The yearly Triple Crown series is a goal of every American thoroughbred trainer. Nevertheless, each and every horse racing trainer in Europe eagerly anticipates the yearly spring season fiesta, the Cheltenham Festival. This festival of pure horse racing takes place at the Cheltenham Racecourse and features notable events, including many Grade 1 races. The renowned Gavin Cromwell is one of several trainers who are looking forward to the event.
There has always been a reason for the community to keep an eye on Gavin Cromwell as a trainer. He has grown to become one of Europe’s top trainers after repeatedly delivering at the highest levels of horse racing. Fortunately, the trainer has some good news for his admirers since the Cheltenham Festival is just around the corner.
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Any trainer would be lucky to pull off a successful stint at the Cheltenham Festival. It is now up to the horses to deliver at the prestigious track, as industry heavyweights like Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson are in fine form. Gavin Cromwell has had a successful 2024 season so far, but he has a ton of goals for the upcoming races in the season, as he discussed in a recent interview with Racing TV. He declares Cheltenham to be a “special place” and says, “there’s nothing like a winner at the Festival.”
When asked about his plans for Cheltenham, Cromwell said he would be entering his horses in the “handicaps this year.” With an optimistic tone, the trainer said, “The horses are running well so hopefully we get them there in one piece.” Because he had hoped for a number of his horses to do well in the races before the festival, the trainer is well-versed in what to expect at Cheltenham. There are a lot of opportunities waiting for Cromwell in the future, but he also remembers a remarkable achievement he had at the famous racecourse.
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The renowned horse Espoir D’Allen had an excellent year in 2019. The 5-year-old hurt his shoulder when he threw himself down during an exercise session. The horse’s health deteriorated to the point where he had to be euthanized on August 23. Losing the horse who won the Grade 1 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy that same season was a devastating setback for Cromwell.
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But the trainer has never forgotten his great horse, no matter how much time has gone by. Although the trainer insists it is “a great race to win,” the fact that it was the horse’s last race makes it all the more “unfortunate.” According to Cromwell, the “first thing” he sees when he wakes up every morning is a “massive picture” of Espoir D’Allen. On the other hand, the trainer stresses how he moves on from the past and uses his memories to motivate himself for the future.
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