Cheltenham Festival: Real Whacker ready to fly flag for Yorkshire in Gold Cup

Richard Byram
By Richard Byram
Published 10th Mar 2024, 13:51 BST
Yorkshire’s Cheltenham hero The Real Whacker is “improving all the time” ahead of his tilt at Boodles Gold Cup glory on Friday afternoon.

The horse, trained by Patrick Neville out of Ann Duffield’s Leyburn yard in North Yorkshire won a thrilling renewal of the Grade One Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Prestbury Park last spring.

The canny Irish handler decided in the immediate aftermath of that success the eight-year-old bay gelding would be campaigned specifically for this season’s National Hunt blue riband race, which takes place exactly a year to the day after his Brown Advisory success.

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And he told The Yorkshire Post that he is sure the horse, currently priced around 40-1 by bookmakers, is in prime condition and is capable of outrunning his odds – at his favourite track.

Sam Twiston-Davies riding The Real Whacker (red/white) clear the last to win The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival 2023 at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 15, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)Sam Twiston-Davies riding The Real Whacker (red/white) clear the last to win The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival 2023 at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 15, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)
Sam Twiston-Davies riding The Real Whacker (red/white) clear the last to win The Brown Advisory Novices' Chase during day two of the Cheltenham Festival 2023 at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 15, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

He warmed up for Friday’s showpiece by finishing second in the Cotswold Chase at Prestbury Park at the end of January and Neville said: “I’m very happy with him. All his hard work is done now and he is ready for it.

“He’s in great nick, he has improved all year and every run we have left a bit. But I have aimed for this day all year and that’s the way he is coming. I am looking forward to it.”

In a year when sadly the county barely has any entries at Cheltenham, let alone live chances, all eyes will be on the White Rose’s representative in the race, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

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