For jump racing fans it's the Olympics, the World Cup and Christmas all rolled into one. The Cheltenham Festival, which begins on Tuesday, provides four days of high sporting drama played out against the magnificent backdrop of the Cotswolds.
The highlight of a week packed with mouth-watering contests is Friday's Gold Cup. Red-hot favourite for the £425,000 blue riband event is Kauto Star, scarcely off the bridle in all five of his races this season.
Paul Nicholls' brilliant eight-year-old is on line to collect a £1m bonus if he wins, but it's no foregone conclusion: Kauto Star (right) is prone to jumping errors and, worryingly, he fell on his only previous visit to Cheltenham.
In addition the likely testing ground raises doubts about him staying the 3m 2f trip and at the current odds, Exotic Dancer, a winner of his last four races at the track and the |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
The favourite heads the charge in a mouth- watering Festival, reports neil clark |
| |
mount of champion jockey Tony McCoy, could be the better value.
On Wednesday, last year's surprise winner Newmill defends his crown in the Champion Chase, but he could have his work cut out stopping the David Pipe-trained Well Chief, so impressive on his return to action at Newbury in February. If the ground is heavy, Martin Brassil's well-backed Nickname will be a big threat too.
In Tuesday's Champion Hurdle, previous Irish-trained winners Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca take on leading English-trained hopes Detroit City and Straw Bear in what should prove an epic encounter. But the most emotional race on opening day could be the Sporting Index Chase. If the 13-year-old Spotthedifference lands an incredible seventh win over the cross-country course, in his last race before retirement, there won't be a dry eye in the house. 
FIRST POSTED MARCH 10, 2007
|
