Cheltenham Boylesports Meeting 2008

The Cheltenham Boylesports Meeting gets underway today (Friday) with the feature race being the Boylepoker.com Chase worth £100,000 run over 3 miles and one furlong. It will be interesting to see how Character Building (pictured) runs. He was well fancied for the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup but was withdrawn on the morning of the race. Mon Mome ran well last time.
There is a terrific card on Saturday with the Boylesports International Hurdle worth £200,000 being a Champion Hurdle trial. Already all roads lead to The Festival in March 2009. Binocular is antepost favourite at the moment for the Champion Hurdle and will have to defeat Katchit the reigning Champion tomorrow to maintain that position. At The Festival last March when Captain Cee Bee beat Binocular they covered the course two seconds faster than Katchit did later that afternoon. Tony McCoy rides Binocular tomorrow and he also comes in for the ride on Finger Onthe Pulse in the Boylesports Gold Cup Handicap Chase worth £150,000 run over 2 miles five furlongs. This will be the big betting race of the day. Finger Onthe Pulse is a course and distance winner along with Imperial Commander and Stan. Imperial Commander is a very short price after his impressive win in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase. Both have reliable form with Barbers Shop.
Punchestowns will be a warm favourite for the Relkeel Hurdle worth £45,000 run over 2 miles four furlongs. He looks a live contender for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at The Festival next March. For all the runners and riders with the jockeys colours click on the sporting life.

For all the runners and riders with the jockey's colours go to Paddy Power and click on "Horse Racing".