Lycetts Welcome you to our CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL PREVIEW EVENING Wednesday 10th March 7.30pm Our Panel Hayley Moore – Host Hayley juggles her broadcasting career for Sky Sports Racing with riding out daily for father Gary. Charlie Deutsch – Jockey Charlie has ridden a number of winners around Cheltenham including aboard Aso and Diesel D’Allier and in 2019 was the leading jockey at the November meeting. Riding for Venetia Williams’ yard he has some exciting rides for this years festival. Sam Hoskins – Racing Manager Sam runs the day-to-day operations of Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds. He is a member of the ROA Board and the BHA National Hunt Pattern committee. He is also the co-founder of Hot To Trot Racing. Luke Harvey – Ex-Jockey and ITV Presenter After 16 years in the saddle including wins at Cheltenham and Aintree, Luke now is a regular presenter for ITV Racing. Ben Pauling – Trainer Multiple Grade 1 winning trainer Ben trains a stone's throw away from Cheltenham where he has saddled a number of winners at previous Festivals. Tuesday 16th March Day One START TIMES RACE DISTANCE TYPE 13:20 The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race 2m ½f Hurdle The Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple 13:55 2m Chase Chase 14:30 The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase 3m abt 1f Chase The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 15:05 2m abt ½f Hurdle 15:40 The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race 2m abt 4f Hurdle 16:15 The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race 2m abt 4½f Chase 16:50 The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 3m abt 6f Chase 13.20 - The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Race 2020 Result st 1 Shishkin nd 2 Abacadabras rd 3 Chantry House The Supreme Novice’s Hurdle is the opening race on day one of the festival. A springboard for many great horses such as dual Champion Hurdle winner Bula, Arkle and Champion chase winner Flyngbolt, Gold Cup and Grand National winner L’Escargot and dual Champion Chase hero Altior. Willie Mullins has won the Hurdle six times and looks in a fantastic position to make that th seven on 16 March with not only 5/2 market leader Appreciate It, but also a couple of fantastic back up candidates including Blue Lord and Bob Olinger. 2021 Runners and Odds 13.55 - The Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase 2020 Result st 1 Put The Kettle On nd 2 Fakir D’oudairies rd 3 Rouge Vif The Arkle Challenge is the premier race during the jumps season for the speedier novice chasers as it is run over the minimum trip of 2m. It has been won by some of the greatest horses including Moscow Flyer, Sprinter Sacre and Altior who all went on to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase the following season. Nicky Henderson's 2020 Supreme winner Shiskin looks very much the one to beat, with his proven Cheltenham experience and really impressing in two facile victories at Kempton. His most serious challenger is likely to come from Captain Guinness, who got his career back on track with a smooth front running win over fences at Punchestown in December. 2021 Runners and Odds 15.05 - The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy 2020 Result st 1 Epatante nd 2 Sharjah rd 3 Darver Star The Grade one Unibet Champion Hurdle is the highlight of the opening day, and the two mile showpiece boasts a roll of honour which includes the likes of three time winners Hatton’s Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War, See You Then and Istabraq. This year’s renewal could see a former champion Buveur D’Air in action, alongside the reigning heroine Epatante. 2021 Runners and Odds Wednesday 17th March Day Two START TIMES RACE DISTANCE TYPE 13:20 The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Race 2m abt 5f Hurdle The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple 13:55 3m abt ½ f Chase Chase The Coral Cup Hurdle (A Handicap Hurdle 14:30 2m abt 5f Hurdle Race) The Betway Queen Mother Champion 15:05 Steeple Chase Abt 2m Chase (feature race) The Glenfarclas Cross Country Steeple 15:40 3m 6f Chase Chase The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual 16:15 2m abt ½f Chase Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup The Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A 16.50 2m abt ½f Bumper Standard Open NH Flat Race) 13.20 - The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Race 2020 Result st 1 Envoi Allen nd 2 Easywork rd 3 The Big Getaway The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is the premier race during the jumps season for novice hurdlers over the trip of 2m5f. It is a Launchpad for top-class hurdlers and has been won by the likes of Istabraq, Hardy Eustace and Faugheen, all of whom went on to win the Champion Hurdle the following season. Paul Nicholls has enjoyed a fantastic winter, his Bravemansgame has thrived on racing as his jumping has sharpened. 2021 Runners and Odds 13.55 - The Brown Advisory Novices’ Steeple Chase 2020 Result st 1 Champ nd 2 Minella Indo rd 3 Allaho Over a distance of 3 miles with nineteen fences to be jumped, it is the novices’ equivalent of the Cheltenham Gold Cup and several winners have gone on to triumph in the Gold Cup itself years later, including Denman, Bobs Worth and Lord Windermere. The standout contender is Monkfish, who jumped superbly at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown since going over fences this winter. 2021 Runners and Odds 15.05 - The Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase 2020 Result 1st Politologue nd 2 Dynamite Dollars rd 3 Bun Doran The Queen Mother Champion Chase is one of four championship races held at the Cheltenham Festival. A thrilling spectacle over two miles, racing for a prize with a long history and one that has produced some memorable finishes up the hill over the years. The 2020 winner Politologue won a race that fell apart last season and will be vulnerable to a much younger rival this year. The hopes of Ireland rest on the shoulders of the very progressive Chacun Pour Soi. 2021 Runners and Odds Thursday 18th March Day Three START TIMES RACE DISTANCE TYPE 13:20 The Marsh Novices’ Chase 2m abt 4f Chase The Pertemps Network Final (A 13:55 Abt 3m Hurdle Handicap Hurdle Race) (Listed) 14:30 The Ryanair Steeple Chase 2m abt 5f Chase The Paddy Power Stayers’ 15:05 abt 3m Hurdle Hurdle The Paddy Power Plate (A 15:40 2m abt 5f Chase Handicap Steeple Chase) The Parnell Properties Mares 16:15 2m 1f Hurdle Novices’ Hurdle Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir 16:50 Challenge Cup (sponsored by 3m abt 2f Chase the JRL Group) 13.20 - The Marsh Novices’ Chase 2020 Result st 1 Samcro nd 2 Melon rd 3 Faugheen Run in recent years as the JLT Chase, it is one of three Grade 1 novice chases at the meeting and attracts runners who are best over the intermediary distance of 2m4f. First run in 2011, it has unearthed some of the best chasers of recent years including Sir Des Champs, Yorkhill, Vautour and Defi De Seuil. 2021 Runners and Odds 14.30 - The Ryanair Steeple Chase 2020 Result st 1 Min nd 2 Saint Calvados rd 3 A Plus Tard The Ryanair Chase is the feature race on Day three of the festival. It is a Grade 1 contest over 2m5f and is the championship contest for chasers whose optimum trip falls between that of the Champion Chase and Gold Cup. It has been won by stars such as Un De Sceaux, Vautour, Cue Card and Min in recent seasons. The 2021 renewal has a wide open look to it again, with 2020 winner Min currently 6/1 in the ante-post lists. 2021 Runners and Odds 15.05 - The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 2020 Result st 1 Lisnagar Oscar nd 2 Ronald Pump rd 3 Bacardys The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 hurdle over three miles. It is the championship contest for long-distance hurdlers and has been won by some of the best hurdlers in the history of jump racing, including Thistlecrack, Big Buck’s, Inglis Drever and Baracouda. The race will see one of the most eagerly awaited clashes of the week, as old rivals Paisley Park and Thyme Hill are set to do battle over the stamina sapping 3m trip. The 2019 winner Paisley Park was a major disappointment at 4/6f in 2020, but there were valid excuses and he has returned as good as ever in two runs so far this winter. 2021 Runners and Odds Friday 19th March Day Four START TIMES RACE DISTANCE TYPE 13:20 The JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m abt 1f Hurdle The McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle 13:55 2m abt 1f Hurdle Race 14:30 The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle Race abt 3m Hurdle The WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple 15:05 3m abt 2½ f Chase Chase The St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup 15:40 3m abt 2½ f Chase Open Hunters' Steeple Chase 16:15 The Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Steeple Chase 2m abt ½f Chase 16:50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m abt 4½ f Hurdle 13.20 - The JCB Triumph Hurdle 2020 Result st 1 Burning Victory nd 2 Aspire Tower rd 3 Allmankind The JCB Triumph Hurdle is the opening race on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival. It is a 2m1f Grade 1 contest restricted to the four year old juvenile hurdlers. It has produced four subsequent Champion Hurdle winners in Clair Soleil, Persian War, Kribensis and Katchit while 2018 and 2019 Grand National winner Tiger Roll triumphed in 2014.