The opening day’s fields for the Cheltenham Festival are now set. Declarations were made on Sunday morning as Lossiemouth will run in the Champion Hurdle. Willie Mullins’ team are confident in her and many others, as the opening day approaches.
Find out more about the racing news today in the build-up to Cheltenham through our daily round-up.
Cheltenham runners declared with Mullins team bullish
Declarations have been made for the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 10 March. They include Lossiemouth, who will get to run in the Champion Hurdle for the first time this season. The two-time Mares’ Hurdle heroine will face eight rivals. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle attracted a field of 12 for the meeting’s opener, while a clash between Lulamba and Kopek Des Bordes looks especially mouthwatering in the Arkle. (Racing Post)
Those affiliated with Kopek Des Bordes within Willie Mullins’ yard are confident in their once-raced chaser. Plenty of the Closutton team have made the ferry journey over with the horses they look after. Elliot Ohgren, Kopek Des Bordes’ work rider, described himself as “100% confident” in the horse, who faces a strong line-up in the Arkle including Lulamba. Niamh Roche, who rides Lossiemouth, also has faith that the mare “is good enough to win” the Champion Hurdle. (Racing Post)
Cheltenham Festival latest: Birmingham and Benidorm gear up for racegoers
Crowd control measures are set to be in place to control the flow of racegoers taking the train. However, these are not restricted only to Cheltenham; these will be in place at Birmingham New Street station too. The Midlands city is anticipating a significant flow of Cheltenham attendees through its primary station. As such, extra staff will be made available, while a queueing system will also be implemented. (BBC)
In what has become a modern pilgrimage for some, Bendiorm bars are also expecting an influx of Cheltenham viewers. It has been highlighted in recent years that travelling to the Spanish destination is cheaper than attending the Festival itself. Despite there being little difference in the weather forecast in both locations this year, thousands are still likely to journey to “Costa del Cheltenham” in time for Tuesday. (The Sun)
Amateur jockey Sam Lee dead at 27
Amateur jockey Sam Lee passed away over the weekend at the age of just 27. Respects were paid to Lee throughout the weekend’s meetings. His best moment in the saddle arrived at Cheltenham in November 2019 when he guided Golan Fortune to victory in a Listed handicap hurdle. The Injured Jockeys Fund and British Horseracing Authority led the tributes on Saturday, with Cheltenham expected to commemorate him this week. (talkSPORT)