Jade is Apple of Elliott's eye as he looks ahead to The Festival
 
Tuesday, February 19, 2019  - Gordon Elliott today hosted a media stable visit at his County Meath yard organised by Cheltenham Racecourse and gave updates on his leading contenders for The Festival™ presented by Magners.
 
Elliott has won The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award at The Festival for the last two years, saddling six winners in 2017 and enjoying a record-equalling eight successes in 2018.
 
His total of 22 wins at The Festival include Don Cossack's victory in the 2016 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup. The Cullentra handler has emerged as the chief challenger to Willie Mullins for the Jump trainers' championship in Ireland in recent seasons.
 
He has also enjoyed two successes in the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree, courtesy of Silver Birch in 2007 and Tiger Roll in last year's renewal.
 
Elliott has again readied an exciting team for this year's four-day meeting at Cheltenham (March 12-15), boasting established stars such as three-time winner at The Festival Tiger Roll, coupled with talented novice hurdlers and chasers.
 
Elliott's battalion is led by the magnificent mare Apple's Jade, who is set to take on dual champion hurdler Buveur D'Air in the feature on day race one of The Festival™ presented by Magners, Champion Day, Tuesday, March 12, the £450,000 G1 Unibet Champion Hurdle.
 
The 10-time G1 winner has enjoyed an excellent season thus far over timber, with four wins in as many starts. Those successes have included a third win in the G1 Hatton's Grace Hurdle over two and a half miles at Fairyhouse on December 2 and an impressive 16-length victory in the G1 Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown when dropped back to two miles last time out on February 2.
 
Successful in the 2017 renewal of the £120,000 G1 OLBG Mares' Hurdle at The Festival, connections had initially targeted the 2019 edition of the two mile and four-furlong race, for which she still holds an entry, with seven-year-old Apple's Jade.
 
However, following her latest victory, Elliott and owner Gigginstown House Stud, decided to re-route the superstar mare to the two-mile hurdling championship.
 
Discussing her preparation, Elliott said: "It's all systems go for the Champion Hurdle with Apple's Jade.
 
"This year, she has just gone from strength to strength and she was impressive when dropping back to two miles last time out. I hope there is more improvement to come and, if she runs to the form that she has run too so far this season, then she will have a big chance in the Champion Hurdle.
 
"I am not saying she is going to win, but if she turns up like she has in her last three runs, then she has a great chance.
 
"It was well publicised that she was in-season at Cheltenham last year (when a non-runner in the three-mile G1 Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle) and it is something that we will keep an eye on. We knew straight away what was wrong with her and hopefully we will have a clear run with her.
 
"We will just keep doing what we do with Apple's Jade and we will keep checking her. The girls who look after her every day are keeping an eye on her cycle and hopefully everything will be alright with Apple's Jade.
 
"She will not need a whole lot of work before Cheltenham - she is pretty fit and hopefully she just stays fit between now and then. I think giving her another run this year has been important. I would say that is the one mistake we made with her last year that we did not give her another run before Cheltenham. She seems to be thriving on a bit of running.
 
"Apple's Jade does not have to lead in the Champion Hurdle. She was taken on for the lead in the Hatton's Grace and I would arguably say that was her best run of the season. It's Jack Kennedy's job to ride her and he knows what to do. Me, Eddie & Michael [O'Leary, Gigginstown House Stud] were going to go to the Mares' Hurdle with her before Leopardstown, but the manner of her victory the last day meant we thought we should give her a chance. It's the Champion Hurdle and it is the race we all want to win."
 
2018 Randox Health Grand National victor Tiger Roll recorded an impressive 25/1 success in Sunday's Boyne Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs at Navan and all roads now lead to Prestbury Park where he will attempt to win a fourth race at The Festival.
 
Successful in the G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle (2014), the G2 National Hunt Chase (2017) and last year's Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, the Cross Country event (Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 13) is once again the target for the nine-year-old son of Authorized, who heads the market for the three mile and six-furlong event.
 
Discussing the yard favourite, who will also hopefully defend his Grand National crown at Aintree on April 6, Elliott continued: "Tiger Roll has come out of the Boyne Hurdle in very good form.
 
"I couldn't believe how well he won on Sunday and it surprised me. I thought he would finish second or third, but that was a good pipe-opener for the Cross Country Chase which remains the plan and that is where he is going. He showed how good a horse he was on Sunday.
 
"To win a Grand National, three races at the Cheltenham Festival and a Boyne Hurdle, highlights his talent. He is a yard favourite and it was a great performance.
 
"His enthusiasm for the game is unbelievable and he is one of the most versatile horses I've ever had. He might not be the best I've ever trained, but he is certainly the most likeable."
 
The forgotten horse in the lead-up to The Festival has been Samcro, who looked to have the world at his feet when plundering the G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at last year's meeting, but has been a beaten favourite in four starts since, latterly over two miles in the G1 Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown in December.
 
Connections revealed that the seven-year-old son of Germany was found to have a lung infection following his latest run and having initially been aimed at the G1 Unibet Champion Hurdle, Elliott said that the £325,000 Sun Racing Stayers Hurdle (St Patrick's Thursday, March 14) over three miles is now a possible target, but the trainer did warn that Samcro may miss Cheltenham and instead take in Aintree or Punchestown.
 
"There's nothing new to report with Samcro. Cheltenham is coming fast enough, but he has the option to go there for the Stayers' Hurdle, Aintree and Punchestown. The next 10 days are important and I cannot tell you any more than that.
 
"Samcro looks good, but it is not the be all and end all. If he gets to Cheltenham, he does or he'll go to Aintree or Punchestown or we take the shoes off and we wait to go chasing next season. There is no decision made on where he is going yet.
 
"Samcro had a bad lung infection and it happens from time-to-time with good horses. It's not ideal, but it's not the end of the world. When you have horses like that who lose their form, nine times out of 10 they have a problem. We have identified it and hopefully he will return to his best form.
 
"He didn't do anything for a couple of weeks after his lung infection and a couple of weeks at that stage of the season is crucial for those horses - every day is very important. If he did run at Cheltenham, I would not be taking any chances with him and he would be very fit."
 
The County Meath handler holds a strong hand in the novice hurdling division, headed by the unbeaten Battleoverdoyen, who has impressed in three starts this term, latterly when capturing the G1 Lawlor's Of Naas Novice Hurdle in January and looks set to tackle the £125,000 G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (2m 5f), the opening race of Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 13, along with Galvin, who has won all five of his starts under Rules.
 
"Battleoverdoyen is in good form", revealed Elliott. "I didn't run him at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival as he had three quick runs and I wanted to give him a break.
 
"He jumps very well and I've been pleased with his work at home - I think the Ballymore will suit him. He might lack a bit of experience, but timing wise, I think we've made the right decision to give him some time off and go straight to Cheltenham. I think Galvin is another horse who could run in the Ballymore."
 
Commander Of Fleet has tasted defeat just once under Rules and ran on strongly to plunder a G1 novice hurdle over two miles and six furlongs at Leopardstown on February 2. He is set to run in the £125,000 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Gold Cup Day, Friday, March 15).
 
"He won a G1 nicely at Leopardstown the last day", commented Elliott. "Three miles will suit him in the Albert Bartlett and he can take his time early and hunt away. He is a nice horse, but I suppose the one negative with him is that he does lack a bit of experience, having had just three runs over hurdles, so we might try and get a school into him before The Festival."
 
Delta Work is unbeaten over fences following three excellent victories this season. Two of those successes have come at G1 level, with the six-year-old son of Network defeating subsequent G1 scorer Le Richebourg in the Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse in December, before taking the step up to three miles in his stride when recording a facile eight-length victory in the Neville Hotels Novice Chase at Leopardstown later the same month.
 
He looks set to take on the Nicky Henderson-trained Santini in the £175,000 G1 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Wednesday, March 13).
 
Elliott said: "Delta Work is very well. I did not run him at the Dublin Racing Festival as I just feared the ground was a bit too quick for him. He has plenty of experience over fences with three runs under his belt and two G1 wins to his name. I thought I had everything to lose and nothing to gain by running him."
 
A wealth of talent also exists in the bumper division for the Cullentra trainer, in which the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Envoi Allen looks set to be the stable's chief hope in the £75,000 G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Wednesday, March 13).
 
The five-year-old son of Muthathir is unbeaten in three starts for Elliott and captured a G2 event at Leopardstown on February 2 - his latest run. Detailing his team for the two-mile event National Hunt flat race, Elliott remarked: "Envoi Allen runs in the bumper.
 
"He just does what he has to do, everything was against him last time with the track and the ground and more of a galloping track will suit him. Envoi Allen is a nice horse, but is one for the future and is hopefully an exciting three-mile chaser in time.
 
"I've probably had speedier horses than him in bumpers, but you won't see him at his best until stepping up to three miles. I will probably run four in the bumper with Thatsy, Daylight Katie and Abacadabras, who ran out in the race at Leopardstown which Envoi Allen won, also going there."
 
Shattered Love landed the G1 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase at last year's Festival and she is set to run in Jump racing's Blue Riband event, the £625,000 Magners Gold Cup (Friday, March 15).
 
"Shattered Love goes for the Gold Cup", said Elliott. "She came back with sore shins last time and the ground was quick enough for her that day. She has a few bits to do, but all being well the Gold Cup is the aim.
 
"We are going into the unknown in terms of trip with her and that is a worry with every horse, but if she turns up in the same form as she did in the John Durkan, then she should have a great each-way chance.
 
"It's a positive that she has won at The Festival and she is a good form. I think she could finish in the first four or five, but she is no Don Cossack [Elliott's 2016 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup winner]. She also has a nice weight for the Grand National so we will consider that."
 
Other horses mentioned by Elliott included:
 
The Storyteller : "He will probably run in the Ryanair Chase. He would need a lot of things to go his way to win it, but I think we are leaning towards that race. The way he is ridden, he could have a squeak of getting into a place in the Ryanair. A better race would suit him than the Irish Gold Cup last year as that was a messy race."
 
Vision D'Honneur (Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle): "I was disappointed when he got beat at Limerick, but did it well at Punchestown last time. The plan is to go straight to the Supreme with him."
 
Felix Desjy (Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle): "We dropped him in at Limerick, but he is just a relentless galloper and he did it well at Punchestown last time too. He also runs in the Supreme. We would be happy to make the running with him in a Supreme as he just wants to go a good end-to-end gallop. I am looking forward to going chasing with him over two miles next year.
 
Mengli Khan (JLT Novices' Chase): "I'm thinking about stepping him up in trip for the JLT. I'm disappointed with him as he is just not having a cut at the fences and sometimes Flat-bred horses can do that. It's not concrete, but the JLT is something we are thinking about.
 
Hardline (Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase): "I'm thinking about stepping Hardline back down in trip. He won over an extended two miles and three furlongs at Limerick. I know Getabird made a mistake that day and I'm not saying he was going to beat him, but he also won a G3 over slightly shorter (2m 1f) at Navan the time before so stepping him back down in trip might not be an issue.
 
"I'm not saying we will beat the favourite for the race, Le Richebourg, as he looks the best in Ireland this season, but the Arkle is on our minds. Hardline ran well last time after being slightly slow at a couple of fences. He made up good ground between the second-last fence and last before getting tired, so I think he will have a good each-way chance in the Arkle."
 
Elliott also confirmed engagements for: Defi Blue & Dinons (Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle), Dallas Des Pictons, Cartwright & Flawless Escape (Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle).
 
Detailing the size of his Cheltenham team, Elliott remarked: "I would say we'll have around 50 runners overall give or take a couple here and there.
 
"I think we had around 40 runners last year, so we'll probably have been eight to 10 more runners this time around. To try and beat the eight winners we had last year is going to be very hard, but numbers and quality-wise, at this stage I would say we have a very nice bunch.
 
"Going to Cheltenham, I'm happy to get one winner and anything else is a bonus. It is a place where you have to be realistic. It is the Olympics and everyone is trying. If you train winners at Cheltenham, people remember you. Last year was unbelievable for all of us and we need to try and keep improving."
 
Gordon Elliott media stable visit, Tuesday, February 19, 2019
 
Cullentra, Longwood, Co Meath
 
Synopsis   - Gordon Elliott has risen to become one of Ireland's leading Jump trainers since taking out his licence 13 years ago.
 
He has won The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award at The Festival™ presented by Magners on two occasions, saddling six winners in 2017 and a record-equalling eight winners in 2018. His 22 win at The Festival™ include Don Cossack's victory in the 2016 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.
 
He shot to international prominence with victory in the 2007 Grand National, aged 29, with 33/1 chance Silver Birch, despite having not sent out a winner back home, and won the Aintree showpiece again in 2018 with Tiger Roll.
 
Born  - March 2, 1978
 
Background   - A very successful point-to-point rider, Elliott also partnered 46 winners as an amateur under Rules in Ireland and Britain.
 
He started his racing career while still at school, working at Tony Martin's stable in County Meath. He moved to Britain, joining Martin Pipe, and learnt a lot during his spell in Somerset. His biggest victory as a rider was on board King's Road, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, in the 1998 Punchestown Champion Bumper.
 
Elliott returned to Ireland for another term at Martin's stables. After commencing handling point-to-pointers, he started his main training career from Capranny Stables in Trim, Co Meath in early 2006 and bought 78-acre Cullentra House Farm, Longwood, Co Meath, in 2011, where the facilities have been built up from scratch, with a capacity of over 200 horses, four gallops, three schooling grounds, an equine pool, a natural spa and more.
 
The trainer has emerged over the last few seasons as the main challenger to Willie Mullins' dominance in Ireland and had a major boost when receiving the pick of 60 horses that Gigginstown House Stud removed from Mullins in September, 2016.
 
Elliott has yet to be champion Jump trainer in Ireland, finishing runner-up to Willie Mullins for the past six seasons, but has gone very close.
 
He is part of a select group of trainers to saddle a winner at both The Festival and Royal Ascot, having sent out Commissioned to land the Queen Alexandra Stakes at the prestigious Flat meeting in June, 2016. He also saddled Dirar to win the Ebor Handicap at York in 2010.
 
First winner as a trainer   - Arresting, Fugro-Technip Handicap Hurdle, Perth, June 11, 2006
 
The Festival™ presented by Magners wins (22)
2011    Chicago Grey                National Hunt Chase
2011    Carlito Brigante             Coral Cup
2013    Flaxen Flare                  Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter)
2014    Tiger Roll                      JCB Triumph Hurdle
2015    Cause Of Causes          National Hunt Chase
2016    Diamond King               Coral Cup
2016    Cause Of Causes          Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase
2016    Don Cossack                 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup
2017    Labaik                          Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
2017    Apple's Jade                 OLBG Mares' Hurdle (David Nicholson)
2017    Tiger Roll                      National Hunt Chase
2017    Cause Of Causes          Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
2017    Fayonagh                     Weatherbys Champion Bumper
2017    Champagne Classic      Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
2018    Samcro                        Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Baring Bingham)
2018    Tiger Roll                      Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
2018    Veneer Of Charm          Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Fred Winter)
2018    Shattered Love JLT Novices' Chase (Golden Miller)
2018    Delta Work                   Pertemps Network Final
2018    The Storyteller             Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate
2018    Farclas                          JCB Triumph Hurdle
2018    Blow By Blow                Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
 
Winner of The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award at The Festival:  2017, 2018
 
Gordon Elliott's entries so far at The Festival™
presented by Magners
 
Champion Day - Tuesday, March 12 (Old Course)
1.30pm £125,000 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
Authorizo, Battleoverdoyen, Chosen Mate, Coko Beach, Commander Of Fleet, Eclair De Beaufeu, Felix Desjy, Galvin, Lethal Steps, Surin, Vision d'Honneur, Whoshotthesheriff
 
2.10pm £175,000 Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade1) 1m 7f 199y
Cubomania, Duca De Thaix, Hardline, Mengli Khan
 
2.50pm £110,000 Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f
Entries close February 19
 
3.30pm £450,000 Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
Apple's Jade, Farclas, Samcro
 
4.10pm £120,000 OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y
Apple's Jade, Lackaneen Leader, Missy Tata, Tintangle
 
4.50pm £125,000 National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Grade 2) 3m 7f 147y
Blow By Blow, Champagne Classic, Cubomania, Delta Work, Glenloe, Gun Digger, Hardline
 
5.30pm £70,000 Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m 4f 44y
Entries close February 19
      
Ladies Day - Wednesday, March 13 (Old Course & Cross Country)
1.30pm £125,000 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f
Battleoverdoyen, Chosen Mate, Commander Of Fleet, Dallas Des Pictons, Defi Bleu, Dinons, Eclair De Beaufeu, Felix Desjy, Galvin, Lethal Steps, Swordsman, Vision d'Honneur
 
2.10pm £175,000 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y
Blow By Blow, Champagne Classic, Delta Work, Gun Digger, Hardline
 
2.50pm £100,000 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 5f
Entries close February 19
 
3.30pm £400,000 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
A Toi Phil, Doctor Phoenix
 
4.10pm £65,000 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 37y
Entries close February 26
 
4.50pm £80,000 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 87y
Entries close February 19
 
5.30pm £75,000 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 87y
Entries close February 26
 
St Patrick's Thursday - Thursday, March 14 (New Course)
1.30pm £150,000 JLT Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 2m 3f 166y
Ben Dundee, Blow By Blow, Champagne Classic, Cubomania, Delta Work, Duca De Thaix, Gun Digger, Hardline, Mengli Khan
 
2.10pm £100,000 Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) 2m 7f 213y
Entries close February 19
 
2.50pm £350,000 Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f 127y
A Toi Phil, Alpha Des Obeaux, Doctor Phoenix, Outlander, Shattered Love, The Storyteller
 
3.30pm £325,000 Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y
Apple's Jade, Cracking Smart, Diamond Cauchois, Dortmund Park, Farclas, Pallasator, Prince Of Scars, Samcro
 
4.10pm £110,000 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) 2m 4f 127y
Entries close February 19
 
4.50pm £90,000 Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 179y
Entries close February 26
 
5.30pm £70,000 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase 3m 2f
Entries close February 19
 
Gold Cup Day - Friday, March 15 (New Course)
1.30pm £125,000 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 179y
Authorizo, Chief Justice, Coeur Sublime, Coko Beach, Lethal Steps, Surin
 
2.10pm £100,000 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 179y
Entries close February 19
 
2.50pm £125,000 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y
Battleoverdoyen, Borice, Chosen Mate, Commander Of Fleet, Dallas Des Pictons, Defi Bleu, Dinons, Galvin, Swordsman
 
3.30pm £625,000 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y
Don Poli, Mala Beach, Monbeg Notorious, Noble Endeavor, Outlander, Shattered Love, The Storyteller
 
4.10pm £45,000 St James's Place Foxhunter Chase 3m 2f 70y
Entries close February 26
 
4.50pm £70,000 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145) 2m 4f 56y
Entries close February 19
 
5.30pm £110,000 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 62y
Entries close February 19
 
Winners Of The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award
2018
Gordon Elliott IRE (8)
2017
Gordon Elliott IRE (6)
2016
Willie Mullins IRE (7)
2015
Willie Mullins IRE (8)
2014
Willie Mullins IRE (4)
2013
Willie Mullins IRE (5)
2012
Nicky Henderson (7)
2011
Willie Mullins IRE (4)
2010
Nicky Henderson (3)
 
The Festival™ presented by Magners 2019 race programme
 
Champion Day - Tuesday, March 12 (Old Course) - prize money £1,175,000
Time    Race                                                                                                    Distance         Prize Money
1.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)                                         2m 87y            £125,000
2.10pm Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase (Grade1)                                           1m 7f 199y       £175,000
2.50pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)                                                         3m 1f               £110,000
3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)                                                       2m 87y             £450,000
4.10pm OLBG Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1)                                                              2m 3f 200y       £120,000
            (registered as the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle)
4.50pm Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed) (0-145)                     2m 4f 44y         £70,000
5.30pm National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Grade 2)         3m 7f 147y       £125,000
 
Ladies Day - Wednesday, March 13 (Old Course & Cross Country) - prize money £1,020,000
Time    Race                                                                                                    Distance         Prize Money
1.30pm Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)                                                    2m 5f               £125,000
            (registered as the Baring Bingham)
2.10pm RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1)                                              3m 80y             £175,000
2.50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)                                                   2m 5f               £100,000
3.30pm Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)                                1m 7f 199y       £400,000
4.10pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase                                                          3m 6f 37y         £65,000
4.50pm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)                                         2m 87y             £80,000
            (registered as the Fred Winter)
5.30pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)                                             2m 87y             £75,000
 
St Patrick's Thursday - Thursday, March 14 (New Course) - prize money £1,195,000
Time    Race                                                                                                    Distance         Prize Money
1.30pm JLT Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (registered as the Golden Miller)             2m 3f 166y       £150,000
2.10pm Pertemps Network Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3)                           2m 7f 213y       £100,000
2.50pm Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (registered as the Festival Trophy) (Grade 1)2m 4f 127y       £350,000
3.30pm Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1)                                                  2m 7f 213y       £325,000
4.10pm Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) 2m 4f 127y      £110,000
4.50pm Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)                                         2m 179y           £90,000
5.30pm Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase                     3m 2f               £70,000
 
Gold Cup Day - Friday, March 15 (New Course) - prize money £1,200,000
Time    Race                                                                                                    Distance         Prize Money
1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)                                                              2m 179y           £125,000
2.10pm Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)                                2m 179y           £100,000
2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)                                              2m 7f 213y       £125,000
            (registered as the Spa Novices' Hurdle)
3.30pm Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)                                             3m 2f 70y         £625,000
4.10pm St James's Place Foxhunter Chase                                                        3m 2f 70y         £45,000
4.50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3)                 2m 62y             £110,000
5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (0-145)                   2m 4f 56y         £70,000
 
Cheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham Racecourse is situated in Prestbury on the northern outskirts of the historic spa town of Cheltenham. The Home of Jump Racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the venue for the world's pre-eminent Jump meeting. The Festival™ presented by Magners, which happens in March over four days every year, next takes place from Tuesday, March 12, to Friday, March 15, 2019 inclusive and tickets are on sale. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswolds, Cheltenham Racecourse is a stunning natural arena and offers the highest-quality action throughout the Jump season.
 
More information is available at www.cheltenham.co.uk and through Twitter (@CheltenhamRaces), Facebook www.facebook.com/thehomeofjumpracing and Instagram (@CheltenhamRaces).
 
About The Jockey Club
Cheltenham is part of The Jockey Club which stages thrilling sporting occasions including The Randox Health Grand National, The Festival™ presented by Magners and The Investec Derby. Millions of people every year enjoy the special experiences The Jockey Club offers through racing, music, food and entertainment. Governed by Royal Charter, every penny made goes back into British Racing to help the sport thrive. The Jockey Club was founded in 1750 and today is the largest commercial group in Britain's second-biggest spectator sport, operating 15 racecourses nationwide, The National Stud, Jockey Club Estates, Jockey Club Catering, Jockey Club Live and the charity, Racing Welfare. For more information, visit www.thejockeyclub.co.uk
 
If you need any information about racing at Cheltenham, please contact: Sophia Dale, Communications Manager - Jockey Club Racecourses South West 01242 537 683 [email protected]