THERE may not be a traditional ‘Cheltenham roar’ as the flag goes down this year at the Festival.
But the show must go on and we have you covered with all the latest must have build-up as the big one edges closer.
Power back on
JOCKEY Robbie Power is back in Britain ahead of Lostintranslation’s Denman Chase bid on Sunday.
Power has been stuck in Ireland after he travelled back home to be with his family in the wake of stricter travel restrictions between Britain and Ireland due to Covid-19.
But with the Festival nearing and the Colin Tizzard team coming back into some form, Power has travelled back from Ireland to Britain for the first time.
Power and Lostintranslation will take on the Paul Nicholls-trained Clan Des Obeaux at Newbury and will be hoping he can get back on track after two no-shows in the Betfair Chase and King George.
He’s currently a 25-1 shot for the Gold Cup but that will shorten with a big show on Sunday.
Champ back in action
NICKY HENDERSON is praying his ‘crazy’ plan can tee-up Champ for a shot at the Gold Cup.
His star drops to two miles in Sunday’s rearranged Betfair Game Spirit Chase in his first run for close to a year.
And Henderson hopes his horse – named after AP McCoy – is fit enough to do himself justice.
He said: “I first mooted the crazy plan to AP and JP McManus last week, the extra week was always the concern heading to Cheltenham.
“It’s great the BHA and Newbury have managed to get it on, but it does make a difference and it’s why we took Altior out.
“But Champ is absolutely flying at home, his prep has all gone to plan. We took him for two away days and we’ve got him as fit as we can.
Champ won a dramatic renewal of the RSA at last year’s Cheltenham Festival
“We think this is the right thing for the horse.
“The thinking is obviously that if he’s running over two, he’s going to have less of a hard race than over three.”
Champ, a 10-1 shot for the Gold Cup, takes on the Paul Nicholls’ pair of Greaneteen and Magic Saint in the Grade 2.
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