feature | the april meeting
feature | the april meeting
superstars on parade
A S Cheltenham opened its gates for the first time since The Festival at the popular, if rather more low-key, April Meeting, it was about far more than just the jumping. Bringing the curtain down after the second day’s action was the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Race, the legacy of young event rider Hannah Francis, who died aged 18 from bone cancer in 2016. Twelve riders were nominated for the event, which raised around £150,000 for Hannah’s Willberry Wonderpony charity and The Bob Champion Cancer Trust. They included greats from the world of eventing Sir Mark Todd, Tina Cook and Ben Hobday as well as ITV Racing presenter Alice Fox-Pitt, but they were all put in the shade by Ben Moore, a former conditional jockey and cancer survivor, riding Three Star General. The Army riding instructor took the spoils in front of his daughter Grace, who had been diagnosed with leukaemia. s p r i n g i s i n t h e a i r a n d t h e a p r i l m e e t i n g i s a l e i s u r e ly wa y t o e n j o y e n d - o f - s e a s o n r a c i n g
A one-off parade took place before racing with four equine superstars parading in the Paddock. Hosted by Alice Fox-Pitt, the most charismatic chaser of recent times, Sprinter Sacre, was joined at the scene of his greatest triumphs by Charlotte Dujardin’s three-times Olympic Gold medallist dressage superstar Valegro, the “dancing horse” from the London Olympics. Also in the parade was Big Star, a fellow London gold medallist, who doubled up in Rio for showjumping legend Nick Skelton, and Chilli Morning, the only stallion to win the Badminton Horse Trials, ridden on the day by William Fox-Pitt. Racegoers celebrated the work of the horses’ grooms – between them they had around 100 years’ experience.
charity champs
Valegro
Ben Moore wins the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Race Picture: David Betteridge Sprinter Sacre, who needs little introduction
Novices’ Chase, and his mount Plaisir D’Amour delivered a virtuoso jumping performance to win by six lengths.The other listed race, the Catesby Property Group PLC Mares’ Handicap Hurdle, saw an impressive performance from Alan King’s Midnight Tour, another useful chasing prospect. Wednesday’s big race was the £50,000 Matt Hampson Foundation & NSIF Silver Trophy, which went to Dorset trainer Harry Fry for the second consecutive year. His Henryville, a horse not without his quirks, required Niall Madden to produce a fine recovery when he blundered at the last, but had enough gas in the tank to get up the hill first. “It has taken a lot of patience and perseverance because he is not at all easy to train at home,” said Fry. “My wife Ciara deserves all the credit that he is near a racecourse because he doesn’t go near the gallop!”
Ben with daughter Grace
as one of the finest chasers of any era. Thursday’s card is principally a showcase for keeping National Hunt mares in training, with three listed contests arranged to provide greater opportunities.
Two of them went the way of Aidan Coleman, firstly when Brillare Momento rallied past Dusky Legend in the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Delighted local trainer Martin Keighley said: “She’s a big, strong mare who will make a lovely chaser. She could be quite exciting.”
There was also the not- to-be-missed chance to see four of the greatest sporting horses sharing the paddock together after the final race. Three-time Olympic gold dressage champion Valegro gained great attention alongside Big Star, who helped veteran show jumper Nick Skelton make history in Rio.
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Sprinter Sacre
diary dates April Meeting, April 18-19, 2018
Coleman combined with his old ally Venetia Williams in the £40,000 EBF/ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Mares’
Of no less interest was Chilli Morning, William Fox-Pitt’s Badminton hero, and
52 Kalendar
Chilli Morning
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