Cheltenham Festival Centenary publication

With this year’s Cheltenham Festival just six weeks away, the launch of CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL CENTENARY 1911–2011 – An Irish Tribute could not be more timely.

The latest work of renowned racing historian Guy Williams, this lavishly illustrated book has a foreword by the Festival’s most successful owner, JP McManus. The comprehensive record details the role of Irish owners, breeders, trainers, riders, punters and horses in making Cheltenham a uniquely Irish overseas arena.

It gathers together for the first time the triumphs and disasters that attended annual Irish forays to Prestbury Park in March. In addition to comprehensive indexes of horses and humans, it contains tables of every Irish-trained Cheltenham Festival winner.

From Ballinode in 1925 to War Of Attrition in 2006, the Cheltenham Gold Cup has crossed the 1rish Sea 21 times, with Cottage Rake and the legendary Arkle both successful three times.

The Champion Hurdle has been won by Ireland 18 times, from Distel in 1946 up to Hurricane Fly last year. Hatton’s Grace took the spoils three times, a feat emulated at the turn of the century by Istabraq.

Inkslinger, the only horse ever to win two steeplechases at the same Cheltenham Festival, and Montelado, the only horse ever to win successive Cheltenham Festival events, also have their own special place in Cheltenham history.

Limerick handler, Delma Harty became the first of her sex to saddle a Cheltenham Festival winner, just as Caroline Beasley became the first woman ever to ride a winner at the Olympics of National Hunt racing.

Enjoy reliving all these moments and much more for €25. Published by Daletta Press.