Latest news with #CheltenhamFestival2025
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Disgust' as Rachel Blackmore's horse dies at Aintree's Grand National meeting
A horse has died at the Grand National meeting at Aintree this afternoon (April 3). Well-known female jockey Rachel Blackmore suffered a fall while riding Willy De Houelle and the horse has since died. Willy De Houelle was taking part in the second race of the Grand National today. Rachael Blackmore was taken away in an ambulance after the fall that came early on in the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle but is thought to be okay, reports the Express. The standings The prize@jockeyscup — The Jockey Club (@TheJockeyClub) April 3, 2025 During the race, two more horses suffered falls, but both are thought to be fine. The death toll of this event is now 66 horses killed since 2000, according to Animal Aid Campaigns. Nina Copleston-Hawkens, Animal Aid Campaigns Manager, said: 'The racing industry has been marketing the Grand National meeting recently as 'the greatest story in sport' – in what world is that remotely possible? 'This is not 'the greatest story in sport', this is a hellish nightmare, where innocent animals are dying of heart attacks and broken legs and broken backs and discarded once no longer of use. R.I.P Willy De Houelle (FR), just four years old, killed at The Grand National Meeting today. This takes the death-toll of this cruel 'festival' up to 66 horses killed since 2000. 💔 — Animal Aid (@AnimalAid) April 3, 2025 'No amount of champagne, fancy outfits or clever marketing can disguise this for what it is – animal cruelty, on an industrial scale.' Thousands of racegoers arrived at Aintree for the first day of the Grand National festival. Recommended reading: 'Anger' and 'sadness' as horse dies at the Cheltenham Festival 2025 More than 150,000 people are due on the racecourse for the three-day racing festival, which culminates on Saturday when the world-famous Grand National steeplechase is run. Crowds enjoyed the sunshine for the opening day on Thursday, which is expected to have an attendance of about 23,000. Among the racegoers was the Princess Royal, who attended a lunch held by charity Racing Welfare, of which she is president, before watching the first race of the day.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Cheltenham Festival LIVE: Day 3 tips and latest odds as Rachael Blackmore hunts glory in Ryanair Chase
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival has thrilled so far and St Patrick's Thursday is set to deliver more drama as the UK's biggest week of racing continues. Marine Nationale claimed a surprise victory in yesterday's headline race, the Champion Chase, after favourite Jonbon hit a fence on the way round and could only recover to finish second. Earlier the highly rated Ballyburn was stunningly beaten in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase as Lecky Watson triumphed in the all-Irish renewal. Today's highlights include the Ryanair Chase (3.20pm), where Fact To File and Il Est Francais drop back in trip for what seems certain to be a fascinating battle with the evergreen Protektorat, who attempts to defend his crown. And Gordon Elliott's Teahupoo is in good shape ahead of his defence of the Stayers' Hurdle (4pm), up against stablemate The Wallpark and Nicky Henderson 's Lucky Place as well as Home By The Lee, trained by Joseph O'Brien. Cheltenham Festival 2025 tips: Experts' best bets and 14 horses to watch on day three The Cheltenham Festival is back and the 2025 edition has reached the halfway stage. A barnstorming opening day saw Golden Ace as a surprise winner of the Champion Hurdle after Constitution Hill and State Man both fell. Day two was a more emotional affair as victories for Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty provided a fitting farewell to jockey Michael O'Sullivan who passed away in February. Day three promises more thrills with the Stayers' Hurdle and Ryanair Chase the big races highlighting a packed schedule. Chasing a first win of the festival, Rachael Blackmore will hope Envoi Allen rolls back the years to challenge hot favourite Fact To File in the Ryanair while Harry and Dan Skelton will hope Protektorat can back up his victory from last year. Cheltenham Festival 2025 tips, best bets and horses to watch on day three Fact To File looks set to win the Ryanair Chase while Teahupoo is the favourite for the Stayers' Hurdle Luke Baker13 March 2025 08:31 The emotional 40 minutes that gave Michael O'Sullivan a fitting Cheltenham farewell Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty won back-to-back races on a day of surprises in an emotional tribute to jockey Michael O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan, a 24-year-old jockey who passed away last month after a fall at Thurles racecourse, only won twice at the Cheltenham Festival with both victories coming on day one of the 2023 edition. His horses that day were Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty who both triumphed inside 40 minutes on Style Wednesday providing the perfect farewell to their previous rider. The emotional 40 minutes that gave Michael O'Sullivan a fitting Cheltenham farewell O'Sullivan's two previous winners at Cheltenham, Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty, won in consecutive races on a poignant day Luke Baker13 March 2025 08:31 Cheltenham Festival 2025 Follow all the latest updates from day three at Cheltenham Festival here with The Independent's live coverage. Lawrence Ostlere13 March 2025 08:24
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cheltenham Festival 2025 LIVE: Snow falls on Day 2 - latest updates, news, odds and betting tips
Cheltenham Festival 2025 - LIVE! The action continues at the Cheltenham Festival on day two, which has got off to a very cold start as snow came down at Prestbury Park. It was a thrilling first day to the Festival, with Golden Ace a surprise winner of the Champion Hurdle as Constitution Hill went down earlier and State Man fell at the last when victory appeared to be wrapped up. The premier two-mile chasers take centre stage today in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Jonbon is the odds-on favourite for the feature race, with Nicky Henderson's star looking to emulate former stable greats Altior and Sprinter Sacre in winning the race under Nico De Boinville, who has three times tasted victory in it. Dan Skelton's The New Lion will look to bring British success trends in the opener, the Turners Novices' Hurdle, while Ballyburn is a big favourite for Willie Mullins in the Brown Advisory Novices's Chase. The Cross Country Chase should serve up entertainment as ever, before the card comes to an end with the Champion Bumper. Follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog below! Day 2 card in full How to watch: ITV Queen Mother Champion Chase preview Latest weather forecast after snow Best bets for Day 2 10:35 , Matt Verri 13.20: Turners Novices' Hurdle 14.00: Brown Advisory Novices' Chase 14.40: Coral Cup Hurdle 15.20: Cross Country Steeple Chase 16.00: Champion Chase 16.40: Grand Annual Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 17.20: Champion Bumper 10:24 , Matt Verri Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of the second day of the Cheltenham Festival! It's got off to a very cold start, with snow falling at Prestbury Park this morning. That's expected to clear up by later ahead of another seven races, headlined by the Queen Mother Champion Chase. We'll have all the latest updates, previews and tips right here, before full coverage of the card.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cheltenham Festival 2025 LIVE results: Horse racing updates, latest news, odds, betting tips on day one
Cheltenham Festival 2025 - LIVE! All eyes turn to Prestbury Park this afternoon as the Cheltenham Festival gets underway with a blockbuster day of action. The Champion Hurdle is the feature race of the day and it promises to be one of the highlights of the week, as Constitution Hill looks to regain the crown won in 2023, having missed last year's renewal. It remains to be seen whether the eight-year-old can reproduce the kind of form that saw him labelled the "horse of a generation" after beating State Man here two years ago, with Brighterdaysahead deemed the biggest threat. Gordon Elliott has achieved plenty of Cheltenham success but he is yet to win the Champion Hurdle. The Festival kicks off with the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices's Hurdle, renamed in honour of the jockey who won the race two years ago but died following a fall last month. Majborough is a big favourite in the Arkle Chase, while Lossiemouth will take some beating in the Mares Hurdle. Follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog below! Day 1 schedule in full How to watch Best bets for opening day Going update 10:21 , Matt Verri Roll up, roll up! Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of the opening day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. Four days of brilliant action ahead and the Festival kicks off in the style at Prestbury Park today. The Champion Hurdle headlines this afternoon's card, as Constitution Hill looks to regain his crown. Brighterdaysahead and State Man among those standing in his way. We'll have all the build-up this morning as well as plenty of tips and previews, before full coverage of every race. Stick with us!
-and-Danny-Mullins-riding-Lossiemouth.jpeg%3Ftrim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
10-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Cheltenham Festival LIVE: Latest news with fields for Day 2 races revealed
The Cheltenham Festival is back. It's that time of year again when the sporting world turns its eyes on horse racing as the best jockeys, trainers and horses prepare for four days of intense and gruelling competition. The festival starts with Champion Day on Tuesday 11 before Style Wednesday, St Patrick's Thursday, and Gold Cup Day bringing the event to a close on Friday this week. Willie Mullins ' Galopin Des Champs took the honours last year and, with jockey Paul Townend, won the Gold Cup for a second consecutive year. He's the overwhelming favourite to do so again this week but a late addition to the field may throw a spanner in the works. [CONFIRM Inothewayurthinkin has been added to Gold Cup race] Elsewhere, the battle between the Irish and British trainers will be renewed as near 250,000 spectators descend on the racecourse for a festival of skill, class and showmanship. Cheltenham Festival 2025 Unibet Champion Hurdle declarations Burdett Road Sam Twiston-Davies Constitution Hill Nico de Boinville King Of Kingsfield Danny Gilligan State Man Paul Townend Winter Fog Brian Hayes Brighterdaysahead Jack Kennedy Golden Ace Lorcan Williams Jack Rathborn10 March 2025 08:20 Lossiemouth makes late switch at Cheltenham Festival 2025 In the early news surrounding the confirmed runners and riders, Lossiemouth will avoid a mouthwatering showdown with Constitution Hill and Brighterdaysahead in Tuesday's Unibet Champion Hurdle by racing the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle on the same day instead. Lossiemouth has made the late switch despite appearing to target the Champion Hurdle trail, after banking wins last year in the Mares' Hurdle and the Triumph Hurdle in 2023. Willie Mullins' decision appears to have been influenced by the preparation, which saw a heavy fall in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February, with the move to defend the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle title. Jack Rathborn10 March 2025 08:16
