Cheltenham Festival previews and quotes from connections for Wednesday including Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase

Cheltenham Festival - Wednesday March 11

• 1.30 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f £125,000
• 2.10 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y £175,000
• 2.50 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 5f £100,000
• 3.30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 99y £400,000
• 4.10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f 37y £65,000
• 4.50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 87y £80,000
• 5.30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 87y £75,000

1.30 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

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Gordon Elliott - Envoi Allen

"There's always more pressure when you go to Cheltenham with the likes of him. We think he's very good, and he never does any more than what he has to - even working him, if he worked with a 95-rated horse he'd only just beat him. I don't think he's a hype horse. He's won three Grade Ones and he's done it himself.

"He's a very classy horse, the way he jumps and the way he travels. Nothing fazes him too much. I'm a realist and I know every horse is going to get beat at some stage. Hopefully, it won't be Wednesday for him."

Willie Mullins - The Big Getaway

"I was delighted with him the last day - he's coming along nicely. To look at him you'd think it's all about going chasing with him next year, but I hope he'll run well in Cheltenham.

"It's probably the hottest novice race of the week. I would have liked to have got more experience into him, but he's a good jumper and he's done lots of schooling. I won't be shying away from taking him (Envoi Allen) on."

Joe Tizzard - The Big Breakaway and Getaway Fred

"We have got some lovely novices this season, and this one is very exciting. He has got a lot of ability and raw talent. The lack of experience is always in the back of our minds, but he has not shown any signs of inexperience in his races so far.

"He has had his point-to-point and two hurdle runs. Everything he does at home is straightforward and he is straightforward in his races. He settles and jumps well. This horse could end up anywhere in the future - and everyone has seen that for themselves, not just because we have hyped him up.

"He is very relaxed and jumps for fun. Robbie Power is in love with him, and so are we. This horse has just looked a bit special - and he could well be.

"Getaway Fred is the outsider of the lot, but I don't think he should be that sort of price. He nearly won with a penalty and two and a half will bring out an improvement in him."

Philip Hobbs - Sporting John

"Ascot was impressive, and the form of his first race at Exeter has worked out very well, so at the moment the sky is the limit with him - but it will be much harder on Wednesday, obviously. You'd think the form from Ascot would stack up, but when there are only four runners you don't know for sure.

"We think he's more likely to be more effective over two and a half miles than two miles at this stage."

Entries: Decor Irlandais, Easywork, Envoi Allen, Getaway Fred, Longhouse Poet, Mossy Fen, Shakem Up'arry, Shan Blue, Son Of Camas, Sporting John, The Big Breakaway, The Big Getaway.

2.10 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

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Henry de Bromhead - Minella Indo

"He maybe wasn't as impressive as everybody wanted him to be - but he got the job done, and we're happy with him going there. Maybe ideally I'd like him to have more experience, but if he'd run at Christmas I'm not convinced I'd have run him again anyway. He's well schooled and he's a point-to-point winner, so I'm happy enough."

Willie Mullins - Allaho

"His jumping is a huge asset and I think he stays all day. I'd be telling Paul (Townend) to let him gallop - I don't think we got the tactics right in the Albert Bartlett last year. This year I think we'll let him use his stride and jump and gallop."

Joe Tizzard - Copperhead and Slate House

"We just feel he is a horse on the upgrade, and he is very good around this trip. He has come out of the Ascot race well. If you said at the start of the season he would be shorter than Slate House we would have been shocked - but that is the sort of progression he has made.

"I think he needs to run a career best to be competitive - and he might well do, because he has improved with every run. Between me dad and the owners, hopefully we have made the right decision running in this and not the National Hunt Chase.

"We have also gone for the RSA with Slate House, because we just think if the ground did dry out two and a half in the Marsh it might just get him off his feet on good to soft - seeing as he is a Grade One winner over three miles.

"I think he is too big a price if you forget his last run, because he is the joint-highest rated novice in the country. He had an off day for whatever reason in the Cotswold, and Robbie (Power) looked after and didn't bottom him. He has come out of it well."

Entries: Allaho, Aye Right, Battleoverdoyen, Castlebawn West, Champ, Copperhead, Easy Game, Minella Indo, Pym, Slate House.

2.50 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

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Entries: Kilfenora, Cracking Smart, Eglantine du Seuil, Bachasson, Ballymoy, Franco de Port, Top Moon, Birchdale, Canardier, Coko Beach, Sayo, Stratum, Protektorat, Mister Blue Sky, Black Tears, The Mighty Don, Traffic Fluide, Chesterfield, Alfa Mix, Champagne Well, Dame de Compagnie, Honest Vic, Thosedaysaregone, Golan Fortune, Burrows Edge, Fagan.

3.30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

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Willie Mullins - Chacun Pour Soi

"He's only catching up on experience. He showed us from day one he could be a different class, and the day we schooled him in Leopardstown he really opened my eyes.

"Danny (Mullins) rode him, and I told him to follow the graded horses around, but after two fences he was in front. That was spectacular for a horse for his inexperience, but he's such a natural. It looks a hell of a race - but we've always thought a lot of him, and hopefully he'll run a big race."

Philip Hobbs - Defi Du Seuil

"Chacun Pour Soi, we didn't know he'd be getting to Cheltenham, although he was a worry - particularly having beaten Defi at Punchestown last year. We've had all our three races over two miles, and they've been the right ones, so why not stay at two miles for the time being? We don't mind at all what the ground is like - it's not too much of a problem either way."

Alan King - Sceau Royal

"He is in very good form, and I was delighted with his run in behind Altior in the Game Spirit. I think if anything he has improved again, and he has had a great preparation, but we could have just done with the ground drying up a bit.

"He ran a great race in it last year. We know what we are up against, but he is in the form of his life - and let's hope he can acquit himself well."

Paul Nicholls - Politologue, Dynamite Dollars

"I think Dynamite Dollars and Politologue are dark horses in the Champion Chase. Politologue was just beaten by Defi Du Seuil at Cheltenham in November, giving him weight. He then ran ordinary in the Tingle Creek, and we found out he bled. We have purposely not run him since then, because he is very effective when fresh. I think he's a lively outsider

"Dynamite Dollars had a great season last year as a novice chaser - winning four, including the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown. He was doing really well but unfortunately got hurt when he won at Doncaster, which meant he missed the rest of the season.

"I thought it was a blinding run at Newbury to be beaten three and a half lengths, and he has improved enormously since then. He does not need to improve too much on his Newbury run to be right in the mix."

Tom George - Bun Doran

"He is in good form and has had a good season already - winning the Desert Orchid round Kempton, which wouldn't have suited him at all. Cheltenham will be far more his track, and hopefully he will go there and run into the frame."

Entries: Altior, Bun Doran, Chacun Pour Soi, Defi Du Seuil, Dynamite Dollars, Politologue, Sceau Royal.

4.10 Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

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All eyes will be on Tiger Roll as the dual Grand National hero goes for a third successive win in the Glenfarclas Chase at Cheltenham.

The 10-year-old has been campaigned with this unique cross-country test as the first main objective, before his attempt at an unprecedented hat-trick in the world's greatest steeplechase.

A setback earlier in the season did not interfere too much with his plans for the latter stages of the campaign.

He made a pleasing return to action when fifth to stablemate Cracking Smart in the Grade Two Boyne Hurdle at Navan last month, one which delighted trainer Gordon Elliott.

"I actually thought that, given the ground, he would not run as well as he did, as he had only been back cantering since January 1," said Elliott, whose diminutive gelding is chasing a remarkable fifth Festival triumph.

"I thought he showed a lot of zest and jumped very well. He looked the winner between the third- and second-last, and then got tired. It was great to see him back and running so well."

Looking ahead to the Grand National, Elliott feels the odds are stacked against his stable star, who would be only the second three-time winner of the Aintree spectacular after Red Rum - and first to do it in successive seasons.

"We're very lucky to have a horse like him," said the County Meath handler.

"The odds are against us in the Grand National - going nearly four and a half miles with X amount of fences and X amount of runners, but if we can get him back to Aintree it will be unbelievable.

"The handicapper did his job and couldn't do any more than what he did."

Elliott sees no reason why Tiger Roll cannot return to Cheltenham in 2021.

He added: "If he is one piece, he will stay in training next season and there is no reason why he can't have a go at the cross-country race again.

"He is 10 years of age and Michael O'Leary (owner) is not buying any more horses, so we need to keep as many of them in as we can!"

David Cottin is looking forward to taming on the legend that is Tiger Roll with Easysland.

The six-year-old made an impressive first visit to British shores with victory over the course and distance in December and he has since been bought by leading owner JP McManus.

"Easysland is very well and I have been delighted with his preparation for the Glenfarclas Chase," said the French trainer.

"I could not be happier with him and we are looking forward to taking on Tiger Roll - it promises to be a great race.

"Easysland has already won at Cheltenham, which is important, and we are hopeful of another big performance from him."

McManus also has the classy Yanworth and 2016 winner Josies Orders in the line-up.

The Enda Bolger-trained pair were third and fourth respectively behind Neverushacon at Punchestown. The Jessica Harrington-trained winner also takes his chance.

Emmanuel Clayeux, who trains at Vaumas in central France, sends a three-horse raid with Arlequin D'Allier, Diesel D'Allier and Urgent De Gregaine.

The last two horses were first and second over the course and distance in November.

Might Bite, runner-up in the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup, is an interesting contender for trainer Nicky Henderson as he tries a new discipline after several disappointing runs.

Jamie Snowden believes testing ground conditions leaves Fact Of The Matter facing a tall order in adding to his previous victory over the course.

He said: "He has won over the cross-country fences here before and he loves these kind of races and he ran well to be fifth in the Belgian Grand National earlier in the season.

"It is a shame with all the rain that has fallen, as he really bounces off good ground. The banks race at Punchestown is where we want to end up and this is a step towards it."

Entries: Arlequin d’Allier, Chic Name, Diesel d’Allier, Disco d’Authie, Easyland, Fact Of The Matter, Josies Orders, Kingswell Theatre, Major Destination, Might Bite, Mine Now, Neverushacon, Outlander, Out Sam, Sumkindofking, Tiger Roll, Urgent de Gregaine, Utility, Yanworth.

4.50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

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Entries: Mick Pastor, Aramax, Palladium, Langer Dan, Blacko, Zoffee, Clemencia, Galahad Quest, Saint d’Oroux, Thyme White, Night Edition, Bajan Excell, Fraser Island, Recent Revelations, Sacchoandvenzetti, Group Stage, Gerolamo Cardano, Theatre Of War, Repetitio, Goa Lil, Tronador, Gealach.

5.30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

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Willie Mullins - Appreciate It, Five Bar Brian, Ferny Hollow

"Appreciate It has done everything right in his last two runs, and looks to be going there with a big chance. He's a big chasing type who stays well and has jumped well at home. He has a huge cruising speed, which you need for the bumper in Cheltenham."

David Pipe - Israel Champ and Panic Attack

"Israel Champ has done nothing but improve since joining the team, and his latest effort when giving weight and a beating to his rivals at Ascot is probably the best piece of bumper form on this side of the Irish Sea.

"Our other runner in the race is Panic Attack, who will be making her debut for the stable. She has done nothing but please me since Bryan Drew purchased her and sent her to Pond House. She was very impressive in landing the Listed mares' bumper at Market Rasen on her only start - and as a four-year-old filly, she will get a 15lb allowance from Israel Champ and company, which is a considerable amount."

Entries: Adrimel, Appreciate It, Ask A Honey Bee, Brief Ambition, Can You Call, Eskylane, Ferny Hollow, Five Bar Brian, Good Time Jonny, Israel Champ, Julies Stowaway, Linelee King, Mahler Allstar, One True King, Snowpiercer, Third Time Lucki, Darling Daughter, Queens Brook, The Glancing Queen, Audacity, Let Me Entertain U, Ocean Wind, Panic Attack.

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