DAVY RUSSELL’S FESTIVAL 2021 POCKET GUIDE

STARSPORTS.BET THIS year’s will be like no other. The greatest four days in the racing calendar will be run behind closed doors. There will be no famous Cheltenham roar, no packed stands, no Guinness Village - there will be an eery silence as the runners go down to post for the first race of the meeting. It’s still Cheltenham though. It’s still the Festival.

On a personal note, it will be strange as this will be the first time I’ve not ridden at the meeting since turning professional. It will be a hard watch, but my injuries just haven’t healed in time.

So, I hope you enjoy watching on from home and find this pocket guide as useful as ever. It’s packed full of the usual stats and my views on the feature races.

I’ll be writing a daily blog as usual and will be taking part in previews and Zoom rooms galore. I wish you the very best of luck in your pursuit of winners and look forward to the day we all meet again and hear that roar. Davy THE SCHEDULE

- TUESDAY 16TH MARCH - - THURSDAY 18TH MARCH -

TIME RACE DISTANCE TIME RACE DISTANCE 1:20 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m ½f 1:20 Marsh Novices’ Chase 2m 4f 1:55 Sporting Life Novices’ Chase 2m 1:55 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle 3m 2:30 Ultima Handicap Chase 3m 1f 2:30 2m 5f 3:05 Unibet 2m ½f 3:05 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 3m 3:40 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 2m 4f 3:40 Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase 2m 5f 4:15 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m 4½f 4:15 Parnell Properties Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1f 4:50 National Hunt Chase 3m 6f 4:50 Kim Muir Handicap Chase 3m 2f

- WEDNESDAY 17TH MARCH - - FRIDAY 19TH MARCH -

TIME RACE DISTANCE TIME RACE DISTANCE 1:20 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2m 5f 1:20 JCB 2m 1f 1:55 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 3m ½f 1:55 McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f 2:30 Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 2:30 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m 3:05 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase 2m 3:05 WellChild 3m 2½f 3:40 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 3:40 St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Chase 3m 2½f 4:15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase 2m ½f 4:15 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase 2m 5f 4:50 Weatherbys 2m ½f 4:50 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4½f SKY BET TIME: 1:20 TUESDAY SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE DISTANCE: 2M ½F 16TH MARCH

- ’S VERDICT - APPRECIATE IT sets the bar pretty high with his win in Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival, cementing him as the one to beat here. However, don’t rule out runner-up BALLYADAM just yet as he’d have got a lot closer to the winner with a smoother jump at the last, and better ground will help him too. As for the home challenge, you’d have to say that Harry Fry’s METIER is the pick on his Sandown win if the rain arrives.

Nico de Boinville celebrates Shishkin’s win last year

- STAT ATTACK - Notes Winner’s Age 6 5 6 5 5 6 6 6 5 6

Winner’s SP 10/1 10/1 5/1 7/2f 2/1f 4/1 25/1 9/1 6/1 6/1

Fate of Favourite 4TH 7TH 2ND 1ST 1ST 2ND 2ND 11TH 10TH 4TH Winning Distance 2 1¼ ½ 6 4½ 7 2¼ NECK 4½ HEAD Previous Run 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 6TH 1ST 1ST 1ST

- KEY TRENDS - • Only two favourites have won in the past 14 renewals • Only one four-year-old winner in the past 46 years • Nine of the last 10 winners had won their most recent start SPORTING LIFE TIME: 1:55 TUESDAY ARKLE NOVICES’ CHASE DISTANCE: 2M 16TH MARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - The potential duel between SHISHKIN and Irish challenger ENERGUMENE has got everyone talking. It looks a good renewal with the likes of ALLMANKIND ensuring it’s not just a two horse race. Energumene has looked the real deal over fences this season and didn’t put a foot wrong in Leopardstown the last day. However, in Shishkin he meets a super talent and he’d just get my vote. He has that all-important Cheltenham Festival experience when he frustratingly beat me in last season’s Supreme.

Put The Kettle On was a surprise winner in 2020

- STAT ATTACK -

Winner’s Age 7 6 7 6 7 6 7 6 6 6 Notes

Winner’s SP 6/1 8/11 f 8/13 f 33/1 4/6f 1/4f 1/4f 5/6f 5/1 16/1

Fate of Favourite 4TH 1ST 1ST 2ND 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 7TH 6TH Winning Distance 2¾ 7 2¼ HEAD 6 7 6 14 13 1½ Previous Run 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST

- KEY TRENDS - • Six of the last nine winners returned odds-on • No five-year-old winner since 2006 • All of the last 10 winners had won their previous start UNIBET TIME: 3:05 TUESDAY CHAMPION HURDLE DISTANCE: 2M ½F 16TH MARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - Ireland holds a strong hand with unbeaten mare lining up on the back of a brilliant win in the . Plenty had questioned whether she had the speed for the drop back to two miles, but she showed a serious turn of foot the last day. She deserves to be favourite with the 7lb mares’ allowance a big help too. That said, I was blown away by the performance of GOSHEN in Wincanton and if he reappears in the same form, they might not catch him. (green silks) powered clear to win the race last year

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age 7 7 9 6 7 8 6 7 5 6 Notes Winner’s SP 11/4f 11/1 13 / 8 f 9/1 4/5f 5/2f 5/1 4/6f 16/1 2/1f

Fate of Favourite 1ST 3RD 1ST 4TH 1ST 1ST DQ 1ST 6TH 1ST Winning Distance 3½ 1¼ 2¾ NECK 1½ 4½ 4½ NECK 15 3 Previous Run 1ST 2ND 1ST 4TH 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST

- KEY TRENDS - • 19 of the last 28 winners had won a race at Cheltenham • Only four horses over the age of eight have won since 1951, the most recent being in 2013 • 11 of the past 19 winners were trained in Ireland DOWNLOAD KEY TRENDS TUESDAY THE APP TODAY (REMAINDER OF DAY ONE) 16TH MARCH

2:30 Ultima Handicap Chase • Nine of the last 13 winners had won over 3m or further • Irish trainers have only won the race twice since the turn of the century

3:40 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle • Since its inception in 2008, has won the race nine times • 10 of the 13 winners were sent off either favourite or second favourite

4:15 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle • Six of the past 10 winners were sent off 25/1 or bigger • 2019 winner Band Of Outlaws is the only winner to have won more than once that season

4:50 National Hunt Chase • Only three favourites have obliged since 1992 • 10 of the last 14 winners had run at least once at Cheltenham

Notes BROWN ADVISORY TIME: 1:55 WEDNESDAY NOVICES’ CHASE DISTANCE: 3M ½F 17TH MARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - If the same MONKFISH that jumped his rivals into the ground in Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival turns up here, there will only be the one winner. He was brilliant that day and don’t forget that he has winning form at the Cheltenham Festival too. It’s hard to single out a serious rival and his main danger will definitely be the obstacles in front of him. EKLAT DE RIRE looks a promising chaser but has his work cut out here.

Winning connections after Champ’s remarkable victory in 2020

- STAT ATTACK - Notes Winner’s Age 7 7 7 7 6 7 8 7 7 8

Winner’s SP 16/1 9/2 8/1 12/1 13 / 8 f 8/1 7/2f 5/2f 4/1 4/1

Fate of Favourite 5TH 4TH 4TH 2ND 1ST 3RD 1ST 1ST 3RD 3RD Winning Distance NECK 2½ 1¾ NECK 6 ½ NOSE 7 ½ 1 Previous Run 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 2ND FELL

- KEY TRENDS - • Only five times has a seven-year-old not won the race since 1999 • Eight of the last 14 winners had won at Cheltenham before • 13 of the last 14 winners were rated 144 or higher BETWAY TIME: QUEEN MOTHER 3:05 WEDNESDAY DISTANCE: 17TH MARCH CHAMPION CHASE 2M

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - I had never been a fully signed-up member of the CHACUN POUR SOI fan club, but I have to admit that I had my head turned in Leopardstown. He did everything right including running away from the last all the way to the line. I had previously been worried about whether he would get up the Cheltenham hill, but I’m less concerned about that now. That said, the likes of will pressure him all the way to the line if back on song.

Harry Skelton celebrates aboard 2020 winner

- STAT ATTACK -

Winner’s Age 9 9 7 8 7 10 10 8 9 9 Notes

Winner’s SP 10/1 4/1 1/4f 11/4f 9/2 5/1 11/1 EVSf 4/11 f 6/1 Fate of Favourite 4TH 8TH 2ND 1ST 1ST PU 2ND 7TH 1ST 1ST Winning Distance 6 5 1¼ 19 6 1¼ 3½ HEAD 7 1¾ Previous Run 1ST 1ST 3RD 2ND 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST

- KEY TRENDS - • English trainers have won 10 of the last 13 renewals • Only one double-figure priced winner since 2012 • 12 of the last 19 winners had run in the Tingle Creek at Sandown earlier in the season KEY TRENDS WEDNESDAY GET (REMAINDER OF DAY TWO) 17TH MARCH 1:20 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle STAKE • Nine of the last 13 winners were trained in Ireland 50% BACK • Only two winning favourites since 2014 2:30 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle OF YOUR AVERAGE • The past 16 favourites have all lost AT THE FESTIVAL • 14 of the last 15 winners had not run within at least 32 days of the Festival 3:40 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase • Just two winning favourites since 2007 • I0 of the last 13 victors had been previously placed in a X-C at Cheltenham

4:15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase • JP McManus has won the race four times and had a further nine horses placed • The last six winners have all carried 11st or more AS A 4:50 Weatherbys Champion Bumper Socially Distanced Offer • Willie Mullins has won the race 10 times * • The last 15 winners had all scored on their previous start Place a bet on any selection, on the day of the race, at the Festival and if you finish second, beaten a length or less, you’ll get your money back as a FREE BET to the same stake FREE BET (up to £25, win part only) to use on any event within 24 hours* UP TO £250 Download the app, visit starsports.bet or call 08000 521 321 Download the app, visit starsports.bet or call 08000 521 321 Notes

*Offer open to new and existing customers. Offer does not apply to *Offer open to new and existing customers. At Ante-Post bets. Free Bet will be credited as soon as possible after least one bet must be placed on each of the four weigh in. Free bet will expire 24 hours after it is applied to account. days of the Festival to qualify. Full T&Cs apply. RYANAIR TIME: 2:30 THURSDAY CHASE DISTANCE: 2M 5F 18TH MARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - Willie Mullins looks to hold a serious hand in this with the likes of ALLAHO, MIN and MELON. Of the three I’d prefer Allaho who was good the last day and didn’t quite see out the three miles in the RSA Chase last season. Looking at the pick of the home challenge and IMPERIAL AURA looked a good horse when I chased him home in the handicap 12 months ago. He is still improving and may be the one to challenge Allaho. Min jumps the last on his way to victory 12 months ago

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age 10 8 7 8 7 7 9 7 7 9 Notes Winner’s SP 6/1 7/2f 9/2 11/4f 16/1 EVSf 7/4f 8/1 9/2 2/1 Fate of Favourite 4TH 1ST 2ND 1ST 3RD 1ST 1ST 2ND 8TH 3RD Winning Distance 1 ½ 9 19 5 6 1½ 4½ 1¼ NECK Previous Run PU 1ST 1ST 2ND UR 2ND 1ST 2ND 1ST 2ND

- KEY TRENDS - • Eight of the last 10 winners came from the first three in the betting • None of the first 11 renewals were taken by an Irish raider, but four of the past five have been • Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins are the leading trainers in the contest with three wins each PADDY POWER TIME: 3:05 THURSDAY STAYERS’ HURDLE DISTANCE: 3M 18TH MARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - This has the potential to be one of the races of the Festival with looking the obvious one after disappointing in this last season. He looks a different horse this time around and pounced on THYME HILL in Ascot the last day. However, I expect Thyme Hill to be ridden with more restraint this time around and he could easily reverse that form under . SIRE DU BERLAIS loves Cheltenham and looks to be best of the Irish challengers.

Lisnagar Oscar (yellow cap) sprung a 50/1 surprise in 2020

- STAT ATTACK - Notes Winner’s Age 8 9 9 6 6 8 7 7 7 7

Winner’s SP 10 /11f 5/6f 17/2 15/2 14/1 EVSf 10/1 12/1 11/8f 50/1 Fate of Favourite 1ST 1ST PU 2ND 2ND 1ST 3RD 5TH 1ST 7TH Winning Distance 1¾ 1¾ 2½ 1½ 3¼ 7 ¾ 2 2¾ 2 Previous Run 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 4TH 1ST FELL 2ND 1ST 3RD

- KEY TRENDS - • Six of the previous 10 winners won their previous race • Six or seven-year-olds have won six of the previous seven contests • Six of the last 13 winners have gone off favourite KEY TRENDS THURSDAY (REMAINDER OF DAY THREE) 18TH MARCH

1:20 Marsh Novices’ Chase • Only one horse (Samcro 2020) aged over seven has won this • Willie Mullins has landed this prize four times

1:55 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle • Only one five-year-old has ever won the race • Gordon Elliott has won the last three renewals

3:40 Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase • Just two of the previous 11 winners have carried more than 11st • Lizzie Kelly became the first female jockey to win the race in 2019 As the UK’s leading luxury 4:15 Parnell Properties Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle bookmaker, our flagship betting lounge is just a few moments • Willie Mullins has won all five renewals away from The Dorchester. • All five previous winners were French-bred All business is conducted with 4:50 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase absolute discretion in a relaxing atmosphere, where you can • Only one of the last 15 winners has been older than 10 • JP McManus has owned the first or second in five of the last 10 renewals enjoy live sporting action from PARK LANE around the world. We look forward to welcoming you at 4-6 Deanery Street, Mayfair, DEANERY STREET London, W1K 1AZ. Notes JCB TIME: 1:20 FRIDAY TRIUMPH HURDLE DISTANCE: 2M 1f 19TH MARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - I’ve never made any secret about my affection for ZANAHIYR who comes here fresh on the back of three nice hurdle victories. He has that lovely mix of speed and stamina having won over further than this. He was deadly in Leopardstown at Christmas and remains the one to beat in the division. FRENCH ASEEL was impressive on his debut at that same meeting and has since joined Willie Mullins. He looks the biggest threat to Zanahiyr who should take all the beating. Burning Victory (yellow and brown silks) stayed on best after Goshen’s dramatic final flight spill last year

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age Contest restricted to four-year-olds Notes Winner’s SP 13/2 33/1 4/1 10/1 2/1f 9/2f 5/2f 9/1 20/1 12/1 Fate of Favourite 4TH 3RD 6TH 4TH 1ST 1ST 1ST 4TH PU UR Winning Distance 2¼ 3 15 3½ NK 1¼ 5 1¾ 3 2¾ Previous Run 1ST 3RD 1ST 2ND 1ST 4TH 1ST 2ND 1ST 1ST

- KEY TRENDS - • Only one of the last 12 winners was bred in the UK • Only three of the previous 11 favourites have emerged victorious • Gordon Elliott has had two winners and two seconds from six runners in the past seven years WELLCHILD TIME: 3:05 FRIDAY CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DISTANCE: 3M 2½F 19TH MARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - All eyes will be on AL BOUM PHOTO who is looking to join some of the greats in winning three Cheltenham Gold Cups. He has had his usual quiet preparation and will be tough to beat. His biggest danger looks to be A PLUS TARD who proved he had plenty of stamina when winning at Christmas and has been held back and kept fresh for this. He’s another with course form and it promises to be a fascinating and wide-open contest. celebrates a second consecutive Gold Cup aboard Al Boum Photo

- STAT ATTACK -

Winner’s Age 6 9 8 8 8 9 7 8 7 8

Winner’s SP 7/2f 8/1 11/4f 20/1 7/1 9/4f 7/1 5/1 12/1 100/30f Notes Fate of Favourite 1ST 3RD 1ST 5TH 7TH 1ST 4TH 2ND 8TH 1ST Winning Distance 7 2¼ 7 HEAD 1½ 4½ 2¾ 4½ 2½ NECK Previous Run 1ST 1ST 1ST 6TH 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST

- KEY TRENDS - • The past 19 victors were all Grade One winners going into the race • 13 of the past 20 winners had previously finished first orsecond at least once at the Festival • Al Boum Photo was only the fifth winner in the past 21 years that did not run in either the King George VI Chase or the Savills Chase that season KEY TRENDS FRIDAY (REMAINDER OF DAY FOUR) GET19TH MARCH 1:55 McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle • Only three winners older than six since 2008 STAKE • Seven of the last 13 winners 50%were 20/1 or bigger BACK 2:30 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle • Irish-trained horses haveOF won seven YOUR of the last 12 races AVERAGE • Prior to last year’s winner, theAT previous THE six renewals had been won by horses FESTIVAL at double-figure prices

3:40 St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Chase • Only two winners younger than seven in the last 32 years • Seven of the last 10 winners had finished in the first three last time out

4:15 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase • New race for 2021 4:50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ HandicapAS Hurdle A Socially Distanced Offer • Only one winning-favourite since its inception in 2009 • Four horses have carried more than 11st 8lbs to victory and three of these * Place a bet on any selection, on the day of the race, at the have won the last three renewals Festival and if you finish second, beaten a length or less, you’ll get your money back as a FREE BET to the same stake FREE BET (up to £25, win part only) to use on any event within 24 hours* UP TO £250

Download the app, visit starsports.bet or call 08000 521 321 Download the app, visit starsports.bet or call 08000 521 321 Notes

*Offer open to new and existing customers. Offer does not apply to *Offer open to new and existing customers. At Ante-Post bets. Free Bet will be credited as soon as possible after least one bet must be placed on each of the four weigh in. Free bet will expire 24 hours after it is applied to account. days of the Festival to qualify. Full T&Cs apply. DOWNLOAD THE APP TODAY

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