoured in the various executive and hospitality boxes.

Trivia

Yesterday we asked which RTE and Racing TV pundit was unshipped from Oscar Delta when poised to win the Foxhunter Chase in 2013?

The answer, of course, is Jane Mangan.

Today’s teaser: Who was the last Irish-trained winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase in 2006, and who were the jockey-trainer duo responsible for the success?