Cheltenham Festival 2009 Date: 10-13 March First race: Tuesday, 1330 GMT Coverage: Daily coverage on BBC Radio Five Live from 1300-1600, BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Channel Four and live updates on the BBC Sport website
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1701: Of course this sporting day will continue to provide excitement for fans of other sports. England are trying to win the last Test in Trinidad, and Mark Mitchener is your man. Live text - West Indies v England
And then Liverpool are going to knock Real Madrid out of Europe. Well they are, aren't they? See you all tomorrow at about 1pm for some more scintillating Cheltenham action!
Thanks for all your input today on the texts and 606. Here's one more text from Johnny Mac: "Can I thank Lee Honeyball from The Observer for helping me win the best part of £10k on Punjabi."
And one more 606 contribution, from sticktheblueflag: "I need to find a quiet place for a little sob now. I should be proud of United after what she has been through but second is the first loser!"
1651: "When they lined up for the tape she stood still. I was wondering if she would have that attitude when she raced, but I always thought she was my best one of the week." Winning trainer Willie Mullins
1646: The Irish have had a stunning day, winning four of the six races. This was a walk in the park for the well-backed favourite, he could almost have done another lap before anyone else passed the post.
1640 David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (2m 4f) 1. Quevega (R Walsh) 2-1 favourite 2. United (Dominic Elsworth) 100-30 3. Aura About You (Alain Cawley) 28-1
1634: Can Ruby Walsh land his first winner of the Festival? He has one of the best-prepared mares for this one, Quevega. Two bans to tell you about - Walsh and David Casey, each for three days, for excessive use of the whip in the Champion Hurdle.
1620: Nina is, of course, the younger sister of Paul Carberry. Just one race to go, but remember there are seven in all tomorrow - including a Champion Chase featuring the awe-inspiring Master Minded.
1614: This race is "owned" by JP McManus, his trainer Enda Bolger and jockey Nina Carberry. It's Carberry's fourth Festival win, while Bolger saddled home the second and third here today. Irish joy, and they take a 3-2 lead over England.
1600 Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (3m 7f) 1. Garde Champetre (Nina Carberry) 7-2 2. L'Ami (John McNamara) 7-4 Fav 3. Drombeag (Robbie Power) 7-1 4. A New Story (Jack Doyle) 14-1
1554: Paul Nicholls has had a frustrating Festival so far. Things will change, I am sure, with Master Minded racing tomorrow. Here's what Nicholls has to say of Celestial Halo, runner-up in the Champions Hurdle:
"If he'd been sixth or something he'd have gone chasing. But he's a champion hurdler and only five so we'll have to come back and try and win. He's had a hard race so I'm not sure he'll go to Aintree."
1547: And here's Geraghty, who has become the first jockey of the Festival to pick up two winners: "Happy days. A great performance. I thought I had Ruby well covered turning in. He ran on really well, he was all out, it was a great performance. I tipped a Nicky Henderson one-two. There was one in between but it's brilliant.
1546: Nicky Henderson has a nostalgic tear in his eye: "It takes you back. Those great days of [three-time Champion Hurdle winner] See You Then were very special and it's nice to be back with horses that can do this sort of thing. Punjabi has always been a very talented horse and Barry gets on very well with him. Both of mine have run tremendous races. It's very special to see them both there with Celestial Halo in between them."
1541: That's a fourth Champion Hurdle for Nicky Henderson, and a seventh Festival winner in all for the Berkshire trainer. Remember, he trains the Queen's horse, Barber Shop, in Cheltenham's Gold Cup.
1536: Another fascinating finish, in which the favourite, Binocular, looked to be cruising in the latter stages, but simply found nothing in the tank going over the last and then up the hill. Celestial Halo, one of the pace-setters, showed impressive staying power to nab second in a blanket finish between the three top horses. But it was PUNJABI who turned the tables on the stable's principal fancy with the best-timed run of all.
1527: Another big cheer as the Champion Hurdle gets under way
1526: Osana and Katchit getting good support now, as the tension builds at Prestbury Park. Biggest field for the Champion Hurdle in a long time. Starter cannot let them go yet.
1523: Binocular is sweating up a bit. All that parading nonsense in front of the stands can unhinge a horse not used to the big occasion. Interesting...
"Binocular has no chance. Can't see past Celestial Halo for the 3.20." modricsleftshinpad on 606 Discuss the day's racing
1518: Sublimity has an outside chance to make it three Festival winners out of four for Ireland, but I reckon it will be England 2-2 Ireland after this race.
1515: You have to love the fact that every winner of this since 2004 is back for another crack at the whip. Of them, Katchit is probably the likeliest to lay down a challenge. A lot of talk is of how the jockeys will aim to take out Binocular's sting. But let's get real, we're talking about AP McCoy here. He's not going to be unduly distracted by anything.
1512: The start of the Champion Hurdle is likely to be slightly delayed. The race looks pretty tough to call, but Binocular has had a terrific season and the crucial angle is the trainer. Nicky Henderson is one of the best at the Festival.
Clare Balding on BBC Radio 5 Live has the first interview with super AP: "To be fair I have to give a lot of credit to the trainer [Jonjo O'Neill] for that one. He had a lot more faith in him than I did. I celebrated at the end because the crowd started roaring so i couldn't ignore them - I didn't want them to think I was a boring git!"
1456: John McCririck, no stranger to hyperbole, insists "no other jockey on the planet" would have won that race. To be fair, Maljimar looked a certain winner after jumping the last in front and running on well clear. But the last few yards of the hill just found him out and a mud-splattered McCoy gritted his teeth to drive his horse home.
1454: Tony McCoy produces a vintage winning performance after his horse looked out of the race halfway through it. The punters loved that, and finally a favourite wins - on owner JP McManus's 58th birthday as well!
1439: That's funny, suddenly the exchanges are laying Wichita Lineman like crazy. Everyone's as confused as each other.
1437: Is there no end to the cash being splashed on Wichita Lineman? Jonjo O'Neill's horse is now 9-2, with Cailin Alainn 6-1 (another Irish winner?) and Possol at 7-1. The French-trained Millenium Royal (9-1) is quietly fancied in some of the papers. Hobbs Hill and Lothian Falcon are also non-runners, so 21 go to post.
1434: Stuart Pearce, owner of Wind Instrument, will be hoping his eight-year-old can plough a path as true as one of his left-footed free-kicks: "We're having a fantastic day. We're hopeful, he's looking in good nick but you never know - it's Cheltenham, the Champions League."
1430: While we're waiting for the horses to parade for the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase, have you had a look at Peter Scudamore's guide to the course?
Scudamore's Cheltenham course guide
Wichita Lineman has had heavy support all day - he'll be the favourite for the 1440 I think.
"Had Kalahari King at some pretty juicy ante-post odds too after getting a tip off a mate. Oh well... here's hoping Osana can do a job on Binocular." backofdanet on 606 Discuss the day's racing
1420: News in for the next race, where Star De Mohaison, a winner of the 2006 RSA Chase here, is a late withdrawal. Ruby Walsh switches to the other Paul Nicholls runner, Dear Villez.
1418: A classic Cheltenham moment enfolds as the winning enclosure becomes a disorderly flood of red and white. Forpadydeplasterer is just as excited as his owners, and gives Barry Geraghty a friendly whack with his chin on the jockey's cap. Trainer Tom Cooper has his first Festival winner.
1416: Here's Charlie Chawke, a member of the winning syndicate, all draped in red-and-white scarves (The Goat Racing Syndicate also has a stake in Sunderland FC) talking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "We're all in this together. It's just fantastic, heart-stopping. We're going to have the mother and father all parties! We just knew he was a born chaser."
1411: Well, well, well. That's 2-0 to Ireland, Forpadydeplasterer winning after the favourite, Tatenen, had fallen at the first fence - Ruby Walsh emerging unscathed. Barry Geraghty always had the seven-year-old prominently positioned, and though Ferdy Murphy's Kalahari King got within a neck at the finish, the winner was just too good.
1405: Kalahari King is another to attract support, while Ms Knight's words about Calgary Bay have sent the punters elsewhere. And they're off in the Arkle!
1401: Henrietta Knight is not particularly bullish about Calgary Bay's chances, but he looks superb heading away from the parade ring.
1359: If you're interested in big horses, you might want to look out for Original in the next, a French-trained horse rumoured to be the biggest jumper in racing. Number 11 I'm So Lucky is a non-runner.
"Oh well, after a 2nd place in the first, time to look at Nicholls/Walsh to get us a winner in the second race, come on Tatenen!" jamBar 1873 on606 Discuss the day's racing on 606
1351: The English will look to level things up in the Arkle, which is the next race. But two horses getting plenty of support on the exchanges, Follow The Plan and Forpadydeplasterer, are from the opposite side of the Irish Sea. Tartak has been backed down from 14-1 to 11-1, meanwhile.
"I live in Cheltenham and there is nothing like the atmosphere the Festival brings. I will be out getting drunk with the Irish tonight - anyone care to join me?" Daryl, Cheltenham, via text
1341: That's also, of course, 1-0 to Ireland, with veteran trainer Noel Meade getting the Emerald Isle off to a fine start. The favourite never laid down a challenge, I'm sorry to say, and it's a superb opening result for the bookmakers.
1339: That's a tremendous finish from Paul Carberry, a jockey who's fresh after an injury break. He came up the inside in the closing stages, apparently coming from nowhere, and here's what the jockey says: "He's a horse you'd fancy all the time, he jumped super. I knew I had to kick on after the second-last. The other horse was coming back but he just held on."
1332: The Cheltenham thousands roar in anticipation as the first race gets under way in sunshine.
"I have Cousin Vinny and Tatenen as part of a threefold with Kasbah Bliss on Thurs. All three are favourites, but I think that makes it worse." Toby, in Stratford, via text message.
1327: Willie Mullins on BBC 5 Live just in: "It would be fantastic to see Cousin Vinny win, I would probably retire for the week! He just needs a bit of luck. I'm much happier with him this morning, he drank a lot last night and ate his breakfast this morning so we're very happy with him."
"I know nothing about horses but have money on Kempes - do I have any chance?" pharmabhoy on606 Discuss the day's racing on 606
[Well, pharmabhoy, I reckon he is very much the stable's second string - Willie Mullins is also preparing the favourite. But you never know! - OB]
1325: Cousin Vinny parading around now. He looks a nonchalant, chilled-out sort. No chance of the favourite at the first sweating up at the start.
"Today is a good day... can feel it in my water. All my selections to come in, England to gain a shock win in the cricket and off to Vicarage Rd tonight to see the mighty Forest overturn Watford." 2:05 Tatenen 4/1 2:40 Millenium Royal 10/1 e/w 3:20 Ashkazar 20/1 e/w 4:40 United 4/1 brizyboy and Katchit - palm_tree on606 Discuss the day's racing on 606
1314: Cousin Vinny is receiving plenty of support and is now around 5-2 favourite on the exchanges for the opener. Ainama, tipped by Templegate in The Sun, is drifting.
1311: Nice stuff from Tony McCoy, who rides the favourite Binocular in the big race today. Here he is speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live:
"There's a lot of runners in some of the races which will make things more difficult for us jockeys. It's all about Binocular today for me. He's a good traveller and has been a good jumper but his form at Ascot last time has made him the short price that he is. If he produces that sort of form he will be tough to beat. I will ride him with plenty of confidence."
1302: Nice touch - the first race will be televised to British troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan this afternoon. And 35 personnel from the Army, Marines and Royal Air Force - in full uniform - have officially opened the Festival.
1255: So, who's going to win the opening race, off at 1330? Some good novice hurdlers around, and Cousin Vinny could start favourite. My worry would be the amateur jockey Patrick Mullins - he has never jumped over Cheltenham's hurdles.
"The more I look at the form, my feeling is if he's right then Cousin Vinny will win by any amount." brizyboy and Katchit - Friends For Life on606 Discuss the day's racing on 606
1250: It's a big day for personal contributions from you lot, either on 606, or if you prefer via text to 81111. And here's an all-important update from clerk of the course Simon Claisse. He says the official going on both the hurdles and the chase course is good to soft, soft in places after 2mm of rain overnight.
It's been a hell of a job to prepare the course - five weeks out of the last 10 have seen Prestbury Park battered by snow or frost.
1245: Hello and a very warm welcome to day one of the Cheltenham Festival. You can have your Wimbledon, your Open golf and your Lord's Test match - but for me and thousands of others the best sporting week on the British calendar begins today.
Today's big race is, of course, the Champion's Hurdle - off at 1520. And here's what Nicky Henderson, the trainer of favourite Binocular, told BBC Radio 5 Live this morning:
"He's entitled to be the favourite. Obviously there's plenty of opposition out there but I'm going to worry about our fellow and the other guys are going to worry about theirs and then we're going to come here and do battle and may the best horse win. He's beaten most of them so far."
If you scroll down a bit, you can see what to look out for in the five other races, while Cornelius Lysaght's Tuesday preview is certainly worth a quick read. Tuesday at Cheltenham
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