Turf Talk Newsletter – 18 February, 2025

Andrew Fortune (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Andrew Fortune has been granted a jockeys license and is free to start race riding again.

However, in the NHA press release that made the announcement it was also stated there would be certain conditions attached, such as not being able to initially ride lighter than 58kg.

He was also issued with a massive R500,000 fine , half of which was suspended for five years, due to contraventions of rules 72.1.26 and 72.1.43 in relation to social media content which could be construed to have discredited horse racing, the NHA and its officials.

The NHA press release is published below:

The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that the Licensing Board met on 14 February 2025 to consider Mr Andrew Fortune’s application for a Jockey Licence and subsequently Mr Fortune appeared before the Licensing Board this morning in this regard. 

 At the meeting, Mr Fortune was informed of outstanding administrative requirements and disciplinary matters that had been identified by the Licensing Board. He subsequently provided documentation in support of his application and signed an Admission of Guilt concerning contraventions of Rules 72.1.26 and 72.1.43 in relation to social media content which could be construed to discredit horse racing, the NHA and its officials. A fine of R500 000 was imposed, of which R250 000 is suspended for a period of five years on condition that he is not found guilty of contravening rules pertaining to his conduct during this period. 

Consequently, after careful consideration, the Licensing Board granted Mr Fortune a Jockey licence, with immediate effect, with certain conditions that were put in place.  These conditions include that Mr Fortune be initially restricted to a minimum riding weight of 58kg, that he is restricted to riding in Southern Africa under the Rules of the NHA until 31 July 2026 and that his future professional conduct would be closely monitored. 

Licensing Board

The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa

Fortune has always been admired for his exceptional riding ability and before his famous comeback in 2008 he reportedly had about 20 Gr 1 wins.

However, he was said in his younger days to enjoy “the high life” and this saw him in hot water with the stipendiary stewards on a regular basis. This culminated in him being “banned indefinitely from race riding” in November 2002 after, not for the first time, failing to pitch up for a meeting. This particular meeting was at Scottsville and he had a full book of rides.

However, he was soon allowed to ride again, but was in and out of trouble, including testing positive for cocaine in 2004.

However, Fortune’s road to recovery began when he eventually admitted to the NHA that he had developed a drug addiction problem.

The brave path to true recovery then began.

He has been “clean” since 27 March, 2007.

Fortune became a symbol of hope and courage as the low moments in his life, and vivid descriptions of how low those moments were, became public knowledge.

He first won admiration for just making it back into the saddle in February 2008 and riding regular winners.

However, it turned into one of the all time great South African sporting fairytales, because the following season, despite being a heavyweight jockey who battled with his weight, not to mention being a recovering drug addict, he won the 2008/2009 South African jockeys championship.

Fortune was also much loved for his quick wit and sense of humour, a true entertainer.

He was also an inspiration to many others of all walks of life who required rehabilitation.

Those who find it insulting to Fortune that an article such as this one can refer to him as a recovering drug addict, he wants to be known precisely as that so he can serve as an inspiration to others who have fallen into a downward spiral and to serve as proof that recovery is possible.

He had a continual battle with his weight after becoming champion jockey and reportedly had knee problems too.

His last ride was on July 1, 2017.

He later became assistant to his wife Ashley when she took out her trainers licence and began training in early 2018. The couple had considerable success, including training Princess Calla to Gr 1 glory, before they packed it in in mid 2023 and took on a new role at a spelling facility in Australia.

Although Andrew’s life has swung full circle he does still have a tendency to attract controversy, or at least he did so while working as a “stable employee” for Ashley.

The below inquiry relates to some of the trouble he attracted during that period.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE INQUIRY 

He is also outspoken and that can get him into trouble on occasion too.

The R500,000 fine he has been handed is said to relate to a letter he wrote to the Sporting Post in which he he admitted to certain shenanigans:

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LETTER 

Fortune had his first interview after being granted his license with Joao De Mato.

He said in the interview the meeting he had with the NHA had been a very good one and he bore no grudges, in fact to the contrary he said he would have done the same had he been in their shoes.

“They done what they had to do,” he said.

He also spoke of making an audacious attempt to become champion jockey again despite being 57 years of age.

He also spoke of wanting to change his attitude and seems determined to stay out of trouble for the next chapter in his colourful life.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW

Steven Chetty at the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July draw (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Steven Chetty was relieved his Tony Peter-trained Duke Of Marmalade homebred gelding Son Of Raj was back in the winner’s enclosure after Saturday’s running of the Gr 3 Betway London News Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein Standside, some 680 days after his previous win in the Gr 1 SA Derby.He said, “It was so good to finally get the boy bouncing back to his winning form! I had my doubts because it was soft going and he has not performed in the soft before, so it was a pleasant surprise when he romped home convincingly.”

Steven believes the six week break he gave Son Of Raj at Winnie Fourie’s Grace Stables in Nottingham Road did him a world of good.

He said, “I think he needed it. He had a bit of a hard campaign as a three-year-old and then he went into his four-year-old seaon and was going flat. He has come back rejuvenated, thanks to Winnie, who did some physio work on him as well.”

He continued, “He’s pulled up well from Saturday’s race. I’m glad that the Peters’ have got a huge backing. There’s a lot of people around there that check the horses and make sure everything is 100%. He’s in good hands in terms of making sure that he’s in a good space. And he’s definitely in a good space. It is showing in the races and he’s got his three-year-old turn of foot. It seems to have come back to him.”

Son Of Raj was not given a merit rating increase and remains on 119, the same figure he ran off in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

However, the connections are going to take it one step at a time before thinking of the July, although a third run for Son Of Raj in that iconic race would be massive for Durbanite Steven.

The Premier’s Champions Challenge will be the immediate focus, a Gr 1 weight for age event over 2000m at Turffontein Standside on March 29.

Son Of Raj is named after Steven’s late biological father, whilst his useful full-brother Arumugam was named after the father who helped bring him up.

This family has a lot of exciting prospects in store.

Steven let Arumugam go due to rising costs of his increasing racing interests, but the stakes-winning six-year-old gelding remains competitive in the Fritz Roux yard and will always be close to Steven’s heart.

Son Of Raj and Arumugam’s Black Minnaloushe dam Freudiana, who was a three times-winning half-sister to SA Derby third-placed Rippling Ring, is continuing to produce homebreds for Steven and his close friend and racing partner Murthee Govindsamy.

The latest sibling to race was the Tony Peter-trained Status, a The United States three-year-old colt who ran a promising two length third over 1450m on debut at the Vaal Classic track on December 19.

Steven said, “We have high hopes for him, but he’s still got to put it together on the racetrack. We can’t wait to see him back on the racetrack, although there are some niggly issues with him currently, which Tony and his team are working with. You can’t rush good horses, especially these classic horses.”

The United States, like Duke Of Marmalade, is a classic/stamina horse.

Steven said, “I like to breed these stamina horses, because obviously the biggest races are over ground. It takes a lot of patience, but I’m long in the game and I understand. You’ve got to be patient for the bigger rewards to come. Sprinters, you can get them running as two-year-olds, but these classic horses, you’ve obviously got to wait until they are three-year-olds or late three-year-olds and hopefully all goes well in that time. Eish, thoroughbreds …. the smallest thing can go wrong with them and it just puts them off.”

Freudiana has a foal at foot by Jet Dark, which Steven is also excited about. Freudiana is also in foal to Jet Dark and her daughter, an unplaced maiden by Futura called Meldiva Gold, is also in foal to Jet Dark.

He said, “We’re fortunate Kevin Sommerville from Drakenstein Stud was very generous and helpful in allowing us the services of Jet Dark, because it’s very hard to get a service from him.”

He continued, “The foal colt looks stunning. He’s got very distinctive markings on his head and he oozes quality. Eugene Freeman … our two mares are standing at his Boland Stud … says the baby looks just like his father. Eugene is very impressed with what he sees and Eugene is a top horseman … even when Son Of Raj was born, he said this boy looks very special and he was spot on.”

Steven’s mating are not done by chance.

He said, “When you do the investigations and go through it there is something that just catches your attention and you write it in your diary or your black book.”

“You want to keep track of some of these distinct horses you feel that you would like to breed with, especially if they are still running and you know they’re going to go to stud sometime in the future. You watch their style of running, their finish, and their temperament and you know the type of mares you have. So you could say for example, I want a horse with this type of finish … you know many years back if you look at that horse Flaming Rock … if he had been a colt and was around now I would be standing in the queue waiting with my mares for him … his turn of foot was phenomenal.”

It is thus not surprising Steven loves Jet Dark as he had a phenomenal finishing burst himself.

Steven continued, “You obviously want stallions with good temperaments. Racing is difficult, the horses come to the racecourse, they are sweaty, and they go to the starting stall, they’re all excited and half of their energy is already gone. You don’t want that in a stallion as well. However, there are some good stallions out there who had all the bad traits and they still went and performed very well.”

It is exciting times for Steven and Murthee.

Steven owns Son Of Raj on his own though and he is the member of the family who is setting the standard.

Parisian Walkway winning the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas by 0,40 lengths from the 109-rated Greaterix. Parisian Walkway was raised to 121 and Greaterix to 120 after the 101-rated Bacchus, who was beaten 9,75 lengths, was used as the line horse. (JC Photos).

NHA Press Release

The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that an independent Merit Rating Appeal panel consisting of Messrs G Soma, K Miedema and J Vermaak met virtually on 18 February 2025.  The panel considered a Merit Rating Appeal lodged by Trainer Mr A Laird against the published adjusted merit rating of PARISIAN WALKWAY (an increase of 20 points) and ARISTOTLE (an increase of 19 points) following Race 7, The Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein Racecourse on 1 February 2025.

The Merit Rating Appeal Panel is tasked with evaluating whether the handicapper has acted reasonably in selecting the line horse when deciding a horse’s merit rating. If the panel finds the choice to be unjustified, it may recommend an adjustment to ensure fairness and consistency within the handicapping system.

In this matter, the Merit Rating Appeal Panel believed BACCHUS, which was the line horse selected by the Handicappers to assess this race, to be the most appropriate choice.

Consequently, the Merit Rating Appeal was dismissed, and the published adjusted merit ratings of PARISIAN WALKWAY and ARISTOTLE remain unaltered.

The Appeal Panel decided that the deposit fee in relation to the Appeal be refunded.

Ryan Moore (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Mike Moon (The Citizen)

Briton Ryan Moore, rated by many the best jockey in the world, has emphasised the importance of the racing world “pulling in the same direction” after signing up as ambassador for World Pool in 2025.

World Pool offers the globe’s largest commingled horse racing pools and was started by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, taking advantage of its state-of-the-art betting platforms to allow punters in 28 countries to bet on the world’s biggest fixtures, starting with Royal Ascot in the UK in 2019.

Commingling means much larger aggregate pools, which attract more bettors, create greater liquidity and allow far more stable approximate dividends.

South Africa has been part of World Pool for several years, with the likes of the Hollywoodbets Durban July being showcased internationally.

Most recently, the WSB Cape Town Met meeting in late January was part of a Saturday triple header, alongside Dubai’s Jebel Hatta and New Zealand’s Railways Stakes meeting at Elleslie – the latter being the Kiwi debut in World Pool.

This coming weekend features Futurity Stakes Day at Caulfield in Australia, the Saudi Cup at King Abdulziz Racecourse in Saudi Arabia and the Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin – with South Africans (and other) able to bet on all this elite-level racing.

Commenting on Moore’s new role, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the HKJC, said: “Ryan has been at the pinnacle of our sport for many years and it is fitting that a world-class jockey of such international renown and respect is an ambassador for World Pool.

“Not only is Ryan a world-class jockey, he is also a highly intelligent individual who is passionate about racing and its future. He recognises the benefits World Pool provides to racing all over the world and we couldn’t think of a better person to represent the brand.”

‘Blueprint for way racing should be run’

Moore, 41, has ridden more than 200 Group 1 winners around the world, has been UK champion four times and Longines World’s Best Jockey four times. He is stable jockey to Aidan O’Brien’s all-conquering Ballydoyle operation, so will be in action at many World Pool events this year.

Moore said: “World Pool has been such an important addition to the entire racing industry over the past few years…

“I’ve always said Hong Kong is the blueprint for the way horseracing should be run, and World Pool is helping to amplify the very best racing on a global stage… It’s important that the racing world starts to work together, and to have everyone pulling in the same direction. If we’re speaking with one voice and trying to achieve the same goals it will really help the whole sport to prosper.”

Meanwhile, Moore is among a handful of British, Irish and Australian jockeys granted short-term licences to ride in Hong Kong in the next few weeks – to fill in for four leading local riders injured in recent racetrack spills.

British husband and wife team Tom Marquand and Hollie Doyle both rode winners at Sha Tin at the weekend.

Richard Kingscote and Declan McDonogh will also be in action from this week.

Charming Steed has been tipped to win the fourth race (HKJC)

Tim Carroll (At The Races)

The Consensus Cup headlines at Happy Valley on Wednesday where Tim nominates his three best bets.

This Wednesday sees a competitive nine-race card from Happy Valley getting underway at 10.40am. The feature of the meeting is race 6, the Class 3 Consensus Cup (Handicap), over nine furlongs, offering prize-money in excess £205,000.

Now onto this week’s selections.

Race 1: Class 5 Tsing Yi Handicap (10.35am) (6 furlongs)

4 STERLING WONGCHOY will need to be taken on trust having been unplaced last time when favourite with no excuses, although the rider the report afterwards he was still a tad immature. The selection is yet to break his duck in eleven goes, but he was only beaten a nose when runner-up over this trip last month to a winning favourite at Sha Tin with the first two well clear of the others, and a repeat of that performance would see him go very close here.

Dangers:
5 Talents Supremo has just one win from thirty-one starts but drops down to this level for the first time having run well enough in defeat his last two when fourth on both occasions.
10 Hoss hasn’t won for a long time, but he continues to drop down the handicap & this will be the first time he’s gone around at this level at Happy Valley, but he’ll need some luck as they usually ride him cold.
12 Beau Gosse is a twenty-five-start maiden, but he drops to a lowly mark of 20 having placed down the straight course at Sha Tin last time, and he’s a pacey type drawn on the inside.

Race 2: Class 4 Kwai Chung Handicap (11.05am) (6 furlongs)

1 GOLDEN LUCK finished one spot behind Golden Friendship over course & trip last time when fifth, but with a claimer going on, he now meets that rival on 8lb better terms. Although he is a pace runner, he was given a very aggressive ride that night after a slightly tardy start and whilst not a luckless loser by any stretch, the run was a tad better than what the bare figures suggest. As mentioned, a claimer goes on, meaning he effectively run a slightly lower mark than when he won here earlier in the season, and comes out of a race that has already thrown up a couple of subsequent winners.

Dangers:
2 Perfect General, who won over course & trip on his season return and just his second career start, looks to have some ability but is a work in progress having not helped himself by over racing in two subsequent starts, but loos a big player, especially if putting it all together.
12 Tactical Command is yet to win at this level, but he arrives off a solid effort when picking up the bronze at Sha Tin last time, he placed twice over course & trip earlier in the season from this very mark and is in receipt of 5lb-16lbs from his rivals.
7 Golden Friendship was unwanted in the betting on debut last month but ran with a bit of promise when fourth over course & trip, he’s entitled to improve for that, and the form from the race has a nice shape with both the second & third winning at their next starts.

Race 3: Class 4 Kwai Chung Handicap (11.35am) (6 furlongs)

2 FORTUNE WHISKEY has found some form since joining the David Eustace yard, winning two of his last three over course & trip, including last time out, for which he has been penalised 7lb. He may have only won by three-quarters of a length that night, but it wasn’t so much the margin of victory but the way it was achieved, coming widest of all from near last to win running away. He does have more on his plate now that he goes from toward the top of the handicap, but he still looks to be progressing and although winning rider Matthew Poon misses the ride, Tom Marquand is a very able replacement.

Dangers:
3 Lucky Archangel hasn’t been seen in the winner’s circle since June of last year, but he has been plying his trade at Class 3 level and will enjoy dropping in grade having won from a similar mark when last seen at this level in October 2023.
1 Power Koepp doesn’t do a lot of winning, but he takes a drop in grade having placed in a Class 3 last time, and will find this more to his liking, but he will have to carry 16lb more at this level.
4 Motoman, who broke his duck over course & trip in January, was placed here last time from this mark, and whilst he will need to run a career best to take this, the race does map for him to grab a nice trail behind the leaders.

Race 4: Class 4 Rotary Centenary Challenge Cup (Handicap) (12.05pm) (1 mile)

8 CHARMING STEED is a 7yo that has recorded just the four wins, but three of those have come at his last six starts. He lands here having won in good style over nine-furlongs last time and although that was on the dirt, he is equally effective on turf having won over course & trip on his final start of last season. He does go up 7lb for his latest success, but connections have offset the penalty by booking 7lb claimer Ellis Wong, who has won on him before. The selection was having his first start of the year last time, so he could strip fitter here, and he’s perfectly draw in 1 given they like to punch forward.

Dangers:
10 Youth Power is a twice winner over the mile this season and although now 6lb higher in the handicap than the latest of those wins in December, he wasn’t beaten far off this mark last time despite an awfully tough trip planted wide without cover, & this should set up more favourably from the low draw.
4 Smart Fighter was a tad underwhelming when unplaced last time with no apparent excuses, but he had won his previous two over six furlongs, and he may enjoy stepping up the mile having placed over this trip at Sha Tin last season.
1 Flying Fortress, who gains the services of Hollie Doyle, has been unplaced all three local starts since arriving from New Zealand having won a maiden on debut, but there was support in the market last time, he takes a drop in grade & on pedigree he should enjoy going over this trip for the first time.

Race 5: Class 4 Tsuen Wan Handicap (12.35pm) (5 furlongs)

5 CHAMPION METHOD won over course & trip in November and can be forgiven an unplaced effort when he scoped poorly post-race at his next start in early December. He then returned from a short break when runner-up to Parents Love, when only beaten half-a-length, and with penalties & rider changes accounted for, he effectively meets that rival on 8lb better terms.  The selection goes up 2lb for that, but he’s still a few pounds below his peak winning mark, Andrea Atzeni, who has been on top for two of his three career victories, sticks solid, and the race maps Kindly from the low draw.

Dangers:
12 Plentiful ius a 5yo that has been progressing nicely with two wins from his last three spins over course & trip and although he dives into deeper water now that he moves up in grade under an 8lb penalty, he won in good style at his most recent start, and he goes from the foot of the handicap with 13lb less to carry at this level.
2 Happy United was placed behind Parents Love last time but he should have all the favours from the inside draw, and he is on 10lb better terms with his rival, which should be enough to turn around a one-length margin.
6 Parents Love arrives in good form having won two of his last four over course & trip including last time when he had a few of these in behind, but a 7lb penalty and a change of rider sees him on 8lb & 10lb worse terms with the second & third (Champion Method & Happy United) respectively.

Race 6: Class 3 Consensus Cup (Handicap) (1.05pm) (9 furlongs)

7 CHARITY GAIN is a low mileage progressive stayer that will be moving up in grade under a 7lb penalty having won over course & trip last time, which was his second success in just seven starts.  He does have more on his plate at this level, and a few of these arrive in good shape. But he’s yet to run poorly the entire campaign, lugging 135lbs at each of his last four starts, and I think connections will be relieved to see him at this level now that he has 18lb less to carry. He came from last to win at this most recent start, and he’s likely to be ridden cold again, but there a strong gallop on offer, and he should be rattling late with the light weight on his back.

Dangers:
5 Star Mac finally broke his local duck (goes up 7lb) at the seventeenth time of asking over course & trip last time, but he has kept some good company, finishing top four in the first two legs of the Classic Series last season & his late closing style has meant he doesn’t always get the breaks when needed, but this race should be run to suit.
8 Fallon bombed his only start on this track in May of last year, and he hasn’t won for over a year, but he can reel off some strong sectionals late when he has a solid gallop to aim at, and he should get that here.
1 Flamingo Trillion goes from the top of the handicap but he takes a drop in grade having not been beaten far in a Class 2 last time, he was a thrice winner over course & trip at the backend of last season, albeit from lower marks, but he will need to get across from a high draw.

Race 7: Class 3 Ma Wan Handicap (1.40pm) (6 furlongs)

5 PRAWNS ELEVEN, who was a thrice winner in the mining town of Kalgoorlie in Australia, recorded his sole local success over this trip at Sha Tin last season, and his profile would suggest he’s a bit of an in and out sort, but he has a few things in his favour here and looks worth an each-way ticket. The selection, who is just 4lb above his winning mark, was beaten less than a length last time when placed behind a progressive type that was winning for the third time. Whilst not devoid of speed, here are several here that like to get on with it, and from the low draw the selection should end up on the rail with a nice tow into the contest just in behind the leaders, and with a clear round, I expect he’ll be there when it matters.

Dangers:
1 Beauty Destiny is in flying form with three wins from his last four, all over course & trip and he does have a favourable draw, but a 7lb penalty means he must give away 3lb-16lb to his rivals, which makes things a bit more challenging.
10 Hayday arrives with a 6lb penalty having won over course & trip last time and although moving up in grade into a stronger contest, he carries 12lb less at this level and he does have a kind draw for a pace runner.
3 Sports Legend, who was a twice course & trip winner last season, has had just the one run since June of last year when unplaced but not beaten far over course & trip in December, and whilst he may need this, he arrives having hacked up in a recent trial, which was run in a quick time.

Race 8: Class 3 Ma Wan Handicap (2.15pm) (6 furlongs)

5 SPICY GOLD completed a course & trip three in October and whilst he has failed to score in three subsequent runs, he was beaten a lip by in one of those and had genuine excuses in the other two. The selection had no luck here in the fourth leg of the IJC in December and again featured heavily in the stewards’ report when beaten just a length here last month. Connections having given him a short break, which often works the oracle with these sprinters, and whilst he’s no leader he does have enough pace to grab a forward spot on the tail of the likely leader (Happy Fat Cat) from the inside draw, with hopefully, the run of the race.

Dangers:
3 A Americ Te Specso probably has more ability than he’s overall record would suggest, but he’s a late closer than needs the rub of the green, something he didn’t get last time when he may have won with a clear round, but he gets a decent gallop to aim at and should go close if he get the breaks when needed.
4 Golden Empire goes up 6lb having won over course & trip last time, and although that was his first success for nearly a year & he moves back up in grade, he has won from higher marks in the past.
1 Eternal Fortune, who was a thrice winner (known as Be Here Now) for Nigel Tinkler, won over course & trip in January when he had the selection a nose behind in second, and the 7lb claim is a big plus, but the draw in 11 looks tricky.

Race 9 Class 3 Kap Shui Man Handicap (2.50pm) (1 mile)

4 AESTHETICISM looks a winner in waiting having run with merit at his last few starts when closing out late. The selection was last seen over this trip two starts back when a late closing fourth in a pace dominated race, finishing a lip behind the subsequent winner, Soliel Fighter, who he now meets on 9lb better terms, and with a few of these in behind. He backed that up with another good effort when runner-up here over slightly further last time. He is a stretch runner, which means he always does need things to fall his way, but there’s a solid enough gallop on offer, which will hopefully ensure he is afforded every opportunity.

Dangers:
1 Soleil Fighter recorded his second course & trip win of the season last time, and that record could easily be three with a tad more luck, but he does go up 7lbs which sees him at the very top of the handicap.
12 Viva Graciousness doesn’t do a lot of winning but he’s a consistent type moving up in grade having been runner-up last time, and although he has more on his plate here, he lurks from the foot of the handicap carrying 18lb less at this level.
8 Devas Twelve bombed his only start here when an unplaced favourite last April, but he’s a twice winner over seven-furlongs at Sha Tin during the current campaign and is one to keep on the safe side.

WEDNESDAY’S PLACEPOT

Today’s Tote Place Pot will be races 4 through to 9. All up we will be playing 108 combinations (3x3x3x2x2x1), which will cost £10.80 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck

LEG 1- 4 SMART FIGHTER 8 CHARMING STEED 10 YOUTH POWER

LEG 2- 2 HAPPY UNITED 5 CHAMPION METHOD 12 PLENTIFUL

LEG 3- 5 STAR MAC 7 CHARITTY GAIN 8 FALLON

LEG 3- 1 BEAUTY DESTINY 5 PRAWNS ELEVEN

LEG 5- 3 A AMERIC TE SPECSO 5 SPICY GOLD

LEG 6- 4 AESTHETICISM

TIM’S BEST BETS (scale 1-5 points)
11.35am HAPPY VALLEY

3pts FORTUNE WHISKY

1.40pm HAPPY VALLEY

2pts each-way PRAWNS ELEVEN

2.50pm HAPPY VALLEY

2pts AESTHETICISM

Picture: Ballyburn has won six out of his eight starts over hurdles.

Racing TV

Harry Allwood pinpoints Willie Mullins’ best chances at this year’s Cheltenham Festival plus read what the Closutton maestro has to say about each contender.

How many winners will Willie Mullins train at this year’s Cheltenham Festival?

Ballyburn (7-4), Fact To File (6-4), Final Demand (7-4), Galopin Des Champs (1-2), Kopek Des Bordes (4-5) and Majborough (4-7) are all red-hot favourites for their respective races in the ante-post markets for the four-day bonanza as the most successful trainer in Cheltenham Festival history bids to add to his tally of 103 Festival winners.

The Closutton maestro also has a whole host of strong contenders for the handicaps, as well as a number of second strings (on paper, at least) that are prominent in the betting, so could the serial Irish champion trainer equal or even break his record of ten Cheltenham Festival winners in the same week?

Mullins was just one short of equaling that feat, which he achieved in 2022, last year.

Below are his ten leading contenders for this year’s Cheltenham Festival plus quotes from Mullins about their credentials. To read what Mullins has to say about the rest of his team, click here.

And for what it’s worth, I’m going to guess Mullins will train seven winners at this year’s Cheltenham Festival!

The quotes below are from the media day, hosted by The Jockey Club, that Racing TV attended on February 5. Quotes will be updated once we have further updates from Mullins on his leading contenders.

BALLYBURN
Race: Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
Overview: Scored three times at Grade One level as a novice hurdler last season, which included a stunning performance at the Cheltenham Festival. Looked a potential star over fences when successful on his chasing debut and while he was no match for Sir Gino at Kempton next time out, he relished the step back up in trip when landing the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at the DRF. This talented seven-year-old could have even more to offer over three miles, and has always been held in high regard by the Willie Mullins team.
Trainer comments: I am pleased with how he came out on his last race, very pleased. And I think it would take a bit from Paul to get off him. He needs to settle a little bit now, but I think that experience was good for him. We’ll be settling him at home here, but I think with the size of the Cheltenham fences and everything, I hope it will be fine.

FACT TO FILE
Race: Ryanair Chase or Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Overview: Finished second in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in 2023 and was sent straight over fences the following season where he created a big impression with three impressive victories. Oozed class when winning the Brown Advisory at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, and looked set to develop into a leading Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup contender this season after winning the John Durkan. Has been put in his place by Galopin Des Champs on his past two starts, though, and those efforts would suggest the Ryanair Chase (which he’s a best-priced 6-4 for) may be the most suitable option.
Trainer comments: He’s a very good jumper and maybe we could make more use of his jumping, but they’re all things that have to be worked out and we’ll look at other opportunities for him. The Ryanair hasn’t been touched on since the race. I’m not sure the tactics the other day showed him in the best light.

FINAL DEMAND
Race: Turners Novices’ Hurdle.
Overview: Won his sole point-to-point and quickly made a big impression under rules by effortlessly landing a maiden hurdle at Limerick on his first start for Willie Mullins. He again impressed when claiming Grade One glory at the Dublin Racing Festival and is ante-post favourite for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle. Willie and Patrick Mullins have been quite vocal about his chances in recent weeks, and this ultra-exciting prospect is likely to prove hard to beat at the Cheltenham Festival.
Trainer comments: He has only had two runs and I think 2m5f on that track in Cheltenham in the Turners will suit him. He looks a real chaser and must be about 17’2hh – he is built as strong as any horse I’ve had. He is probably more like Florida Pearl as he’s just so strong through the body whereas Galopin Des Champs is more evenly balanced through the body. He is a big unit. We go novice chasing next year.

GAELIC WARRIOR
Race: BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase or Ryanair Chase.
Overview: Has his quirks, but there’s no doubting he is a high-class performer, and he showcased his talents in style in the Guinness Faugheen Novice Chase and the My Pension Expert Arkle last season. Things haven’t quite gone to plan this season, and he stayed on having looked set to be well beaten to finish third in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase (2m1f) when last seen. Willie Mullins is now considering the Ryanair Chase over the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Gaelic Warrior is available at a similar price (6-1) for both contests.
Trainer comments: I was just disappointed with Gaelic Warrior on Sunday (at the Dublin Racing Festival), disappointed in the overall context but I thought he looked to be going so average about the fifth last and it looked to everyone like Paul might pull him up.
Paul actually said the same to me that he was going to pull him up and then he just seemed to get his second wind and stayed on well, so the Ryanair comes into the equation now after that.
It could just be a bit too fast going down the back side for him (at Leopardstown), but I’m just wondering has he some other issue, which I’m trying to look into at the moment. I’ve a few things I want to look into and I want to check him before I say any more.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS
Race: Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Overview: One of the all-time greats? It is hard to argue against that now, and the dual Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup winner is surely going to take all the beating when he bids for a third win in Jump racing’s blue riband contest. He looked better than ever in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup and the Savills Chase on his past two starts suggests, and will no doubt scare a few potential rivals away in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. It is hard to find any negatives for him, which his ante-post odds of 1-2 suggests. He may go off even shorter should Willie Mullins fire in multiple winners ahead of day four.
Trainer comments: For me his performance the other day in the Irish Gold Cup was very good, although I thought Christmas was better. At Leopardstown, Paul got to the front and then he very steadily, I think, just slowed it down. We’re not worried if someone wants to take him on, that’s fine.
Paul can ride him anywhere he wants and he has complete faith in the horse – as he always said to me this horse gallops and jumps.
In his first Gold Cup, I wouldn’t let him do that. I wanted him held up and I didn’t want them to get him into a race because at that time he was very free and he was keen but he learned a lot from that and now he’s very malleable for the want of a better word – you can put him anywhere in a race and he settles. Paul is able to ride him wherever he wants.
The Gold Cup is five weeks on Friday and I’d really love another week. He has got tremendous owners, Greg and Audrey Turley, and, you know, they really appreciate it and they’re living it and enjoying it. I mean, to us, here, it’s unbelievable that we have a horse that’s going for a third Gold Cup win and could be in in the Best Mate and Arkle category.
It’s a huge honour to be just involved with a horse like this and we just hope the dream keeps stays alive. We’ve got as I said five plus weeks for that that day to come. If you think it’s going to happen, it probably won’t, so I’m going to the opposite direction, you know! I’m just living the dream every morning I get up.
I think of my father when he was training Dawn Run and the defending champion Gaye Brief got injured ahead of the Champion Hurdle. Now, when I’m in his position – every morning I wake up and hope I don’t get a bad report about any of the horses and I’m also not wishing bad luck on my competitors, because I know what it’s like.
It’s a once-in-a-in-a-lifetime job, isn’t it? I mean, Arkle, Best Mate, hopefully this horse, if he can do that. You know, there were many years between the first two – 1966 to 2004 – so maybe we’re a generation too soon.
Hurricane Fly to us would be very hard to beat and if we ever have one as good as again, I’d be delighted. Galopin Des Champs is is a tremendous horse and you know, he has his own piece of history already, but hopefully there’ll be more to come.

KOPEK DES BORDES
Race: Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Overview: Closutton’s next superstar? Willie Mullins was rather complimentary following his win in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, and it is no surprise to see him odds-on for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Three from three under rules, it is hard to know just how good this youngster is, and the vibes from his connections suggest he is going to prove extremely hard to beat in the Cheltenham Festival opener.
Trainer comments: After what he did the other day, Ted Walsh rang me the following morning and said he hasn’t seen a performance like that since Golden Cygnet, which is huge for someone like Ted to say.
Paul (Townend) got down off the horse after the race and said he ran away with him three times in the race. Most normal horses if they run away with a jockey once, that’s enough, a winning chance gone.
It was a huge performance. We would never ask a horse that question at home. It blew my mind what he did at Leopardstown against a field of of top-class horses.

LOSSIEMOUTH
Race: Unibet Champion Hurdle or Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle.
Overview: A hugely talented mare who won the 2023 JCB Triumph Hurdle and cruised to success in last year’s Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle. The six-year-old was the Unibet Champion Hurdle favourite after her stylish win in the Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle on her return and didn’t appear at her best behind Constitution Hill at Kempton on Boxing Day. A heavy fall at the Dublin Racing Festival was not the ideal prep for the Cheltenham Festival, but the Unibet Champion Hurdle remains the plan, and that has been her target for some time, according to connections.
Trainer comments: It was going to be a hell of a race, I think with Lossiemouth and State Man at Leopardstown [in the Irish Champion Hurdle]. I don’t know what happened to Lossiemouth. There was a flock of seagulls that just took off and maybe that took her eye off because she just pricked her ears straight before the hurdle and then just didn’t get up. It was if she was looking at something ahead of her and she just didn’t get up high enough.
Thankfully she’s good after the race and Danny (Mullins) is good – he was just winded. She was traveling well and when you look at her pedigree, she is bred to, be a mile a quarter horse on the Flat.
I think we’ve been training her to steady her up not to make her go faster. I’d say in a Flat race, she’d beat them all, so she would. I imagine Paul, who has never hidden his admiration for State Man will ride him in the Champion Hurdle, and obviously a lot will happen with the bits of work we do between now and then, see we’ll see how both horses are.
We’re going for the Champion Hurdle with Lossiemouth. We we’ve been training her for this for two years and I don’t think my owner [Rich Ricci] has ever said ‘Let’s think about it’.
I can’t see Paul on anything that has happened up to now getting off State Man. State Man only does what he has to do, he only beats a horse by a length a length and a half. He’s never flashy.

MAJBOROUGH
Race: My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase.
Overview: Willie Mullins hinted last season that Majborough could be his next superstar, and that the youngster was always going to develop into a better chaser, despite winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle last season. Majborough’s chasing debut success was a joy to watch, and while he did not always treat his fences with maximum respect en route to Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase last time out, it certainly didn’t stop his momentum, and he easily defeated a high-class field. The absence of Sir Gino in the Arkle has boosted his chances even further, and he looks a banker on day one.
Trainer comments: He goes for the Arkle. He’s only five and looks a magnificent horse in the making – he does things so naturally. He is a Triumph Hurdle winner and they tend to improve and get further with age.

MAUGHREEN
Race: Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Overview: By Walk In The Park out of a half-sister to Faugheen, she certainly has an eye-catching pedigree, and her two victories hint that she is a potential star. Her victory at Punchestown in January is worth upgrading as she overcame a 378-day absence there, and travelled powerfully throughout. She should have loads more to offer and is vying for favouritism at a general 100-30 for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, a race which Willie Mullins has won five times in the past nine years.
Trainer comments: She put in a huge performance the other day, her first run over hurdles. We thought should we be going for a bumper with her instead?
And then, when we just reflected on how natural she was to jump to all her schooling, we just said ‘Here, take the bull by the horns’ and go for a maiden hurdle and that’s why she’s here now. She’ll go for the mares’ novices’ hurdle. It will be a big ask but she’s a brilliant jumper.

STATE MAN
Race: Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Overview: 11-time Grade One winner who justified short odds to win last year’s Unibet Champion Hurdle, and has proved ultra consistent at the highest level in two-mile hurdles over the past four seasons. Suffered two shock defeats at the start of this season behind Brighterdaysahead, but cruised to victory (after Lossiemouth fell) in the Irish Champion Hurdle, and will no doubt have his each-way supporters in the day two showpiece.
Trainer comments: See Lossiemouth comments.

Who did Willie Mullins overtake to become the leading all time trainer of winners  at the Cheltenham Festival?

The picture is of the subject