Ed Chamberlin: Five things to look forward to at the Cheltenham Festival

It was great to get some action on the main ITV channel today. With the early Six Nations game cancelled we were able to show six races from Ayr and Wolverhampton while Luke Harvey was sent to get the latest from Cheltenham.

Thanks to all the authorities that allowed this to happen.

I’m now sat in a deserted press room at Sandown Park, where unfortunately the Imperial Cup meeting was abandoned, to write this copy before attention turns to the biggest week in our sport: the Cheltenham Festival.

Here are five things I’m looking forward to most...

1. Rachael Blackmore

We played out a small tease of Gabriel Clarke’s feature that he did in Ireland with Rachael Blackmore and I’m really excited about playing the whole thing in full after the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday.

For my money Gabriel is the best reporter in sport and he has produced another masterpiece, that’s not just about Rachael but also how hard it has been for women in racing.

However, this week I think we should be celebrating that our sport has this platform for women and men to compete off level terms and Rachael is right up there with the elite.

The feature tells the story of how she grew up on a farm and then graduated from the lowest level, winning point-to-points through to where she is today – firmly established as one of the world’s top jockeys.

I’m particularly looking forward to asking two of the greatest jump jockeys of the modern era, Sir AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh, just what makes Rachael so good after the feature airs. With her book of rides, she could be the star of the week.

2. Working with Ruby

I’ve written in this column before about how working with Ruby Walsh is just like working with Gary Neville on Monday Night Football.

Predictably, Ruby has inundated myself and our editor, Richard Willoughby, with ideas for analysis during the meeting and I’m excited to see what he produces over the four days.

His course walk with Lydia Hislop on Racing TV was exceptional and, while I’m sure it’s going to be tough for him not being in the saddle, I think he’ll relish the challenge on ITV.

I’m confident he’ll be exceptional.

3. Wednesday

This could potentially be one of the best days I’ve ever broadcast.

You could have Envoi Allen in the Ballymore with the whole of Ireland cheering him on, and you can imagine the reception if Faugheen were to win the RSA Chase.

We’ve got the best Queen Mother Champion Chase of recent times with Altior v Defi Du Seuil v Chacun Pour Soi and then, with the winning connections’ celebrations still in full flow, a little horse called Tiger Roll will be entering the paddock.

Wouldn’t it be incredible if Tiger Roll and Altior, on the same afternoon, could match Golden Miller’s record of five Festival wins?

4. Copperhead

Copperhead in the RSA Chase is my bet of the week.

Sir Anthony will be furious with me as the apple of his eye is Champ and I assume Archie McCoy will skip school with ‘illness’ on Wednesday to watch his beloved horse in action.

But I just think Copperhead is a bit special. He’s progressed through handicap company to that brilliant performance in the Reynoldstown and, though there was a lot of love for Minella Indo from some very good judges and Dave Ord on the Sporting Life preview videos, I’m sticking with the Colin Tizzard-trained horse.

If they’d run him as a novice in the Gold Cup I’d think he’d have a shout. He’s that good.

5. Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup

My hardest sell on ITV this week is the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.

There’s no real public horse in the race to get behind. Lostintranslation would be the one to pull the heartstrings but there is no one horse with a big following. I’d be amazed if Santini went off favourite, I think that will be last year’s winner, Al Boum Photo, and he’s the one that they all have to beat.

Even though people are saying it’s the worst Champion Hurdle for years, it’s a much easier sell thanks to a likely big-field and its wide-open nature.

I can see once-a-year punters, sports fans, who only watch racing this week getting stuck into the day one feature. I think the race is ripe for an upset and I’m backing both Supasundae and Call Me Lord.

Finally, thank goodness after all the dramas it looks like the Cheltenham Festival will go ahead.

It’s a huge week for ITV Sport and a week where I feel a huge responsibility presenting four days of racing that mean so much to so many.

We’ve been planning features and parts of the coverage on ITV to make horse racing accessible to all.

There’s The Opening Show on every morning at 9.30am and then the five races that we’re permitted to show live on the main channel from 1pm.

I hope you can join us, that you enjoy our coverage and that everyone enjoys the week. It should be a cracker.

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