Cheltenham Festival Races

This Grade 1 race, with a distance of 2 miles 5 furlongs over 17 fences on Turf, is for horses over 5 years old. Registered as the Festival Trophy Chase, but sponsored by Ryanair, the total prize money is £300,000, with the first prize winning fund at £148,070 in 2018. To be held on St Patrick’s Thursday, at 14.50 GMT.

 

Since this Ryanair Chase was introduced in 2015 to the Cheltenham Festival, it appears to be a race for the punters, with 9 winners out of 12 coming from the top 3 in the betting stakes. This Chase is meant for competitors that normally find that any longer a distance than 2 miles and 5 furlongs is beyond their stamina proficiencies.

 

Recent winners of this Ryanair Chase have been Un De Sceaux -Willie Mullins at 7/4f in 2017, Vautour, again Willie Mullins at Evens in 2016 and Uxizandre by A King at 16/1 in the year 2015.

 

As with the other Day Three races, this one is also run on the New Course, and is a left handed race. With a weight restriction for horses aged 5 years of 11 stone 9lbs, and for horses aged over 6 years, 11 stone 10lbs, while Mares have a 7 lbs allowance.

 

The Irish connection to this race at Cheltenham, especially as its held on St Patrick’s Day, proves that this Ryanair Chase, sponsored by this Irish company, is always a favourite with the punters.

 

 

This Listed handicap race takes place on Thursday, 15^th March, the third day of the Cheltenham Festival, at 2.10pm GMT. This competitive race over 3 miles and 12 hurdles, allows only runners that have previously qualified during several trial races in the preceding season. Open to horses aged five and above, many outsiders have taken the first place glory, while Jonjo O’Neill is joint leader with three wins under his trainer’s cap. Jane Pilkington is another trainer with victories during 1979-1981.

 

This year, one of the hotly tipped challengers is Who Dares Wins. His owner, Henry Ponsonby has said that he is expecting a good performance, after he took third place in the Coral Cup in 2017. Number one favourite for the 2018 Pertemps Final is The Organist for Stephen Harris, currently at odds of 20.1, with second favourite, again for Stephen Harris, Forza Milan at 15.0. This novice has had a three month break since taking second place at Newbury, and here he is ready for the challenge of the Pertemps.

 

In recent years, the Pertemps Final has produced several high priced winners, and since 2000, the average SP has been at 20/1, yet this race is always a difficult prize for punters to predict.

 

 

Raced for the first time in 2011, this relatively new race to the Cheltenham Festival, appeals to slower horses than those who will run in the RSA Chase and The Arkle. Sponsored by JLT, Jardine Lloyd Thompson, this Grade 1 race over 2 miles and 4 furlongs takes place over 17 fences.

 

This year, the race actually takes place on 15^th March, St Patrick’s Thursday, at 13.30 GMT and with a real Irish flavour, celebrate on the day with a drink at the famous Guinness Village. 46 entrants compete for the £150,000 prize fund, on the New Course at Prestbury Park.

 

Previous years’ races have been dominated by Willie Mullins, winner of the race no less than 4 times. Another repeat winner is documented as Ruby Walsh, in years 2015, 2016 and 2017. These 2 champions have had latest victories with Yorkhill (2017), Black Hercules (2016) and Vautour (2015).

 

Possible contenders for 2018 could be a straight fight between Footpad and Willoughby Court, although other challengers could well be Yanworth, Invitation Only and Al Boum Photo. This race has become useful for those punters searching for potential Gold Cup and Ryanair Trophy winning horses.

 

 

This final race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, brings you the excitement of the Champion Bumper Grade 1 race over 2 miles and half a furlong. This National Hunt Flat Race is on the Old Course at Prestbury Park, for horses aged 4-6 years and will take place at 17.30 GMT on 14^th March, Wednesday, 2018.

 

2017’s winners were Fayonagh trained by Gordon Elliot and ridden by Jamie Codd. Second place was taken by Debuchet (10-1) and third place Claimantakinforgan (22-1). Sponsored by Weatherbys, this year’s Champion Bumper race will have a field of 31 contenders, to run in this final race on the Wednesday. This national hunt flat race is geared towards younger stock who are just branching out in their racing careers, yet the race always attracts big prices on the betting market as the bookmakers often find it difficult to choose a favourite, with so little form on offer.

 

At this stage in the game, the number one favourite to date at odds of 16/1 is Felix Desjy, with second favourite going to Alone at 33/1. This unique race at the Cheltenham Festival, doesn’t involve any jumping, so it certainly takes a fast horse to go on to win.