BHA defends series of false starts at Cheltenham
British Horseracing Authority starter Robbie Supple has defended existing procedures after a series of unsatisfactory starts at the Cheltenham Festival.
Tuesday’s Ultima Handicap Chase required three attempts to get underway while Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase had a standing start, a factor which Nico de Boinville felt had impacted on eventual second and hot favourite Jonbon’s chances.
There was further incident in the very first race on day three when Willie Mullins’ Maughreen whipped around as the runners were sent on their way at the second time of asking, putting paid to her chances.
After finishing second aboard Sixandahalf in the opening Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in which the Maughreen incident occurred, Keith Donoghue said: “I think the starters are trying to stay with the rules that they have when they have seven runners, but with 24 runners there, you’re not going to get them all to walk in in a line.
“I think they have to use their heads sometimes and just drop the flag and let them go when it looks reasonable enough.”
Lawrence Ostlere14 March 2025 08:13
Rachael Blackmore’s ‘magical’ double leads Irish surge on St. Patrick’s Thursday
Rachael Blackmore ended her 2025 Cheltenham Festival drought with a delightful double that kickstarted a green wave of Irish winners on St. Patrick’s Thursday.
Blackmore, the first woman to become leading jockey at the festival with six victories in 2021, had endured a lean opening two days with only last year’s Champion Chase winner, Captain Guinness, giving her hope of victory but even he would ultimately finish third.
And, her day three rides offered little promise of success with the bookmakers offering high odds for all three of Envoi Allen, Air Of Entitlement and Bob Olinger before racing began.
Yet riding the latter two to victory delivered Blackmore more success at this ‘magical’ meeting and helped the Irish trainers to win five of the seven races.
Read Michael Jones’s full Day 3 report from Cheltenham:
Michael Jones at Cheltenham Racecourse 14 March 2025 06:58
Cheltenham Gold Cup Day
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 2025 Festival comes to an end with the biggest race of the week.
Galopin Des Champs will go for history as Paul Townend tries to steer the Willie Mullins steed to a historic third straight Gold Cup triumph.
Stick with us for full live coverage.
Luke Baker14 March 2025 06:51
