"During every race, an ambulance trails the riders around the course. You know that sometimes you are going to end up in the back of that ambulance."
Sir Tony McCoy
Showing posts with label @CheltFest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label @CheltFest. Show all posts
Wednesday, 30 May 2018
Friday, 18 March 2016
Pendleton No Longer on Fringe
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| Getty Images |
Victoria Pendleton finished fifth on Pacha Du Polder as Nina Carberry and On The Fringe won the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham.
The double Olympic cycling champion had her mount at the rear of the field for much of the race but as her rivals tired she moved up.
But Carberry was far too strong with 13-8 favourite On The Fringe recording back-to-back wins in the race.
"It's probably the greatest achievement of my life," said Pendleton.
"I'm overwhelmed - thank you to everyone who has made this possible. I feel honoured."
Nina Carberry was celebrating her sixth Cheltenham Festival career win
The 35-year-old, who won Olympic gold in the sprint at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the keirin at the 2012 London Games, had never sat on a horse this time last year.
But she has worked hard over the last 12 months, earning her first win at Wincanton on Pacha Du Polder, trained by Paul Nicholls, last month and the decision was made for her to ride at the Festival.
"I can't believe I did it and I got around," she added. "There are things I would like to do again but this horse is a legend. It's the most fun I have ever had."
Trainer Paul Nicholls told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's great for the team that won the race, but for Victoria to finish fifth after all the doubters was superb. We would not have let it happen if we had a doubt.
"She's had a thrill and I think it's good for racing all around the world. She's ridden a winner in everyone's eyes."
BBC Radio 5 live's Luke Harvey: "That was an unbelievable performance. She rode superbly. You saw her confidence increase and she was weaving and scything through the field. That was unbelievable. Walt Disney stuff.
"She was getting a better reception than the winner. To get round at Cheltenham only 12 months after getting on a horse for a first time is amazing."
Owner Andy Stewart is hoping the rules governing amateur licences will be changed to allow Pendleton the chance to take on the Grand National fences in the Foxhunters Chase at Aintree.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "All the dissenters said she would fall off at the first, but I've had plenty of my jockeys fall off at the first. She got round nicely and the horse looked after her.
"I just hope the rules will be changed between the Category A and B licences so she can ride him at Aintree.
"She's got to have a couple more rides under Rules or the rules have got to be changed to ride at Aintree."
Thursday, 17 March 2016
No More Heroes Injury Too Severe
No More Heroes had to be put down on Wednesday night after suffering a tendon injury in the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old had scored twice at Grade One level this term and was sent off as the second favourite for the three-mile affair.
However, it soon emerged after he had faded into fourth that all was not well as jockey Bryan Cooper dismounted and a veterinary officer later reported the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding had struck into himself on his left fore.
Connections had hoped he could be saved, but Gigginstown confirmed on Thursday morning that his injury had proved too severe.
A statement on Thurday morning read: "Unfortunately the injury to No More Heroes, having struck into himself and damaged a tendon yesterday, proved to be too significant to save him.
"Having consulted with the vets at the equine hospital, and after extensive care and assessment, it was considered that it would be in the horse's best interest that he be humanely put down, and this was carried out late last night."
Wednesday, 16 March 2016
Sprinter Sacre Stunning Winner at Cheltenham
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| Getty Images |
Sprinter Sacre beat favourite Un De Sceaux to win the coveted Queen Mother Champion Chase for a second time at the Cheltenham Festival.
With three former winners in the big race, Nicky Henderson's 10-year-old 5-1 shot, ridden by Nico de Boinville, powered home by seven lengths.
Ruby Walsh, seeking his 50th Festival winner, was second on the Willie Mullins-trained 4-6 favourite.
Outsider Special Tiara (16-1) was third for trainer Henry de Bromhead.
Sprinter Sacre was a dominant winner by 19 lengths three years ago but did not race in 2014 after an irregular heartbeat was detected.
After two second-place finishes last year he won by 14 lengths at Cheltenham in November and then added the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton the following month when he eclipsed Sire De Grugy.
"It's been a long, long journey - those were two very, very grim years," Henderson said.
"That was unbelievable. That was about dreams, wasn't it?"
Walsh and Mullins had continued their remarkable start to the Festival with victory in the opening race on day two.
Having secured three wins on the opening day, Walsh rode the Mullins-trained six-year-old Yorkhill to another in the Novices' Hurdle.
Walsh, who rode the Mullins-trained Annie Power to victory in day one's feature, the Champion Hurdle. steered Yorkhill on an inside path and turned for home to beat favourite Yanworth by a length and three-quarters.
Its'afreebee stuck on pluckily for third, seven lengths further back.
Walsh was in contention again on Roi Des Francs in the RSA Chase but eventually faded to sixth as the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Blaklion, (8-1) ridden by 22-year-old Ryan Hatch, prevailed in a gripping tussle with Shaneshill to win by half a length.
Favourite More Of That, ridden by Barry Geraghty, was third, another eight lengths in arrears.
Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old Diamond King, (12-1) with Davy Russell on board, burst through on the far side to claim victory by a length and a quarter.
Long House Hall, ridden by Harry Skelton for his brother Dan, was second, with Ubak another neck away in third,
The Mullins-Walsh combination Blood Cotil pulled up.
Veteran performer Any Currency (11-1) stuck on gamely to strike for trainer Martin Keighley and jockey Aidan Coleman in the Glenfarclas Chase.
Second in this race for the last two years, the 13-year-old took over from long-time leader Valadom in the final part of the cross-country test over three and three-quarter miles and was the clear leader from the third-last fence.
Josies Orders, the 15-8 favourite, finished with a flourish up the hill to get to within a length of the winner at the line.
Bless The Wings (33-1) was another length and a quarter away in third.
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Faugheen Ends Ruby Hurdle Hope
Champion hurdler Faugheen has a leg injury and will miss the defence of his Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham, his trainer Willie Mullins says.
The eight-year-old, who beat Arctic Fire and Hurricane Fly in last year's race, will be out until next year.
Jockey Ruby Walsh described his absence from the race on 15 March as "like whipping the ace out of the pack".
Faugheen's injury means another Mullins runner, Annie Power, may now be aimed at the Champion Hurdle.
The Irish trainer, who trained all of last year's top three finishers, also has Arctic Fire and Nichols Canyon entered for this year's race.
Mullins said: "We think the prognosis [for Faugheen] is very good and he should be back as good as new next year.
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