Tanya Stevenson
Tanya’s Blog, March 17
Cheltenham Festival 2010: Day Two
NATIONAL HUNT CHASE
Five and six-year-olds are 1 from 60 since 1989
Jonjo O’Neill has won four of the last eight renewals
24 of the last 26 winners finished in the first four last time out
No outright favourite since 1992
BALLYMORE NOVICES’ HURDLE
All 12 Challow Hurdle winners to have run have been beaten – Reve De Sivola
20 of the last 23 winners had run at least three times over hurdles
25 of the last 26 winners finished either first or second last time out
Since 1996 20 horses have worn some sort of headgear or been tongue tied, none have managed to even reach the frame
Only one horse older than six has won since 1974 and over 100 have tried
Six-year-olds have won ten of the last 16 runnings
Timmy Murphy’s best placing in ten previous attempts has been 3rd in 2009
AP McCoy has had 13 rides without a win in the race, best finish 2nd in 98 & 09
Howard Johnson has trained a winner and two seconds since 2004
Nicky Henderson is 0 from 20
Edward O’Grady has two seconds and a third since 2002
Nigel Twiston-Davies has had a winner, a third and two fourths since 1999
RSA CHASE
31 of the last 34 winners finished first or second last time out
Just two six-year-olds have won since 1978
All (16) Feltham Chase winners have been beaten
13 of the last 15 winners were aged 7 or 8
Willie Mullins has trained three winners and two seconds since 1998
The average winning distance is seven and a half lengths since 1999
Since 2000 Ruby Walsh has ridden a second and won in 2007 & 2009
Since 1997 AP McCoy has had a winner in 2008, two seconds and a third
SEASON HOLIDAYS QUEEN MOTHER CHAMPION CHASE
19 of last 25 (75% since 1985) winners had been placed at worse at previous Cheltenham Festivals
Master Minded was the first of ten reigning champions to regain his crown
25 of the last 27 winners started a single figure price
Just one win for a horse aged older than ten since 1977
7 of the last 9 winners ran in the Tingle Creek Chase
Average winning distance 5 ½ lengths since 1996
Twist Magic has run three times at the Festival, falling twice and finishing sixth on the other occasion
Since 1999 Paul Nicholls has been represented by one or more runner on nine occasions, he has won four times and had three thirds
AP McCoy has won in 2000 on Edredon Bleu, plus has finished second three times and third once
CORAL CUP
Six of the last seven winners won last time out
Only one winning favourite in the last 13 years
8 of the last 9 winners carried no more than 11-0
Since 1996 20 horses aged 10 or more have run with only a second placing to rave about
Since 1996 41 horses have worn blinkers only three have been placed (a second, a third and a fourth)
Since 1996 27 horses have worn a tongue tie only one has been placed (fourth)
Since 1996 19 horses have worn a visor, only one win and a second
Since 1996 eight have worn cheekpieces none have been placed
AP McCoy has ridden five Coral Cup favourites all have been beaten
AP McCoy’s last eleven rides have all been beaten his best finish was second in 97
Since 2003 Richard Johnson has ridden a fourth, three thirds, and won in 2004
