Cheltenham Pageant: Lots of of spectators attend Gold Cup Day
The Cheltenham Pageant begins in the present day with the primary seven of 28 races that can play out over the course of the following 4 days. The opening day of the Pageant is often a bombastic explosion of pleasure, ambiance and thrills with the star jockeys and trainers all hoping to get their weeks off to profitable begins.
Round 70,000 spectators are anticipated to flock to Prestbury Park for the primary day of the Pageant the place they’ll to get the higher of the bookmakers while soaking within the celebratory emotions that have a tendency to return from these large race conferences.
On in the present day’s schedule, there may be the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle which is able to kick off the week carefully following by the thrilling Arkle Chase and Ultima Handicap Chase. The principle occasion is, after all, the Champion Hurdle which will get underway at 3.30pm and guarantees to be an open discipline particularly with final 12 months’s winner, Structure Hill, not operating.
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Cheltenham Pageant LIVE: Odds, ideas and outcomes from Day 1
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Cheltenham Pageant 2024 race card, dates, begin instances and full four-day schedule
Forward of the racing getting underway, right here’s all the things you’ll want to know in regards to the 2024 Cheltenham Pageant
Luke Baker12 March 2024 13:12
Spectators arrive at Cheltenham Pageant
The moist climate hasn’t dampened the passion of the spectators arriving on the course. The primary race of the most important week of UK Nationwide Hunt racing is a bit of underneath half-hour away now.
Luke Baker12 March 2024 13:03
Situations set to be delicate at drizzly Cheltenham
It’s been moist and wild (weather-wise) at Cheltenham this morning and though the rain is easing off barely, it’s nonetheless drizzly sufficient down in Gloucestershire.
That can make for delicate floor and legendary jockey Mick Fitzgerald says it’s as delicate as he’s seen on the opening day at Cheltenham for a lot of a 12 months.
Luke Baker12 March 2024 12:52
Cheltenham Pageant: Specialists predict six horses to win on Day 1
Questioning who to again in in the present day’s races? See if a number of the specialists can sway your resolution.
Luke Baker12 March 2024 12:41
Cheltenham Pageant 2024: Managing director admits Pageant ticket gross sales are down for second 12 months in a row
The attendance at this 12 months’s Cheltenham Pageant is prone to fall in need of final 12 months’s determine says Ian Renton, the monitor’s managing director.
In an interview with Racing TV, Renton conceded that “we’re going to be a couple of down on final 12 months”, when the attendance dropped by 14% from the four-day document of 280,267 in 2022.
“The monitor is in good condition and we’re happy with the way it appears to be like,” mentioned clerk of the course, Jon Pullin, on Monday. “We confronted a couple of challenges final 12 months with grass cowl, however that was on the again of a chilly spell all through the winter.
“It’s been a really completely different story this 12 months and really moist, which has given us different challenges, however we’re pleased with situations.
“We had 7mm in a single day into yesterday and an additional 4mm all through the day. We’re forecast to be dry in the present day, however then we’ve some extra showers shifting in tomorrow morning earlier than a dry afternoon.”
Mike Jones12 March 2024 12:30
Cheltenham Pageant 2024: British coach Harry Derham on the Cheltenham Pageant
Like {most professional} sports activities discovering an entryway into the Nationwide Hunt trade is a troublesome job however 29-year-old British coach Harry Derham is incomes plaudits for his rising steady.
Professional-golfers Brooks Koepka and Graeme McDowell have even entrusted him with their horse, Givemefive, who completed second at Kempton Park again in February.
“We’re proper to give attention to these 4 days [at Cheltenham], as a result of they showcase our sport,” mentioned Derham, “I feel it’s generally a bit of bit boring in November and December when a horse wins a novice chase then we instantly begin speaking about Cheltenham.
“Having mentioned that, the place does everybody desire a winner? The place does everybody need their horse to run? Cheltenham.
“I find it irresistible, I’m a large fan and I stay up for it. I don’t assume we put an excessive amount of give attention to it, however I feel that, maybe, it’s not fairly as aggressive because it as soon as was.”
When requested if he was glad the Pageant stays a 4 day occasion, Derham added: “With out query, I feel generally you may have increasingly more of one thing however it doesn’t essentially make it higher. I don’t notably keep in mind having a 3 day Pageant, however I feel that the upper high quality the Pageant will be, the higher.
“You need to see the most effective horses taking up each other in very aggressive fields. It’s not Willie Mullins’ fault he has all the most effective horses for the time being and, in equity to him, he runs them towards one another.
“Generally much less is extra, and I feel that 5 days of Cheltenham wouldn’t have been an excellent factor in any respect.”
Mike Jones12 March 2024 12:22
Cheltenham Pageant 2024: Rain affecting underfoot situations
The going has been modified this morning from delicate to delicate (heavy in locations). That’s because of the quantity of rain that’s fell over the course of the evening and the early morning.
Mike Jones12 March 2024 12:13
Cheltenham Pageant 2024: How will Quilixios go within the Arkle?
The Arkle Problem Trophy is likely one of the greater races on Cheltenham’s opening day with loads of horses racing on this one occurring to compete within the champion races later down the road.
Rachael Blackmore is certainly using on this one, which heads off at 2.10pm, and will probably be atop Quilixios.
“I’m actually trying ahead to using Quilixios within the Arkle,” she mentioned, “We had been very pleased along with his run at Naas final time, dropped again down to 2 miles. His leaping was good and he gained nicely.
“It is a very aggressive Arkle, however Quilixios is a Triumph Hurdle winner, he has a contact of sophistication and he gained his solely race on the monitor. I feel that he can run a very large race.”
Mike Jones12 March 2024 12:06
Cheltenham Pageant 2024: Rachael Blackmore talks Slade Metal possibilities
2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Rachael Blackmore is able to compete once more on the Cheltenham Pageant and as an envoy for Betfair has been talking about her rides on day one of many Pageant.
Her first outing will probably be within the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 1.30pm on Tuesday when she units off atop Slade Metal. Right here’s what Blackmore needed to say:
“Slade Metal runs within the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as a substitute of within the Gallagher. Earlier than I rode him within the Tattersalls Eire Novice Hurdle over two miles on the Dublin Racing Pageant, I might have mentioned that he would have been higher within the longer race.
“However he was sharp at Leopardstown, I don’t assume that the two-mile journey will probably be a difficulty for him.
“Clearly this can be a superb race, it’s a Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and it’s very aggressive, however I feel that he’s bang there along with his likelihood.
“He’s a horse we’ve all the time held in excessive regard and delicate floor gained’t be a difficulty for him. We’re hoping for an enormous run.”
Mike Jones12 March 2024 12:00
‘World’s tallest jockey’ has new rival for crown at Cheltenham Pageant
As Cheltenham Pageant, horse racing’s largest occasion of the 12 months, will get underway in the present day there will probably be two lofty figures who catch the attention greater than most.
Jockey Jack Andrews made headlines final 12 months because the world’s tallest jockey. The Englishman, standing at a staggering 6 ft 4 in (193cm) towered above the remainder of the sphere, with the typical jockey mentioned to be not more than 5ft 2in.
Andrews had no luck with 66/1 shot Anightinlambourn within the 2023 Kim Muir Handicap Chase however returns this 12 months to experience Henry’s Good friend within the Nationwide Hunt Chase which concludes the primary day’s motion. The Ben Pauling-trained runner remains to be a longshot at round 20/1 however has gained its final three races together with at Ascot final month.
Andrews, nonetheless, will face competitors this 12 months for the title of ‘world’s tallest jockey’, with fellow 6ft 4in rider Thomas Costello set to line up within the first race of the day.
Luke Baker12 March 2024 11:50