THE F E S T I VAL™ 15-18 MARCH 2022
If Tuesday of The Festival™ is about setting the scene for four days of extraordinary racing, day two is synonymous with sensational sport – at speed. DAY THREE FOUR ONE TW TW
F ew races on the British Jump racing calendar capture fans’ imagination quite like the feature race of the day, the Betway Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase. Run over a distance of two miles, the Grade One contest requires a blend of speed and inch-perfect precisionwhen meeting each of the 13 fences at rapid pace on Cheltenham’s Old Course. This demanding checklist means that winning the race on multiple occasions is not uncommon and famous multiple winners of the trophy include legends of the sport like Altior, Sprinter Sacre, Master Minded, MoscowFlyer and Viking Flagship. Put The Kettle Onwas the latest to etch her name into the history books 12 months ago, when becoming the first mare towin the iconic race for trainer Henry de Bromhead. The mare has an uncanny knack for emerging victorious at Cheltenham – winning four of her five starts there – though if she is to become amultiple winner shewill have to defeat one of the strongest ever line-ups. Indeed, Put The Kettle On’s opponents are set to include the likes of fellow Irish competitors Chacun Pour Soi and Energumene, while last year’s Arkle hero Shishkin bids to secure a seventh careerwin in the race for Nicky
he afforded him the highest of praise by likening him to Altior and Sprinter Sacre. Speaking after the Clarence House Chase victory, he said: “How lucky can you be?We came through the great days when Sprinter Sacrewon it and then Altior followed him, so it is extraordinary to think you can find another one. He has got a longway to go before he comes into the same breath as the two of them
Henderson. Shishkin has already shared the ring oncewith Energumene this season, emerging triumphant in a stunning renewal of the Clarence House Chase at Ascot in January and hewill bid to emulate Put The Kettle On in becoming the 12th Arklewinner to be crowned Champion Chaser the following year. He is the apple of Henderson’s eye, and 12 months ago
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