THE RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS TINGLE ALL THE WAY

Graeme Rodway runs the rule over the races in which potential Cheltenham Festival contenders can lay down a marker

THE Cheltenham Festival might be the pinnacle of the sport and its overarching influence on the jumps season cannot be denied. However, for racing purists, there surely is no better time to be a jumps fan than in the run-up to Christmas when every weekend is simply star-studded.

Winter will have arrived and the prospect of safe ground means that even the late-tostart jumps stars will begin to emerge from their summer hibernation. Last season’s novices are ready to step up into open company, and there is no need to worry about Cheltenham just yet.

March is still a while away and this is the time when trainers can get their horses revved up for big targets without the need to think about the spring. Now is when champions lay down a marker, and there were plenty who did just that at this vital stage of last season.

Who could forget Constitution Hill bursting on to the scene with a runaway win in the opener on Tingle Creek day, or Edwardstone thrashing his rivals on the same card? There will be plenty of others who make their mark this year, so let’s focus on how we might find them.

KEY RACES Betfair Chase Haydock, November 19

This race has been a key trial for the King George and Gold Cup since its inception in 2005.

Kauto Star, Imperial Commander, Silviniaco Conti, Cue Card and last year’s winner A Plus Tard have landed 11 of the 17 runnings of the race between them, and all five etched their name on either the King George or Gold Cup at some stage in their illustrious careers.

There have been just nine winners of the 17 runnings, and it is a race that tends to throw up multiple winners. Kauto Star won four, Cue Card three, and we haven’t even mentioned Mr Betfair Chase himself Bristol De Mai, who has dominated the race recently, winning three times.

A touch of speed seems to be key as all of the last ten winners had scored over 2m or 2m1f previously, while all ten had also finished in the first two in Grade 1 company beforehand.

Age hasn’t been a barrier to success, with horses aged six to ten successful in the last ten years, while Kauto Star won aged 11 in 2011.

If A Plus Tard returns at the age of eight, there is a good chance he can become the fifth multiple winner of the race in its relatively short history.

Coral Gold Cup Newbury, November 26

A stern test of jumping and stamina awaits in what, for many, is the best handicap chase of the season – and it has a roll of honour to match. Mandarin, Mill House, Arkle,

One Man and Denman are just a few of the illustrious names to have left their mark on this winter feature.

It is six years since it was last won by a Gold Cup winner in the shape of Native River, and the race appears to have become more of a trial for the Grand National than the Gold Cup of late.

Stamina is the key to finding the winner, and nine of the last ten had all won over at least 2m7½f, while the one who hadn’t was subsequent Grand National winner Many Clouds.

Nine of the last ten winners were also aged between six and eight, so up-and-coming chasers tend to dominate, while sound jumping is important, as backers of

Remastered found out last year. He might have become another eight-year-old winner but for coming down four out.

Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle Newcastle, November 26

The only Grade 1 hurdle of the season in Britain before Christmas is where Nicky Henderson often unleashes his big guns. My Tent Or Yours, Buveur D’Air (twice) and Epatante (twice) won it on their seasonal returns, so could this be when we get our first glimpse of Constitution Hill this season?

He fits the profile of most recent winners. Nine of the last 11 were aged five to seven, and four had won at that year’s Cheltenham Festival. This therefore looks an ideal starting point.

Comedy Of Errors, Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon and more recently Buveur D’Air are among those who went on to subsequent Champion Hurdle success, and Constitution Hill has the potential to be at least as good as them. If he kicks off here let’s hope he does so with a win.

Betfair Tingle Creek Chase

Sandown, December 3 The biggest test for two-mile chasers in Britain comes just a few weeks before Christmas in the shape of this Grade 1, and it is just as stern an

examination as the Champion Chase itself.

The ability to jump and travel at speed is crucial as the runners are quickly into two fences, including an open ditch, before facing a tricky downhill fence on the run to Sandown’s famous line of seven in the back straight, which include the three quickfire Railway fences.

Nine of the last ten winners had won a Graded chase over two miles and young, up-andcoming chasers have a good record, with eight of the last ten winners being no older than eight.

Four of the last ten winners went on to land the Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

Long Walk Hurdle

Ascot, December 17

The sole Grade 1 of the season for staying hurdlers in Britain before Christmas has often been a race where stars have announced themselves. Thistlecrack and Paisley Park both revealed the full extent of their ability by winning this and both went on to Stayers’ Hurdle success.

However, this is a race that is ignored by Irish trainers, and four of the last six Stayers’ Hurdle winners came from

Ireland. The Long Walk, therefore, isn’t the trial it once was for that event.

Last year Champ (right) became the first horse this century to win the Long Walk on his reappearance, so fitness and a proven ability to stay the trip – nine of the last ten winners had already won a Graded hurdle over 3m – are the key attributes when searching for the winner.