A bit of fun. Get a piece of paper and scribble down the answers. Try not to rush to Google, the RP site, wiki or flicking back on Gstats. You shouldn't have to. If you don't know, have a guess. I'm hopeful most are gettable. Sit down with a glass and take as long as you like. Return to site (top left) for the answers on the 'Review of 2023' page. Last year Delargy complained about 'recency bias.' Tried to change it. I ran a pilot for this at a friend's birthday dinner in Tewkesbury on 2024 Trials Day. By the end of the evening, they all hated me.
There are 28pts in total. It's easy this year, believe me.
1. A chestnut to start. Only three horses have won five Festival Races. They are? 1 pt for each.
2. According to Matt Tombs, this century which (prep) race that season has produced most Festival winners. 17 in total? It's not difficult. 1 pt
3. Only two jockeys have ridden three Ultima winners (you know the race). Both this century and both now retired. I pt for each.
4. Eight of the last 11 Arkle favourites have won. And having laid a few, don't I know it. The other three winners were? One pictured above. Only one was GB trained. 1 pt for each.
5. Derek O'Connor is a fine, fine horseman. He has ridden 4 Festival winners. They were? Below is him coming in on one. 1pt for each.
6. The only novice ever to win a Coral Cup was in 2000. He was a grey trained by Philip Hobbs. 1pt
7. Which horse has been placed in five of the last six Festivals? 1pt
8. There were 21 runners in last years Champion Bumper. Chosen Witness finished 18th. What was special about his run at Thurles on 5th March this year? 1 pt.
9. The current leading jockey in the Grand Annual rode 4 winners. They were Pearlyman, My Young Man, Sound Reveille and Uncle Ernie. He was? I pt.
10. How many fences are jumped in the 'nearly' 4 miler. 19, 21, 23 or 25? 1pt
11. This horse won a race at the 2023 Festival. His last four Festival runs were 62BD1. He is? 1 pt
12. Two Champion Hurdlers. They each ran in the race five times. Their form figures in the race were 42211 and 13143. They were? 1 pt for each.
13. Crossword clue. If cleavage about, could take a big one. (6,4). 2pts
14. AP's final Festival winner. 1 pt. AP's final Festival ride. 2 pts. Finished 4th in the Grand Annual at 4/1 jt fav. JP owned, trained by Noel Meade, had finished 2nd in the Grand Annual the year before, behind Next Sensation.
15. Nicky Henderson has won nine Champion Hurdles. Who is second on the list? Vincent O'Brien, Peter Easterby or Willie Mullins? 1 pt.
16. The 2023 Festival. Strong Leader 9th in Supreme, Marble Sands 5th in Ballymore, Jipcot 11th in Triumph, What connects these three? 1 pt.