Cheltenham Festival Memory Number 4

Hope everyone enjoyed watching the powerhouse that is Denman demolish a classy Gold Cup field yesterday. Staying over fences today but down in trip to the Queen Mother Champion Chase, the 2000 renewal to be exact. A race contested by the three market leaders, Flagship Uberalles, Edredon Bleu and Direct Route. The rest is as they say, history.

Edredon Bleu - Queen Mother Champion Chase 2000


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqopqcEhjdc

One of the most thrilling finishes in Festival history was fought out on March 15th 2000 between Edredon Bleu and Direct Route. Coming down the hill Tony Mccoy was driving along Edredon Bleu with Flagship Uberalles, Direct Route and The Outback Way still going powerfully in behind. Every fence he seemed to gain a length on his rivals while he drew mistakes out of each of them. Direct Route went through the top of the third last and at the second last Flagship Uberalles was down on his nose, all the time while Edredon Bleu didnt touch a twig and continued to grind it out. Three in a line jumped the last with Norman Williamson driving Direct Route up between his rivals. Flagship Uberalles gave way after the last which left the favourite and second favourite to fight out an epic. Storming Norman had looked to have got Direct Route up 50 yards from the line, but nobody told Edredon Bleu the script as he battled back from half a length down to land the race on the line. A true Cheltenham epic!!

Cheltenham Festival Memory Number 3

I hope watching Istabraq and Barizan over the last two days have made you as happy as they made me, another cracker today but over fences this time, Nicknamed 'The Tank' Denman pounded his rivals into submission in two Hennessy's and a Gold cup. Today we honour his 2008 Gold Cup demolition job.

Denman - 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIQTzaCWnmA


A race that always gives you chills down your back when you watch it, the most notable thing for me is how the crowd start to roar when Denman jumps 4 from home. An awesome ride from Sam Thomas in one of the best performances in Festival history. Richard Hoiles says is best 'relentless, remorseless have pounded Kauto Star into submission, the answer is DENMAN, Denman won the Gold Cup!'. If you can hear him over the crowd that is. Happy retirement Denman.

Cheltenham Festival Memory Number 2

Yesterday we saw one of the bravest shows in Festival History in Barizan going down a gallant second in the Triumph behind Soldatino. We go from one of the bravest to one of the best today as we honour the immortal Istabraq. The race in particular is his 1st champion hurdle in 1998. I would have chosen his third Champion Hurdle win but Racing UK have taken all footage of that win off of youtube and not replaced it with their own footage (well done racing UK).

Istabraq - 1998 Champion Hurdle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rUaQaY_Lqw

The start of a Champion Hurdle treble for Istabraq and arguably the most impressive, jumping the second last it looked as if Shadow Leader may pose a threat to the mighty horse, however when Charlie Swan said go Istrabraq said how far and lengthened with a devastating turn of foot. He went on to win by 12 lengths when really you could have named your distance over the second placed Theatreworld. A true Festival great!

Cheltenham Festival Memory Number 1

If you havent seen on Twitter I will be counting down the days to the start of the Festival in Style by doing a Memory a day. If there are any races you feel should be in the blog feel free to put your suggestion forward and i will read it and who knows, it could make the next blog.

Barizan - JCB Triumph Hurdle 2010


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy4Q9bwzEHU


Its very rare you get a runner up given a cheer that matches that of the winner, but even now i find myself cheering on Barizan up the hill thinking 'he will last home this time'. On a personal note i backed him at 25/1 a good 4 months before the race after he won at Market Rasen. This brave 4 year old the Cheltenham crowd roaring when he skipped over 3 from home, it was just a matter of what could catch him. it turns out the Soldatino was the only one that could live with him. To say the Evan Williams horse ran his heart out is an understatement but this horse will go down in the Cheltenham History books as one of the best losers at the festival and will forever remain in peoples hearts. GO ON BARIZAN!