Master Minded and Inglis Drever Blow Away All Records
Neither Wind Nor Rain Can Stop Greatness from Emerging
Over 50,000 racegoers missed out on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival when the races were canceled due
to 50 mile per hour winds and rain. They lost their ticket money mounting to over £1 million which will eventually be returned by the insurance companies.
The six races were split between the fourth and fifth days guaranteeing incredible value for money and two very long days.
No one could complain about Thursday which started with a gutsy slogger Old Benny (Saddlers' Hall), trained by Alan King and owned by Trevor Hemmings, beating out two other British favourites in the Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Class 2), 4m on the Old Course.
The Royal & SunAlliance Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1), 3m1/2f on the Old Course was a further sign of the quality yet to come. A P McCoy got his first winner of the festival after a return from injury and a grueling recovery regime which included an unappealing refrigeration treatment.
McCoy, legendary jockey, gave the little Albertas Run Ire (Accordion) a perfect ride on the good-to-soft ground the horse loves. Trainer Jonjo O'Neill attributed the win to the combination of tough McCoy and the perfect jumping of the galloping gelding. McCoy was delighted to come through for his Chairman O'Neill and owner Trevor Hemmings (also owner of the first winner).
Denman's full brother, Silverburn Ire (Presenting), faded and his trainer Paul Nichols was disappointed that he did not stay. Not as large as his one-year-older brother, he was always in the leading three until he tired; he should win at shorter distances as he did impress.
Finger onthe Pulse Ire (Accordion again) continued the Irish wins for trainer T J Taaffe in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (Class 1), 2m4-1/2f on the Old Course. Jockey B J Geraghty said his horse was "foot perfect" and Taaffe said "he jumped like a buck".
It was a thrilling win for owners Conor Clarkson and Bernard Healy and compensation for Kicking King having to miss the Gold Cup.
The Queen was not present to see her Barbers Shop (Saddlers' Hall) lose a close one to Finger onthe Pulse.
Paul Nichols may have been down, but definitely not out. His Master Minded Fr (Nikos) is the first five-year-old to win the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1), 2m on the Old Course, in the 49-year history of the race.
Post Script: He was awarded a staggering 184 Racing Post Rating as result which puts him on Denman's level and five short of Kauto Star's 189 RPR (both eight-years old to his five).
This race and the World Hurdle were the features of the day and both exceptional winners made history.
Master Minded defeated the deserved favourite and reigning champion Voy Por Ustedes Fr (Villez) about 19 lengths in barely more than a canter. Voy Pro Ustedes left all the other worthies behind by 16 lengths.
Grinning slyly from ear to ear, jockey Ruby Walsh understated "he went a hell of a gallop".
Master Minded produced a "benchmark" performance of such fluid movement, beautiful shape, effortless speed, perfect jumping and balance that the experts were left gasping.
Oldtimers say he is the finest five-year old and finest two miler they have ever seen; he is what greatness is.
So now Paul Nichols is training three of the greatest horses in jump racing: Master Minded, Kauto Star and Denman. The first two both belong to Clive D Smith who tried to buy Master Minded for over 12 months and paid £230,000. He was worth it. Odds on Master Minded for next year's race are evens.
From young greatness to greatness knocking on the door, it was ten-year-old Our Vic's Ire (Old Vic) turn when he took out the favourite Mossbank Ire (Kadeed), owned by Michael Ryan, who sponsored the Ryanair Chase (Registered as the Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (Class 1), 2m4-1/2f on the Old Course. Nichols' Turko Fr (Turgeon) came in third.
Trainer David Pipe felt his horse deserved to win after leading, under a fast ride by Timmy Murphy, from start to finish and that Our Vic was helped to concentrate better by wearing blinkers for the first time.
The only regret was that The Listener Ire (Roselier) did not win to cheer up his stricken trainer Robert Alner. The handsome gray did not place.
Emotions were even higher in Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1), 3m on the Old Course when the British got their big winner.
Inglis Drever (In the Wings) won twice already, but was out of action afterwards from injury last year. Despite that, the nine-year old was favoured to win for trainer J Howard Johnson though the odds went soft at the course.
Jockey Denis O'Regan ran a patient stalking race just past the middle of the 17 runners and brought him forward slowly near the third last hurdle. After the last jump, they took off after leader Kasbah Bliss Fr (Kahyasi) ridden by top French jockey Pieux. The horse was trainer Francois Doumen's best hope of the Festival.
The elegant Pieux never gave in and his horse fought back valiantly. In the end, Inglis Drever loves Cheltenham and its daunting hill. He dug in and saw off two French horses--Kasbah Bliss and late-closing Kazal Fr (Villez) of Eoin Griffin.
Connections described Inglis Drever as amazingly tough, a terrier, a fast galloper, gutsy, and a fine jumper.
Though he is called 'Popeye' at home, his charming lass Ginni Wright calls him 'Jam Donut' on an everyday basis and 'Monster' when he wins. Kibbutz-bred Ginni punched air and shouted 'Monster' through her tears as she ran to lead him into the Winners Circle.
The handsome little Inglis Drever was bred by a Darley sire and trained for the flat by Sir Mark Prescott.
Not everyone at Cheltenham understood how good Master Minded is, but they do rate their British Inglis Drever as proven by the packed crowd's cheers and tears.
After this race, there was not much emotion left over to appreciate the nice victory of eleven-year-old Mr McGoldrick (Sabrehill) in the Racing Post Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) (Class 1),2m4-1/2f on the Old Course.
In two days of racing at the Festival, we have seen many exceptionally good horses in excellent classic races. We also have seen two truly great historical horses so far. Tomorrow we shall see two of Europe's top-rated horses take each other on for the first time in the Gold Cup.
So far, this is looking like one of the finest and most exciting Cheltenham Festivals in many, many years.
Over 50,000 racegoers missed out on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival when the races were canceled due
to 50 mile per hour winds and rain. They lost their ticket money mounting to over £1 million which will eventually be returned by the insurance companies.
The six races were split between the fourth and fifth days guaranteeing incredible value for money and two very long days.
No one could complain about Thursday which started with a gutsy slogger Old Benny (Saddlers' Hall), trained by Alan King and owned by Trevor Hemmings, beating out two other British favourites in the Peter O'Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup (Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase) (Class 2), 4m on the Old Course.
The Royal & SunAlliance Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1), 3m1/2f on the Old Course was a further sign of the quality yet to come. A P McCoy got his first winner of the festival after a return from injury and a grueling recovery regime which included an unappealing refrigeration treatment.
McCoy, legendary jockey, gave the little Albertas Run Ire (Accordion) a perfect ride on the good-to-soft ground the horse loves. Trainer Jonjo O'Neill attributed the win to the combination of tough McCoy and the perfect jumping of the galloping gelding. McCoy was delighted to come through for his Chairman O'Neill and owner Trevor Hemmings (also owner of the first winner).
Denman's full brother, Silverburn Ire (Presenting), faded and his trainer Paul Nichols was disappointed that he did not stay. Not as large as his one-year-older brother, he was always in the leading three until he tired; he should win at shorter distances as he did impress.
Finger onthe Pulse Ire (Accordion again) continued the Irish wins for trainer T J Taaffe in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (Class 1), 2m4-1/2f on the Old Course. Jockey B J Geraghty said his horse was "foot perfect" and Taaffe said "he jumped like a buck".
It was a thrilling win for owners Conor Clarkson and Bernard Healy and compensation for Kicking King having to miss the Gold Cup.
The Queen was not present to see her Barbers Shop (Saddlers' Hall) lose a close one to Finger onthe Pulse.
Paul Nichols may have been down, but definitely not out. His Master Minded Fr (Nikos) is the first five-year-old to win the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1), 2m on the Old Course, in the 49-year history of the race.
Post Script: He was awarded a staggering 184 Racing Post Rating as result which puts him on Denman's level and five short of Kauto Star's 189 RPR (both eight-years old to his five).
This race and the World Hurdle were the features of the day and both exceptional winners made history.
Master Minded defeated the deserved favourite and reigning champion Voy Por Ustedes Fr (Villez) about 19 lengths in barely more than a canter. Voy Pro Ustedes left all the other worthies behind by 16 lengths.
Grinning slyly from ear to ear, jockey Ruby Walsh understated "he went a hell of a gallop".
Master Minded produced a "benchmark" performance of such fluid movement, beautiful shape, effortless speed, perfect jumping and balance that the experts were left gasping.
Oldtimers say he is the finest five-year old and finest two miler they have ever seen; he is what greatness is.
So now Paul Nichols is training three of the greatest horses in jump racing: Master Minded, Kauto Star and Denman. The first two both belong to Clive D Smith who tried to buy Master Minded for over 12 months and paid £230,000. He was worth it. Odds on Master Minded for next year's race are evens.
From young greatness to greatness knocking on the door, it was ten-year-old Our Vic's Ire (Old Vic) turn when he took out the favourite Mossbank Ire (Kadeed), owned by Michael Ryan, who sponsored the Ryanair Chase (Registered as the Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (Class 1), 2m4-1/2f on the Old Course. Nichols' Turko Fr (Turgeon) came in third.
Trainer David Pipe felt his horse deserved to win after leading, under a fast ride by Timmy Murphy, from start to finish and that Our Vic was helped to concentrate better by wearing blinkers for the first time.
The only regret was that The Listener Ire (Roselier) did not win to cheer up his stricken trainer Robert Alner. The handsome gray did not place.
Emotions were even higher in Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1), 3m on the Old Course when the British got their big winner.
Inglis Drever (In the Wings) won twice already, but was out of action afterwards from injury last year. Despite that, the nine-year old was favoured to win for trainer J Howard Johnson though the odds went soft at the course.
Jockey Denis O'Regan ran a patient stalking race just past the middle of the 17 runners and brought him forward slowly near the third last hurdle. After the last jump, they took off after leader Kasbah Bliss Fr (Kahyasi) ridden by top French jockey Pieux. The horse was trainer Francois Doumen's best hope of the Festival.
The elegant Pieux never gave in and his horse fought back valiantly. In the end, Inglis Drever loves Cheltenham and its daunting hill. He dug in and saw off two French horses--Kasbah Bliss and late-closing Kazal Fr (Villez) of Eoin Griffin.
Connections described Inglis Drever as amazingly tough, a terrier, a fast galloper, gutsy, and a fine jumper.
Though he is called 'Popeye' at home, his charming lass Ginni Wright calls him 'Jam Donut' on an everyday basis and 'Monster' when he wins. Kibbutz-bred Ginni punched air and shouted 'Monster' through her tears as she ran to lead him into the Winners Circle.
The handsome little Inglis Drever was bred by a Darley sire and trained for the flat by Sir Mark Prescott.
Not everyone at Cheltenham understood how good Master Minded is, but they do rate their British Inglis Drever as proven by the packed crowd's cheers and tears.
After this race, there was not much emotion left over to appreciate the nice victory of eleven-year-old Mr McGoldrick (Sabrehill) in the Racing Post Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) (Class 1),2m4-1/2f on the Old Course.
In two days of racing at the Festival, we have seen many exceptionally good horses in excellent classic races. We also have seen two truly great historical horses so far. Tomorrow we shall see two of Europe's top-rated horses take each other on for the first time in the Gold Cup.
So far, this is looking like one of the finest and most exciting Cheltenham Festivals in many, many years.
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