Saturday 18 May 2013
Suddenly, in the frozen valley it was possible to warm your hands on something no less glowing than pure genius. It came in three instalments, brilliantly, unstoppably, and each time the author was the horseman who has come to dominate this formidable place like no other.
Hurricane Fly regained his Stan James Champion Hurdle crown with what was in the end a commanding victory at the Cheltenham Festival.
Hurricane Fly regained his crown under Ruby Walsh in the Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Jockey Brendan Powell jnr enjoyed his first Cheltenham Festival winner when storming to victory on Golden Chieftain in the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Cheltenham Festival's winning-most trainer Nicky Henderson opened his account at this year's meeting when Simonsig landed the odds in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy.
Champagne Fever put up a superb front-running performance to get Ireland off to a great start at the Cheltenham Festival in the opening William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Champagne Fever made all of the running to outpoint My Tent Or Yours in the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the opening race of this year's Cheltenham Festival.
Connections of Sizing Europe are happy to be going into battle with hotpot Sprinter Sacre in the Sportingbet Queen Mother Champion Chase in the knowledge that he has a great record at the Festival meeting.
It was a ferocious debate between Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez and this was after some considerable time had been spent discussing who had snubbed whom.
And so the rite of spring is renewed, even as winter makes a spiteful last stand. In most years, after toiling through heavy ground for months, horses are typically rewarded at Cheltenham in early spring with a more fitting platform for the measurement of excellence. This time, however, they must gallop through a bitter wind – the wind chill at the track yesterday registered minus 10 – over a track likely to have congealed malignly beneath its frost blankets.
One of the biggest events in the horse racing calendar gets under way on Tuesday as thousands of punters descend on Cheltenham for Gold Cup week.
Hurricane Fly's shot at history in the Cheltenham Festival's Champion Hurdle is sure to set pulses racing in Northern Ireland today.
All the leading fancies have stood their ground for tomorrow's Stan James Champion Hurdle — an intriguing nine-runner feature on day one of a Cheltenham Festival that promises so much.
Dynaste, the long-standing favourite for the RSA Chase, has been switched to the Jewson Novices Chase as connections reconciled themselves to unusually demanding conditions at Cheltenham this week.
Competitive Edge gave leading owner JP McManus a nice boost ahead of the Cheltenham Festival when readily taking the feature Shamrock Handicap Chase at Gowran Park.
Ruby Walsh has revealed he is "utterly perplexed" by the negativity surrounding Hurricane Fly as he aims to regain his crown in Tuesday's Stan James Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
There are 12 horses remaining at the latest entry stage for the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, with all the big guns standing their ground.
All the major ante-post fancies are among 21 acceptors for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on Friday.
Joseph O'Brien and Richard Hughes, reigning champion Flat jockeys in Ireland and Britain respectively, have been granted jumps licences to ride in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
Willie Mullins has five horses among 18 confirmed for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham next week.
It hasn't always been a bed of roses
Graeme McDowell believes Rory McIlroy's poor form this season is behind the world number two's decision to leave Horizon Sports Management to create his own management group.
Harry Redknapp has hailed Jamie Carragher as one of Liverpool's all-time greats whose presence at QPR next season would guarantee an immediate return to the Barclays Premier League.
Arsene Wenger feels his Arsenal team have finally emerged from the shadow of Robin van Persie as they look to secure a place in the Champions League with victory at Newcastle on Sunday.
Sir Alex Ferguson is content to leave the problem of what to do about Wayne Rooney to new manager David Moyes.
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