Three British point-to-point champions are riding on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, which kicks off this afternoon.
Gina Andrews, her brother Jack and Will Biddick each have rides in the day’s closing race, the Maureen Mullins National Hunt Chase (5.30) for which seven horses go to post. The ten-time women’s champion rides Mr Vango for Sara Bradstock, well-known as a point-to-point trainer but who has taken out a licence following the recent death of her husband Mark.
Jack Andrews takes the ride on Henry’s Friend for trainer Ben Pauling while Biddick has been booked by Anthony Honeyball to ride Kilbeg King.
Eighteen national titles between them . . . Will Biddick and Gina Andrews (Ce)
There are no amateur races on day two, although former British point-to-pointer Royal Infantry has been declared for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper (5.30). A winner at Edgcote last year for Fran Poste, five-year-old Royal Infantry has since won two bumpers for Dan Skelton, although tomorrow’s test is a championship of its type and he faces a stiff task.
Declaratations for Thursday’s Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Chase (5.30) will be known later today, but at the five-day stage Jack Andrews has been booked to ride Pauling’s Bowtogreatness, Gina partners the Chris Gordon-trained Annual Invictus, while Henry Daly has picked Biddick to ride Rapper. Alex Chadwick is jocked up on the James Owen-trained Grozni while Callum Pritchard is set to ride Celebre D’Allen for his bosses, Philip Hobbs and Johnson White. The Andy Irvine-trained Gold Clermont, who is not certain to get a place in the line-up, will be the mount of Josh Newman if running.
Gina and Jack Andrews, revving up for a busy Festival week (Ce)
On Friday one of the highlights of the year for amateur riders, the St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase (4.10), takes place after the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. Premier Magic, the mount of his trainer, Bradley Gibbs, bids to retain the trophy he won last year, while the 2022 winner Billaway is among a strong contingent from Ireland.
Headline photograph: The Jockey Club/Boodles