Horse racing news: Rivals renew feud as Galopin bids for history again
Galopin Des Champs and Inothewayurthinkin are the headline acts of the 33 entries for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on March 13, a rematch of last year’s big clash.
Inothewayurthinkin denied Galopin Des Champs a chance of emulating the legendary Best Mate, in becoming a three-time winner of the showpiece race. However, Gavin Cromwell’s eight-year-old hasn’t won since, with disappointing runs in his last two outings.
A further 21 Irish trained horses are entered, with the ‘Emerald Isle’ bidding to make it a tenth victory in 11 years in the race, writes Sports News Blitz horse racing expert Kieran McHugh.
However, there is optimism that Great Britain can reclaim the coveted trophy, despite being outnumbered.
The home team have several candidates who can put forward their credentials, including Harry Redknapp’s King George VI Chase hero, The Jukebox Man.
Nicky Henderson also has Jango Baie in contention, who was an unlucky fourth at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Dan Skelton has entered the popular Grey Dawning and Rebecca Curtis will also target the race with her record-breaking Welsh Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs.
The last two winners of the Grand National could also line up in the Gold Cup, as the Master of Closutton Willie Mullins has given entries for both I Am Maximus and Nick Rockett.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Entries – March 13
Affordale Fury- Noel Meade
Banbridge- Joseph O’Brien
Champ Kiely- Willie Mullins
Croke Park- Gordon Elliott
Envoi Allen- Henry de Bromhead
Fastorslow- Martin Brassil
Firefox- Gordon Elliott
Found A Fifty- Gordon Elliott
Gaelic Warrior- Willie Mullins
Galopin Des Champs- Willie Mullins
Gerri Colombe- Gordon Elliott
Gold Tweet- Gabriel Leenders
Grangeclare West- Willie Mullins
Grey Dawning- Dan Skelton
Haiti Couleurs- Rebecca Curtis
Handstands- Ben Pauling
Heart Wood- Henry de Bromhead
I Am Maximus- Willie Mullins
Impaire Et Passe- Willie Mullins
Inothewayurthinkin- Gavin Cromwell
Jango Baie- Nicky Henderson
Konfusion- Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith
Lecky Watson- Willie Mullins
L’Homme Presse- Venetia Williams
Monty’s Star- Henry de Bromhead
Myretown- Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore
Nick Rockett- Willie Mullins
Resplendent Grey- Olly Murphy
Spillane’s Tower- Jimmy Mangan
Spindleberry- Willie Mullins
Stellar Story- Gordon Elliott
The Jukebox Man- Ben Pauling
Three Card Brag- Gordon Elliott
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Can Marine National join royally exclusive club of back-to-back Queen Mother victors?
Last Year’s poignant Queen Mother Champion Chase victor, Marine Nationale, tops the billing in his bid to defend his crown 12 months later.
Barry Connell’s charge was desperately unlucky on his return at Leopardstown over the festive period and will be favoured to retain his crown in March.
Solness was his conqueror at Leopardstown and is expected to line up, along with former winners of the two-mile showpiece, Energumene and Captain Guinness.
Henderson holds the cards for the home support, with star two-miler Jonbon entered but with his dismal record around Cheltenham, his participation remains unclear.
Which leads to the perhaps surprising entry of Sir Gino. Henderson’s ‘new kid on the block’ is unbeaten in all his starts and made a winning return from serious injury, when cantering home in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle, at Kempton.
He’s also a contender for the Champion Hurdle, having last run over fences more than a year ago when beating Ballyburn on Boxing Day.
Elsewhere, Dan Skelton has entered his runaway Desert Orchid Chase winner Thistle Ask. The gelding has been improving with every run and after such a dominant display, connections are dreaming of Cheltenham glory.
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Queen Mother Champion Chase Entries – March 11
Brookie- Anthony Honeyball
Calico- Dan Skelton
Captain Guinness- Henry de Bromhead
Energumene- Willie Mullins
Found A Fifty- Gordon Elliott
Gidleigh Park- Harry Fry
Il Etait Temps- Willie Mullins
Inthepocket- Henry de Bromhead
Irish Panther- Eddie & Patrick Harty
Jonbon- Nicky Henderson
JPR One- Joe Tizzard
Kalif Du Berlais- Paul Nicholls
L’Eau Du Sud- Dan Skelton
Libberty Hunter- Evan Williams
Majborough- Willie Mullins
Marine Nationale- Barry Connell
Only By Night- Gavin Cromwell
Quilixios- Henry de Bromhead
Saint Segal- Jane Williams
Senecia- Vincent Halley
Sir Gino- Nicky Henderson
Solness- Joseph O’Brien
Thistle Ask- Dan Skelton
Touch Me Not- Gordon Elliott
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Young vs old in the Ryanair
The Ryanair is the happy medium of the two aforementioned races, contested over two and a half miles.
The entries for this year are headed by Mullins’ Fact To File, who was a facile winner of the race last year. However, a disappointing display over Christmas has raised questions.
Mullins also fields Il Etait Temps, who has looked imperious of late. Whether he contests this or the Champion Chase, is yet to be seen.
Protektorat and Cheltenham specialist Envoi Allen are former winners of the race and are amongst the entries, but the latter will be targeted at the Gold Cup, in what is set to be his swansong race.
Two of the British Gold Cup hopes in The Jukebox Man and Grey Dawning are also present, along with Paul Nicholls’ Kalif Du Berlais.
Leading owner JP McManus has a four-pronged attack with Jonbon, Majborough and Spillane’s Tower joining Fact To File.
The surprise entry is Gordon Elliott’s star novice chaser, Romeo Coolio. He won over two miles over the festive period but made hard work of it, with Elliott claiming that he’ll be stepped up in trip.
As there is no novice chase over the median distance anymore, connections could be opting for a crack in open company, as opposed to facing Final Demand over three miles.
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Ryanair Chase Entries – March 12
Banbridge- Joseph O’Brien
Better Days Ahead- Gordon Elliott
Champ Kiely- Willie Mullins
Croke Park- Gordon Elliott
Edwardstone- Alan King
Energumene- Willie Mullins
Envoi Allen- Henry de Bromhead
Fact To File- Willie Mullins
Firefox- Gordon Elliott
Found A Fifty- Gordon Elliott
Gaelic Warrior- Willie Mullins
Gidleigh Park- Harry Fry
Grey Dawning- Dan Skelton
Handstands- Ben Pauling
Heart Wood- Henry de Bromhead
Il Etait Temps- Willie Mullins
Impaire Et Passe- Willie Mullins
Jagwar- Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Jango Baie- Nicky Henderson
Jonbon- Nicky Henderson
JPR One- Joe Tizzard
Kalif Du Berlais- Paul Nicholls
Majborough- Willie Mullins
Master Chewy- Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Matata- Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies
Panic Attack- Dan Skelton
Protektorat- Dan Skelton
Romeo Coolio- Gordon Elliott
Solness- Joseph O’Brien
Spillane’s Tower- Jimmy Mangan
The Jukebox Man- Ben Pauling
Thistle Ask- Dan Skelton
Twinjets- Paul Nicholls
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