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Tanya's Blog - Tuesday 13th March 2012

The Cheltenham Press room is humming the chatter is getting louder and louder to the extent I can’t hear myself think!!! My allotted desk is in amongst the real grafters, the Racing Post journalists and bloggers and to my right is Rupert Bell, it is one of the quieter positions and yet still I’m finding it really noisy!

Rod, Mac and my soundman has just arrived and dispatched all our microphones and battery packs on Mac’s desk, back on air at 12.30 means not much time to get anything done between Morning Line and afternoon.

The first day of the Festival is always organised chaos as all try and say hello to friends and colleagues old and new, express their opinions, down gallons of tea and coffee and get the selections sorted.

Alastair Down has just entered the building, he seems calm, all is well! Everywhere you look someone has a microphone or a laptop or a pen and paper. Can’t wait to get out in the betting ring, that’s my domain and where I feel most comfortable.

As for today’s selections, I like Hazy Tom and Distant Memories in the first, Menorah in the Arkle yes I’m the only mug taking on Sprinter Sacre, Magnanimity in the 2.40 and Maljimar in the Cross Country, Terre Du Vent each-way at 4.40 while it is Triolo D’Alene to get out in the last. Have a good one.

William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
It’s been seven years since the last winning favourite
14 of the last 16 winners won last time out
8 of the last nine winners were aged 5 or 6
9 of the last ten had won at least twice that season
Irish challengers have won six of the last ten
Seven of the last 9 winners have had either yellow or gold as part of their silks
Only one of Willie Mullins last twelve runners have won
The last 15 Nicky Henderson runners have all been beaten, but he has had four thirds and three seconds
Barry Geraghty’s last 8 rides all beaten

Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy
Since and including 1998 all horses to have finished in the first three in the Supreme Novices Hurdle who turned up at the Festival the following year have been beaten – Al Ferof & Sprinter Sacre watch out!
Only two winning favourites since 1992 despite that in the last ten years the starting price of the winner has been no bigger than 11-1
Only one front runner has made all since 1980
19 of the last 20 winners had finished first or second on all completed chase starts
21 of the 23 winners finished first or second last time out
30 five-year-olds have run since 1996, four winners, three seconds, three thirds
Only two winners older than seven in the last ten years
Since Azertyuiop won for Paul Nicholls in 2003 his eleven subsequent runners have all been beaten, three were favourites

JLT Speciality H’cap Chase
Only two winning favourites since 1977
Since and including 1999 74 horses have tried to carry 11 stone or more, Bensalem broke the run last year and became the only winner with the burden, and they have achieved five seconds, five thirds and five fourths.
Nine of the last ten winners had finished in the first three on their previous start
Horses aged 11 or older have failed to reach the frame from 36 runners since 1997
Since 2000 only two winners priced bigger than 8-1
Since 2000 only two winners aged ten or older
Six of the last eight winners won on their previous outing
Paul Carberry has ridden the winner twice
Robert Thornton has ridden the winner three times from his last eight rides

Stan James Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
Since See You Then was successful in 1985, 80 five-year-olds have run in the Champion Hurdle only Katchit has won
24 of the last 28 Champion Hurdlers had won last time out
Eight of the last ten won last time out
All of the last ten finished in the first three last time out
14 of the last 18 had won or finished second at the previous Festival
Only three winners older than 8 since 1951
Ireland have won five of the last ten runnings
Seven of the last ten winners of the Champion Hurdle had won previously at Cheltenham

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
All seven winners were trained in Ireland
Enda Bolger has won 15 of the 33 Cross Country Races at Cheltenham
JP McManus has owned four of the last seven winners
Miss Nina Carberry has ridden three winners, a second and a third
Horses aged younger than 8 are 1 from 72 over these fences at Cheltenham