What horses Denise Foster will have running at the Cheltenham Festival

Denise Foster is a new name in the racecard after she took over from Gordon Elliott ahead of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.

In what left the racing world numb with shock, Elliott had his licence withdrawn for a year – with half of it suspended – after an image of him sitting on a dead horse emerged online.

Foster has the licence at his Cullentra House Stables, following an enquiry by the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

It means there will be no runners in Elliott's name at Cheltenham this week.

Foster is now in charge of one of the strongest teams of Irish runners at jump racing's biggest meeting of the year.

Despite Cheveley Park Stud removing their horses from Elliott, including the unbeaten novice chaser star Envoi Allen, Cullentra still houses stars such as Tiger Roll and the Triumph Hurdle favourite Zanahiyr.

Here we look at Foster's background in racing and intended runners for the week:

Who is Denise Foster?

Denise Foster, a former riding instructor, is affectionately known as 'Sneezy' and has a long association with horses.

She enjoyed a winner at Dundalk last month with Swiss Swoo – one of 10 winners she's had over the past five seasons – and recently saddled Getaway Goldie to finish third in a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The experienced trainer also trained Lily's Rainbow to win a listed race at Navan in 2016, while guiding Not For Burning to victory at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival.

Foster has also suffered tragedy in her life, with her husband David Foster – a leading event rider who represented Ireland at three Olympic Games – passing away after a fatal fall back in 1998.

She then sadly lost her daughter Lucy, the wife of Irish trainer Fozzy Stack, at the age of 27 in 2014.

Foster's Cheltenham Festival runners on day one

Day One

2:30pm – Milan Native: The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase

3:05pm – Abacadabras: The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy

3:40pm – Black Tears: The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle Race

4:15pm – Riviere D'etel: The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Race

4:50pm – Escaria Ten: The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup

Best of the rest

Day Two

2:30pm – Grand Roi: Coral Cup Hurdle

3:40pm – Tiger Roll, Alpha Des Obeaux, Out Sam: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

4:15pm – Chosen Mate, Or Jaune De Somoza: Johnny Henderson Close Brothers Handicap Chase

4:50pm – Three Stripe Life, Hollow Games, Chemical Energy: Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Day Three

1:55pm – The Bosses Oscar: Pertemps Handicap Hurdle

2:30pm – Samcro: Ryanair Chase

3:05pm – Sire Du Berlais, The Storyteller, Fury Road: Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle

4:50pm – Mount Ida: Kim Muir Handicap Chase

Day Four

1:20pm – Zanahiyr: JCB Triumph Hurdle

1:55pm – Eclair De Beaufeu, Saint D'oroux, Petit Mouchoir: Randox Health County Hurdle

2:30pm – Fakiera, Torygraph: Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

3:40pm – Mighty Stowaway: Foxhunters Chase

4:15pm – Shattered Love: Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase

4:50pm – Frontal Assault, Folcano, Dalles Des Pictons: Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

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