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The Open Meeting
Cheltenham
13-15 November 2009
Traditionally seen as the start of the winter jumps season, The Open meeting has expanded in recent years to become a three-day fixture packed with high-quality racing. The meeting provides the first big Anglo-Irish clashes of the season and in recent years has also attracted challengers from France, Norway and the Czech Republic.
The highlight is the Paddy Power Gold Cup, a 2m41/2f chase held on the Saturday. The £110,000 race, which began its existence as the Mackeson Gold Cup in 1960, is a major early-season target for the up-and-coming chasers and has been won in the past by top-class horses such as two-mile champion chaser Fortria (1960 & ’62), Grand National winner Gay Trip (1969 & ‘71) and Bradbury Star (1993 &’94), the last horse to complete the double. Some of the former winners take part in a parade before the race.
Friday is billed as Cheltenham Countryside Raceday, with a host of rural activities on show to complement the racing. The feature race is the Sporting Index Steeplechase, which provides a thrilling spectacle as horses compete over the hedges, timber and banks of the cross-country course.
The Sunday highlight is the £100,000 Greatwood Hurdle, which was won in 2002 by eventual Champion Hurdle hero Rooster Booster.
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