THE F E S T I VAL™ 15-18 MARCH 2022
DAYTWO
F ew races on the Jump Racing feature race on Day Two of The Festival. Run over a distance of two miles, the Grade One contest requires a blend of speed and an ability to be inch-perfect when meeting each of the 13 fences at rapid pace on Cheltenham’s Old Course. This demanding checklist means that winning this race on multiple occasions is not uncommon, demonstrated most recently by Nicky Henderson’s 2018 and 2019 winner Altior. And while famous winners of the trophy in years gone by include legends of the sport like Sprinter Sacre, Master Minded, Moscow Flyer and Viking Flagship, history was created in 2021 when Put The Kettle On became the first mare to win the iconic race. Success on the biggest stage leaves her unbeaten in four starts at the Home of Jump Racing, having also landed the Grade One Arkle Novices’ Chase in 2020 and a pair of Grade Two contests at The November Meeting. Her Cheltenham form was certainly not lost on trainer Henry de Bromhead, who said after her victory in March: “How she improves for being here. Mid-February, I was probably leaning towards the mares’ chase, and then I spoke to the owners and we looked at the stats of the Arkle winners, which seemed ridiculous, and it’s her trip and she loves the Old Course, so we thought we’d give it a go and see. “She’s just a bit crackers the whole time, to be honest - she’s just quite wild, but a real character! It’s the stuff you dream about doing – it’s crazy. We get such great calendar capture fans’ imagination quite like the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase – the
staff waiting by the finishing line and the appreciative media lucky enough to be there to see it will live long in the memory. Wednesday begins with back-to-back Grade One contests with the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle quickly followed by the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. Both races play a key part in the week in their own right, but are also renowned for producing stars of the future. That theme of looking ahead continues to build on day two and the final race on the card, the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper, is regularly contested by horses who go on to become household names. Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer of all-time at The Festival with 78 victories and no fewer than 11 of those have been in the Champion Bumper, the only race staged without an obstacle all week. It is testament to both Mullins’ love of The Festival and his determination to develop young horses into great horses that 25 years separate his first winner in the race – Wither Or Which in 1996, who he also rode – and his most recent success, Sir Gerhard in March. When Wither Or Which passed away at the grand old age of 30 in June this year Mullins paid tribute to him as ‘the rock’ on which his training career was based. One thing is for certain – as Wednesday draws to a close and we reach the half-way stage of The Festival, it’s as much about looking forward to two more days of extraordinary as it is looking back at the 14 thrilling races we have already enjoyed.
support from our owners and have a great team at home; everyone has worked really hard, and it’s amazing to get rewarded like we are.” Those making their first trip to The Festival often compare it to music festivals like Glastonbury where, similarly, there is something for everyone. Visitors have a huge range of entertainment before, during and after racing to choose from, including music around the course, the Guinness Village and the Centaur. And for any racegoers with winnings to spend, the Shopping Village provides the perfect sanctuary to browse the offerings of international and local suppliers. Back on the track no racing fan could talk about Wednesday’s action without mentioning horseracing’s 21st century poster-boy, Tiger Roll. He may be best known to the British public as a two-time Randox Grand National winner, but the Irish-trained legend of the track has won at an astonishing five Cheltenham Festivals. His two most recent Festival successes have come in the one race at The Festival which is staged on Cheltenham’s unique Cross Country Course, Wednesday’s Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, in 2019 and 2021. The one race of the week when racegoers are allowed to cross into the middle of the course to watch the action up close, horses jump different fences to any of the other 27 Festival contests, including over hedgerow-like obstacles dubbed ‘the cheese wedges’ due to their shape. And while Tiger Roll’s victory at the 2021 Festival was in front of empty stands due to the pandemic, the standing ovation that he was given by stable
50 KAL ENDAR
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker