ENGLISH TEXTS
point running him against Galopin des Champ . There is only one gold cup but hes young and he hasn ’ t really relaxed over that trip at leopardstown to beat a 2 time Gold cup winner so the shorter trip of the Ryanair will help him .
Spillanes Tower Ran well in the John Durkan when 2 nd to Fact to file . He ’ s a young horse that you could say was disappointing in the King George but he is with a clever trainer and you can always forgive one run . He will have to find a career best to beat fact to file and it looks the race of the festival so far but he will be fresh and well and won ’ t be far away I imagine .
TRIUMPH Larzac only had one run in the Prix Pride of Kildare at Auteuil , where he was only beaten a short head . I wouldn ’ t be surprised if he ran because if you ’ re going to lose your novice status it may as well be in the Triumph hurdle at the festival . He is a fine , good looking big athletic horse . Looks might not be everything but you ’ d happily buy him on his looks .
MARES CHASE Dinoblue she won in Naas on her last start and shows that she ’ s in good form coming into the race . She will be our strongest hope because she turns up to the race in the best form and will go on any sort of ground .
Limerick Lace just hasn ’ t shown the form that she did last year at all . She beat Dino blue last year which tell you how good she is on her day .
Bioluminescence would be the most ground dependent of the three of ours in this race , she will have a better chance if the ground turns up soft .
STAYERS The WallPark could go for the Pertemps three mile handicap hurdle instead and that might suit him better because it ’ ll be a competitive handicap and they might go off even faster which will help him . He ’ s a bit one paced and got a bit to far back in the long walk Grade 1 hurdle but I ’ m not 100 percent sure which race he will go for .
GOLD CUP Corbett ’ s Cross he was flat out and going as fast as he could in the ascot chase over 2 mile 5 furlongs , 4300m , the gold trip will defiantly suit him better . But I do have a little reservation that he is not going to be as good a chaser as he was hurdler . Im not sure he just loves chasing and you don ’ t see him making any ground at his fences , saying that Synchronized won a Gold cup and I ’ d say Corbetts is a better jumper then him .
FOXHUNTERS Its on the Line he can be a moody horse and will need whatever type of headgear he can get . He didn ’ t travel at all the last day and was very on and off the bridle so some headgear will need to help change that . He has a chance because he has ability .
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CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL : WHEN THE COUNTRYSIDE GOES WILD
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Every year around Saint Patrick ’ s Day , the Irish cultural and religious festival fixed on March 17 th , the Cheltenham Festival takes place . Spread over four days , these 28 jump races are followed by more than 250,000 spectators in total on a site with three oddly shaped tracks , nestled at the foot of the spectacular Cleeve Hill , between the village of Prestbury and the town of Cheltenham .
The racecourse where the Cheltenham Festival takes place is called Prestbury Park , as it belongs to the neighbouring village ( the typical square bell tower of the village church is clearly visible from the stands ). The grounds of the church
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