Cheltenham Festival:
HUNTSMAN’S STYLE & RACING TIPS
This week Cheltenham Festival begins: the highlight of the jump season and the first big set of races of the English racing calendar. It is time to don your tweeds (preferably Huntsman!).
Having our roots in the equestrian world since 1849, Huntsman’s early designs began marrying equestrian wear with bespoke tailoring leading to our highly distinguishable House silhouette. Recent years have seen Huntsman remain involved in racing, luckily counting ourselves as a members of the 5 Hertford Street Racing Club, with two fillies: Hertford Dancer & Struck by the Moon (who scored a mighty win in December), we are very hopeful for over the next coming year.
It seems only fair for us to share with you our top style tips for this week’s festival from Head Cutters, Campbell Carey & Dario Carnera. We are delighted to have teamed up with the esteemed Highclere Thoroughbred Racing whose ‘scout’ Rolf Johnson, shares his two best chances for you for Day 1 of the festival and a few to watch for this week.
Head Cutter’s Style Tips:
- Don’t let practicality compromise style – staying warm is essential but there’s no need to let that impact your look. Our Machir Jacket (spoken about in this weekend’s FT) is a perfect example of this – the medium weight tweed isn’t too bulky yet remains incredibly warm. The bellows pockets allows room for scarves, gloves (and of course your Racing Post). The subtle tab collar also ensures the wind is kept out.
- Tweed at Cheltenham is a must. The Huntsman Tweeds come into their own at Cheltenham: being comfortable and practical whilst also looking the part of a quintessentially British Gent. The bolder the better! Why not go for our pink Huntsman House Tweed if your daring enough.
- Finally, your look wouldn’t be complete without a tweed cap. Huntsman holds two styles: an 8 piece Baker Boy and traditional Flatcap – the perfect compliment to a tweed three piece. For something different, our Gregory Peck Houndstooth Cashmere Flatcap is the perfect accessory (and useful for taking your winnings home!)
The famed Machir Jacket – available in 4 colour ways including green, grey, brown & blue
Rolf Johnson’s Top Racing Tips:
DAY 1:
1.30pm: The Supreme Novices Hurdle – Ballyandy, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. “A top class handicapper running against novices.”
3.30pm: The Champion Hurdle – Yanworth, trained by Alan King. “Noel Fehilly (jockey), is a very good judge and thinks this horse will win.”
DAY 2:
2.10 – The RSA Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – Nicky Henderson runs two of the leading contenders for this one in Might Bite and Whisper, but the former although shorter in the betting might find that he has his stablemate to beat. Willie Mullins will surely have a winner before too long (famous last words!) and Bellshill might be the one. 2.50 – The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – Tombstone is a worthy favourite and Gordon Elliot got off to a flyer yesterday, so this one will hopefully do the business. 4.50 – The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – It’s rare that Ruby Walsh is out of the limelight at Cheltenham, so there might be some value in his mount Prospectus in this race.
DAY 3:
1.30 – JLT Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) – Politologue was always going to be Nicholls’s best chance though Top Notch (Nicky Henderson) and Yorkhill (Mullins) are the main dangers. 2.10 – Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Listed) – Tobefair (Debra Hamer) has one six on the trot, but this is a different class and Gordon Elliot’s Jury Duty may be worth a close look. 2.50 – Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) – Un de Sceaux (Mullins) ought to have an outstanding chance in this one, but his runners have been performing well below par. 3.30 – Sun Bets Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – It’s hard to look beyond Unowhatimeanharry (Harry Fry) but Cole Harden (Warren Greatrex) gave him a hard race at Ascot. 4.50 – Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) – Verdana Blue (Henderson) might be worth an each way in what appears to be a fairly open contest.
DAY 4:
On Friday, Gold Cup day, Colin Tizzard, who can do no wrong this season, runs Cue Cardin the biggest race of the festival as well as another interesting contender in Native River.
Also on that day Death Duty will be highly fancied to win the Albert Bartlett.
