Cheltenham 2019 result: Minella Indo takes Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle for Rachael Blackmore

Minella Indo clears the last up the Cheltenham Hill
PA

Minella Indo charged home to give Rachael Blackmore her second Cheltenham winner, in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

The 50-1 shot went clear approaching the last and held off Commander Of Fleet up the hill to secure a double on the week for Blackmore, who rode A Plus Tard to victory in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase on Tuesday.

In a slowly run race, Minella Indo hit the front midway through the second circuit after Derrinross had made much of the early running.

It was a cracking run from Commander Of Fleet, who started the season in two mile novice hurdles, while Allaho stayed on well for third under Ruby Walsh, with Dickie Diver in fourth.

All odds quoted are Betfair. The Betfair Exchange had the best odds on every winner at the Cheltenham Festival last year. Small Details. Big Results at Cheltenham with Betfair. BSP v ISP. Exchange win market only. BSP is a win only calculation. 5% commission deducted. Further charges may apply. T&Cs Apply.

11 March 2019

Santini declared for RSA

Leading RSA fancy Santini has been declared for Nicky Henderson, with Nico De Boinville on board.

There had been big doubt over his chances of running, after he lost a shoe during a piece of work at Newbury last week, but as things stand he will be on the start line.

He faces 12 rivals as everything that still had an entry has been declared, including favourite Delta Work and Paul Nicholls' top of the game.

Photo: Getty 

11 March 2019

Nine declared in Champion Chase

Superstar Altior will face eight rivals in defence of his Champion Chase crown in Wednesday's feature race, including last year's runner-up Min. 

The nine runners are: Altior, Castlegrace Paddy, God's Own, Hell's Kitchen, Min, Ordinary World, Politologue, Saint Calvados, Sceau Royal.

Photo: PA 

11 March 2019

We're expecting news from the 48-hour declarations for Wednesday's races very shortly. We'll keep you up to date with the headlines.

11 March 2019

The Evening Standard’s Save London Lives Fund could benefit from Cheltenham this week, thanks to Betfair.

The Fund was launched last year to tackle the scourge of stabbings and shootings in the capital and, through the Standard’s Dispossessed Fund, has already raised £1million. That amount could be added to, as Betfair is putting up £100 each day for its trader, Niall O’Reilly, to bet — and any winnings will go to the Fund. His first choice is GOOD MAN PAT at 16-1 in tomorrow’s Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase (4.50pm).

O’Reilly said of his selection: “He caught the eye behind Master Dino at Plumpton on his chase debut and has backed that up with two solid runs. He’s been let in lightly off 139 and looks set for a big run.”

11 March 2019

Champion Hurdle | 3:30pm, Tuesday

Nicky Henderson’s two-time winner Buveur D’Air is chasing a historic hat-trick that would see him become only the sixth horse to win the sport’s most prestigious hurdle race three times. His defeat to Verdana Blue at Kempton on Boxing Day has done little to appease those who feel he has been the beneficiary of a weak division over the past two seasons, despite that loss being the only blemish on the formbook in his last 13 runs.

There is little doubt though, that this will be the toughest Champion Hurdle field he has faced, thanks in large part to the diversion of Apples Jade (pictuired) away from the Mares’ Hurdle to contest this race. Gordon Elliott’s star has been in stunning form this season, winning her four starts by a combined distance of 73 lengths, including the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last time out.

PA 

Willie Mullins’ exciting prospect Laurina clearly has bags of potential, and is being talked up as an X-factor horse, but it’s hard to be bullish about a mare who has never run in anything like this company and does not look to have the speed to go with the big two.

The fast-improving Espoir D’Allen would appeal as a potential outsider, were he not under the same ownership as Buveur D’Air – it seems reasonable to assume the five-year-old would not be running if connections thought he had a serious chance of denting the historic treble bid.

Big race verdict: Head says Apples, heart says Buveur. I’ll go with the mare. The omission of the final flight in the Irish equivalent allowed Apples Jade to make the run-in a real test of stamina from a long way out, and she may not get the same luxury here, but Buveur has to give her a 7lb allowance and that could be too much. 

10 March 2019

Cheltenham weather-watch

Cheltenham is braced but far from alarmed as yet at the prospect of gales hitting the course mid-Festival this week.

Winds reaching a peak of over 40mph are forecast for Wednesday - an uncomfortable late reminder of similar conditions which struck on the same day 11 years ago and caused the cancellation of racing.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase and other high-profile races were instead run later in the week, added to the Thursday and Friday cards.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse, in position then and now, is reassured at this stage that the expected wind direction and geography of the course mean history should not repeat itself.

Getty

In 2008, gusts began to blow in from the east - but this time they are not likely to do so.

"I am one of the few (employees) who was here in 2008 as well," said Claisse, who is also heartened that so far wind speeds on site have fallen short of those predicted.

He added: "Over the last three or four days we have been forecast strong winds.

"But most of the site is protected when the wind comes in as it's forecast from the west or south-west - so it's all systems go, because we are not exposed to the same vulnerability as in 2008.

"We were forecast up to 42mph today, and we only just got to 30."

A band of heavy rain is still scheduled to cross the course early on Tuesday, and Claisse anticipates resulting soft ground for the start of the four-day meeting will remain that way throughout.

The going is currently described as good to soft, soft in places.

Claisse said: "The indications are still strong of up to 11 or 12 millimetres - half-an-inch - some time through the early hours of Tuesday, clearing by mid-day.

"That would take us towards soft ground.

"There are showers Wednesday and Thursday, so I wouldn't expect (ground) conditions to change much through the rest of the week."

10 March 2019

Rooneys set for Cheltenham blank after all

Owners Paul and Clare Rooney, who recently lifted a self-imposed entries suspension at Cheltenham, will be without a Festival runner after all.

It was revealed in January that the Rooneys had told their team of trainers to stop entering their horses at the track because they believed their runners were at further risk of injury at the Cotswold venue.

However, following regular communication with the course, the Rooneys announced late last month they were happy to have runners at the track again.

Despite that decision, the owners will not have a Festival contender as Weatherbys Champion Bumper hope Get In The Queue has been rerouted to Newbury by trainer Harry Fry.

The handler tweeted: "Get In The Queue does not run CheltenhamRaces in the #championbumper & will instead head to NewburyRacing for the valuable GoffsUK sales bumper on 23rd March."

10 March 2019

Tuesday schedule

1.30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2m)  (Prize-money £125,000)

2.10 Racing Post Arkle Novices’ Chase (2m) (£175,000)

2.50 Ultima Handicap Chase (3m1f)  (£110,000)

3.30 Unibet Champion Hurdle (2m) (£450,000)

4.10 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (2m4f) (£120,000)

4.50 Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase (2m 4f) (£70,000)

5.30 National Hunt Chase (Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase) 4m (£125,000)

10 March 2019

Paul Nicholls picks his horses to watch

Grand Sancy | 1.30pm Tuesday

“He’s as good as Noland and Al Ferof, our past winners of the Supreme.”

Give Me A Copper | 2.50pm Tuesday

“He does not have a great deal of experience but he is a solid jumper.”

Friend Or Foe | 4.50pm Wednesday

“We have always thought he could be a type for this race when we bought him last summer in France.”

Quel Destin | 1.30pm Friday

“Has it all and is one of our leading chances. He’s getting better with every run.”

Magic Saint | 4.50pm Friday

“I have been training him with the Grand Annual in mind. Hopefully he might be better than a handicapper.”

10 March 2019

Welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of Cheltenham Festival as the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ returns.

We'll have build-up to Tuesday's opening day in anticipation of the biggest week in National Hunt horse racing, with £4.5million in prize money up for grabs!

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