Monthly Archives: October 2018

The jumps season is back in the UK and that means all roads lead to the Cheltenham Festival in March in what is the highlight of the National Hunt campaign. Over the next few weeks, the leading horses will make their seasonal reappearances where connections will be hoping they can shake off the cobwebs and make a winning start.

Here are three horses that could have a big season and are worth watching in their respective divisions at the Festival.

 

Buveur d’Air

 

Nicky Henderson’s Buveur d’Air will be chasing his third straight Champion Hurdle success this season, something which has not been done since the great Istabraq managed the feat in 2000. Victory in the premier hurdle contest on day one in March will certainly help the seven-year-old elevate himself into that category as one of the best in the modern era. Buveur d’Air could return to action in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle, the race he won last year. Henderson’s runner has now prevailed in his last ten races so it will be exciting to see how far he can stretch that winning run.

 

Altior

Altior has been a winner at the last three Cheltenham Festivals and on ratings alone, he is one the leading horses still in training today. Unfortunately, we only saw Altior for the last three months of last season as he had wind surgery in the early stages of the campaign which put him out of action until February. Despite his setback, it did not stop Henderson’s chaser from claiming the Queen Mother Champion Chase where he was fantastic in the 2m contest. Altior is the evens favourite, as mrgreen sportsbook shows, to retain his crown in the Champion Chase next year and that looks a very fair price. At evens, the odds would suggest Altior has a 50% chance of winning the race which, as anybody has seen the horse run knows, that percentage should be much higher.

 

Might Bite

 

Might Bite suffered just one defeat last season in what, up until that point, was a fantastic campaign for the chaser. Unfortunately for connections, his sole loss came in the Blue Riband event in the sport, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, where he finished second behind Native River. After a victory in his opening run of the campaign at Sandown, Might Bite then went on to score the biggest success of his career in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day where he defeated Thistlecrack, Whisper, Bristol De Mai and Fox Norton. In what will be just his third season over fences, fans of the horse can expect Might Bite to peak in the 2018/19 campaign. The Triple Chase Crown is likely to be the target for the nine-year-old this season, therefore his first run could come at Haydock next month before he returns to Kempton to defend his crown in the King George.

Wincanton racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing track located in Wincanton, England. It is owned and operated by the Jockey Club Racecourses. The racecourse hosts National Hunt races only. In his book, Paul Nicholls reflects on how Wincanton played a major role in his career as a jockey. Paul won a race in 1982 at the racecourse, which is located not far from his yard. It has large steeplechase fences, making the races more challenging, thus interesting. In 2008, Wincanton recorded the highest casualty rate of 9 in the whole country.

Racing at Wincanton was first recorded on Thursday the 25th of August, 1870. It was held at Hatherleigh, just about one mile from the town center. It featured the Hatherleigh Stakes, which was won by Filly Edna, being ridden by HM Rudd. As the years went by, more meetings were held in the racecourse each year. In 1893, the Wincanton Hunt Steeplechase committee was formed, and a meeting took place on Easter Monday of the same year. Just before the wars began, the Wincanton Races Company Ltd was formed. Its progress was however slowed down between 1914
and 1919 when the war erupted. In 1925, the racecourse was moved to its current venue at Kingwell Farm, after the lease at Hatherleigh farm had expired. The first meeting happened at Kingwell on the 18th of August, 1927.

Some of the most notable races held at the course are the Kingwell Hurdle and the Badger Ales Trophy. The Kingwell Hurdle was first run in 1971. It is a Grade 2 race, and only horses aged four years and above take part in it. It takes place every February. The Badger Ales also takes place in February, and the horses compete over a total distance
of 3,077 meters. Coming up this year is the Smarkets Ladies Day, which is scheduled for the 15th of May. It features several races, plus a best dressed lady competition. Gates will be opening as from noon, and the first race beginning at 2:20pm.

Compared to most sports, fans of horse racing are somewhat spoiled for choice here in the UK. There are a total of 60 British racecourses allowing those with an interest in National Hunt and Flat Racing (or both!) to enjoy top class racing action all over the country and all year around. I’ve had many an exciting day at the course most local to my location, Great Yarmouth, and I’m sure that most other racing fans will echo that sentiment about their local racecourse.

 

There are of course some racecourses that see more of the action, and have been host to many more famous racing moments than others. Ascot for one and of course Cheltenham, home to the Cheltenham Festival, is a racecourse that has seen many a memorable moment in the sport. Aintree racecource though is surely number one on most lists of courses and indeed races to attend though, on account that it hosts the world famous Aintee Grand National, run over 4 miles 514 yards and 30 jumps.

 

This much anticipated event sees Grand National betting offers, tips, news and views come to the fore. The Grand National is one of the most watched sporting events on the planet, with UK TV audiences approaching nine million, and worldwide figures of some 600 million viewers. For context the US centric Superbowl typically draws around 120 million viewers, as does the UEFA Champions League Final. Only the World Cup final audience, at around 900 million viewers, eclipses the event. On course attendance over the three days can reach 150,000. Many horses, jockeys and trainers have made a name for themselves off the back of their Grand National success. Red Rum and co ascended to racing royalty as result of winning this big money event first held in 1939 (with a prize pot of £3.2 million for the Festival and £1million for the main event in 2018).

 

The 2019 Grand National race will take place on Saturday 6th April on Grand National Day. The Grand National festival itself spans from 4th – 6th of April. Early tips for horses in the running for the 2019 title include Grand National 2018 winner Tiger Roll and last year’s runner up Pleasant Company.

 

The other main UK racing festival that many class as unmissable is the four day Cheltenham Festival, held in March of each year at the Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire. On course attendance reaches a staggering 250,000+ over the course of the four days, with the first race commencing with a ‘Cheltenham Roar’ from the attending masses, an unforgotable on course experience. With group one events like the Champion Hurdle on day one, Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two and Stayers Hurdle on day three, racing fans are captivated throughout. Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup is the main event, with prize money approaching £600,000. Much like the reputation of the Grand National, winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a legend maker, as we can see with two time winner Kauto Star and three time winner Best Mate.

Roaring Lion won the Irish Champions Stakes with a brilliant performance to beat out his rival Saxon Warrior to claim the crown. John Gosden will now turn the attention of his charge to the British Champion Stakes to end the season on the highest of notes at Ascot.

It has been a campaign of two halves as the American horse struggled in the early stages of the term, but has come to life to become the dominant competitor over ten furlongs. Cracksman, Enable and Crystal Ocean will be vying to knock the grey colt out of the winners’ circle. However, Roaring Lion has rightfully been established as the leading contender for the title for the October 20^th meet. As a result, Gosden’s charge should be the horse to back in the William Hill horse racing tips at 2/1 given his dominance over the second half of the season.

 

Roaring Lion began the term at the Craven Stakes at Newmarket, but failed to live up to expectations after being considered the favourite for the event. The American horse could not cope with the pace of Masar, finishing nine lengths behind the eventual winner of the meet, while he was beaten on the line for second place by White Mocha, capping an underwhelming outing. Life did not improve for Roaring Lion in his next appearance at Newmarket in the 2,000 Guineas. He struggled from the off to match the speed of the leading group led by Saxon Warrior. Gosden’s charge placed in fifth, highlighting how far he had to go to become an elite competitor.

 

Oisin Murphy was able to lead the horse to his first victory of the campaign at York in the Dante Stakes. The three-year-old kept pace with the leading group before making his charge one furlong out to win by a comfortable margin – four-and-a-half lengths ahead of his nearest rival. Roaring Lion was one of the leading contenders for The Derby due to the dominance of his performance, and although he was able to finish ahead of Saxon Warrior, it was only good enough for a third-place display as Masar claimed the crown.

 

 

Roaring Lion’s next outing would be more successful at The Eclipse. This time Murphy was able to get a fine performance out of the three-year-old. He timed his surge to perfection down the stretch pulling ahead of the field in the final furlong. Saxon Warrior made the challenge, but the American horse had enough to see off the threat to clinch the win by a neck. Gosden’s charge built on his triumph by claiming another title on his return to York. Poet’s Word was the favourite for the event, but the grey colt was able to dominate him and the rest of the field, finishing three-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of the Irish horse.

 

The three-year-old’s back-to-back victories saw him installed as the favourite for the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in his first outing at the venue. Although Roaring Lion got off to a slow start in the contest, he was able to move through the gears to challenge his old foe Saxon Warrior down the final furlong. The two horses battled out for the victory on the straight, and it was Gosden’s charge that emerged with the win, beating out his rival by the narrowest margins. It would be prudent to back him once again to make it four on the bounce to end the campaign as Saxon Warrior was forced into retirement at the end of their duel.