Thousands gather for first day at Cheltenham festival
The Cheltenham Festival is back for 2023 with a thrilling week of racing lined up in the Cotswolds for what is known as ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’, as racegoers descend on the iconic course.
The Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup bookend the four-day meeting as perhaps the two highest-profile Grade 1 races, with Constitution Hill triumphing in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday, showing his class to win at a canter after starting as the overwhelming, heavily-backed favourite.
Meanwhile, Rachael Blackmore returns to Cheltenham looking to create more history after an astounding win to retain the Gold Cup in 2022 –a victory that helped the Irish trainers triumph handily over their British counterparts to easily land the prestigious Prestbury Cup, with a mighty 18 wins compared to just 10 for the home horses.
The festival provides a massive £274m boost to the local economy, a study from the University of Gloucestershire has found, and while organisers will be hoping the rain holds off, it promises to be an exciting week of racing regardless.
Follow all the Day 3 action from Cheltenham below:
GOOD TIME JONNY WINS THE PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL
Where did he come from?! As the field stretched out after the final hurdle Good Time Jonny storms through the middle and kicks ahead of the leaders to win by a good couple of lengths.
Brilliant finish in the Pertemps Network Final!
Michael Jones16 March 2023 14:19
2.10 – Pertemps Network Final
The turn towards the last sees the field open up. Maxxum makes good ground with Mill Green and Green Book pushing on at the front.
Michael Jones16 March 2023 14:17
2.10 – Pertemps Network Final
The whole field have clustered back to together with Burrows Park and Bear Ghylls still setting the pace. One mile to go and two hurdles left.
It’s anyone’s race yet.
Michael Jones16 March 2023 14:16
2.10 – Pertemps Network Final
Maxxum is near the back as the field reign in Burrows Park. Green Book, Bear Ghylls and The Bosses Oscar are up near the leader as the leap over the next hurdle.
Michael Jones16 March 2023 14:15
2.10 – Pertemps Network Final
Burrows Park has bombed out ahead of everyone else but he’ll do well to keep this pace up for 3 miles. He’s out in front by about eight lengths.
Michael Jones16 March 2023 14:13
2.10 – Pertemps Network Final
And they’re off! There are 23 runners in this one which means predicting a winner is going to be difficult. After a false start, the field set off from a standing start.
Green Book and Bear Ghylls lead the way.
Michael Jones16 March 2023 14:12
Paul Nicholls praises Stage Star
Winning trainer Paul Nicholls spoke to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra saying: “It has been a tough week so far and a tough couple of years. It’s hard to win here.
“So to win with a horse we believed in, it didn’t go to plan last year, but he’s come back really good this year. It was a good race and he put it to bed really well.
“We thought he would run really well, the last run was really good here with a big weight.
“He’s an improving horse and we need him to take it to the next level. Today was a good test.”
Michael Jones16 March 2023 14:09
2.10 – Pertemps Network Final
Next up is the Pertemps Network Final which is the first of three difficult handicaps on today’s card.
David Pipe’s Thanksforthehelp, won the Chepstow qualifier last month with plenty in hand and is a solid favourite at around 7-2, while Maxxum, a 16-length winner at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, is near him in the market.
The most recent winner to have also won their qualifier was Fingal Bay in 2014 so it may pay to look instead for a horse that ran well without winning.
The Changing Man, who finished second in a well-run Haydock qualifier in February, could be a shout.
Michael Jones16 March 2023 14:02
