THE FESTIVAL 2017 MEDIA GUIDE

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Tom Dreaper and Nicky Henderson have been the most successful trainers of all time with five victories each. Dreaper scored with Fortria (1958), Mountcashel King (1961), Ben Stack (1961), Flyingbolt (1965) and Alpheus (1971), while Henderson’s winners so far are Remittance Man (1991), Travado (1993), Tiutchev (2000), Sprinter Sacre (2012) and Simonsig (2013). The Racing Post, which backed the Arkle Chase for the first time in 2012, is only the race’s fourth sponsor. The Irish Independent was the backer from 2000 to 2011, Guinness sponsored from 1994 until 1999 and Waterford Crystal between 1991 and 1993. NATIONAL HUNT CHASE Although the National Hunt Chase is today one of The Festival’s lesser contests, the race is pivotal in the history of Cheltenham Racecourse and of Jump racing itself. Indeed, without the race for amateur riders, Cheltenham as it is today – the sport’s headquarters, with the four-day Festival that is the showcase for the season – may not have existed. The National Hunt Chase was conceived in the 1850s by Dr Fothergill Rowlands, who followed his father into medical practice in Monmouthshire before going with his heart to horses and the sporting community in Prestbury. Rowlands – known as Fogo – was a fine and elegant amateur rider; he got round Aintree in 1863 on his mare Medora, and rode her to victory in a Grand Steeplechase at Baden Baden, wearing his trademark white kid gloves. He later trained at Epsom, where his head lad was his gardener’s son John Jones, father of Herbert, who rode Diamond Jubilee and Minoru to victory in Royal colours. He was known for his philosophies, one of which was “Experience is nothing unless you pay for it – but the less you pay the better”. In the middle of the 19th century, interest in steeplechasing, which had deteriorated in the quality of its organisation and competitors, was waning. The astute sporting writer Robert Surtees observed: “Steeplechasing is neither hunting nor racing; it has neither the wild excitement of the one, nor the accurate calculating qualities of the other. Some of the horses are doubtless fine and well-conditioned, but the majority are lean, lathy brutes, lacking all the lively energy that characterises the movements of the up-to-the-mark hunter.” Step forward, Fogo. He saw the decline and devised a contest to encourage the breeding of quality thoroughbreds among the hunting community, the National Hunt Chase. He also was instrumental in straightening the sport through the formation of its first regulatory body, the National Hunt Committee. Steeplechasing did have its roots in hunting, hence the term hunt racing. When meetings took place open to all, it became – logically - national hunt racing. The plan was that the National Hunt Chase (with the suffix Grand in its early years) would be formally funded by hunts and offer a lucrative prize, but Rowlands’ first call to arms in 1859 met with disappointment, with only two hunts coming forward. In 1860, though, the response was all he had hoped for and what is regarded as the first edition of the race, which was confined to amateur riders, was a resounding success. The conditions published were “Grand National Hunt Steeplechase of £10 each, with £500 added. For horses which have never won before the day of starting. 12st each. 4 miles.” Twelve hunts (the Duke of Beaufort’s, the Monmouthshire, Lord Fizwilliam’s, the Warwickshire, the North Warwickshire, the Quorn, Lord Dacre’s, Lord Tredegar’s, the Cambridgeshire, the Oakley, the Bicester, and the Heythrop) subscribed and 31 runners faced the starter. The race was held near Market Harborough and the favourite Bridegroom, owned by local man ‘Cherry’ Angell and ridden by Edmund Burton (who in the 1840s had twice been part of a losing Oxford crew in the Boat Race), won in a canter by 20 lengths. The National Hunt Chase quickly became the sport’s second most prestigious prize, after the Grand National. It was a moveable feast and when the race was first run at Prestbury Park in 1904 Cheltenham was its 27th different home. The contest was back at Cheltenham in 1905, before returning to Cheltenham permanently in March, 1911 when the fixture then proudly bore the heading “National Hunt and Cheltenham” in the form book for the first time, and the race’s move both reflected the course’s standing, and consolidated it. The first winner at Cheltenham was 33/1 shot Sir Halbert, ridden by Arthur Smith and trained by Tom Coulthwaite to beat 37 rivals. Even after the introduction of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1924, the National Hunt Chase continued to be The Festival’s most valuable contest, even if not the best in terms of class. In 1931, when the March meeting was frozen off, it was the National Hunt Chase, not the Gold Cup, which was reopened. It was not until after World War II that the Gold Cup overtook the amateurs’ race in terms of value to the winner, £1,130 against £1,036. The National Hunt Chase is for novices over an extreme distance. At four miles, it is The Festival’s longest race and for three years the distance was four miles and a furlong (between 2005 and 2007). Some winners subsequently achieved fame, including the 1886 Malton winner Why Not and Quare Times (1954), who both won Grand Nationals. Conjuror (1922), Sir Lindsay (1930), Pucka Belle (1936) and Teaforthree all finished third in Grand Nationals, and Over The Road (1988) fourth. Conjurer was also third in the inaugural Gold Cup. Omerta (1986) and Butler’s Cabin (2007) both captured Irish Grand Nationals. In the past 20 years, subsequently prominent performers to have emerged from the race’s ranks include two Grand National winners in Hedgehunter (12th in 2003) and Silver Birch (4th in 2004), two Irish National winners in Timbera (2nd in 2002) and Niche Market (8th in 2009), and the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up On His Own (pulled up in 2011). The race has never been sponsored, though it has borne tribute names. In 2008 it was the Peter O’Sullevan National Hunt Chase (to honour the retired commentator’s 90th birthday); in 2012 the Diamond Jubilee National Hunt Chase, in 2013 the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase and in 2014 the Terry Biddlecombe National Hunt Chase. The race honoured the late Toby Balding in 2015 and the late amateur rider J T McNamara, who was paralysed in a fall at The Festival in 2013 and died in 2016. RSA NOVICES’ CHASE The three-mile RSA Chase, run under its current title since 2009, is part of one of Cheltenham’s longest-running sponsorships. It was the Royal & SunAlliance Chase up to 2008 and the Royal SunAlliance Chase in 1997. Sun Alliance, which merged with Royal Insurance in 1996, previously backed the Sun Alliance Chase for 23 years and sponsored 54
at Cheltenham for 26 years altogether. From 1971-73, the Foxhunter Chase was titled the Sun Alliance & London Foxhunters. Sun Alliance & London was the first company outside racing to embrace commercial sponsorship at The Festival. Before 1974, the RSA was titled the Broadway Novices’ Chase and the Totalisator Champion Novices’ Chase. Fulke Walwyn and Willie Mullins have been the most successful trainer with four wins each. Walwyn sent out Mountain Prince (1948), On View (1951), Glenbeigh (1954) and Mandarin (1957), while current handler Mullins has scored with Florida Pearl (1998), Rule Supreme (2004), Cooldine (2009) and Don Poli (2015). Pat Taaffe has been the leading jockey with five wins - Coneyburrow (1953), Solfen (1960), Grallagh Cnoc (1961), Arkle (1963), Proud Tarquin (1970). Since 1959, nine horses have won both the RSA Chase and Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. They are: uu 1959 Mandarin (Timico Gold Cup 1962) uu 1963 Arkle (Timico Gold Cup 1964-6) uu 1974 Ten Up (Timico Gold Cup 1975) uu 1979 Master Smudge (Timico Gold Cup uu 1980 on the disqualification of Tied Cottage) uu 1990 Garrison Savannah (Timico Gold Cup 1991) uu 1999 Looks Like Trouble (Timico Gold Cup 2000) uu 2007 Denman (Timico Gold Cup 2008) uu 2012 Bobs Worth (Timico Gold Cup 2013) uu 2013 Lord Windermere (Timico Gold Cup 2014) To this list might be added the name of Tied Cottage, winner of the RSA Chase in 1976 and the Gold Cup in 1980, before subsequent disqualification. The West Awake is the only horse to have won both what is now the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (previously sponsored by RSA) and the RSA Chase. He won the Hurdle in 1987 and the Chase in 1988. The 2010 winner Weapon’s Amnesty became the first horse to win the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and RSA Chase, a feat repeated by Bobs Worth in 2011 and 2012. Hollywood legend Gregory Peck owned the 1966 winner Different Class. JLT NOVICES’ CHASE The JLT Novices’ Chase was introduced to The Festival in 2011. Run over two and a half miles, the race had Grade Two status and was sponsored by Jewson from 2011 to 2013. The contest was upgraded to Grade One status in 2014, with JLT taking over the sponsorship. Its distance falls between the two-mile Racing Post Arkle Trophy Chase and the RSA Chase, which is staged over an extended three miles. Irishtrained horses have a superb record in the race, winning five of the first six editions including the first three runnings. The 2012 scorer Sir Des Champs subsequently captured three Grade One contests in Ireland and was runner-up to Bobs Worth in the 2013 Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup. Vautour, successful in 2015, returned to The Festival in 2016 to win the Ryanair Chase. Dynaste, second in 2013, took the 2014 Ryanair Chase at The Festival, a feat repeated by Uxizandre, who was runner-up in 2014 and captured the Ryanair Chase in 2015. HANDICAPS AT THE FESTIVAL Horses jump a fence in the Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) during Champion Day 2016 Cheltenham Media Guide 2017 ULTIMA HANDICAP CHASE Five successful horses have used the Ultima Handicap Chase as a stepping stone to the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup – Silver Fame (1950) & Gold Cup 1951; Four Ten (1953) & Gold Cup 1954; Limber Hill (1955) & Gold Cup 1956: Kerstin (1956) & Gold Cup 1958; Charter Party (1986) & Gold Cup 1988. Four subsequent Grand National winners have captured the Ultima Handicap Chase - Royal Tan (1952) & Grand National 1954; West Tip (1985) & Grand National 1986; Seagram (1991) & Grand National 1991: Rough Quest (1995) & Grand National 1996. The Ultima Handicap Chase has been won by two owners with show business connections. Hollywood idol Gregory Peck owned the 1967 scorer Different Class, while Hot Chocolate lead singer Errol Brown saw his colours carried to victory by Gainsay in 1987. 55
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THE FESTIVAL 2017 MEDIA GUIDE
Page 3 and 4: WELCOME The build-up to this year
Page 5 and 6: A general view of the Vestey Bar at
Page 7 and 8: BRITISH RACING HAS A DUTY OF CARE T
Page 9 and 10: BETBRIGHT PRESTBURY CUP BRITAIN VER
Page 11 and 12: THE MCCOYS RECOGNISING JUMP RACING
Page 13 and 14: Cheltenham Media Guide 2017 mile co
Page 15 and 16: JON RICHARDSON THE OLD MAN 7th OCTO
Page 17 and 18: ARKLE FACTS Form figures; 341104-11
Page 19 and 20: Cheltenham Media Guide 2017 1997 A
Page 21 and 22: INCREDIBLE UNMISSABLE £10 FREE NO
Page 23 and 24: laying plans for the 12 months ahea
Page 25 and 26: THE FESTIVAL IN FIGURES Cheltenham
Page 27 and 28: Cheltenham Media Guide 2017 and tur
Page 29 and 30: CALL US FOR CHELTENHAM BETTING NEWS
Page 31 and 32: Cheltenham Media Guide 2017 TIMICO
Page 33 and 34: Queen’s Prize at Kempton Park and
Page 35 and 36: Eborneezer (1961) and trained Bula
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Page 39 and 40: THE FIRST RACE AT THE CHELTENHAM FE
Page 41 and 42: The only horse since to have won th
Page 43 and 44: CHELTENHAM & SOUTH WEST SYNDICATE S
Page 45 and 46: ecognised start of the race that is
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Page 49 and 50: short history, with three wins apie
Page 51 and 52: LEADING JOCKEYS AT THE FESTIVAL Rub
Page 53: William Alexander Baring Bingham, w
Page 57 and 58: of supporting races. The first Coun
Page 59 and 60: Bookmakers in front of the See You
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THE FESTIVAL 2017 MEDIA GUIDE

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