Stay updated with breaking news from Dickie diver. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Going for Festival Gold! | The Irish World theirishworld.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theirishworld.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Lambourn quartet prepare for day two of the Cheltenham Festival Nicky Henderson, Jamie Snowden, Harry Whittington and Charlie Mann all have runners today (Wednesday) Liam Headd ); WITH day two of the Cheltenham Festival upon us, there are a number of local trainers with runners today (Wednesday). The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (13.20) kick starts the action, but the first race with local interest comes in the form of Dickie Diver, who runs in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (13.55) for Seven Barrows trainer Nicky Henderson. On his chances for the race, Henderson said: “He s only had one run and he has a lot on his plate, but he s got to go somewhere and he s a good horse too. He will like the ground, that s for sure.” ....
The first day of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival had an unfamiliar feel to it, lacking a capacity crowd for the first time in history, but its famous roar was still heard nationwide thanks to an electrifying opening day that did not disappoint the millions tuning in at home. The action on the track certainly lived up to its billing, as the bookmakers survived a major scare with “banker” accumulators narrowly foiled by Concertista’s defeat in the Mares’ Hurdle. Turf accountants across the land were facing a multimillion pound payout if Willie Mullins’ mare had followed in the footsteps of short-priced winners Appreciate It (5/6f), Shishkin (4/9) and Honeysuckle (11/10f) at Prestbury Park, but her defeat left punters ruing the fine margins that so often dictate this great game. ....
The Cheltenham Festival in 2021 will mark the first time it has been run without the presence of Clare jockey Derek O’Connor since he first began race riding almost 20 years ago. Amateur riders will not be permitted at this year’s Festival as they are not considered “elite” under the Government’s coronavirus rules. The Festival contains three major amateur races, including the Foxhunter Chase which is often dubbed the “amateur Gold Cup”. The amateur races will still go ahead, but horses will be ridden by professional jockeys. Tubber native O’Connor, who has ridden winners at the Festival on three occasions in recent years, admits that while it is disappointing not to be involved this year, it is a small price to pay to help in controlling the outbreak of Covid-19. ....