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| Cheltenham Novice Chases 2007 |
Star Novice Chasers Bid to Continue in Distinguished Footsteps 23/01/07
With recent winners such as Voy Por Ustedes, Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop, Well Chief, Flagship Uberalles, Star De Mohaison, Florida Pearl and Looks Like Trouble, Cheltenham’s two championship novice chases - The Irish Independent Arkle Chase and Royal & SunAlliance Chase - have an outstanding record at producing future stars and this year’s contests, for which entries are revealed today, look again to be brimming with talent.
The Irish Independent Arkle Chase, a highlight of The Festival’s
first day, has 43 entered including last season’s JCB Triumph Hurdle
runner-up Fair Along, who is unbeaten in his three outings over fences
for trainer Philip Hobbs. David Pipe - whose father Martin trained four
of the last nine winners of the two-mile contest - could add to the family
record with Buena Vista or Pablo Du Charmil, who both have a 100 per
cent record in chases. The Howard Johnson-trained Lennon is another with
a faultless career to date over fences while Nicky Henderson - who boasts
three Irish Independent Arkle Chase victories so far - has two entries,
Stan James Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase scorer Jack The Giant and
All Star, who made a stylish winning chasing debut at Ascot in November.
Alan King, who saddled Voy Por Ustedes to victory last year, has entered
My Way De Solzen - who could opt for the longer Royal & SunAlliance
Chase - and Howle Hill, winner of both his novice chases. Paul Nicholls,
successful in 1999 with Flagship Uberalles and four years later with
Azertyuiop, has six chances of a third success. Opera Mundi, a winner
at Newbury on Wednesday, Natal, Good Spirit, Phar Bleu, Turko and Twist
Magic make up his team. The 10 Irish-trained entries include Gemini Baby
and Callow Lake from Jessica Harrington’s stable as well as last
year’s Coral Cup hero Sky’s The Limit, trained by Edward
O’Grady.
There are 73 entered in the Royal & Sunalliance
Chase, run on Wednesday,
March 14, with Denman, trained by Paul Nicholls, currently heading the
ante-post betting after his three successes this season. Nicholls, successful
in 2006 with Star De Mohaison, has also entered Opera Mundi, Turko, Be
Be King and Gungadu in the extended three-mile event. Ungaro, winner
of the Grade One Feltham Novice Chase at Kempton for trainer Keith Reveley,
Dom D’Orgeval, who scored on his debut for trainer David Pipe at
Fakenham last week and the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Don’t Push
It, winner of the boylecasino.com Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham
on December 9, are other notable entries.
A joint-record 28-strong entry from Ireland includes Charles Byrnes’ stable
star Cailin Alainn, whose last two novice chase victories have come in
Grade One company, as well as Schindlers Hunt and Hear The Echo, who
filled the first two places in the Grade One Durkan New Homes Novice
Chase at Leopardstown on December 26.
Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham’s Managing Director, said: “Both The Irish Independent Arkle Chase and Royal & SunAlliance Chase boast outstanding records at producing future contenders for championship honours at The Festival and this year’s entries for the two races include a string of talented performers from both sides of the Irish Sea that should hopefully continue that tradition.”
ANALYSIS OF ENTRIES
NUMBER OF ENTRIES
IRISH INDEPENDENT ARKLE
2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
43, 57, 48, 42, 47, 57, 51, 47,
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
58, 51, 46, 30, 30, 28, 29.
ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE CHASE
2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
73, 91, 61, 64, 72, 82, 61, 84,
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
88, 75, 81, 61, 54, 65, 43.
IRISH-TRAINED ENTRIES
IRISH INDEPENDENT ARKLE
2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
10, 19, 17, 12, 17, 15, 12, 9,
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
17, 11, 6, 8, 7, 4, 5.
ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE CHASE
2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000
28, 28, 17, 19, 20, 24, 11, 12,
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
16, 13, 7, 10, 8, 14, 6.
HORSE ENGAGED IN BOTH THE IRISH INDEPENDENT ARKLE CHASE & THE ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE CHASE
Another Promise
Don’t Push It
Mr Pointment
My Way De Solzen
Opera Mundi
Oran Climate
Stoway
Turko
