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Cheltenham Festival Latest
05/03/11

The start of the Cheltenham Festival is less than two weeks away and the composition of the races are slowly starting to take shape. Most will have their horse bets ready and waiting for the annual event but the annual event always has its fair share of surprises to throw up.

Recession Proof will run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
© Grossick Racing Photography

The latest trainer to confirm plans for one of his charges is John Quinn who has decided that Recession Proof will next run in the Grade One Stan James Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on the first day of the annual renewal.

The original schedule for the smart five-year-old chestnut gelding following success in the Totesport Trophy was another crack at a major handicap, with the Paddy Power Imperial Cup a likely target.

However, it appears that Quinn has decided that the former high-class Flat runner should make his next appearance at the Cheltenham Festival. The horse is currently available at 10/1 in the ante-post betting market for the race with the strong horse betting favourite Cue Card (9/4).

Meanwhile, Cheltenham officials are reporting that the course is in a much better condition than last year. Following three bad winters there was concern that the course would have been in bad shape but the track seems to have recovered well from the harsh conditions. The going has been officially described as soft and good to soft in places on both the Cheltenham courses with the Cross Country course described as soft and good to soft in places.

At the moment there have been 195,000 tickets sold for the meeting, which puts the course on target for an attendance of between 215,000 to 220,000, and another fantastic renewal is awaited.