CHELTENHAM
202211Plumpton
Going: good to soft (soft in places)
1.00 (2m 4f 114yd hdle) 1, Unanswered
Prayers (Tom Cannon, 7-4 fav);
2, Hecouldbetheone (10-3); 3, Jazz
King (11-4). 5 ran. Hd, 13l. C Gordon.
1.35 (2m 3f 164yd ch) 1, Ballinsker
(Isabel Williams, 15-8 fav); 2, Uberman
(100-30); 3, Harry Hazard (11-2). 5 ran.
1l, 6Kl. Evan Williams.
2.10 (3m 217yd hdle) 1, Kansas City
Chief (Victoria Malzard, 5-2 jt-fav); 2,
Gleno (5-2 jt-fav); 3, Dell’ Arca (13-2). 5
ran. 8l, 1Kl. N P Mulholland.
2.45 (3m 1f 152yd ch) 1, Blade Runner
(Tom Cannon, 5-2); 2, Le Tueur (7-1);
3, Ramore Will (18-1). 9 ran. NR: Minella
Examiner. 6l, 11l. C Gordon.
3.20 (2m 4f 114yd hdle) 1, On My
Command (S Bowen, 11-10 fav);
2, Brown Bullet (15-2); 3, Ruby Yeats
(7-2). 4 ran. NR: Sainte Doctor. 3Kl, Ol.
H Fry.
3.55 (1m 7f 195yd hdle) 1, Tara Iti
(J E Moore, 6-1); 2, Tommy Dillion
(11-4); 3, Sami Bear (100-30). 6 ran.
NR: Appreciate, Conchita,
Hackbridge. Sh hd, 15l. G L Moore.
Placepot: £19.60. Quadpot: £9.70.Stratford
Going: good to soft
1.45 (2m 213yd ch) 1, Getaway Luv (Mr
Thomas M O’Brien, 7-1); 2,
Morgenstern (10-1); 3, Son Of Camas
(9-2). 7 ran. 3Ol, 13l. Clive Boultbee-
Brooks.
2.20 (2m 2f 148yd hdle) 1, Interne De
Sivola (Chester Williams, 11-8 fav); 2,
Silver Shade (100-30); 3, Fleurman (2-
1). 7 ran. 2Nl, 14l. Nick Williams.
2.55 (2m 6f 125yd ch) 1, Esprit De
Somoza (Chester Williams, 7-1); 2,
Corran Cross (7-2 jt-fav); 3, Al Roc (16-
1). 10 ran. Ol, 11l. Mrs J Williams.
3.30 (2m 70yd hdle) 1, Oakley (Harry
Bannister, 17-2); 2, Osprey Call (6-4
fav); 3, Shantou Express (13-2). 7 ran.
Ol, 18l. R Bandey.
4.05 (2m 4f 205yd ch) 1, Drakes Well
(Miss A Stevens, 9-2); 2, Jaunty Flyer
(9-4); 3, Streets Of London (20-1).
10 ran. NR: Blackjacktennessee,
Capac, Jethro Said. 1Nl, 9l. F Hutsby.
4.40 (2m 70yd Flat) 1, Ukantango
(Aidan Coleman, 11-2); 2, Royale Dance
(7-4 fav); 3, Pocket Too (18-1). 12 ran.
NR: Rambo T. 3l, 1Kl. O Murphy.
Placepot: £211.40.Quadpot: £9.70.Taunton
Going: soft
2.00 (2m 3f 1yd hdle) 1,
Highstakesplayer (Mr Dylan Kitts, 13-8
fav); 2, Karakoram (7-2); 3, Checkitsme
(7-1). 10 ran. NR: Linger. 2Nl, 3Kl. T Lacey.
2.35 (2m 104yd hdle) 1, Mister Marbles
(T J O’Brien, Evens fav); 2, Winterwatch
(7-2); 3, Alto Alto (33-1). 10 ran. NR: Big
Bill Newman, Cadeau D’or, Pachacuti,
Petrossian. 1Nl, 7Kl. P J Hobbs.
3.10 (3m 4f 85yd ch) 1, Revels Hill (K
Brogan, 7-4 fav); 2, The Two Amigos
(11-4); 3, Some Detail (85-40). 5 ran. NR:
Achille, Wandrin Star. 3Ol, 1Nl. H Fry.
3.45 (2m 104yd hdle) 1, Dibble Decker
(Stan Sheppard, 6-4 fav); 2, Super Six
(9-2); 3, Sarceaux (7-1). 7 ran. NR:
Confirmation Bias. 1Kl, 3l. T Lacey.
4.20 (2m 12yd ch) 1, Master Mikey Dee
(Harry Reed, 16-1); 2, Loup De Maulde
(11-1); 3, Balkardy (7-1). 9 ran. Hd, 3Nl.
Mrs R Ford.
4.50 (2m 7f 198yd hdle) 1, My Last
Oscar (David Prichard, 12-1); 2,
Advantura (12-1); 3, Getaway Cory
(6-1). 15 ran. 1Kl, 2l. Nicky Martin.
Jackpot: Not won. Pool of £4,112.76
carried forward to Cheltenham today.
Placepot: £62.60. Quadpot: £34.60.Wolverhampton
Going: standard
5.00 (7f 36yd) 1, Plumette (Rossa
Ryan, 9-2); 2, Valentinka (9-2); 3, Lady
Alavesa (16-1). 10 ran. 1l, 1Nl.
D Loughnane.
5.30 (7f 36yd) 1, Sparkle In His Eye
(Aiden Brookes, 11-1); 2, Critical
Thinking (11-2); 3, Global Vision (5-1).
12 ran. Nk, 1l. Micky Hammond.
6.00 (1m 4f 51yd) 1, Percy Willis
(P J McDonald, 11-2); 2, Three Platoon
(9-2); 3, Inn The Bull (6-1). 8 ran.
Sh hd, Ol. Jedd O’Keeffe.
6.30 (1m 142yd) 1, Alazwar (Hollie
Doyle, 85-40); 2, Flatley (6-5 fav);
3, Red Dwarf (33-1). 9 ran.
NR: Mutalaaqy. Ol, 6l. A Watson.
7.00 (2m 120yd) 1, Catbird Seat
(David Probert, 9-4 fav); 2, Smart Boyo
(3-1); 3, Floating Rock (3-1). 8 ran.
NR: Mint Julep. Kl, hd. A King.
7.30 (1m 1f 104yd) 1, Forge Valley Lad
(Callum Shepherd, 7-2 fav); 2,
Dundory (9-2); 3, Invincible Soldier
(9-2). 12 ran. 2Nl, nk. D M Simcock.
Placepot: £22.70.
Quadpot: £5.10.Yesterday’s racing results
Blinkered first time: Cheltenham 4.50 Forever William;
Prairie Dancer; Britzka; Bell Ex One. 5.30 Beatthebullet.
Newcastle 5.45 Show Lights. Southwell 5.20 Top
Attraction. 6.30 Backstage.7.45 Handicap
(£4,995: 6f) (6)
1 (3) 60411 SPARTAN FIGHTER 11 (V,CD) A Brittain 5-9-9
H Russell (3)
2 (4)3303/BADRI 532 (D) R Carr 5-9-7 P Mulrennan
3 (6)050-5BEN MACDUI 40 K Ryan 4-9-7 K Stott
4 (1)506-5GHATHANFAR 11 (CD) T Waggott 6-9-6 D Swift
5 (5)/100-JUNGLE SPEED 253 (T,CD) I Furtado 6-9-0L Edmunds
6 (2)^32522 GINATO 5 (B,BF,D) R Fell 4-8-8 B Curtis
9-4 Spartan Fighter, 11-4 Ghathanfar, 7-2 Ginato, 13-2 Ben Macdui,
7-1 Badri, 12-1 Jungle Speed.
8.15 Handicap
(3-Y-O: £2,970: 5f) (7)
1 (3)^64462 JUDY'S PARK 28 (P) G Boughey 9-7 B Curtis
2 (2)400-0PULSE OF POPPY 22 M Appleby 9-6 A Rawlinson
3 (4)04-51JUST ANOTHER 28 (P,CD) J L Eyre 9-5 L Edmunds
4 (7)030-0DOOMSDAY 68 B Smart 9-5 G Sanna (7)
5 (1)06-56TINKERSTAR 3 (P) Phillip Makin 9-1 R Scott
6 (5)-0116ANOTHER BERTIE 19 (P,D) D Shaw 8-13
F McManoman (3)
7 (6)00-0BY MOONLIGHT 47 (P) M Herrington 8-4 A Mullen
7-4 Judy's Park, 9-4 Just Another, 5-1 Pulse Of Poppy, 7-1 Another Bertie,
10-1 Tinkerstar, 12-1 Doomsday, 50-1 By Moonlight.Conditional jockey Chester Williams
warmed up for the Cheltenham
Festival with a confidence-boosting
double at Stratford yesterday.
Williams is having his best season,
with 23 winners on the board, and will
bid for a first Festival success on
board Saint Segal in the Boodles
Juvenile Handicap Hurdle today.Course specialists
Cheltenham: Trainers Mrs S Smith, 4 winners
from 12 runners, 33.3%; G Cromwell, 3 from 15,
20%; E Lavelle, 6 from 31, 19.4%; H De
Bromhead, 14 from 77, 18.2%; M Scudamore,
4 from 26, 15.4%; G L Moore, 7 from 46, 15.2%.
Jockeys Mr J J Codd, 3 winners from 14 rides,
21.4%; Rachael Blackmore, 11 from 61, 18%;
P Townend, 10 from 58, 17.2%; Bryony Frost,
6 from 37, 16.2%; Josh Moore, 3 from 19, 15.8%;
R Patrick, 5 from 32, 15.6%.
Newcastle: Trainers C Appleby, 15 from 41,
36.6%; A Balding, 20 from 68, 29.4%.
Jockeys Hollie Doyle, 28 from 127, 22; B A
Curtis, 83 from 434, 19.1%.
Sedgefield: Trainers C Williams, 5 from 13,
38.5%; B Ellison, 29 from 110, 26.4%. Jockeys
J Tudor, 5 from 11, 45.5%; J Bowen, 11 from 26,
42.3%.
Southwell: Trainers A King, 8 from 30, 26.7%;
F O'Brien, 6 from 23, 26.1%. Jockeys
R Clutterbuck, 4 from 9, 44.4%; D Muscutt,
28 from 99, 28.3%.Newcastle
Rob Wright
5.45 Sea Formula 7.15 Sunset And Vine
6.15 Cathayensis 7.45 Spartan Fighter
6.45 Shalaa Asker 8.15 Judy’s Park
Going: standard
Draw: no advantage Sky Sports Racing
5.45 Handicap (3-Y-O: £3,510: 1m 2f) (8)
1 (7)031-NIKHI 185 J O'Keeffe 9-10 J Garritty
2 (8)2-63LOVE MYSTERY 45 A Balding 9-7 J Watson
3 (3)0314-ALPHONSE LE GRANDE 74 (P,BF) E Dunlop 9-6
H Doyle
4 (5)43-6CARNIVAL GIRL 29 (BF) C Appleby 9-6
A Farragher (5)
5 (6)02-2SHOW LIGHTS 29 (B) C Appleby 9-3 J Mitchell
6 (4)0-226SEA FORMULA 18 (P,BF) W Haggas 9-1T Marquand
7 (2)4505-VAYNOR 215 C Hills 9-0 K Shoemark
8 (1)660-0METHINKS 21 R Fell 8-8 R Scott
5-2 Show Lights, 7-2 Love Mystery, 6-1 Sea Formula, 13-2 Vaynor,
7-1 Nikhi, Alphonse Le Grande, 8-1 Carnival Girl, 33-1 Methinks.6.15 Handicap (£3,510: 1m) (9)
1 (5)0-012WAR DEFENDER 14 (T,CD) T Easterby 5-9-7P Dennis
2 (9)1360-END ZONE 105 R Fell 5-9-7 B Curtis
3 (4)4-104DANCE AT NIGHT 12 A Balding 4-9-6 J Watson
4 (2) 13122 COASE 19 (H,D) M Wigham 5-9-6 F Norton
5 (3)3630-ALPINE SIERRA 227 K Dalgleish 4-9-6 C Rodriguez
6 (1)1530-WHATWOULDYOUKNOW 144 N Tinkler 7-9-5
Sophie Clements (7)
7 (6)30-06MOTAWAAFEQ 45 (P,D) M Appleby 6-9-4
A Rawlinson
8 (7) 51434 ABNAA 14 (B,CD) A Brittain 5-9-0 Mark Winn (7)
9 (8)16-21CATHAYENSIS 14 (C) G Tuer 4-8-10
O Stammers (3)
3-1 Coase, 4-1 Cathayensis, 9-2 War Defender, 11-2 End Zone, 7-1 Abnaa,
10-1 Dance At Night, 12-1 Motawaafeq, 16-1 others.
6.45 Handicap (£4,995: 7f) (8)
1 (3)^22325 DUTCH DECOY 20 (CD) C & M Johnston 5-9-9J Fanning
2 (5)/206-FIFTYSHADESOFRED 257 K Frost 4-9-7 J Mitchell
3 (6)^11130 TOMMY TAYLOR 18 (CD) G Tuer 8-9-6O Stammers (3)
4 (7)361-5VERREAUX EAGLE 17 (D) E Dunlop 4-9-5 H Doyle
5 (4)-1444OLD NEWS 12 (B,CD) Mrs L Stubbs 5-9-4T Marquand
6 (8)2-415SHALAA ASKER 12 (T,BF,CD) A Keatley 4-9-1L Edmunds
7 (1)-4036MIGHTY POWER 12 Mrs Stella Barclay 4-8-13
S Donohoe
8 (2)6260-MUTANAASEQ 154 R Carr 7-8-10 P J McDonald
3-1 Verreaux Eagle, 7-2 Old News, 5-1 Shalaa Asker, 6-1 Dutch Decoy,
Tommy Taylor, 13-2 Fiftyshadesofred, 16-1 Mutanaaseq, 20-1 others.7.15 Novice Stakes (£3,942: 7f) (12)
1 (10) 4 WAUD HOUSE 11 H Graham & G Rutherford 5-10-0
P Dennis
2 (4) BOLD RIBB R Varian 3-8-12 J Mitchell
3 (12) DAN DE MAN CAN J Camacho 3-8-12 P Mulrennan
4 (8) DARK ISLAND H Main 3-8-12 J Watson
5 (11) 00-DOUGIES DREAM 144 N Tinkler 3-8-12
F McManoman (3)
6 (9)000-FIGHTING CHANCE 244 S G West 3-8-12 A Elliott
7 (3) 6 JONNY BOXER 24 (P) R Fell 3-8-12 B Curtis
8 (2) MAGURO A Watson 3-8-12 H Doyle
9 (6)0032-MONSIEUR JUMBO 159 K Ryan 3-8-12 K Stott
10 (7)66-PRINCE ACHILLE 147 J O'Keeffe 3-8-12P J McDonald
11 (5)^3 SUNSET AND VINE 24 (H) W Knight 3-8-12C Shepherd
12 (1) 0-CALLSIGN PHOENIX 175 B Haslam 3-8-7 A Mullen
7-4 Monsieur Jumbo, 11-4 Sunset And Vine, 4-1 Maguro, Bold Ribb,
16-1 Jonny Boxer, 25-1 Dan De Man Can, Prince Achille, 50-1 others.Williams warms up
I REMEMBER AN IRISH PRIEST IN HIS DOG COLLAR COMING UP AND BETTING £5,000James Lovell
On-course bookmaker and
chairman of the Welsh
Bookmakers’ AssociationMy father was a
bookmaker before me. I
was brought up with it. I
went to Salford University
and studied business,
economics and gambling.
I knew it was the right
course to be on when I
had my first lecture. We
were told: “It’s Cheltenham
in March. I don’t expect
you lot to be here because
I won’t be here either.”
I thought, “This is the
right course for me”.
People are there having
a good day out and I
always think that
racecourse bookmakers
are part of the show. I
don’t think they get
enough respect for that —
we really add to the colour
and the flavour.
It’s a real pleasure to be
a bookmaker when you’re
winning — not so much onthe losing days. On-course
bookmakers are so reliant
on Cheltenham in terms of
annual profits. It’s huge.
It is very difficult to make
it pay during the winter.
There are high entrance
fees for bookmakers and
not that many racegoers.
But in the summer, you
can have some good days.
The problem is it’s not
an all-year round job like it
used to be. A lot ofbookmakers need to take
another job to support
themselves.
Bookmakers don’t want
small fields with odds-on
favourites — they want
handicaps with lots of
runners. We want
competitive races. Odds-
on chances don’t suit
anyone.
The most I’ve lost in one
bet was £10,000 on
Wichita Lineman, who wasgiven an inspired ride by
AP McCoy. Being a
bookmaker, the most
expensive races are
probably the ones that are
the most enjoyable to
watch. They’re expensive
memories.
Races like that one with
Wichita Lineman, and
when Sprinter Sacre
regained his crown. That
cost me a fortune but
when you think back it
was worth every penny
for the memories. Being a
bookie, you don’t want the
superstars to win
generally — you want
silence from the crowd.
As a youngster, I used to
go to Cheltenham with my
dad and I remember an
Irish priest coming up to
us one day with his dog-
collar on. He said he’d like
five on No 1. You’d think
he meant £5 but he pulled
out £5,000!
He didn’t get any help
from above, though — the
horse lost.W w r c w wfo
The most enjoyable races can be the most expensiveThe Cheltenham
Festival is the
pinnacle of
the National
Hunt seasonTIMES PHOTOGRAPHER MARC ASPLAND