Latest news with #CheltenhamRacecourse
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Crack hurdlers poised for eagerly-awaited Punchestown ‘decider'
Jeremy Scott's mare Golden Ace took full advantage to triumph at 25-1 in the hands of Lorcan Williams, with Burdett Road second at 66-1. DRAMA IN THE BIG ONE! 😲 Golden Ace wins the @UnibetRacing Champion Hurdle after both Constitution Hill and State Man fall 🤯 — CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 11, 2025 An upbeat Henderson said after enjoying a one-two with Jeriko Du Reponet and Doddiethegreat at the Kildare track on Thursday: 'Constitution Hill arrived last night and with him it wouldn't matter where he was. It just doesn't bother him one dot. If he got flustered, I'd be worried! 'He's in good form and it will be a fascinating race and it is a decider between three of them really, and there's three others in the race as well.' Constitution Hill also fell at Aintree, and Henderson went on: 'These falls are pretty stupid at the end of the day and I hope we've got them out of our vocabulary and we can have a clean fight.' With Nico de Boinville sidelined, James Bowen will ride Constitution Hill for the first time, and Henderson added: 'It's good for everybody that the two horses (Jeriko Du Reponet and Doddiethegreat) have come and run like that. It's great for James. He had a good walk around with Barry (Geraghty) and he knows where he is going.' James Bowen celebrates victory with Jeriko Du Reponet (Brian Lawless/PA) Bowen said after was a confidence-boosting success with Jeriko Du Reponet: 'I've never had a winner over in Ireland, so it's great. 'I've worked him (Constitution Hill) and schooled him and hopefully all goes well. I didn't ride him (this morning), but I saw him out and he looks good.' Scott, meanwhile, is hopeful Golden Ace can repeat the trick in what is undoubtedly a must-see event. The Somerset trainer said: 'She's very well. I'm very, very happy with her. She left on Wednesday morning and I'm very happy with the preparation. 'Who knows what would have happened had they stood up, but we'll get a bit more of an answer. It's a different track, and from my point of perspective huge expectation, but obviously we'd like her to prove herself a worthy Champion Hurdle winner. Trainer Jeremy Scott celebrates Golden Ace's Champion Hurdle success (David Davies/The Jockey Club) 'That was always the plan (a rest) having had a couple of quick runs so she's going there fresh and well. 'They're telling me they are aiming for good to soft and if they achieve that then I'll be very happy on that.' Following her trip to Ireland the daughter of Golden Horn will have a well-earned summer break before a likely shot at defending her title at the Cheltenham Festival next season. Scott added: '(She'll have) a good holiday. I would imagine the Champion Hurdle is the plan again next season. We'll get through Friday and it slightly depends on how that goes and that guides you where you'll end up, but all things being equal I think that's where we'd like to go again.' Lorcan Williams aboard Golden Ace at Cheltenham (Adam Davy/PA) Like Constitution Hill, State Man is out for redemption and Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer to his father, Willie, is relishing the opportunity. The 2024 Champion Hurdle victor looked all set to go back-to-back when his spill at the final obstacle handed victory to Golden Ace on a plate. He is bidding to win this particular prize for the third year in succession, and Mullins said: 'State Man was unlucky and lucky at Cheltenham. 'It was an awful fall. It was great that he got up. He seemed 100 per cent afterwards. It doesn't seem to have knocked his confidence at all so it's going to be fascinating to see the two English horses come over and take him on, on home soil. 'I think he was well in the process of redeeming his reputation at Cheltenham and I would be expecting him to redeem it even further at Punchestown, so bring it on!' Mullins also has Cheltenham Festival winner Kargese in the field, with the six-strong line-up completed by Ian Donoghue's Break My Soul and Aidan Melia's Bottler'secret.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Fool's spring' fears as snow hits Cheltenham three days after 18C temperatures
Cheltenham saw snow on Wednesday morning, just three days after the region saw sunny weather and temperatures as high as 18C on Sunday. Parts of the UK were hotter than Barcelona and the Costa Del Sol over the weekend. But now concerns have been raised about disruption to the Cheltenham Festival, after snow coated the town's racecourse overnight, while a yellow weather warning for ice has also been issued for parts of northern England on Thursday. Temperatures in the area are expected to drop to below freezing by the weekend for the end of what is often called 'fool's spring'. 'Fool's spring' refers to a period of warm weather quickly followed by a cold snap, which often occurs in March or April. A yellow warning has been issued covering parts of Yorkshire and Northumberland between 3am and 9am on Thursday, with forecasters expecting wintry showers causing ice to develop. It could cause disruption to transport due to ice on roads and cycle paths. Oli Claydon, a spokesman for the Met Office, said: 'Some showers came through with lower overnight temperatures last night, meaning it comes through as snow. 'We're expecting to see the same sort of regime over the next few days with showers continuing in the North East and Scotland. 'There's also a front that moves through on Friday that could bring snow over widespread areas of Scotland, and we might see some wintry showers over the highest parts of Ireland.' The current scene 😮❄️ — CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) March 12, 2025 Clerk of the Cheltenham course Jon Pullin told ITV Racing on Wednesday: 'It was very precautionary last night, as we were forecast a slight frost. 'It did dip down briefly to a minus two temperature, so we took some precautions on the take-offs and landings, just to make sure we'd be comfortable this morning.' Temperatures are expected to rise to 7C by the time racing begins at 1.20pm, but overnight chills are expected to continue for the remainder of the festival. Mr Pullin added: 'Thursday to Friday is looking quite cold again now, so we'll see where we go, but it should be dry from here on in.' Birmingham city centre also saw snow this morning, and the Met Office forecasts suggest areas of Cumbria and Yorkshire may also see light snow and hail before midday. The forecaster expects the rest of the week to be chilly with some overnight frost and icy patches tonight. Mr Claydon said there should be a mostly 'fine and dry picture' across the UK over the weekend.
