The Cheltenham Festival has begun on Tuesday, the 10th of March, amidst fanfare. The festival would last for 4 days and would feature many races every day.
Tuesday begins with the Irish Champion hurdle, which is a two-mile race where horses compete for the prestigious title. Unlike previous years, there is no favourite horse expected to win this year as Espoir D’Allen, the horse that won it last year, died and the winner of the race in 2017 and 2018, Buveur D’Air, would not be appearing due to an injury.
That leaves a vacant spot expected to be filled by any horse, and there are already some expected to take on the crown. Ballyandy, trained by Sam Twiston-Davies and Call-Me-Lord, one of the few horses trained by Nicky Henderson, are favoured to bring the crown home.
Wednesday’s race dubbed the Queen Mother Champion Chase, would not be as eventful this year as the star, Altior, would be missing in action after being lame following a splint injury.
Altior’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, made the announcement on Tuesday morning, saying there had been hoping since Sunday that the horse would recover, but the situation on the morning of Tuesday made it necessary for the horse to be pulled out of the race.
This is the second Henderson’s horse that would not be participating in a race where it is the favorite, after Buveur D’Air in the Irish Champions hurdle. Altior was expected to win the Chase for a record third time consecutively to become the second horse to ever do so. Altior had always had a troubling splint, but it had never affected him to this extent in the past.
Horses are not the only ones not to appear in this year’s race, as even jockeys would be replaced. Champion jockey Ruby Walsh, would not ride in this year’s festival, after retiring last year. Instead, a younger Paul Townend would take his place, and it is obvious he has big shoes to fill.
Written by: Leon Osamor
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