Underwriting Exchange Gold Cup Novice Chase | 2m4f | Grade 1 | 5yo+ | RTE2/RTV
Willie Mullins has won the last two runnings of this and it is the unreliable Asterion Forlonge rather than the ultra-reliable Energumene who spearheads his challenge.
This was the scene for the first of Al Boum Photo s three Grade 1 wins. He was the Willie Mullins second string that day when seeing off Shattered Love, while Voix Du Reve led home a 1-2 for the stable the last time this race was run in 2019.
So, where do we stand with Asterion Forlonge? The giant grey looked to have the world at his feet when brushing aside Conflated on his chasing debut at Punchestown in November. So impressive there that he was 4-6 to win a Grade 1 next time at Limerick over Christmas.
UPDATED 12:31PM, MAR 14 2021
Honeysuckle and Epatante, the two superstar mares at the head of the betting for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, have both been declared for the feature race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.
Goshen, aiming for redemption after his final-hurdle heartbreak in the Triumph Hurdle last year, is also declared with a field of ten set to go to post for one of the most anticipated races of the meeting.
The remainder of the British challenge comes from Epatante’s Christmas Hurdle conqueror Silver Streak – lining up in his third Champion Hurdle – and the Hughie Morrison-trained Not So Sleepy.
UPDATED 2:56PM, MAR 12 2021
Arguably the most eagerly awaited showdown at next week s Cheltenham Festival is off as Energumene will not be taking on Shishkin in the Sporting Life Arkle after Willie Mullins revealed on Friday morning that his unbeaten chaser is lame.
Energumene was as short as 2-1 for the crunch clash with Shishkin after winning his three starts over fences by a combined total of 36 and a half lengths and earning a rating of 163.
Mullins told the Racing Post: Unfortunately Energumene is lame after meeting with a setback. I don t know the extent of the injury at this stage as we haven t had him fully checked yet, but he won t make the festival.
The Leader Newspaper
By Andrew Atkinson
Ryan Moore continued his fine form at Lingfield Park on Saturday with a winning ride on fromthehorsesmouth.info tip Grove Ferry (9-4) in the Bombardier Class 2 Handicap over 1 mile.
Jockey Moore gained a 1 length victory on board Andrew Balding trained 4-year-old Grove Ferry, ahead of evens money favourite, Simon Crisford trained Intuitive.
Moore was thwarted on fromthehorsesmouth.info selection Convertible, when going down a short head to Enough Already (14-1) in the Betway Handicap over 1m 2f.
Moore rode Glentaneous (2-5) and Crimson Sand (85-40) to victory to complete a treble; fromthehorsesmouth.info tip Mahale ran third at 9-2 behind the latter.