The 2015 Cheltenham Festival results were probably slightly more predictable than in previous years with 7 winning favourites in the 27 races.
Of note was that all these wins for favourites came in Grade 1 races ( i.e. favourites had a 50% strike rate at Grade 1 level ). Backing all favourites in Grade 1 races would have returned a £6 level stakes profit for the week.
In all 18/27 winners were returned at single figure prices with the main shocks arising in the handicaps.
The highest priced winner over the four days was Darna at 33/1 in the Plate. Qualando’s 25/1 success in the Fred Winter and Wicklow Brave’s demolition of the field in the county were the only other wins at prices greater than 20/1.
Champion Day, Tuesday, March 10
1.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
DOUVAN (FR) (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins IRE 5-11-7 Ruby Walsh 2/1f
2.05pm Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Grade 1)
UN DE SCEAUX (FR) (Edward O’Connell) Willie Mullins IRE 7-11-04 Ruby Walsh 4/6f
2.40pm Ultima Business Solutions Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
THE DRUIDS NEPHEW (IRE) (The Stonehenge Druids) Neil Mulholland p8-11-03 Barry Geraghty 8/1
3.20pm Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
FAUGHEEN (IRE) (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins IRE 7-11-10 Ruby Walsh 4/5f
4.00pm OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
GLENS MELODY (IRE) (Fiona McStay) Willie Mullins IRE 7-11-05 Paul Townend 6/1
4.40pm Toby Balding National Hunt Chase (Listed Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase)
CAUSE OF CAUSES (USA) (J P McManus) Gordon Elliott IRE tp7-11-06 Mr Jamie Codd 8/1
5.15pm CHAPS Restaurants Barbados Novices’ Handicap Chase (Listed)
IRISH CAVALIER (IRE) (Andrew McIver) Rebecca Curtis p6-11-07 Paul Townend 11/1
Ladies Day, Wednesday, March 11
1.30pm Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
WINDSOR PARK (IRE) (Dr Ronan Lambe) Dermot Weld IRE 6-11-07 Davy Russell 9/2
2.05pm RSA Chase (Grade 1)
DON POLI (IRE) (Gigginstown House Stud) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-04 Bryan Cooper 13/8f
2.40pm Coral Cup (Grade 3 Handicap Hurdle)
AUX PTITS SOINS (FR) (John & Lisa Hales) Paul Nicholls 5-10-07 Sam Twiston-Davies 9/1
3.20pm Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
DODGING BULLETS (Martin Broughton & Friends) Paul Nicholls t7-11-10 Sam Twiston-Davies 9/2
4.00pm Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (Cross Country)
RIVAGE D’OR (FR) (Gigginstown House Stud) Tony Martin IRE t10-10-10 Davy Russell 16/1
4.40pm Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
QUALANDO (FR) (Kathy Stuart) Paul Nicholls 4-11-00 Nick Scholfield 25/1
5.15pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)
MOON RACER (IRE) (Professor Caroline Tisdall & Bryan Drew) David Pipe 6-11-05 Tom Scudamore 9/2f
St Patrick’s Thursday, March 12
1.30pm JLT Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
VAUTOUR (FR) (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-04 Ruby Walsh 6/4f
2.05pm Pertemps Network Final (Listed)
CALL THE COPS (IRE) (Matt & Lauren Morgan) Nicky Henderson 6-10-12(inc 5lbex) Andrew Tinkler 9/1
2.40pm Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
UXIZANDRE (FR) (J P McManus) Alan King v7-11-10 A P McCoy 16/1
3.20pm Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade 1)
COLE HARDEN (IRE) (Jill & Robin Eynon) Warren Greatrex t6-11-10 Gavin Sheehan 14/1
4.00pm Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate (Grade 3)
DARNA (Julie & David Martin) Kim Bailey t9-10-11 David Bass 33/1
4.40pm Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase
THE PACKAGE (The Johnson Family) David Pipe bt12-11-04 Mr Jamie Codd 9/1
5.15pm The St Patrick’s Derby (in aid of the Injured Jockeys Fund)
KNIGHT’S PARADE (IRE) (Bodhran Makers Syndicate) Gordon Elliott IRE 5-12-00 James Collins
Gold Cup Day, Friday, March 13
1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
PEACE AND CO (FR) (Simon Munir & Isaac Souede) Nicky Henderson 4-11-00 Barry Geraghty 2/1f
2.05pm Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
WICKLOW BRAVE (Wicklow Bloodstock Ltd) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-04 Paul Townend 25/1
2.40pm Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
MARTELLO TOWER (IRE) (Barry Connell) Margaret Mullins IRE 7-11-07 Adrian Heskin 14/1
3.20pm Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
CONEYGREE (The Max Partnership) Mark Bradstock 8-11-10 Nico de Boinville 7/1
4.00pm St. James’s Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup
ON THE FRINGE (IRE) (J P McManus) Enda Bolger IRE 10-12-00 Miss Nina Carberry 6/1
4.40pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
KILLULTAGH VIC (IRE) (Rose Boyd, B Anderson, A Armstrong) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-01 Luke Dempsey 7/1
5.15pm A P McCoy Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
NEXT SENSATION (IRE) (Mark Blandford) Michael Scudamore t8-11-02 Tom Scudamore 16/1<< Back to Racing Headlines
