Cheltenham festival 2025: snow falls before racing on day two
Hello, and welcome to day two of the festival. And, as Cheltenham themselves point out, what a difference a day makes. When my son got in touch with me worried about whether the racing was going to be on I reminded him that I was there in 1987 when the delayed Gold Cup, won by The Thinker, took place after a sustained snowstorm in the middle of racing. The Sporting Life, where I worked in the 1990s, was still being sold back then and it was a pleasant surprise to see a printed edition of the paper, which closed in 1997, being handed out yesterday by Mike Tindall at Paddington station. Share Greg Wood
Good morning from Cheltenham, where the – somewhat surprising – weather news is that the racecourse received a light covering of snow earlier today. Low-ish temperatures had been predicted after a (relatively) mild day on Tuesday, but actual white stuff dropping out of the sky was not in many punters' plans, and brought back memories of the festival in 2013 when frost covers were needed to save the meeting and the daytime thermometer hovered around zero all week.
There is no danger to today's card, however, as the snow turned into sleet at around 8.30am, and temperatures are forecast to rise to around 7C by the time the field set off for the opener, the Turners Novice Hurdle, at 1.20pm.
There is a slight sense of déjà vu about the first two contests on the card, as both are novice events with a Willie Mullins-trained favourite. Mullins did not have things all his own way on Tuesday, however, as Majborough failed to live up to expectations in the Arkle Trophy, and Final Demand (Turners) in particular faces some very credible opposition in The New Lion – seen as a further Champion Hurdle contender by Dan Skelton, his trainer – and Gordon Elliott's The Yellow Clay.
Ballyburn, in the Broadway Novice Chase, is the first of two likely odds-on shots on the day, although Jonbon, the market leader for the featured Queen Mother Champion Chase at 4.00pm, is a little uneasy in the betting this morning and is now 10-11 in places, with Marine Nationale, the second-favourite, edging closer at around 5-1.
Elsewhere on the card (all the tips for which are here), it is all about big fields and favourites rather closer to double-figure odds, with the Coral Cup Handicap in particular dangling a very enticing carrot for punters as they look to repair some of the damage from a series of unexpected results on Tuesday's card. And it all wraps up with the Bumper, in which more than half the field is currently unbeaten and it is anyone's guess in which order the five-strong Willie Mullins contingent will pass the post, never mind the rest of the field.
As ever, you can follow all the buildup and the action from the first flagfall to the last here on the blog, and there's no need to reach for the winter woollies. Share
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
‘No one thinks I can do it' – Legendary Cheltenham Festival jockey makes shock comeback after 14 years
A LEGENDARY Cheltenham Festival jockey who found more fame as a trainer is to make an incredible racing return after 14 years. Keiran Burke rode a winner at jumps racing's biggest meeting and trained the iconic Hunt Ball on his remarkable winning run. 2 2 Now, after being teased by stable lads and lasses at his Dorset base, he is all set to dust off his whip and goggles for Newmarket this Saturday. And he even says victory in the world's longest Flat race - which has been reduced in distance owing to the dry ground - would eclipse his achievements at Cheltenham. Burke, now 39, won the 2011 Plate on Holmwood Legend for late trainer Pat Rodford. The victory was dubbed one of the 'romantic' tales of the week with the 25-1 outsider storming home by three lengths. But his career in the saddle ended in a life-threatening incident when he was 'double-barrelled' by a spooked horse. Burke had splashed some cash at the Cheltenham sales and was trotting the new purchase at home when it got spooked. Intent on catching the tearaway, Burke ran after it but the horse kicked him with both its hind legs. He was in intensive care for a week with a ruptured spleen and was so weak he couldn't walk. Burke recovered in time to train the Anthony Knott-owned Hunt Ball, who went from a lowly 69-rated chaser to Cheltenham Festival winner. The horse won seven of eight races in the 2011-12 season - including the Listed Pulteney Land Investments Novices' Handicap Chase at the Festival - before finishing third in the Grade 1 Bowl at Aintree off 154. But Burke insists winning the Newmarket Town Plate - which has been run since 1666 - would top the lot. Especially as he is taking on good friend and rival trainer Tim Vaughan. Burke said: "All the staff said I couldn't do it, so I had to prove them wrong. "It was probably about three months ago that it came on the agenda but, originally, I was a reserve. "I was then put in as someone else pulled out, so it has been a bit all last minute to get everything sorted to go and do it. "I think it would give me loads more satisfaction winning this than winning at the Cheltenham Festival. "I've not had a massive chance to think about it too much, and what it means, but it is starting to sink in a little bit more now. "I think all those old memories will be flooding back, but it is even better there are not eight flights of hurdles to negotiate!" "I've got one thing I need to get done and that is to beat Tim Vaughan. "We have not had a side bet on this, but from what I've seen he is taking this very seriously. "I was up at Newmarket at the weekend, and I was having a drink with Josephine Gordon and she texted Tim a picture of me drinking a pint for my preparation when he has been all over Instagram going running and stuff. "If Tim Vaughan is last and I'm second last I will be delighted! "I don't know about being in good shape, but I got going when I was first going to go for it then I backed off as I wasn't doing it, but now I am doing I've had to get on with it. "I've not been drinking so much or eating so much. "I've had to lose about half-a-stone which wasn't too bad. "I passed the fitness test, but that nearly killed me, however I got through it in the end. "The horse I'm riding is called Chedington's Guest. He is not the easiest horse, but he will be OK. "He was placed in a bumper at Taunton last April and he is a nice horse. "I got the best one eligible out of my lot I could find for the race. "The owners are coming up and so is my son, but as it is on a Saturday unfortunately the staff will have to stay at home and work. "I think it will be a laugh and good fun hopefully. "It has been a long time since I retired. I just need to make sure my legs are still working near the end of it." Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Telegraph
Why your nostalgia for the summer of 1976 is wrong
The further away the long, steamy summer of 1976 gets, the greater its mythical status becomes, it seems. Every time the thermometer pushes 30 degrees, hoary phrases like 'but it isn't as hot as it was back then' or 'we survived 1976, it can't get worse' are wheeled out with remarkable regularity. But a closer look at historical weather data reveals a more complicated picture. In many ways, the summer of 1976 was Britain's first real taste of a new normal. While it was undeniably hot and dry by the standards of the time, recent years have delivered summers that match – or even surpass – its extremes. While the average highest recorded temperature in the UK between June and August was 21°C, with a searing peak of 35.9°C recorded in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on July 3, what truly embedded 1976 in the public memory was the extraordinary length of its heatwave. In the UK, a heatwave is defined as a period of at least three consecutive days where daily maximum temperatures meet or exceed a threshold of around 28 degrees (though the Met Office applies slightly different thresholds to different regions in the country). Most UK heatwaves last for only three or four days, but in 1976, multiple locations in England recorded a 16 consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 30 degrees, from 23 June to 8 July. To this day, that heatwave remains unmatched in terms of its duration. But the 35.9 degrees recorded in Cheltenham has been surpassed on multiple occasions, most recently in 2022 when the mercury reached a staggering 40.3 degrees in Coningsby in Lincolnshire on 19 July. Even this year, it reached 35.8 degrees in Faversham, Kent on July 1. The difference between 35°C and 40°C may seem to some as just varying degrees of heat but, meteorologically speaking, it is critical. 'When you are talking about really high temperatures, even the difference of a degree is significant – especially in terms of mortality rates,' Dr Laura Baker, senior NCAS scientist in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading, explains. 'Shorter, more intense, very very hot periods have more of an impact than a 16-day hot-but-not-excessively-hot, period,' she added. The 1976 heatwave was estimated to have led to 700 extra deaths in the UK. In the record-breaking summer of 2022 there were an estimated 2,985 excess deaths associated with heat. One major factor worsening modern heatwaves and increasing the number of heat-related deaths is the growing prevalence of so-called 'tropical nights', which is where the minimum daily temperature (often recorded at night) is above 20 degrees. 'In 1976, even with that long period, there were no tropical nights,' Dr Baker explained. 'In terms of how you experience a heatwave, that makes a difference. If it doesn't cool down at night, you can't cool your house down.' This is especially dangerous for elderly or vulnerable individuals who rely on cooler nighttime temperatures to recover from the day's heat. And according to Dr Baker, we'll see more of these 'hot sticky nights' in the near future as heatwaves across the UK – and across the entire Northern Hemisphere for that matter – are becoming more intense, hot, and occurring more frequently. According to the State of the UK Climate in 2024 report, the UK's climate has steadily warmed from the 1980s onwards, with great consequences for our average daily temperature. 'If we look at the UK's average summer temperature, we can see that 1976 was the UK's warmest year on record until 2003,' its lead author Mike Kendon, climate information scientist in the Met Office National Climate Information Centre, says. 'But since then there have been four years close to or above the 1976 value.' The summer of 1976 has one more climate record that still holds weight: the severe drought. According to climate scientists, a drought like that is unlikely to occur in that extremity again (but never say never). The reason it happened in 1976 was because of some very specific preceding conditions. Rainfall was scarce throughout 1975 and the early part of 1976. The intense and prolonged summer heat of 1976 exacerbated these dry conditions, leaving reservoirs depleted before many people even started celebrating their summer holidays, culminating in widespread water shortages across the country. Consecutive years have also brought droughts and low rainfall. Many will remember how hosepipe bans affected much of the south during prolonged dry spells in 2012. This year too – one of the driest on record – saw bans reinstated across both north and south England in July. But while 2025 has been notably dry, it's a relatively isolated year. 2024 ranked amongst the wettest on record, leaving reservoirs and water supplies in a slightly stronger position to withstand this year's dry spring and summer. What also sets 1976 apart, and helps explain its lasting hold on public memory, is not just the severity of the drought, but how unprepared the country was for it. There were no heat action plans, no warning systems. People had to find their own ways to cope. 'The UK would have been less equipped for extreme heat and drought back in 1976 compared to now, and this may be a reason why people still cite the 1976 heatwave as one of the most impactful or memorable to them,' Dr Eunice Lo, senior research fellow in Climate Change and Health at the University of Bristol, said. Government advice at the time was extremely basic and mostly focused on water rationing. People were told to 'bathe with a friend' and to only flush the toilet for solid waste. One casualty doctor suggested the best thing you could have in the heat was a pint and a packet of salty crisps – something the UK Health Security Agency heavily advises against now. A Minister for Drought was appointed. But only at the very end of the drought, days before the rain returned. 'We know that more recent heatwaves were actually hotter than the 1976 event, but in general we have gotten better at coping with heat since then,' Dr Lo explained. Nowadays, the Met Office can issue 'Extreme Heat' warnings, which did not exist in 1976. In fact, the direct public health messaging recommending people to stay indoors and drink lots of fluids that we see now only became standard after the 2003 heatwave. 'The key here is, of course, that we all listen to the warnings and take actions to protect ourselves and others,' Dr Lo points out. This presents another stark difference between the summer of 1976 and recent heatwaves. At the peak of the drought in 1976, water was switched off in some areas. Domestic water supply was limited, which meant people had to diligently collect their water at standpipes. 'You really couldn't imagine that kind of thing now,' Dr Baker says. 'People just couldn't cope. There is less community and everyone is just so desperate for everything to be available. You can't imagine people just going down the street and standing in a queue with a bucket.' It's highly unlikely that a situation like this will unfold again any time soon but, as a result of climate change, the weather has undoubtedly changed and will continue to do so. In the current climate of the UK, the 1976 summer no longer stands out as extreme. 'It was really really exceptional [at the time] but now it just wouldn't be,' Dr Baker says. 'It would just be another summer, quite hot, but not exceptional.' Yet 1976 remains a cultural reference point, a sort of gold standard of heat and hardship. Possibly because it marked the moment when the UK first began to realise just how much hot weather could disrupt everyday life. 'Water boards still consider 1976 as their benchmark drought, the thing they need to be prepared for,' Dr Baker explains. 'The question is, should they not be planning for something more extreme? Because it could happen.'
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Soccer fans tear into 'soft' USMNT star Christian Pulisic as he defends controversial decision
Stateside soccer fans have turned on USMNT hero Christian Pulisic for his 'soft' attitude after the AC Milan star hit back at his critics. The midfielder sparked backlash earlier this year when he ruled himself out of Mauricio Pochettino 's USMNT squad for this summer's Gold Cup action after a long campaign in Italy with Milan. And, in a new nine-episode documentary following his career on Paramount+, the former Chelsea winger defended his decision - much to the ire of American soccer fans. 'It is a lot. it's hard to keep up with playing every single game,' Pulisic said. 'I mean, you see a ton of injuries. But this is how it is. This is the business. People want to see us play. 'I think it's just a decision I had to come to to do the best thing for myself and to look out for myself for once. But I think everyone has had their opinion on me and, in my opinion, just disrespected me in a lot of ways and just completely forgotten about what I've done for this national team for 10 years. It sucks.' However, after the snippet of the documentary was shared to social media, American soccer fans ripped into the 26-year-old for his 'soft' stance as they accused him of painting himself as the victim. I can't anymore. The whining, the entitlement, the poor-me theatrics. Yes of course you live under a microscope. You're the country's best player. And compared to every other ⚽️ country, you have it so easy. — 11 Yanks (@11Yanks) August 14, 2025 'Interesting psychological insight into the victim complex that society and education has created in the last decade,' one fan wrote on social media. 'Pulisic is the least charismatic athlete I think l've ever seen. How anyone thought it was a good idea to film a documentary for a midtable player in Italy I'll never know,' another slammed in response to the clip on X. 'Every time Pulisic talks he makes it worse, the entitlement and whininess makes him very unlikable,' a third fan critiqued. 'I hope he turns this around, ultimately the 2026 World Cup with the USMNT will be his opportunity on the field, even so... the damage has been done off the field.' 'I can't anymore. The whining, the entitlement, the poor-me theatrics,' one frustrated soccer supporter fumed. 'Yes of course you live under a microscope. You're the country's best player. And compared to every other (soccer) country, you have it so easy.' Others believed that hitting back at the critics of his decision was the worst possible move Pulisic could have made. 'this is the worst thing he could've done,' one claimed. 'this doc doing nothing but showing how entitled he is and how him and everyone around him. makes him a victim.' 'Christian Pulisic is by far & away the most insufferable athlete l've ever been forced to support. This (clown) continues to make himself look worse in the media by playing the victim at every possible juncture,' another agreed. 'There's always an excuse for this guy under-delivering + failing.' 'The USMNT captain shouldn't be soft. The team is cooked as long as their captain acts like this,' a third warned just one year our from the World Cup. Fans ripped into the 26-year-old after he tried to defend his decision in a new documentary '@pulisic bad looks all around. People used to respect you,' another claimed, while one chimed in: 'Clown show. Nobody feels bad for you Christian.' The criticism of Pulisic hasn't been limited to America's fanbase with former USMNT stars and legends also taking issue with his decision to sit out of the Gold Cup. Ahead of the tournament, US soccer icon Landon Donovan, without naming names, took a jab at Pulisic and other USMNT key figures who excused themselves from Pochettino's roster. 'I can't help but think about some of our guys on vacation, not wanting to play in the Gold Cup. It's pissing me off,' the former Everton forward said. Another player turned pundit, Alexi Lalas, also piled on Pulisic on the 'Call It What You Want' podcast on the Golazo Network 'You can talk about my performances, whatever you want, but to question my commitment, especially towards the national team, in my opinion that's way out of line,' Lalas said. Yet, Pulisic took a swipe at the legends during his documentary, branding their comments a 'cop-out'. 'I'd say the most annoying thing, and for me, the biggest cop-out of all time, is when, especially, you know, all pundits want to say: 'They didn't want it. They didn't have the heart, you know, back in our day, we would fight and we would die on that field,'' Pulisic said in the eighth episode of the docuseries, which was filmed earlier this summer. His international teammate Tim Weah backed Pulisic as he hit out at the 'evil' analysts. 'Those guys are chasing checks, and for me, I just feel like they're really evil, honestly, because they've been players, and they know what it's like when you're getting bashed,' Weah said. 'Those are the same guys that will turn around and shake your hand and try to be friendly with you.' Pochettino and the USMNT are entering a critical year as they gear up for the World Cup on home soil next year.
