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  "path": "/plus/opinion/davy-russell-cheltenham-festival-starts-918706",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-20T10:29:42.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.horseandhound.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Opinion",
    "Racing",
    "Cheltenham Festival"
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  "textContent": "Alamy Live News. 3E0HEMM A false start before the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle on day three of the 2026 Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Thursday March 12, 2026. This is an Alamy Live News image and may not be part of your current Alamy deal . If you are unsure, please contact our sales team to check.\n\n**Retired three-time Irish champion jockey Davy Russell shares his views on Cheltenham’s star performer and the reason for the Festival’s frustrating false starts**\n\nThis year’s Cheltenham Festival was an eventful week, as a big competition like that always is. The Festival’s leading jockey, Paul Townend, outshone everyone, he really is one of the all-time greats and certainly stamped his authority on the sport this year. He has a brilliant attitude, a marvellous way about him. But the spread […]",
  "title": "‘You can’t expect 20-plus racehorses to come around a corner in a straight line’, says Davy Russell on the false starts at the Cheltenham Festival"
}