Cheltenham 2013 – TVBet’s Most Memorable moments

Whether you’re an avid punter on the horse racing or you enjoy a casual flutter, nobody will forget this years’ Cheltenham festival. In TVBet’s writers group we’ve been following every jump, every joyous moment, every tear, every winner and every shock in what has been a festival to remember.

We’ve collated our best moments from 4 days of the best racing we’ve seen in recent history. Get in touch and tell us about your favourite moment.

Mark Nottingham – Right on Cue

So one of the ‘Moments of Cheltenham 2013’ has to be Cue Card winning the Ryanair Chase. From the off Cue card with Joe Tizzard on board was at the head of the field with Champion Court.

Rounding the final turn with ease and making the others work hard to try and close, only after the second last did Tizzard have to work on him but when he did he made a great last leap and won racing up the hill winning by 6-7 lengths. When this horse cuts out his jumping errors I think there is a lot more to come.

Paul T – Sacre Bleu

The star of the show for me just has to be Sprinter Sacre. To think before the meet people were questioning what he had actually beaten seems ridiculous now.

His best rival, sizing Europe, had tasted Cheltenham glory previously and won numerous grade 1’s, but the way he was disposed of was incredible.

Geraghty didn’t even touch his mount, and it’s scary to think that he won by 19 lengths at a canter, what an incredible horse.

It’s hard to see him ever be beaten after that, and if it is, then you have an absolute cracker of a horse coming through. Coral’s offer of evens pleased many a punter, including me, and the only way I could some up his performance was – WOW.

Matt Litherland – Quivering over Quevega

Never before has a race or a horse made me feel like Quevega made me feel on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.

With Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins having already sealed a double for the day I should have expected nothing less than this win, but it couldn’t have come in a more dramatic style.

2 out and Ruby was starting to push on Quevega but still sat in 8th place. They entered the home turn with the cry of “Quevega’s in trouble here…”. It seemed as though she was beaten but as the last fence approached a monster was unleashed.

Still 3 lengths down on the front two she pounced and Ruby drove her up the hill to seal a momentous and record equalling 5th win in the mares hurdle. A moment that left me truly gobsmacked and with goosepimples!

Ian Hutchison – Conor Can
Star of the festival in my eyes has to be Our Conor who trounced some hugely regarded juvenile hurdlers in the Triumph Hurdle on Friday afternoon.

The nature in which he quickened clear was a joy to behold, and I honestly feel the 4-year-old would’ve been just as at home n the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday.

His performance earned him a short lived quote of 12/1 (soon shortened to 6/1) for the 2014 Champion Hurdle which is just a mouthwatering prospect when you consider he would most likely be up against superstar Hurricane Fly.

Our Conor flew up the Cheltenham Hill , leaving his rivals treading water behind him, and I am sure that today we witnessed a superstar at the age of 4 that could dominate the hurdling ranks for the next 5 years.

Don’t forget to share your best moments of the Chelenham Festival with us!