Saturday, January 28, 2017
Please click here to access the media guide in full as a PDF document
Introduction
Festival Trials Day on Saturday, January 28, 2017, sees a terrific nine-race programme boosted by the addition of the Grade One Clarence House Chase (1.45pm, 2m 62y), now sponsored by Spectra Group, from last Saturday's abandoned Ascot card and the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (2.50pm, 3m 6f 37y), rescheduled following its abandonment at The Open in November due to the lack of rain.
The Spectra - Cyber Security Solutions Clarence House Chase, re-opened for entries until noon on Tuesday, January 24 and worth £70,000, has been staged twice before at Cheltenham, in 2013 when Sprinter Sacre was successful and in 2005 when it was a G2 handicap chase and Well Chief defied top-weight.
The £100,000 Grade Two BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase (2.15pm, 3m 1f 56y) remains at the heart of Festival Trials Day and this year's renewal is set to include Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite, unbeaten novice chaser Thistlecrack, and the last two winners, Smad Place and Many Clouds.
Top-quality staying hurdle action is provided by the £60,000 G2 galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle (4.00pm, 2m 7f 213y) which Thistlecrack won in 2016 prior to his G1 Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle romp at The Festival.
This media guide contains previous results for all races on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham, dating back to at least 1990 or when they were instituted. Underneath each race result is a list of successful horses on the day who went on to win at The Festival in the same season. There are detailed statistics for the BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase, which often provides valuable pointers towards the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup at The Festival in March. The most successful trainers and jockeys on Festival Trials Day are also highlighted.
Festival Trials Day is the final Cheltenham raceday before The Festival - Tuessay, March 14 to Friday, March 17.
Accompanied children, aged under 18, are admitted FREE on Festival Trials Day, when gates open at 10am.
Festival Trials Day - Order of Running, Saturday, January 28, 2017
Order of Running
Time Race Distance Prize Money
12.00pm JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (Grade 2) 2m 179y £30,000
12.35pm Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase 2m 4f 166y £25,000
1.10pm Hugo's Restaurant Barbados Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 4f 166y £60,000
1.45pm Spectra - Cyber Security Solutions Clarence House Chase (Grade 1) 2m 62y £70,000
2.15pm BetBright Trial Cotswold Chase (Grade 2) 3m 1f 56y £100,000
2.50pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase 3m 6f 37y £25,000
3.25pm Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 4f 56y £30,000
4.00pm Galliardhomes.com Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 7f 213y £60,000
4.35pm Steel Plate & Sections Handicap Hurdle 2m 179y £25,000
