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Newsletter THURSDAY, 9 MARCH 2017 THTHURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2017

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Newsletter THURSDAY, 9 MARCH 2017 www.turftalk.co.za THTHURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2017 Over 250,000 people are expected to attend next week’s Cheltenham Festival in Gloucestershire. Cheltenham 2017: A guide for new enthusiasts THERE are a number of local racing fans who take The highlight of the first day is the Gr1 Stan more than a passing interest in the annual James Champion Hurdle, run over 3200m, where Cheltenham Jumps Festival. Here is an early guide the best hurdlers in the world do battle to see which to next week’s 2017 Festival, courtesy of GBI one comes out on top. The race has recently been Racing. dominated by trainer Willie Mullins, who has won it four times in the last six years but with the This Saturday – as all Saturdays before the last two winners, Annie Power and Faugheen, on Cheltenham Festival, sees the excitement reach the sidelines due to injury, there will be a new fever pitch as racegoers gear up for one of the name on the trophy this year. biggest weeks of the racing calendar. The second day sees the cream of the 3200m Tuesday 14 – Friday 17 March chasers go head to head in the Gr1 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. Last year’s race The first day of the Cheltenham Festival sees racing produced one of the most memorable occasions fans bubble over with excitement as they prepare for ever seen at The Festival when Sprinter Sacre won four days of top-class Jumps action. Each day offers his second Champion Chase after returning to train- its own highlights and heroes will be made and ing after serious heart problems. This year, Douvan champions crowned at one of the world’s great looks to continue his ascent to the top of the sporting amphitheatres. Over £4-million in prize National Hunt tree. money is up for grabs and more than 250,000 racegoers will be there to watch the action unfold. The third day of The Festival belongs to the (ct p2) 1 CHELTENHAM Thursday 16 March 2017 Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle (Gr 1) staying hurdlers, the highlight the Gr1 Sun Bets Ryanair Chase (Gr 1) Stayers’ Hurdle, run over 4800m. Last year’s JLT Novices’ Chase (Gr 1) winner, Thistlecrack, was a top-class winner of the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Gr 2) race who has gone on to reach the very top over Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Gr 3 fences this year, while both Inglis Drever and Handicap Chase) Big Buck’s were multiple winners of this race in Pertemps Network Final (Listed Handicap Hurdle) recent years. Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase Friday 17 March 2017 The fourth and final day of The Festival revolves around the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, run Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Gr 1) over 5300m. The Gr 1 Blue Riband event, is JCB Triumph Hurdle (Gr 1) another race that will throw up a new winner this Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Gr 1) year, as last year’s victor Don Cossack has since Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase Challenge been retired. Welsh National winner Native River Cup (Gr 3 Handicap Chase) and multiple Grade One winner Cue Card head the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Gr 3) field for trainer Colin Tizzard, while Djakadam St James’s Place Foxhunter Cup returns for a third attempt. Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle - tt. FESTIVAL PROGRAMME Tuesday 14 March 2017 Stan James Champion Hurdle (Gr 1) Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Gr1) Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Gr 1) OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (Gr 1) Ultima Handicap Chase (Gr 3) The JT McNamara National Hunt Chase (Listed) MASTER trainer John Gosden, who was named Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase (Listed) on the Queen’s New Year Honours list in recognition for his services to horse racing, has Wednesday 15 March 2017 officially received his OBE (Order of the British Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Gr 1) Empire) from The Queen at Buckingham Palace. RSA Chase (Gr 1) Gosden, 65, has twice been crowned champion Neptune Invest Management Novices’ Hurdle (Gr 1) trainer and has sent out over 3,000 career winners, Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Gr 1) including eight British Classics. Coral Cup (Gr 3 Handicap Hurdle) Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Gr 3) FOLLOW US ON TWITTER Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase @turftalk1 2 Turf Talk Trivia # 2 WIN A CASE OF AVONTUUR’S BEST! ACTUALLY, no Trivia this month, we'll make it easy! To win a case of Avontuur Estate’s award-winning wine, send us ONE name of a friend/colleague to subscribe to the Turf Talk Newsletter. That simple! Send us ONE name of a new subscriber, and your own of course, and stand in line. Mail [email protected]. IN South Africa they called him ‘Deeza Leader’, the Mauritians called him ‘Daayza Leader’ and in Dubai race caller Terry Spargo came up with ‘Dissa Leader’. Whatever the right pronunciation, Disa Leader was a favourite among racegoers in three jurisdictions. The son of Parade Leader won 10 races, including the Duke Of York Cup. He was Horse Of The Year in Mauritius in 2010. Now 11 years of age, the Ascot Stud-bred gelding is the Lead Pony at Meydan. He re-united this week with Johnny Geroudis, who rode him to five wins. –tt 3 .
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