FESTIVAL CHELTENHAM DAVY RUSSELL'S - 2021 POCKET GUIDE - Star Sports
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DAV Y RUSSELL’S
CHELTENHAM
FESTIVAL
2021 POCKET GUIDE
STARSPORTS.BET
THIS year’s Cheltenham Festival will be like no other. The greatest four days in the racing calendar will be run behind closed doors. There will be no famous Cheltenham roar, no packed stands, no Guinness Village - there will be an eery silence as the runners go down to post for the first race of the meeting. It’s still Cheltenham though. It’s still the Festival. On a personal note, it will be strange as this will be the first time I’ve not ridden at the meeting since turning professional. It will be a hard watch, but my injuries just haven’t healed in time. So, I hope you enjoy watching on from home and find this pocket guide as useful as ever. It’s packed full of the usual stats and my views on the feature races. I’ll be writing a daily blog as usual and will be taking part in previews and Zoom rooms galore. I wish you the very best of luck in your pursuit of winners and look forward to the day we all meet again and hear that roar. Davy
THE SCHEDULE
- T UESDAY 16TH MARCH - - THUR SDAY 18TH MARCH -
TIME RACE DISTANCE TIME RACE DISTANCE
1:20 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 2m ½f 1:20 Marsh Novices’ Chase 2m 4f
1:55 Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase 2m 1:55 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle 3m
2:30 Ultima Handicap Chase 3m 1f 2:30 Ryanair Chase 2m 5f
3:05 Unibet Champion Hurdle 2m ½f 3:05 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 3m
3:40 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 2m 4f 3:40 Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase 2m 5f
4:15 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle 2m 4½f 4:15 Parnell Properties Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 2m 1f
4:50 National Hunt Chase 3m 6f 4:50 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase 3m 2f
- WEDNESDAY 17TH MARCH - - FRIDAY 19TH MARCH -
TIME RACE DISTANCE TIME RACE DISTANCE
1:20 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2m 5f 1:20 JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m 1f
1:55 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 3m ½f 1:55 McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f
2:30 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 2:30 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle 3m
3:05 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase 2m 3:05 WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup 3m 2½f
3:40 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 3:40 St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Chase 3m 2½f
4:15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase 2m ½f 4:15 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase 2m 5f
4:50 Weatherbys Champion Bumper 2m ½f 4:50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4½f
SKY BET TIME: 1:20 TUESDAY
SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE DISTANCE: 2 M ½ F 16 MARCH
TH
- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT -
APPRECIATE IT sets the bar pretty high with his win in
Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival, cementing him as the one
to beat here. However, don’t rule out runner-up BALLYADAM just yet
as he’d have got a lot closer to the winner with a smoother jump at the
last, and better ground will help him too. As for the home challenge,
you’d have to say that Harry Fry’s METIER is the pick on his Sandown
win if the rain arrives.
Nico de Boinville celebrates Shishkin’s win last year
- STAT ATTACK - Notes
Winner’s Age 6 5 6 5 5 6 6 6 5 6
Winner’s SP 10/1 10/1 5/1 7/2f 2/1f 4/1 25/1 9/1 6/1 6/1
Fate of Favourite 4TH 7TH 2ND 1ST 1ST 2ND 2ND 11TH 10TH 4TH
Winning Distance 2 1¼ ½ 6 4½ 7 2¼ NECK 4½ HEAD
Previous Run 1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
6 TH
1 ST
1
ST
1ST
- KEY TRENDS -
• Only two favourites have won in the past 14 renewals
• Only one four-year-old winner in the past 46 years
• Nine of the last 10 winners had won their most recent start
SPORTING LIFE TIME: 1:55 TUESDAY
ARKLE NOVICES’ CHA SE DISTANCE: 2 M 16 MARCH
TH
- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT -
The potential duel between SHISHKIN and Irish challenger
ENERGUMENE has got everyone talking. It looks a good renewal
with the likes of ALLMANKIND ensuring it’s not just a two horse
race. Energumene has looked the real deal over fences this season
and didn’t put a foot wrong in Leopardstown the last day.
However, in Shishkin he meets a super talent and he’d just get my
vote. He has that all-important Cheltenham Festival experience when
he frustratingly beat me in last season’s Supreme.
Put The Kettle On was a surprise winner in 2020
- STAT ATTACK -
Winner’s Age 7 6 7 6 7 6 7 6 6 6
Notes
Winner’s SP 6/1 8/11f 8/13f 33/1 4/6f 1/4f 1/4f 5/6f 5/1 16/1
Fate of Favourite 4TH 1ST 1ST 2ND 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 7TH 6TH
Winning Distance 2¾ 7 2¼ HEAD 6 7 6 14 13 1½
Previous Run 1 ST
1ST
1 ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
1 ST
1
ST
1ST 1ST
- KEY TRENDS -
• Six of the last nine winners returned odds-on
• No five-year-old winner since 2006
• All of the last 10 winners had won their previous start
UNIBET TIME: 3:05 TUESDAY
CHAMPION HURDLE DISTANCE: 2 M ½ F 16 MARCH
TH
- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT -
Ireland holds a strong hand with unbeaten mare HONEYSUCKLE
lining up on the back of a brilliant win in the Irish Champion Hurdle.
Plenty had questioned whether she had the speed for the drop back
to two miles, but she showed a serious turn of foot the last day. She
deserves to be favourite with the 7lb mares’ allowance a big help
too. That said, I was blown away by the performance of GOSHEN
in Wincanton and if he reappears in the same form, they might not
catch him.
Epatante (green silks) powered clear to win the race last year
- STAT ATTACK -
Winner’s Age 7 7 9 6 7 8 6 7 5 6 Notes
Winner’s SP 11/4f 11/1 13/8f 9/1 4/5f 5/2f 5/1 4/6f 16/1 2/1f
Fate of Favourite 1ST 3RD 1ST 4TH 1ST 1ST DQ 1ST 6TH 1ST
Winning Distance 3½ 1¼ 2¾ NECK 1½ 4½ 4½ NECK 15 3
Previous Run 1ST 2ND 1ST 4TH 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST 1ST
- KEY TRENDS -
• 19 of the last 28 winners had won a race at Cheltenham
• Only four horses over the age of eight have won since 1951,
the most recent being Hurricane Fly in 2013
• 11 of the past 19 winners were trained in Ireland
DOWNLOA D KEY TRENDS TUESDAY
THE A PP TODAY (REMAINDER OF DAY ONE) 16 MARCH
TH
2:30 Ultima Handicap Chase
• Nine of the last 13 winners had won over 3m or further
• Irish trainers have only won the race twice since the turn of the century
3:40 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
• Since its inception in 2008, Willie Mullins has won the race nine times
• 10 of the 13 winners were sent off either favourite or second favourite
4:15 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
• Six of the past 10 winners were sent off 25/1 or bigger
• 2019 winner Band Of Outlaws is the only winner to have won more than
once that season
4:50 National Hunt Chase
• Only three favourites have obliged since 1992
• 10 of the last 14 winners had run at least once at Cheltenham
Notes
BROWN ADVISORY TIME: 1:55 WEDNESDAY
NOVICES’ CHA SE DISTANCE: 3 M ½ F 17TH MARCH
- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT -
If the same MONKFISH that jumped his rivals into the ground in
Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival turns up here, there will
only be the one winner. He was brilliant that day and don’t forget that
he has winning form at the Cheltenham Festival too. It’s hard to single
out a serious rival and his main danger will definitely be the obstacles
in front of him. EKLAT DE RIRE looks a promising chaser but has his
work cut out here.
Winning connections after Champ’s remarkable victory in 2020
- STAT ATTACK - Notes
Winner’s Age 7 7 7 7 6 7 8 7 7 8
Winner’s SP 16/1 9/2 8/1 12/1 13/8f 8/1 7/2f 5/2f 4/1 4/1
Fate of Favourite 5TH 4TH 4TH 2ND 1ST 3RD 1ST 1ST 3RD 3RD
Winning Distance NECK 2½ 1¾ NECK 6 ½ NOSE 7 ½ 1
Previous Run 2ND
1ST
2ND
3 RD
1 ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
2 ND FELL
- KEY TRENDS -
• Only five times has a seven-year-old not won the race since 1999
• Eight of the last 14 winners had won at Cheltenham before
• 13 of the last 14 winners were rated 144 or higher
BETWAY
QUEEN MOTHER
TIME: 3:05 WEDNESDAY
DISTANCE: 2 M 17TH MARCH
CHAMPION CHA SE
- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT -
I had never been a fully signed-up member of the CHACUN POUR
SOI fan club, but I have to admit that I had my head turned in
Leopardstown. He did everything right including running away from
the last all the way to the line. I had previously been worried about
whether he would get up the Cheltenham hill, but I’m less concerned
about that now. That said, the likes of ALTIOR will pressure him all
the way to the line if back on song.
Harry Skelton celebrates aboard 2020 winner Politologue
- STAT ATTACK -
Winner’s Age 9 9 7 8 7 10 10 8 9 9
Notes
Winner’s SP 10/1 4/1 1/4f 11/4f 9/2 5/1 11/1 EVSf 4/11f 6/1
Fate of Favourite 4TH 8TH 2ND 1ST 1ST PU 2ND 7TH 1ST 1ST
Winning Distance 6 5 1¼ 19 6 1¼ 3½ HEAD 7 1¾
Previous Run 1ST
1 ST
3RD
2ND
1 ST
1ST
1 ST
1ST 1ST 1ST
- KEY TRENDS -
• English trainers have won 10 of the last 13 renewals
• Only one double-figure priced winner since 2012
• 12 of the last 19 winners had run in the Tingle Creek at Sandown
earlier in the season
GETACK
KEY TRENDS WEDNESDAY
(REMAINDER OF DAY TWO) 17TH MARCH
5 0% B E STAKE
ERAG STIVAL
1:20 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle
• Nine of the last 13 winners were trained in Ireland
R AV
F YOU FE
• Only two winning favourites since 2014
O
AT THE
2:30 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
• The past 16 favourites have all lost
• 14 of the last 15 winners had not run within at least 32 days of the Festival
3:40 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
• Just two winning favourites since 2007
• I0 of the last 13 victors had been previously placed in a X-C at Cheltenham
AS ABET
4:15 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase
• JP McManus has won the race four times and had a further nine horses placed
• The last six winners have all carried 11st or more
FREE £250
4:50 Weatherbys Champion Bumper
• Willie Mullins has won the race 10 times
* • The last 15 winners had all scored on their previous start
UP TO
Download the app, visit starsports.bet or call 08000 521 321 Notes
*Offer open to new and existing customers. At
least one bet must be placed on each of the four
days of the Festival to qualify. Full T&Cs apply.RYANAIR TIME: 2:30 THURSDAY
CHA SE DISTANCE: 2 M 5 F 18TH MARCH
- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT -
Willie Mullins looks to hold a serious hand in this with the likes of
ALLAHO, MIN and MELON. Of the three I’d prefer Allaho who
was good the last day and didn’t quite see out the three miles in the
RSA Chase last season. Looking at the pick of the home challenge and
IMPERIAL AURA looked a good horse when I chased him home in
the novice handicap 12 months ago. He is still improving and may be
the one to challenge Allaho.
Min jumps the last on his way to victory 12 months ago
- STAT ATTACK -
Winner’s Age 10 8 7 8 7 7 9 7 7 9 Notes
Winner’s SP 6/1 7/2f 9/2 11/4f 16/1 EVSf 7/4f 8/1 9/2 2/1
Fate of Favourite 4TH 1ST 2ND 1ST 3RD 1ST 1ST 2ND 8TH 3RD
Winning Distance 1 ½ 9 19 5 6 1½ 4½ 1¼ NECK
Previous Run PU 1 ST
1ST
2ND
UR 2 ND
1 ST
2ND
1
ST
2ND
- KEY TRENDS -
• Eight of the last 10 winners came from the first three in the betting
• None of the first 11 renewals were taken by an Irish raider, but
four of the past five have been
• Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins are the leading trainers in the
contest with three wins eachPADDY POWER TIME: 3:05 THURSDAY
STAYER S’ HURDLE DISTANCE: 3 M 18TH MARCH
- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT -
This has the potential to be one of the races of the Festival with
PAISLEY PARK looking the obvious one after disappointing in this
last season. He looks a different horse this time around and pounced
on THYME HILL in Ascot the last day. However, I expect Thyme Hill
to be ridden with more restraint this time around and he could easily
reverse that form under Richard Johnson. SIRE DU BERLAIS loves
Cheltenham and looks to be best of the Irish challengers.
Lisnagar Oscar (yellow cap) sprung a 50/1 surprise in 2020
- STAT ATTACK -
Notes
Winner’s Age 8 9 9 6 6 8 7 7 7 7
Winner’s SP 10/11f 5/6f 17/2 15/2 14/1 EVSf 10/1 12/1 11/8f 50/1
Fate of Favourite 1ST 1ST PU 2ND 2ND 1ST 3RD 5TH 1ST 7TH
Winning Distance 1¾ 1¾ 2½ 1½ 3¼ 7 ¾ 2 2¾ 2
Previous Run 1 ST
1ST
1ST
1 ST
4TH
1ST FELL 2ND
1
ST
3RD
- KEY TRENDS -
• Six of the previous 10 winners won their previous race
• Six or seven-year-olds have won six of the previous seven contests
• Six of the last 13 winners have gone off favouriteKEY TRENDS THURSDAY
(REMAINDER OF DAY THREE) 18TH MARCH
1:20 Marsh Novices’ Chase
• Only one horse (Samcro 2020) aged over seven has won this
• Willie Mullins has landed this prize four times
1:55 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle
• Only one five-year-old has ever won the race
• Gordon Elliott has won the last three renewals
3:40 Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase
• Just two of the previous 11 winners have carried more than 11st
• Lizzie Kelly became the first female jockey to win the race in 2019
As the UK’s leading luxury
4:15 Parnell Properties Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
bookmaker, our flagship betting
lounge is just a few moments • Willie Mullins has won all five renewals
away from The Dorchester. • All five previous winners were French-bred
All business is conducted with
4:50 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase
absolute discretion in a relaxing
• Only one of the last 15 winners has been older than 10
atmosphere, where you can
• JP McManus has owned the first or second in five of the last 10 renewals
enjoy live sporting action from
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Y STRE
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ER
DEAN
4-6 Deanery Street, Mayfair,
Notes
London, W1K 1AZ.JCB TIME: 1:20 FRIDAY
TRIUMPH HURDLE DISTANCE: 2 M 1 f 19 TH
MARCH
- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT -
I’ve never made any secret about my affection for ZANAHIYR who
comes here fresh on the back of three nice hurdle victories. He has
that lovely mix of speed and stamina having won over further than
this. He was deadly in Leopardstown at Christmas and remains the
one to beat in the division. FRENCH ASEEL was impressive on his
debut at that same meeting and has since joined Willie Mullins. He
looks the biggest threat to Zanahiyr who should take all the beating.
Burning Victory (yellow and brown silks) stayed on best
after Goshen’s dramatic final flight spill last year
- STAT ATTACK -
Winner’s Age Contest restricted to four-year-olds
Notes
Winner’s SP 13/2 33/1 4/1 10/1 2/1f 9/2f 5/2f 9/1 20/1 12/1
Fate of Favourite 4TH 3RD 6TH 4TH 1ST 1ST 1ST 4TH PU UR
Winning Distance 2¼ 3 15 3½ NK 1¼ 5 1¾ 3 2¾
Previous Run 1ST 3RD 1ST 2ND 1ST 4TH 1ST 2ND 1ST 1ST
- KEY TRENDS -
• Only one of the last 12 winners was bred in the UK
• Only three of the previous 11 favourites have emerged victorious
• Gordon Elliott has had two winners and two seconds from six
runners in the past seven yearsWELLCHILD TIME: 3:05 FRIDAY
CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DISTANCE: 3 M 2½ F 19 TH
MARCH
- DAVY RUSSELL’S VERDICT -
All eyes will be on AL BOUM PHOTO who is looking to join some
of the greats in winning three Cheltenham Gold Cups. He has had his
usual quiet preparation and will be tough to beat. His biggest danger
looks to be A PLUS TARD who proved he had plenty of stamina
when winning at Christmas and has been held back and kept fresh for
this. He’s another with course form and it promises to be a fascinating
and wide-open contest.
Paul Townend celebrates a second consecutive Gold Cup aboard Al Boum Photo
- STAT ATTACK -
Winner’s Age 6 9 8 8 8 9 7 8 7 8 Notes
Winner’s SP 7/2f 8/1 11/4f 20/1 7/1 9/4f 7/1 5/1 12/1 100/30f
Fate of Favourite 1ST 3RD 1ST 5TH 7TH 1ST 4TH 2ND 8TH 1ST
Winning Distance 7 2¼ 7 HEAD 1½ 4½ 2¾ 4½ 2½ NECK
Previous Run 1ST
1
ST
1ST
6TH
1
ST
1 ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
1ST
- KEY TRENDS -
• The past 19 victors were all Grade One winners going into the race
• 13 of the past 20 winners had previously finished first or second
at least once at the Festival
• Al Boum Photo was only the fifth winner in the past 21 years that did
not run in either the King George VI Chase or the Savills Chase that seasonGETAC
KEY TRENDS FRIDAY
(REMAINDER OF DAY FOUR) 19 TH
MARCH
•
5 0 % B
1:55 McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle
RAGE S
Only three winners older than six since 2008
E
RAV
U FEST
• Seven of the last 13 winners were 20/1 or bigger
O F YO
AT THE
2:30 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
• Irish-trained horses have won seven of the last 12 races
• Prior to last year’s winner, the previous six renewals had been won by horses
at double-figure prices
3:40 St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Chase
• Only two winners younger than seven in the last 32 years
AS ABE
• Seven of the last 10 winners had finished in the first three last time out
4:15 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
• New race for 2021
Socially Distanced Offer
Place a bet on any selection, on the day of the race, at the
Festival and if you finish second, beaten a length or less,
•
R E E
4:50 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
•
F UP TO £250
Only one winning-favourite since its inception in 2009
Four horses have carried more than 11st 8lbs to victory and three of these
have won the last three renewals
*
you’ll get your money back as a FREE BET to the same stake
(up to £25, win part only) to use on any event within 24 hours*
Download the app, visit starsports.bet or call 08000 521 321 Download the app, visit starsports.bet or call 0
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weigh in. Free bet will expire 24 hours after it is applied to account. days of the Festival to qualifD
N L OA
D OW Y
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T HE A
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