December 22, 2024

Sam Thomas Set For Emotional Cheltenham

Lisa Baker, Editor, Welsh Business News & News from Wales January 27, 2023

Sam Thomas is readying his team for what will be an emotional affair at the Cheltenham Festival this year. With his stables being located just outside Cardiff, Thomas will be supported by the whole of the country and the racing industry with his attempts to win at the biggest meeting of them all in the Cotswolds.

Walters, who has been a huge supporter of British racing for many years, is still recovering from a serious injury, so a Cheltenham win for any of his horses is sure to be one of the most poignant in the history of the great festival.

Walters’ Festival Horses

Thomas will be sending some of Dai Walters’ best horses to Cheltenham this year. Chief among them will be Angels Breath, who is popular among horse racing tips and available at 33/1 in the Ryanair Chase betting market.

Angels Breath will be involved in a dramatic story of his own if winning at the meeting, as he has just made his return to action after over three years off the track with injury. It adds yet another emotional edge to the story of both horse and owner defying the odds to make it to the biggest stage of them all in National Hunt Racing.

Angels Breath had been a highly regarded novice chaser for Nicky Henderson three years ago, winning a Grade 2 at Ascot before injury curtailed his career. He made his return to action in the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Ascot earlier this month, and with that run under his belt, he should be at peak fitness for the Ryanair Chase or even the Gold Cup, for which the flashy grey horse is also entered.

Other Potential Runners

Thomas and Walters are also likely to be involved in some of the big handicap races at Cheltenham. The likes of Stolen Silver, Al Dancer, and Before Midnight are all potential runners over the four days of action. Stolen Silver is probably the horse to keep the closest eye on come Festival time after his fine runner-up performance in the  New Year’s Day Chase.

Previous Cheltenham Success

Walters has had prior success at the Cheltenham Festival, most notably when the Nicky Henderson-trained, Whisper, won the Coral Cup back in 2014. The same horse was also involved in one of the most dramatic finishes in Cheltenham history when just failing to beat the brilliant, Might Bite, in the then RSA Chase 3 years later.

Oskar Whiskey was another horse to give Walters some big days, finishing 4th in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, before going one better to finish 3rd in the Champion Hurdle behind Hurricane Fly a year later.

Racing can be an emotional spectacle from time to time, but after Thomas and Walters’s injury, victory at Cheltenham 2023 would be the most amazing tale seen for quite some time. There won’t be a dry eye in the place.

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