I Have Dreamed heading to Cheltenham

Thu, Feb 26, 2009

VISITORS to Hereford Racecourse this week witnessed a real prospect for one of the most popular races at the Cheltenham Festival.

The County Hurdle used to be the ‘getting out' stakes - the very last race - when punters often tried to recoup their losses or hammer the bookmakers for a final time. Now it's the second race on Gold Cup day.

I Have Dreamed won our £21,000 ‘Jumprite' Handicap Hurdle on Monday, and is now rated a 25-1 chance for the two mile one furlong race.

It's quite a few years since Bredenbury trainer and Desert Orchid's Gold Cup winning jockey Simon Sherwood sent out a winner at his local racecourse.

Millitant Man put that right under teenager Jack Sherwood, son of the Herefordshire trainer, in the Racing Post "Hands & Heels" Jumps Series Novices' Handicap Hurdle. It was also the stable's first winner of the 2008/9 jump racing season.

By the time there is more racing at Hereford, the Cheltenham Festival will be over.

We next race on Monday 16 March when we have a couple of decent steeplechases. The £15,000 digibet.co.uk Handicap Chase is a real test of stamina over just one furlong short of four miles, while the £12,000 Green Farm Novices' Chase is raced over the minimum trip.

Meanwhile, Holly Glover, Events & Venue Hire Manager at Hereford and Chepstow Racecourses since last autumn, has been promoted to Senior Commercial Manager.

The 25-year-old previously handled national commercial activity for Northern Racing, the parent group of the two racecourses, after starting her career with the company as commercial manager here at Hereford Racecourse in 2005.

Congratulations to Holly!

*The first race time on Monday 16 March is at 2.10pm. The finale - a bumper - is at 4.40pm. Gates open at 12.10pm. Grandstand admission is £14. Accompanied children aged under 16 enter free of charge. For more information telephone the racecourse on 01432 273560.

Author:  Katie Stephens

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