One of horseracing’s most important fixtures is upon us and it could prove a productive week for Welsh participants.
The Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday to Friday this week and the highlight is the final day’s Gold Cup, in which Haiti Couleurs - the best horse trained in Wales - will bid for a famous victory.
He won at last year’s festival before landing the Irish Grand National and has demonstrated his wellbeing this term by powering home in the Coral Welsh Grand Nationa over Christmas. The gelding is trained in Pembrokeshire by Rebecca Curtis, who used to babysit jockey Sean Bowen (the pair are photographed).
Around an 8-1 chance for the Gold Cup, Haiti Couleurs is not the only hope with a Welsh connection in the race as Carmarthen-born Ben Jones partners The Jukebox Man for Harry Redknapp.
Jones has huge faith in his mount, who also struck over the festive period when he prevailed in a thrilling King George VI Chase at Kempton. He is a 4-1 shot and one of a number of chances for Jones, while Bowen, who will be crowned champion jockey again this season, also has a fine book of rides.
Lorcan Williams’ week might not be so busy but on Tuesday he has the opportunity of capturing another Champion Hurdle on the Jeremy Scott trained Golden Ace. The jockey grew up near Tenby and steered the mare to an amazing victory 12 months ago when big guns Constitution Hill and State Man fell.
She is 8-1 to repeat the trick and Williams is full of confidence, while Bowen’s younger brother James should also have claims of breaking his duck at the meeting given his association with leading trainer Nicky Henderson.
Sam Thomas, who won the Gold Cup on Denman in 2008 during his time in the saddle but now trains on the outskirts of Cardiff, has probably assembled his strongest ever team for the week and is another figure who could put Wales on the map.
Thomas Faulkner will not have any runners at Cheltenham but the Monmouthshire trainer did enjoy a winner last week thanks to Fifty Sent, who recorded a comfortable victory under Rob Hornby at Southwell.
Faulkner’s local counterpart Robert Stephens also had reason to smile as Sneaky Blinder emerged on top at Wolverhampton after a disappointing display at Chelmsford previously.
Chepstow ends a big week for the sport by staging a seven-race card that starts at 2.10pm on Sunday. The afternoon has a St Patrick's Day theme and more information for the meeting, including ticket prices, can be found on the race day page of this website.
