Constitution The Superstar?
The four days of the Cheltenham Festival are the first dates marked on the calendar for thousands of fans and it is always worth the wait. The action kicks off on Tuesday with the traditional curtain raiser of the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Willie Mullins has four runners in the Grade 1 contest as he looks to win the opening race for the eighth time.
Tuesday’s card is dominated by the Unibet Champion Hurdle when Constitution Hill will attempt to cement his place as jump racing’s newest star. The Sporting Life Arkle Trophy and the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, where dual Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle will line-up in a stellar field, are the other Grade 1 races on the day
An Open Champion Chase
The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase is the feature race on Wednesday. Last year’s winner Energumene will defend his title from Arkle hero Edwardstone and course specialist Editeur Du Gite in a thrilling match-up in the season’s top two-mile chase.
The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase are the day’s other top-class races. The Glenfarclas Chase over the unique cross-country course in the middle of the main track is always a superb spectacle. It also takes place on the Festival’s second day.
All Eyes On Shishkin
The action moves on to Thursday with two championship races. The Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle sits on the same card as the Ryanair Chase. Shishkin is expected to line-up in the latter having recorded a stunning victory in the Ascot Chase last month.
The day kicks off with the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase and, later on the card, the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is run in memory of Jack de Bromhead.
Jump Racing’s Most Coveted Prize
The meeting rises to a crescendo on the final day with the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. It is jump racing’s most coveted prize and this year’s race is shaping up to be a cracker. Irish Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs will be taken on by King George winner Bravemansgame and Grand National victor Noble Yeats. Throw in previous Gold Cup winners A Plus Tard and Minella Indo, as well as Betfair Chase hero Protektorat, Scottish star Ahoy Senor and bargain buy Hewick, and it makes for a mouthwatering contest.
The youngsters also get their chance to shine in top-level races in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. The St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase gives the amateur riders a final opportunity of glory at jump racing’s biggest meeting before the four days of incredible sport ends with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
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