- 2020 Pocket Guide - I OFTEN get asked what the Festival means to a jockey and I can say there is no bigger thrill in our sport than riding a winner at the meeting. I’ve been very fortunate to land 22 at the Festival in my career so far and, with a bit of fortune, I’ll be able to add to that tally this year. I’ve got plenty of nice rides to look forward to and I can’t wait for it all to kick off on the Tuesday with that famous Cheltenham roar.

With any luck you will find this guide to the 2020 Festival useful as it’s packed full of stats and trends which will hopefully lead you to finding plenty of winners! While there are a couple of short-priced favourites, there are several races which look very competitive, meaning this year’s meeting has a more open feel to it than usual.

I will of course be providing a daily Star Sports blog throughout the meeting which will run through my rides each day as well as giving my thoughts on the key races. It only remains for me to wish you the very best of luck, here’s hoping for plenty of winners! Davy THE SCHEDULE

- TUESDAY 10TH MARCH - - THURSDAY 12TH MARCH -

Time Race Distance Time Race Distance 13:30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m ½f 13:30 Marsh Novices’ Chase 2m 4f 14:10 Racing Post Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase 2m 14:10 Pertemps Network Final 3m 14:50 Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase 3m 1f 14:50 Ryanair Steeple Chase 2m 5f 15:30 Unibet Challenge Trophy 2m ½f 15:30 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 3m 16:10 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 2m 4f 16:10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate 2m 5f 16:50 Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase 2m 4½f 16:50 Festival Mares Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1f 17:30 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 3m 6f 17:30 Kim Muir Challenge Cup 3m 2f

- WEDNESDAY 11TH MARCH - - FRIDAY 13TH MARCH -

Time Race Distance Time Race Distance 13:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2m 5f 13:30 JCB 2m 1f 14:10 RSA Insurance Novices’ Steeple Chase 3m ½f 14:10 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f 14:50 Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m 15:30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase 2m 15:30 Magners 3m 2½f 16:10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple Chase 3m 6f 16:10 St James’s Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup 3m 2½f 16:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m ½f 16:50 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase 2m ½f 17:30 Weatherbys 2m ½f 17:30 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4½f SKY BET SUPREME TIME 13:30 TUESDAY NOVICES’ HURDLE DISTANCE 2M 1/2F 10TH M ARCH

- ’S VERDICT - I rode in the race that ASTERION FORLONGE won at Leopardstown the last day and he has some engine on him. I’d say he’d take plenty of beating if he goes down this route. That said, ABACADABRAS has done everything right over hurdles so far and has only been beaten the once by a very good horse. The best of the English challengers will most likely be SHISHKIN who looks really smart and you certainly cannot rule out FIDDLERONTHEROOF who won the Tolworth in good style last time.

Klassical Dream was an impressive winner of the race in 2019

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age 5, 6, 5, 6, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 5 Winner’s SP 12/1, 10/1, 10/1, 5/1, 7/2jf, 2/1f, 4/1, 25/1, 9/1, 6/1 Fate of Favourite 3rd, 4th, 7th, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 11th, 10th Winning Distance hd, 2, 1¼, ½, 6, 4½, 7, 2¼, nk, 4½ Previous Run 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 6th, 1st, 1st

- KEY TRENDS - • Only two favourites have won the race in the past 10 years, both of which were trained by • Only one four-year-old winner in the past 45 years • Eight of the last 10 winners have carried 11st 4lbs or more R ACING POST ARKLE CHALLENGE TIME 14:10 TUESDAY TROPHY NOVICES’ CHASE DISTANCE 2M 10TH M ARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - NOTEBOOK made it four from four over fences when battling away gamely to beat CASH BACK in the Irish Arkle last time. He looks the pick although you should watch how he handles the occasion as he was some handful for going down to the start. The whole occasion will be a real test for him. Looking at the English challenge, it would be no surprise to see BREWIN’UPASTORM run well. He goes well fresh, so the lack of a recent run isn’t much of a worry.

Duc Des Genievres & were victorious in last year’s race

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age 8, 7, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 6 Winner’s SP 6/1, 6/1, 8/11f, 8/13f, 33/1, 4/6f, 1/4f, 1/4f, 5/6f, 5/1 Fate of Favourite 8th, 4th, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 7th Winning Distance ¾, 2¾, 7, 2¼, hd, 6, 7, 6, 14, 13 Previous Run 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st

- KEY TRENDS - • All of the last 10 winners had won on their previous start • Irish-trained runners have won four of the last five runnings • Six of the last eight favourites have won UNIBET CHAMPION TIME 15:30 TUESDAY HURDLE CHALLENGE TROPHY DISTANCE 2M 1/2F 10TH M ARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - It will be interesting to see whether either BENIE DES DIEUX or HONEYSUCKLE take their chance in an open year. With a nice 7lb mares’ allowance they would be competitive. was really impressive at Kempton and will be popular with that allowance, although she has to prove herself at Cheltenham for me. SHARJAH is better than he showed last time, while COEUR SUBLIME won’t be far away if reproducing his Triumph Hurdle form from last season. Another at a big price is THOMAS DARBY who was placed in the Supreme last year.

Gavin Cromwell’s Espoir D’Allen was a surprise winner last year

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age 6, 7, 7, 9, 6, 7, 8, 6, 7, 5 Winner’s SP 9/1, 11/4f, 11/1, 13/8f, 9/1, 4/5f, 5/2f, 5/1, 4/6f, 16/1 Fate of Favourite 10th, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 4th, 1st, 1st, DSQ, 1st, 6th Winning Distance nk, 3½, 1¼, 2¾, nk, 1½, 4½, 4½, nk, 15 Previous Run 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 4th, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st , 1st

- KEY TRENDS - • 19 of the last 27 winners had won a race at Cheltenham previously • Only two horses over the age of seven have won the race since 2007 • 10 of the past 13 winners had won at least one Grade 1 DOWNLOAD KEY TRENDS TUESDAY (REMAINDER OF DAY ONE) 10TH M ARCH THE APP TODAY

14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase • Only one Irish-trained winner in the past 13 years • 19 of the last 20 winners had finished in the first six last time out

16:10 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle • Since its inception in 2008, Willie Mullins has won the race nine times • Favourites have been beaten in four of the last five years

16:50 Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase • Seven of the previous nine winners have returned at double- figure prices • All of the last 15 winners have been within the top-10 in the betting

17:30 National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup • Since 1980, only three horses of 10 or older have won the race • Irish trainers have won five of the last nine runnings RSA INSUR ANCE TIME 14:10 WEDNESDAY NOVICES’ CHASE DISTANCE 3M 1/2F 11TH M ARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - Another race with a wide-open look. CHAMP fell at Cheltenham back in January which isn’t the ideal prep although he had previously looked top class. The pick of the Irish challenge will most likely be MINELLA INDO who won last season’s Albert Bartlett. He is a proper stayer who ground out a victory at Navan the last day and shouldn’t be far away. ALLAHO is solid and will be a threat to all if lining up here rather than in the Marsh Chase on Thursday – his form ties in nicely with MINELLA INDO.

Topofthegame (right) edged a thriller last year

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 6, 7, 8, 7, 7 Winner’s SP 10/1, 16/1, 9/2, 8/1, 12/1, 13/8f, 8/1, 7/2f, 5/2f, 4/1 Fate of Favourite 5th, 5th, 4th, 4th, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 1st, 3rd Winning Distance 7, nk, 2½, 1¾, Neck, 6, ½, nse, 7, 1/2 Previous Run 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd

- KEY TRENDS - • Only four times has a seven-year-old not won the race since 1999 • Eight of the last 13 winners had won at Cheltenham before • 12 of the last 13 winners were rated 144 or higher BETWAY QUEEN MOTHER TIME 15:30 WEDNESDAY CHAMPION CHASE DISTANCE 2M 11TH M ARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - This has the makings of being the race of the Festival, with , DEFI DU SEUIL and CHACUN POUR SOI all set to take their chance. I’d love to ride any of the three, but if I had to pick one it would be DEFI DU SEUIL who has done nothing wrong all season. ALTIOR bounced back at Newbury last time and will give a third win in the race a real go. CHACUN POUR SOI returned to form at the Dublin Racing Festival but has never run at Cheltenham before.

Nico de Boinville celebrates a second consecutive Champion Chase victory

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age 9, 9, 9, 7, 8, 7, 10, 10, 8, 9 Winner’s SP 10/1, 10/1 4/1, 1/4f, 11/4f, 9/2, 5/1 11/1, EVSf, 4/11f Fate of Favourite 4th, 8th, 2nd, 1st, 1st, PU, 2nd, 7th, 1st Winning Distance 6, 5, 1¼, 19, 6, 1¼, 3½, Hd, 7, 1¾ Previous Run 1st, 1st, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st

- KEY TRENDS - • English trainers have won nine of the last 12 • Only one double-figure priced winner since 2012 • has won the race four times since 2012 KEY TRENDS WEDNESDAY (REMAINDER OF DAY TWO) 11TH M ARCH

13:30 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle • Eight of the last 12 winners were trained in Ireland • Only one winning favourite since 2014

14:50 Coral Cup Hurdle SAFETY NET SIGN UP • Only one single-priced winner since 2009 • Eight of the last 10 winners have carried 11st or more

16:10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase SIGN UP and we’ll REFUND net • Just two winning favourites since 2007 losses up to your initial deposit • Irish-trained horses have won the last five renewals (max £/€150) anytime in 16:50 Boodles Juvenile Hurdle • No jockey has won the race more than once first month of account • The last five winners have all carried 11st or more

17:30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper • Willie Mullins has won the race nine times SIGN UP NOW • Only three winning favourites in the last 15 years

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Over 18’s only. Remember you can win or lose more than your original stake. Bet responsibly. Licensed in Ireland. T’s & C’s apply. TIME 14:50 THURSDAY RYANAIR STEEPLE CHASE DISTANCE 2M 5F 12TH MARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - There is no getting away from the fact that A PLUS TARD looks the one to beat here. He was a brilliant winner of the Novices’ Handicap chase at this meeting 12 months ago and beat Chacun Pour Soi in a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas. If he’s in the same form, he will take some catching. I suppose his biggest danger might be MIN as this looks the right trip for him these days. As for the rest, RIDERS ONTHE STORM is improving fast and last year’s winner FRODON can never be ruled out.

Bryony Frost and Frodon made history 12 months ago

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age 9, 10, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 9, 7, 7 Winner’s SP 14/1, 6/1, 7/2f, 9/2, 3/1f, 16/1, EVSf, 7/4f, 8/1, 9/2 Fate of Favourite 2nd, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 1st, 2nd, 8th Winning Distance 4½, 1, ½, 9, 2¼, 5, 6, 1½, 4½, 1¼ Previous Run 2nd, PU, 1st, 1st, 5th, UR, 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st

- KEY TRENDS - • Seven of the last 10 winners came from the first three in the betting • Only one horse older than nine has won the race in a decade • Paul Nicholls is the leading trainer in the contest with three wins PADDY POWER TIME 15:30 THURSDAY STAYERS’ HURDLE DISTANCE 3M 12TH MARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - Hot favourite PAISLEY PARK has now won seven on the bounce. On paper he looks really hard to beat and a lot will depend on whether the mare BENIE DES DIEUX takes her place in the line-up with her allowance. I’d say, if she’s there, she’ll give the favourite a real race and I’d fancy her to win. Without her it looks impossible to oppose the defending champion, as the likes of and SUMMERVILLE BOY don’t look good enough.

Paisley Park justified favouritism in 2019

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age 7, 8, 9, 9, 6, 6, 8, 7, 7, 7 Winner’s SP 5/6f, 10/11f, 5/6f, 17/2, 15/2, 14/1, EVSf, 10/1, 12/1, 11/8f Fate of Favourite 1st, 1st, 1st, PU, 2nd, 2nd, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 1st Winning Distance 3¼, 1¾, 1¾, 2½, 1½, 3¼, 7, ¾, 2, 2¾ Previous Run 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 4th, 1st, fell, 2nd, 1st

- KEY TRENDS - • Horses aged six or seven have won five of the previous six contests • Seven of the previous 10 winners won their previous race • Paisley Park is bidding to become just the fifth horse to win it back-to-back KEY TRENDS THURSDAY (REMAINDER OF DAY THREE) 12TH MARCH

13:30 Marsh Novices’ Chase • No horse older than seven has won the race • Willie Mullins has landed the prize four times

14:10 Pertemps Network Final • Davy Russell has won three of the previous four runnings • Only one five-year-old has ever won the race

16:10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate • Just one 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 16:50 Festival Mares Novices’ Hurdle bookmaker, our flagship betting • Willie Mullins has won all four runnings of this race lounge is just a few moments • All four winners were five-year-olds away from The Dorchester. All business is conducted with 17:30 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup absolute discretion in a relaxing • Only one of the last 15 winners has been older than 10 atmosphere, where you can • No horse carrying less than 11st has won since 2008

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- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - I was a little disappointed with ASPIRE TOWER at Leopardstown the last day. Even though he may still have won if he had stayed on his feet, he was making hard work of it. For that reason, I’d have to favour the home team of ALLMANKIND and GOSHEN. The former has improved with every run and has that all-important Cheltenham form in the book. As for GOSHEN, he looks the most talented in the field but his tendency to jump out to the right is a worry in a race like this.

Pentland Hills sprung a 20/1 surprise last year

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age Contest restricted to four-year-olds Winner’s SP 6/1, 13/2, 33/1, 4/1, 10/1, 2/1f, 9/2f, 5/2f, 9/1, 20/1 Fate of Favourite 4th, 4th, 3rd, 6th, 4th, 1st, 1st, 1st, 4th, PU Winning Distance 1¼, 2¼, 3, 15, 3½, nk, 1¼, 5, 1¾, 3 Previous Run 1st, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 1st, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 1st

- KEY TRENDS - • is the race’s most successful jockey with five wins • Only one of the last 11 winners was bred in the UK • Only three of the previous 10 favourites have emerged victorious MAGNERS CHELTENHAM TIME 15:30 FRIDAY GOLD CUP DISTANCE 3M 21/2F 13TH MARCH

- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT - This is as good a Cheltenham Gold Cup as I can remember. It looks wide-open and a genuine case can be made for at least 10 of them. The Irish challenge looks to be headed by DELTA WORK on this year’s form, but don’t forget defending champ AL BOUM PHOTO. Then there’s PRESENTING PERCY who continues to make steps back to his best. The home team looks as strong as ever with SANTINI and LOSTINTRANSLATION sure to be right in the mix. It would be no surprise if you could throw a blanket over a few of them at the finish.

Al Boum Photo jumps the last to give trainer Willie Mullins a first Gold Cup win

- STAT ATTACK - Winner’s Age 9, 6, 9, 8, 8, 8, 9, 7, 8, 7 Winner’s SP 7/4f, 7/2f, 8/1, 11/4f, 20/1, 7/1, 9/4f, 7/1, 5/1, 12/1 Fate of Favourite 1st, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 5th, 7th, 1st, 4th, 2nd, 8th Winning Distance 13, 7, 2¼, 7, shd, 1½, 4½, 2¾, 4½, 2½ Previous Run 5th, 1st, 1st, 1st, 6th, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 1st

- KEY TRENDS - • Only two winners younger than eight since 2007 • No horse has won back-to-back renewals since 2004 • Just two favourites have been successful in the previous eight runnings KEY TRENDS FRIDAY (REMAINDER OF DAY FOUR) 13TH MARCH

14:10 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Race • Only three winners older than six since 2008 • Just one single-figure priced horse has won the race in 13 attempts

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