The Rebecca Curtis-trained gelding stunned racing fans by winning the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2020 at odds of 50-1. He failed to repeat the feat last year but his owners – The Racing For Fun syndicate – are hoping he can do them proud next week while also raising awareness and funds for the people of Ukraine.

The Jockey Club, which runs Cheltenham Racecourse, is supporting the charitable efforts of The British Red Cross in its response to the humanitarian crisis arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine with a series of initiatives throughout The Festival and has made a donation of its own to the British Red Cross’s Ukraine Appeal.

One of those initiatives is the wearing of the custom silks in the blue and yellow of the Ukraine flag and follows a suggestion by racehorse owner Colin Peake, who was determined to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis unravelling in Ukraine.

Peake explained: “Getting as much coverage as possible to highlight what is happening in Ukraine and getting people to put their hands in their pockets and support the humanitarian charitable efforts on the ground can only be a good thing.

“I thought to myself, ‘what better way to do it than have a horse running in the colours of the Ukraine national flag at Jump racing’s flagship event with all the coverage it receives?’ It’s all about getting the blue and yellow colours at the heart of the action.

“I got in contact with Allertons and they agreed to make a set of silks representing the flag of Ukraine at no cost and I then tried to find a horse that could wear them at The Festival.

The post Lisnagar Oscar to fly the flag for Ukraine at Cheltenham Festival appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y – Wednesday 16^th March

Allaho (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Willie Mullins IRE

Allmankind 6 The Gredley Family Dan Skelton

Battleoverdoyen (IRE) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

Captain Guinness (IRE) 7 Declan Landy Henry de Bromhead IRE

Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 10 Mrs S. Ricci Willie Mullins IRE

Dunvegan (FR) 9 G. Turner/Clipper Logistics Group Ltd Pat Fahy Ireland IRE

Editeur du Gite (FR) 8 The Preston Family, Friends & T Jacobs Gary Moore

Energumene (FR) 8 Tony Bloom Willie Mullins IRE

Envoi Allen (FR) 8 Cheveley Park Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE

First Flow (IRE) 10 Mr A. N. Solomons Kim Bailey

Funambule Sivola (FR) 7 My Racing Manager Friends Venetia Williams

Greaneteen (FR) 8 Chris Giles Paul Nicholls

Hardline (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

Hitman (FR) 6 Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done Paul Nicholls

Notebook (GER) 9 Gigginstown House Stud Henry de Bromhead IRE

Nube Negra (SPA) 8 Mr T. Spraggett Dan Skelton

Politologue (FR) 11 Mr J. Hales Paul Nicholls

Put The Kettle On (IRE) 8 One For Luck Racing Syndicate Henry de Bromhead IRE

Rouge Vif (FR) 8 Kate & Andrew Brooks Paul Nicholls

Samcro (IRE) 10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott IRE

Sceau Royal (FR) 10 Mr Simon Munir & Mr Isaac Souede Alan King

Shishkin (IRE) 8 Mrs J Donnelly Nicky Henderson

22 entries

11 Irish-trained

The post Entries list of possible runners in 2022 Queen Mother Champion Chase appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Tuesday 4^th January

Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase, Cheltenham Gold Cup

Scratchings: Tuesday 8^th February

Tuesday 11^th January

Unibet Champion Hurdle, Close Brothers’ Mares’ Hurdle, Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle

Scratchings: Tuesday 8^th February

Tuesday 18^th January

Sporting Life Arkle Novices’ Chase, National Hunt Chase, Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, Turners Novices’ Chase

Scratchings: Tuesday 15^th February

Tuesday 25^th January

Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, JCB Triumph Hurdle, Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

Scratchings: Tuesday 15^th February

Tuesday 15^th February

Parnell Properties Novices’ Mares’ Hurdle, Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase

Tuesday 22^nd February

Ultima Handicap Chase, Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle, Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase, Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle, Paddy Power Plate Handicap, Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase, McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle, Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Weights: Tuesday 1^st March

Tuesday 1^st March

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, Weatherbys Champion Bumper, St. James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase

The post Schedule for Release of Entries for the 2022 Cheltenham Festival appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.