FROM THE PADDOCK:A Cheltenham miscellany
NOEL Meade will keep an eye on the ground before committing Pandorama to a run in Friday’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The eight-year-old has won four of his five starts over fences, but has not been seen in competitive action since winning Leopardstown’s Lexus Chase over Christmas, having suffered a minor setback.
Meade is thrilled with his star turn’s condition but is slightly concerned the going may become too fast at Prestbury Park.
“I certainly wouldn’t want it to be riding quicker than it is at the moment,” said the trainer. “Simon Claisse (clerk of the course) says he will keep watering so hopefully that will keep the ground where it is at the moment.
“Pandorama is such an exciting horse to have, I’d hate to risk him on ground that was against him.
“If it did dry up too much we would have to think about taking him out, but if it’s good to soft I think he’ll run.”
FLASHBACK
THIS day 16 years ago (March 16th, 1995), Master Oats completed an unforgettable double for Kim Bailey and jockey Norman Williamson when taking the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Two days earlier the pair had won the Champion Hurdle with Alderbrook and Master Oats, despite a few jumping errors, was clear before the last and beat the mare Dubacilla by 15 lengths.
Sent off the 100 to 30 favourite, the nine-year-old had already won the Welsh National that season, and went on to finish seventh in the Aintree version.
Al Ferof’s Doyle connection
YESTERDAY’S Supreme winner Al Ferof was formerly trained by Liz Doyle, daughter of the former Minister of State and Fine Gael MEP, Avril Doyle.
The grey was a bumper winner at Fairyhouse for Doyle before being sold to current owner
John Hales, the man whose company manufactures the Teletubbies.
Ruby Walsh is now as low as 2 to 7 with bookmakers to end the festival as leading jockey after his hat-trick on “Ruby Tuesday” at Cheltenham yesterday.
The day-one Cheltenham crowd of 53,318 was up almost five per cent on last year.
There was also a 15 per cent increase in Tote on-course betting to over €2.6 million.
ON TELEVISION
RTÉ 1 television will broadcast live coverage of the first five races at Cheltenham today, with coverage beginning at 1.25pm.
Channel 4 will have the same five races live, though their coverage will begin an hour earlier – at 12.25pm.
All seven races, of course, can be viewed live on Racing UK.
A half-hour highlights programme will begin on RTÉ 2 this evening at 7pm, while Channel 4’s round-up will begin at 12.05am tonight.
BARRY Geraghtyand Robert Thornton both received one-day suspensions in relation to two separate incidents at Cheltenham yesterday.
Geraghty, who partnered eventual runner-up Carole’s Legacy in the Stewart Family Spinal Research Handicap Chase, was suspended for causing interference to winner Bensalem, while Thornton was suspended for one day for using his whip with excessive frequency on Medermit in the Arkle Chase.
