 |
|
|
|
| Cheltenham Entries 2007 |
Final Festival Entries Revealed 02/03/07
With under two weeks to go until The Festival gets underway, the final pieces in the jigsaw are revealed today with the publication of the entries for the three remaining contests - the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup and the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase.
First run in 1992, the Weatherbys Champion Bumper is one of the most intriguing contests at The Festival and this year has attracted 59 entries, including 21 from Ireland and one from France, Warwick winner Berings Express.
The Irish have captured the Weatherbys Champion Bumper on no less than 11 occasions, with trainer Willie Mullins accounting for five of those victories. This year, Mullins has four to choose from - Mad Fish, who has attracted plenty of interest in the ante-post market, Cooldine, Fiveforthree and Glencove Marina.
Other leading Irish contenders include
the current market leader from the Jessica Harrington stable, Cork All
Star, who is unbeaten in three starts, most recently in the Tiger Developments
Open Bumper at Cheltenham on November 12 and the Tony Mullins-trained
Aranleigh, who beat Mad Fish on his only start at Fairyhouse in January.
Leading British-trained contenders include the Carl Llewellyn-trained
quartet of Den Of Iniquity, Debauchery, Kid Charlemagne and Three Guesses.
Malcolm Jefferson, who supplied the first British-trained winner of the
Weatherbys Champion Bumper with Dato Star in 1995, has entered the well-regarded
Tot O’Whiskey, impressive in winning all his three starts to date,
while the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Crocodiles Rock, who captured a
Grade Two bumper at Newbury last month, is another leading contender.
The National Hunt Chase
Challenge Cup is the longest race of The Festival
at four miles and a furlong and there are 58 entries for the 2007 renewal,
including 22 trained in Ireland. Gungadu, trained by Paul Nicholls, looks
sure to be a very warm order following three successes from four starts
over fences, including the Grade Two Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase
at Ascot in February. Jonjo O’Neill boasts an enviable record in
the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup, having landed the contest for
three consecutive years between 2002 and 2004. The master of Jackdaws
Castle has half a dozen to choose from this year - Alright Now M’Lad,
Butler’s Cabin, Drombeag, Garde Champetre, Ice Melted and Money
Line.
Defending champion Whyso Mayo is one of 43 entries in the Christie’s
Foxhunter Chase, the Gold Cup for the best hunter chasers and point-to-pointers
in Britain and Ireland. Trained by Ray Hurley, Whyso Mayo is one of 11
Irish challengers and is unbeaten in his three outings since his 2006
Christie’s Foxhunter Chase victory. The 2006 second and third,
First Down Jets and Joe Blake, could both reoppose. Bica, trained by
Robert Waley-Cohen and ridden by his son Sam, has landed two hunter chases
this season and looks a leading contender along with Patches, whose trainer
Richard Barber boasts four previous wins.
Andy Clifton, Cheltenham Racecourse’s Communications Manager,
commented: “With the entry process now complete for all 24 races,
the final countdown to The Festival has started.
“The Weatherbys Champion Bumper always attracts lots of interest in the build-up to The Festival, while the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup and the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase both play a big part in the traditions of The Festival.”
COMPARISON OF ENTRIES 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
1997 1996
Weatherbys Champion Bumper 59 63 65 58 46 46 56 55 52 42 * *
National Hunt Chase 58 50 54 71 71 61 58 44 41 42 48 47
Christie’s Foxhunter Chase 43 46 44 39 41 35 36 34 35 28 28 27
IRISH-TRAINED ENTRIES 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
1997 1996
Weatherbys Champion Bumper 21 24 15 30 21 14 18 21 18 8 * *
National Hunt Chase 22 17 11 17 24 17 19 10 11 10 10 7
Christie’s Foxhunter Chase 11 13 7 7 10 4 5 4 6 8 6 4
*Five-day closing in 1996 and 1997
