2016 Cheltenham Festival: Who to look out for

Now we cast our eye over the trainers’ aims – who is chasing a maiden victory and who stands to reap rewards?

Seeking first winner

Peter Bowen, David Bridgwater, Brian Ellison, John Ferguson, Alan Fleming, Harry Fry, Micky Hammond, Martin Keighley, Neil King, Kerry Lee, Charlie Longsdon, Fergal O’Brien, Ben Pauling, Nicky Richards, Jeremy Scott, Dan Skelton, Tim Vaughan, Paul Webber, Nick Williams.

The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award

Racing Post Arkle Chase

If Vaniteux lowers the colours of Douvan, Nicky Henderson would become the most successful trainer in the Arkle Chase trophy. He is currently tied with the late Tom Dreaper on five.

Champion Hurdle

National Hunt Chase

Jonjo O’Neill is the leading trainer in the National Hunt Chase, having sent out five winners of the four-mile novices’ chase since 1992. The Gloucestershire-based handler is responsible for this year’s favourite Minella Rocco.

Queen Mother Champion Chase

Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Mullins is going after his ninth success in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.

Ryanair Chase

There have been no Irish-trained winners of the Ryanair Chase.

Cheltenham Gold Cup

Top Irish trainer Mullins holds a strong hand in the Cheltenham Gold Cup as he seeks a first victory. He has trained the runner-up five times, Djakadam (2015), On His Own (2014), Sir Des Champs (2013), Hedgehunter (2006) and Florida Pearl (2000).

Horses

And, finally, which horses are jostling for major racing landmarks?

Queen Mother Champion Chase

Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy try to become only the second horse to regain the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Moscow Flyer completed the feat as an 11-year-old in 2005.

Somersby

French Opera

French Opera, trained by Henderson and owned by Judy Wilson and Martin Landau, could also have his eighth outing at The Festival in the Brown Advisory and Merriebelle Stable Plate.

The 13-year-old has made seven consecutive appearances at the meeting since 2009, headed by places in the 2009 and 2010 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase.

The Giant Bolster

Owned by Simon Hunt and Gary Lambton, the 11-year-old is entered in the meeting’s highlight, the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which he has finished second (2012), third (2014) and fourth (2013), and the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase with 11st 6lb.

Related

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