Tanya Stevenson
Tanya’s Blog, March 16
There was I thinking that Dunguib could drift out to 5-4 but all morning he stood firm at around 1.97 on the exchanges, his destiny is pivotal to the whole punting meeting in the battle of them (the bookmakers) against us the punters. I like the look of Tote Gold Trophy winner Get Me Out Of Here he beat a competitive field at Newbury and totally forgiveness can be given to Menorah for his last run at Ascot, an ill judged ride in my opinion and he will make amends today. So oppose Dunguib.
Somersby ran a blinder at Sandown and the form holds strong now that Tchico Polos won easily at the Esher venue on Saturday. The fact he hasn’t run in this calendar year doesn’t bother me and he should get a good lead from Sports Line, who could keep going all the way to the line. Of the other Irish Challengers Sizing Europe doesn’t do it for me since his run in the Champion Hurdle two years ago, Captain Cee Bee would have been beaten by Sizing Europe.
Then it is the turn of Character Building, and a big gamble by the owners in putting up Barry Geraghty, I would have preferred Dougie Costello as he knows the horse. The quirky sort needs producing right on the line and he is sure to be impossible to keep out of the frame. Big each-way chance for Chief Dan George and New Alco both Northern challengers have major claims
The Champion Hurdle will create a millionaire in Go Native. The horse won at the meeting last year and has the master that is Paul Carberry in the saddle, Starluck is my each-way selection.
Good luck to Nina Carberry and lets hope she can win her third Cross Country race.
As for now get the glass of water by your side, clear your throat and get ready to roar at 1.30pm
TANYA’S POINTERS
Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
13 of the last 14 winners won last time out
5 of the last nine winners were aged 6
75% of the winners since 1992 had run no more than three times over hurdles
Irish challengers have won seven of the last nine
Six of the last 8 winners have had either yellow or gold as part of their silks
Only one of Willie Mullins last twelve runners have won
The last 13 Nicky Henderson runners have all been beaten, but he has had three thirds and two seconds
Richard Johnson’s last 9 rides have all been beaten
Barry Geraghty’s last 6 rides all beaten
Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy
Only two winning favourites since 1992
Only one front runner has made all since 1980
19 of the last 20 winners had finished first or second on all completed chase starts
20 of the 22 winners finished first or second last time out
30 five-year-olds have run since 1996, four winners, three seconds, three thirds
Only one winner older than seven in the last ten years
Since Azertyuiop won for Paul Nicholls in 2003 his nine subsequent runners have all been beaten, three were favourites
Since 1997 AP McCoy has had 11 rides in the Arkle, resulting in three winners, two seconds and a third
11 of the last 13 winners had white incorporated somewhere on his silks
William Hill Trophy H’cap Chase
Only two winning favourites since 1977
Since and including 1999, 57 horses have tried to carry 11 stone or more, all have failed, but they have achieved four seconds, five thirds and four fourths.
Seven of the last eight winners had finished in the first three on their previous start
Horses aged 11 or older have failed to reach the frame from 29 runners since 1997
Since 2000 only one winner priced bigger than 8-1
Since 2000 only one winner aged ten or older
Five of the last seven winners won on their previous outing
Jonjo O’Neill’s eight runners have resulted in a win and two seconds, three have pulled up though
Since 2000 Nicky Henderson has had one winner, two seconds and two thirds
Paul Carberry and Robert Thornton have both ridden the winner twice
Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
Katchit was the first of 75 five-year-olds to run in the Champion Hurdle and win since See You Then was successful in 1985
22 of the last 26 Champion Hurdlers had won last time out
14 of the last 18 Champion Hurdlers had won or finished second at the previous Festival
Only three winners older than 8 since 1951
Four of the last nine favourites have won
Ireland have won six of the last nine runnings
Seven of the last nine winners of the Champion Hurdle had won previously at Cheltenham
Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
Record of horses to finish runner-up the subsequent year -
1960 ALBERGO 1961 FELL Celestial Halo 2nd in 2009
1962 QUELLE CHANCE 1963 3RD
1963 FARNEY FOX 1964 12TH
1965 SPARTAN GENERAL 1966 6TH
1966 SEMPERVIVUM 1967 FELL
1969 DRUMKILL 1970 7TH
1970 MAJOR ROSE 1971 3RD
1974 COMEDY OF ERRORS 1975 WON
1975 FLASH IMP 1976 3RD
1976 BIRDS NEST 1977 5TH
1977 MONKSFIELD 1978 WON
1978 SEA PIGEON 1979 2ND
1979 SEA PIGEON 1980 WON
1981 POLLARDSTOWN 1982 4TH
1982 BROADSWORD 1983 4TH
1983 BOREEN PRINCE 1984 8TH
1985 ROBIN WONDER 1986 PU
1990 NOMADIC WAY 1991 2ND
1992 OH SO RISKY 1993 5TH
1997 THEATREWORLD 1998 2ND
1998 THEATREWORLD 1999 2ND
1999 THEATREWORLD 2000 9TH
2000 HORS LA LOI III 2002 WON
2002 MARBLE ARCH 2003 12TH
2003 WESTENDER 2004 5TH
2004 ROOSTER BOOSTER 2005 8TH
2008 OSANA 2009 11TH
Record of horse to finish third the subsequent year Binocular was 3rd in 2009
1961 FARMER’S BOY 1962 5TH
1964 KIRRIEMUIR 1965 WON
1967 TALGO ABBESS 1968 FELL
1968 BLACK JUSTICE 1969 PU
1973 CAPTAIN CHRISTY 1974 WON GOLD CUP
1975 TREE TANGLE 1976 7TH
1977 DRAMATIST 1978 5TH
1980 BIRDS NEST 1981 7TH
1981 DARING RUN 1982 Slipped Up
1982 EKBALCO 1983 5TH
1983 FOR AUCTION 1984 9TH
1985 STANS PRIDE 1986 PU
1986 NOHALMDUN 1987 8TH
1988 CELTIC CHIEF 1989 2ND
1991 RULING 1992 3RD
1992 RULING 1993 PU
1994 LARGE ACTION 1995 2ND
1995 DANOLI 1996 4TH
1996 PRIDWELL 1997 7TH
2004 INTERSKY FALCON 2005 6TH
2005 BRAVE INCA 2006 WON
2006 HARDY EUSTACE 2007 4TH
2007 AFSOUN 2008 7TH
2008 PUNJABI 2009 WON
Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
From 20 possible places Enda Bolger runners have filled ten of them
Enda Bolger has trained three of the four winners, two seconds, two thirds and two fourths
Enda Bolger has won 14 of the 30 Cross Country Races at Cheltenham
JP McManus has owned four of the last five winners
None of the victors have had a starting price bigger than 4-1
Miss Nina Carberry has ridden three winners and a third
Horses aged younger than 8 are 1 from 72 over these fences at Cheltenham
