THE MORNING LINE FRIDAY MARCH 16th 2012 DAY FOUR CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2012

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RACING POST FRIDAY MARCH 16th
http://turfcall2-racingpost.blogspot.com/2012/03/racing-post-friday-march-16th-2012.html

C4 MORNING LINE bring us a window into the world of horseracing. Through the keyhole the clues are there, but can you spot them? Preview of this afternoons action.

C4  TEAM LIVE FROM 12.30pm FRIDAY MARCH 16th 2012

1.30. JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) for 4yo's over 2m1f winner £56,950

http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=546535&r_date=2012-03-16#raceTabs=sc_

WIN: COUNTRYWIDE FLAME 4 11-0 partner DOUGHIE COSTELLO 4 11-0 handler presenter? trainer John Quinn for Estio Pinnacle Racing. 33-1 from HISAABAAT (IRE)


DARROUN (IRE) 4 11-0 partner D J CASEY

Willie Mullins has this to say about DARROUN partner D J CASEY

"He's a fine big horse we got from France. He won on his second hurdles start after finishing runner-up on his debut. The horse who he ran second to him last time, HISAABAAT went on to win a Grade 1, so the form is good and he's going  there with a big chance. He appreciated the better ground last time and if it is better again today then that should suit him well."   UT DE SIVOLA (FR) 4 11-0 partner P TOWNEND

Willie Mullins says "He won his first two races for us but then had a hold-up before running below his best in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown. He got struck into during that race, which obviously didn't help."

 3rd GRUMETI 4 11-0 partner ROBERT THORNTON how will he shape up to PEARL RUN today? fell

2.05. Vincent 0'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (Class 1) for 5yo+ over 2m1f winner £39,865

WIN ALDERWOOD (IRE) 8 11-1 partner AP McCOY handler presenter? trainer Thomas Mullins (IRE) for John P McManus 20-1 from EDGARDO SOL 25-1

2.40. Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle ( Grade 1) (Class 1) for 4yo + over 3m

winner £56,950

WIN BRINDISI BREEZE (IRE) 6 11-7 partner CAMPBELL GILLIES handler presenter? trainer Lucinda Russell for Sandy Seymour 7-1 from BOSTON BOB 6-5f

 3.20. Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) for 5yo+ over 3m2f+ winner £284,750

http://www.racingpost.com/horses2/cards/card.sd?race_id=545529&r_date=2012-03-16#raceTabs=sc_

WIN SYNCHRONISED (IRE) 9 11-10 partner AP McCOY handler presenter GABRIELLA GAJOVA trainer Jonjo O'Neill for John P McManus 8-1  from THE GIANT BOLSTER 7 11-10 50-1 and 3rd LONG RUN 7-4f

Nicky Henderson says "LONG RUN (FR) 7 11-10 partner MR SAM WALEY-COHEN. As far as our Gold Cup challenge is concerned the outcome of Newbury's Denman Chase was extremely satisfactory. I know LONG RUN'S win didn't please everyone, but it certainly pleased us. It was a pity we had to run the two but it was the best place to start off BURTONPORT after his tendon injury. LONG RUN did everything right, he just got a little idle on the run-in but then picked up when he heard BURTONPORT coming. Giving BURTON PORT 10lb was no easy task in view of the way BURTON had been working at home. Some here even fancied BURTON PORT to win that day because he's definitely a better horse than he was two years ago. LONG RUN jumped nicely and we think the Cheltenham hill will be to our advantage, as he wasn't too far off KAUTO STAR in the King George. He'll have a session with Yogi Breisner. BURTON PORT has an excellent record over fences."

"BURTON PORT (IRE) 8 11-10 partner BARRY GERAGHTY trainer Nicky Henderson 

BUT how will they manage to cope with the agility of KAUTO STAR who has the spring of a cat ?

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB (IRE)  11 11-10 partner T J CASEY trainer Willie Mullins says " He has dissapointed so far this season but seems to enjoy the lively ground when we exercised him at Leopardstown last weekend and we've decided to let him take his chance on his way back for another tilt at the Grand National. He's been placed on his two previous visits to the festival as a novice hurdler and novice chaser, and if he could finish in the money again we'd be delighted."

 

4.00. Christie's Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup (Class 2) for 5yo+ over 3m2f+ winner £20,986

WIN SALSIFY (IRE) 7 12-0 partner MR C J SWEENEY handler presenter?  trainer Rodger Sweeney for  Mrs J B Sweeney 7-1 from CHAPOTURGEON 3-1f.

BOXER GEORG (IRE) (IRE) 10 12-0 partner MR PW MULLINS trainer Willie Mullins says

"He's ten now and has got stronger and improved by age. He just lost out in the first Fox Hunters' at Aintree last year and that race is again his target. We decided to let him take his chance at the festival after he won at Clonmel last month."