Cheltenham Festival 2009
'Unreacheable stars'? Not at the Cheltenham Festival
Kauto Star regains his Gold Cup title with last year's winner Denman second. Photo by David Hastings
For country people who support Cheltenham, the only stars are the horses and this Festival has not disappointed them. Next in order of importance, jockeys and trainers, have also put in stunning performances.
Ruby Walsh, whose career was as shattered as his spleen two years ago, not only made a hat trick in one day matching a 1999 record, equalled A P McCoy's five wins during a Festival and then won two more for seven, matched McCoy's 22 total Festival wins and bested it by two. Walsh has now 24 wins in his total Festivals and is just one short of Pat Taaffe's all-time record of 25.
Walsh had major help from trainer Paul Nicholls who provided most of Walsh's equine talent including the Gold Cup Star.
As good as the races and other horses are, the Gold Cup is the penultimate race of the meet. It is what everyone remembers from year to year and, no sooner over, the betting starts for the next year.
The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase is a (Grade 1) (Class 1), 3m2-1/2f race on the New Course.
This year Kauto Star (Fr) had his good drying ground, was fitter than fit, looked glorious and had the most serene jockey on the course. Since the horse tends to be nervy, a calm jockey keeps his jumping perfect and saves his energy for final acceleration up the steep hill to the winning post.
Walsh never doubted he had the winning horse and let the horse have his head. Kauto Star took each fence with springing elan never putting a foot wrong and ran out at the end with only his stablemate and nemesis of 2008, Denman (Ire), threatening him.
He was perfection and no one expected him to trip at the last fence as he has done in the past.
Kauto Star is the only horse in history to regain his Gold Cup title with a loss in between winning years. He enters the pantheon of multiple Gold Cup winners with the distinction of having won three King George Chases as well.
The audience and commentators were rapturous classifying him with the all-time greats. What a joy for him and his connections especially since it will silence his critics until next Spring.
Only the bookies who laid against him were regretful--not that he won, but that the punters cleaned them out. They were lucky that so many other favourites lost and they will survive to another day.
Since he is only nine, he will be running in next year's Gold Cup against Denman who has returned to almost-top form.
Nicholls was every bit as excited about Denman's performance and return to health as Kauto Star's win.
There is talk of Denman running in the April Grand National as he will be in full form by then. Since he was sweating buckets in the winner's circle, it may not be on.
Another of Nicholl's stars, Big Buck's (Fr), will contest the 2010 World Hurdle again and will not be entered in the Gold Cup until the famous twosome fight it out next year.
The Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (Class 1), 2m1f on the New Course revealed another knockout horse from the Nicholls' stable.
American Trilogy (Ire) ran away with the race. Since the gray is only five, he will probably be steered away from the Gold Cup next year. Yet he is a natural for it.
It will be interesting to see if Big Buck's and American Trilogy's owners will go along with Nicholls' plans to postphone their participation in the Gold Cup.
Needless to say, Nicholls emerged as top trainer of the meet with five winners and Willie Mullins (Ire) second with three.
With such an outstanding meet and exceptionally good weather, it was surprising that attendance was down. The bad economy is cutting into every activity and Cheltenham was no exception.
The British feel redeemed in that their trainers won 16 out of 25 races and the Irish trainers the other nine.
However, they lost on breeding with only two winners, the French had 10 and the Irish 13.
Britain is still feeling the effects of the disastrous Thatcher policies of imposing a crippling VAT on horse sales in this country which relied on the horse industry as one of the top four Gross National Producers.
Other countries like France and Ireland cut taxes and created incentives thereby driving British breeding out of competition.
How sad, on the Gold Cup day, to read an impassioned plea from Michael Harris, Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners' Association, to bookmakers to "make an additional, commercial payment for those fixtures that are barely viable for racecourses to lay on". Those races are held, because bookmakers want them for betting flow.
What was so pleasing about Kayf Aramis' win yesterday is that Darley Stud is helping to subsidise British breeding by making his sire, Kayf Tara, available at very low cost to help reinvigorate British stock.
Kayf Tara's first crop including Kayf Aramis is just coming to racing age and has its first Cheltenham winner.
There is so much human talent in this country that is trying to rebuild its equine heritage.
Cheltenham reminds one every year that many believe that stars are reachable. Sometimes it is very, very hard.
A Kauto Star triumph with Denman right behind, after so much adversity, inspires one to keep trying.
Posted Friday, March 13th, 2009
Ladies Triumph at Cheltenham Festival's Ladies' Day
Elegant trainer Venetia Williams' handsome stayer Kayf Aramis (Kayf Tara--son of one of my favourite flat stayers) won the Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Listed Race) (Class 1), 3m on the New course.
Owner Isobel Phipps Coltman bred her seven-year-old gelding down the road from Williams' yard and was very involved in his training. She was sure he would stay forever and grind down all the others the way his sire did. She and her family were ecstatic.
Kayf Aramis was the only British-bred winner of the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Williams trained the first and second home in the Freddie Williams Festival Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) (Class 1), 2m5f on the New Course. Both the winner Something Wells and the doughty Ping Pong Sivola, 13.2 favourite, were French bred.
Pretty Star (Ger) took second behind Character Building (Ire) for her in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateur Riders) (Class 2), 3m1-1/2f on the New Course.
Perhaps Williams took her wins all in stride, but members from the Women's Institutes were there in force to celebrate Ladies Day in a new quasi-sponsorship arrangement with Cheltenham to learn about and promote horse sports which are so important to the British culture and economy.
Williams was their unexpected heroine of the day.
Her good friend, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, brought home his second winner of the Festival in a commanding performance by Imperial Commander (Ire) in the Ryanair Chase (Registered as the Festival Trophy Chase) (Grade 1), 2m5f on the New Course.
Imperial Commander was second favourite to the beloved Voy Por Ustedes (Fr) who made two unusual jumping mistakes which cost him lengths but, in his inimitable form, rallied to take a closing second from valiant Schindlers Hunt (Ire).
Twiston-Davies' yard has had some problems of late and is back in form with Tricky Trickster who won yesterday and "Nellie" for "Nelson" otherwise known as Imperial Commander who is a big striding horse reminding one of Denman (Ire) with his size and fluid jumping.
Trainer Paul Nicholls put his stamp of superiority on two new exciting prospects in Chapoturgeon (Fr) and Big Buck's (Fr).
Chapoturgeon, who is a classic lean and angular French type, blew off all in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (Class 1), 2m5f, on the New Course.
The five-year-old gray gelding was so fresh at the end that he looked as if he could do the race again leaving experts dreaming of another Denman.
They were also left with visions of future Gold Cup wins for Nicholl's Big Buck's (Fr) who banished the favourite Kasbah Bliss (Fr) to fourth and third favourite Punchestowns (Fr) to second in a painful duel which left excellent horses completely outclassed in the race of the day--Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade 1) Class 1), 3m on the New Course.
One trainer noted Big Buck's dicey jumping in a wistful remark that "the clumsy old thing should have stayed in chasing". He will probably be dragged back to chasing after this feat with Denman's name mentioned again as a touchstone.
At six, he can have a big future if Nicholls can polish his performance. Then again perhaps he does need to.
"He has such a big engine it doesn't matter." said jockey Ruby Walsh who got his fifth win of the Cheltenham Festival on the Stewart family's prodigy.
So far the French breds have three wins today totalling seven for the Festival, the Irish two totalling nine and British one totally two. Ruby Walsh on his fifth win of the Festival.
This meet was not one to bet on favourites except the sometimes-maligned Master Minded (Fr); it has produced some of the most exciting prospects for the future with Paul Nicholls having an endless supply of exceptionally brilliant talent.
He has three running the the Gold Cup and any one of them is capable of winning.
Even the Women's Institute members have developed a great interest in chasing, because one of their founders was the formidable Lady Denman.
In honour of the Ladies, let me not forget to mention: Denman is one of Nicholls' flush hand running tomorrow to defend his Gold Cup. I for one will be a wreck until he is off that course safe and well.
Posted Thursday, March 12th, 2009
Irish Add Four Wins and Jockey Ruby Walsh Makes Two Records
Ruby Walsh opened his account yesterday on Quevega (Fr) who was trained by Willie Mullins, won three on day two of the Cheltenham Festival equaling Mick Fitz' 1999 record hat trick, equaled A P McCoy's record 21 wins at the Festivals and jumped into the lead as 2009 jockey with four in the bank.
Irish-bred horses won four races and French-bred two leaving the British out of luck.
Irish trainer Willie Mullins scored his second and third Festival successes following Quevega.
His 17-hand favourite Mikael D'Raguenet (Fr) showed brilliant ability changing strides in machine-like style with Ruby Walsh on board to take the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1), 2m5f on the Old Course to beat out impressive Karabak (Fr). He will be aimed at fences next year.
Walsh also steered Mullins' popular Cooldine (Ire) in a surging gallop to win the RSA Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1), 3m 1/2f, by about 15 lengths on drying ground of the Old Course.
Despite a brilliant performance, I doubt that Cooldine will be rated as high as Master Minded (Fr) was last year.
Walsh made his third success on the highest-rated chaser in the world (186) Master Minded for trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Clive Smith in the feature of the day, Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1), 2m on the Old Course.
Winning this race last year by 19 lengths earned Master Minded his high rating.
Frankly, I felt the horse was overrated and not superior to the exceptional chaser Denman (Ire).
This year the enchantment has worn off and the besotted experts have become critics complaining that Master Minded has not shown the same energy surges and ease in winning.
Sadly, Nicholls was left defending the winning horse positing that so much snow prohibited outdoor galloping and the horse has become a bit lazy.
To suggest that Master Minded won today's race in workman-like fashion is an insult to the fluent-moving, perfect jumper. He has simply matured and most intelligent, mature horses do not expend more energy than they have to.
I might mention that the punters love the horse despite what anyone says.
The wonderful suprise of the race was Well Chief's (Ger) gutsy second after a two-year layoff with a damaged tendon. Timmy Murphy gave the ten-year-old chestnut a smashing ride for trainer David Pipe leaving his groom, Eileen Defue, in tears over his being "so brave".
Bringing the horse back to form is a truly great achievement for Pipe and his connections.
Paddy Flood, who won his first race at Cheltenham on Ninetieth Minute (Ire), also was teary. He rode a master-class ride to take the Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) (Class 1), 2m5f on the Old Course.
The big gelding is out of Old Vic and was trained by the distinguished T J Taaffe (Ire).
Connections described the horse as being "a bit of a monkey playing around at home", but a different horse on the racecourse. He responded well to being ridden positively and was undervalued at 14-1.
Day two ended with Irish-bred horses ahead with seven Festival wins, French-breds second with four and the British with one.
Posted Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
Irish Triumph on Cheltenham Festival's First Day
Results of day one at the Cheltenham Festival indicate that Irish breeding will be the winner again this year with three out of five races won by Irish breds and two by French breds.
The Brits had the satisfaction of winning the Champion Hurdle which was the major race of the day.
Not to be outdone by horses, charitable Irish owner John P McManus celebrated his birthday with a thrilling Wichita Lineman (Ire) win of the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1), 3m1/2f on the Old Course and a one-two-three win in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (Class 2), 3m7f x-Country with Garde Champetre (Fr), L'Ami (Fr) and Drombeag (Ire) winning in that order.
They were all trained by Enda Bolger (Ire) and the winner was ridden by popular Nina Carberry.
Garde Champetre repeated his 2008 win and is now 5 out of 6 in cross-country this year.
Bolger's Heads on the Ground (Ire), owned by McManus, led a cracking pace over this testing, gorgeous cross-country course.
A New Story (Ire), trained by Michael Hourigan (Ire) squeezed in for fourth.
Champion jockey A P McCoy showed all his skills in steering Wichita Lineman home, but missed out on the big one--the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdles Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (Class 1), 2m1/2f on the Old Course.
"I would pick Binocular all day long." McCoy said.
British-bred Punjabi disagreed as did Celestial Halo (Ire).
While those two fought it out in a neck finish, McCoy made every effort to get Binocular up to the front the long way finishing fast, but went down by a head after the jockey misjudged the race in waiting too long.
Crack Away Jack, also well backed, could only manage fourth 2 1/4 lengths behind.
Binocular, second last year, looked the best horse but had no chance to as jockey McCoy misjudged the race.
Barry Geraghty took his second win of the Festival on Punjabi and is in the lead for top jockey.
Nicky Henderson trained Punjabi for owner Raymond Tooth.
Five-year-old French mare Quevega creamed her opposition by 14 lengths in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1), 2m4f. She was ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins.
Posted Tuesday, March 10th, 2009
After the Cheltenham Festival closes Friday, we shall look at the Dubai International Carnival and a preview the Dubai World Cup.
Kauto Star regains his Gold Cup title with last year's winner Denman second. Photo by David Hastings
For country people who support Cheltenham, the only stars are the horses and this Festival has not disappointed them. Next in order of importance, jockeys and trainers, have also put in stunning performances.
Ruby Walsh, whose career was as shattered as his spleen two years ago, not only made a hat trick in one day matching a 1999 record, equalled A P McCoy's five wins during a Festival and then won two more for seven, matched McCoy's 22 total Festival wins and bested it by two. Walsh has now 24 wins in his total Festivals and is just one short of Pat Taaffe's all-time record of 25.
Walsh had major help from trainer Paul Nicholls who provided most of Walsh's equine talent including the Gold Cup Star.
As good as the races and other horses are, the Gold Cup is the penultimate race of the meet. It is what everyone remembers from year to year and, no sooner over, the betting starts for the next year.
The totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase is a (Grade 1) (Class 1), 3m2-1/2f race on the New Course.
This year Kauto Star (Fr) had his good drying ground, was fitter than fit, looked glorious and had the most serene jockey on the course. Since the horse tends to be nervy, a calm jockey keeps his jumping perfect and saves his energy for final acceleration up the steep hill to the winning post.
Walsh never doubted he had the winning horse and let the horse have his head. Kauto Star took each fence with springing elan never putting a foot wrong and ran out at the end with only his stablemate and nemesis of 2008, Denman (Ire), threatening him.
He was perfection and no one expected him to trip at the last fence as he has done in the past.
Kauto Star is the only horse in history to regain his Gold Cup title with a loss in between winning years. He enters the pantheon of multiple Gold Cup winners with the distinction of having won three King George Chases as well.
The audience and commentators were rapturous classifying him with the all-time greats. What a joy for him and his connections especially since it will silence his critics until next Spring.
Only the bookies who laid against him were regretful--not that he won, but that the punters cleaned them out. They were lucky that so many other favourites lost and they will survive to another day.
Since he is only nine, he will be running in next year's Gold Cup against Denman who has returned to almost-top form.
Nicholls was every bit as excited about Denman's performance and return to health as Kauto Star's win.
There is talk of Denman running in the April Grand National as he will be in full form by then. Since he was sweating buckets in the winner's circle, it may not be on.
Another of Nicholl's stars, Big Buck's (Fr), will contest the 2010 World Hurdle again and will not be entered in the Gold Cup until the famous twosome fight it out next year.
The Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (Class 1), 2m1f on the New Course revealed another knockout horse from the Nicholls' stable.
American Trilogy (Ire) ran away with the race. Since the gray is only five, he will probably be steered away from the Gold Cup next year. Yet he is a natural for it.
It will be interesting to see if Big Buck's and American Trilogy's owners will go along with Nicholls' plans to postphone their participation in the Gold Cup.
Needless to say, Nicholls emerged as top trainer of the meet with five winners and Willie Mullins (Ire) second with three.
With such an outstanding meet and exceptionally good weather, it was surprising that attendance was down. The bad economy is cutting into every activity and Cheltenham was no exception.
The British feel redeemed in that their trainers won 16 out of 25 races and the Irish trainers the other nine.
However, they lost on breeding with only two winners, the French had 10 and the Irish 13.
Britain is still feeling the effects of the disastrous Thatcher policies of imposing a crippling VAT on horse sales in this country which relied on the horse industry as one of the top four Gross National Producers.
Other countries like France and Ireland cut taxes and created incentives thereby driving British breeding out of competition.
How sad, on the Gold Cup day, to read an impassioned plea from Michael Harris, Chief Executive of the Racehorse Owners' Association, to bookmakers to "make an additional, commercial payment for those fixtures that are barely viable for racecourses to lay on". Those races are held, because bookmakers want them for betting flow.
What was so pleasing about Kayf Aramis' win yesterday is that Darley Stud is helping to subsidise British breeding by making his sire, Kayf Tara, available at very low cost to help reinvigorate British stock.
Kayf Tara's first crop including Kayf Aramis is just coming to racing age and has its first Cheltenham winner.
There is so much human talent in this country that is trying to rebuild its equine heritage.
Cheltenham reminds one every year that many believe that stars are reachable. Sometimes it is very, very hard.
A Kauto Star triumph with Denman right behind, after so much adversity, inspires one to keep trying.
Posted Friday, March 13th, 2009
Ladies Triumph at Cheltenham Festival's Ladies' Day
Elegant trainer Venetia Williams' handsome stayer Kayf Aramis (Kayf Tara--son of one of my favourite flat stayers) won the Pertemps Final (Handicap Hurdle) (Listed Race) (Class 1), 3m on the New course.
Owner Isobel Phipps Coltman bred her seven-year-old gelding down the road from Williams' yard and was very involved in his training. She was sure he would stay forever and grind down all the others the way his sire did. She and her family were ecstatic.
Kayf Aramis was the only British-bred winner of the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Williams trained the first and second home in the Freddie Williams Festival Plate (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3) (Class 1), 2m5f on the New Course. Both the winner Something Wells and the doughty Ping Pong Sivola, 13.2 favourite, were French bred.
Pretty Star (Ger) took second behind Character Building (Ire) for her in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Amateur Riders) (Class 2), 3m1-1/2f on the New Course.
Perhaps Williams took her wins all in stride, but members from the Women's Institutes were there in force to celebrate Ladies Day in a new quasi-sponsorship arrangement with Cheltenham to learn about and promote horse sports which are so important to the British culture and economy.
Williams was their unexpected heroine of the day.
Her good friend, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, brought home his second winner of the Festival in a commanding performance by Imperial Commander (Ire) in the Ryanair Chase (Registered as the Festival Trophy Chase) (Grade 1), 2m5f on the New Course.
Imperial Commander was second favourite to the beloved Voy Por Ustedes (Fr) who made two unusual jumping mistakes which cost him lengths but, in his inimitable form, rallied to take a closing second from valiant Schindlers Hunt (Ire).
Twiston-Davies' yard has had some problems of late and is back in form with Tricky Trickster who won yesterday and "Nellie" for "Nelson" otherwise known as Imperial Commander who is a big striding horse reminding one of Denman (Ire) with his size and fluid jumping.
Trainer Paul Nicholls put his stamp of superiority on two new exciting prospects in Chapoturgeon (Fr) and Big Buck's (Fr).
Chapoturgeon, who is a classic lean and angular French type, blew off all in the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (Class 1), 2m5f, on the New Course.
The five-year-old gray gelding was so fresh at the end that he looked as if he could do the race again leaving experts dreaming of another Denman.
They were also left with visions of future Gold Cup wins for Nicholl's Big Buck's (Fr) who banished the favourite Kasbah Bliss (Fr) to fourth and third favourite Punchestowns (Fr) to second in a painful duel which left excellent horses completely outclassed in the race of the day--Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Grade 1) Class 1), 3m on the New Course.
One trainer noted Big Buck's dicey jumping in a wistful remark that "the clumsy old thing should have stayed in chasing". He will probably be dragged back to chasing after this feat with Denman's name mentioned again as a touchstone.
At six, he can have a big future if Nicholls can polish his performance. Then again perhaps he does need to.
"He has such a big engine it doesn't matter." said jockey Ruby Walsh who got his fifth win of the Cheltenham Festival on the Stewart family's prodigy.
So far the French breds have three wins today totalling seven for the Festival, the Irish two totalling nine and British one totally two. Ruby Walsh on his fifth win of the Festival.
This meet was not one to bet on favourites except the sometimes-maligned Master Minded (Fr); it has produced some of the most exciting prospects for the future with Paul Nicholls having an endless supply of exceptionally brilliant talent.
He has three running the the Gold Cup and any one of them is capable of winning.
Even the Women's Institute members have developed a great interest in chasing, because one of their founders was the formidable Lady Denman.
In honour of the Ladies, let me not forget to mention: Denman is one of Nicholls' flush hand running tomorrow to defend his Gold Cup. I for one will be a wreck until he is off that course safe and well.
Posted Thursday, March 12th, 2009
Irish Add Four Wins and Jockey Ruby Walsh Makes Two Records
Ruby Walsh opened his account yesterday on Quevega (Fr) who was trained by Willie Mullins, won three on day two of the Cheltenham Festival equaling Mick Fitz' 1999 record hat trick, equaled A P McCoy's record 21 wins at the Festivals and jumped into the lead as 2009 jockey with four in the bank.
Irish-bred horses won four races and French-bred two leaving the British out of luck.
Irish trainer Willie Mullins scored his second and third Festival successes following Quevega.
His 17-hand favourite Mikael D'Raguenet (Fr) showed brilliant ability changing strides in machine-like style with Ruby Walsh on board to take the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1), 2m5f on the Old Course to beat out impressive Karabak (Fr). He will be aimed at fences next year.
Walsh also steered Mullins' popular Cooldine (Ire) in a surging gallop to win the RSA Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1), 3m 1/2f, by about 15 lengths on drying ground of the Old Course.
Despite a brilliant performance, I doubt that Cooldine will be rated as high as Master Minded (Fr) was last year.
Walsh made his third success on the highest-rated chaser in the world (186) Master Minded for trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Clive Smith in the feature of the day, Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1), 2m on the Old Course.
Winning this race last year by 19 lengths earned Master Minded his high rating.
Frankly, I felt the horse was overrated and not superior to the exceptional chaser Denman (Ire).
This year the enchantment has worn off and the besotted experts have become critics complaining that Master Minded has not shown the same energy surges and ease in winning.
Sadly, Nicholls was left defending the winning horse positing that so much snow prohibited outdoor galloping and the horse has become a bit lazy.
To suggest that Master Minded won today's race in workman-like fashion is an insult to the fluent-moving, perfect jumper. He has simply matured and most intelligent, mature horses do not expend more energy than they have to.
I might mention that the punters love the horse despite what anyone says.
The wonderful suprise of the race was Well Chief's (Ger) gutsy second after a two-year layoff with a damaged tendon. Timmy Murphy gave the ten-year-old chestnut a smashing ride for trainer David Pipe leaving his groom, Eileen Defue, in tears over his being "so brave".
Bringing the horse back to form is a truly great achievement for Pipe and his connections.
Paddy Flood, who won his first race at Cheltenham on Ninetieth Minute (Ire), also was teary. He rode a master-class ride to take the Coral Cup (Handicap Hurdle) (Grade 3) (Class 1), 2m5f on the Old Course.
The big gelding is out of Old Vic and was trained by the distinguished T J Taaffe (Ire).
Connections described the horse as being "a bit of a monkey playing around at home", but a different horse on the racecourse. He responded well to being ridden positively and was undervalued at 14-1.
Day two ended with Irish-bred horses ahead with seven Festival wins, French-breds second with four and the British with one.
Posted Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
Irish Triumph on Cheltenham Festival's First Day
Results of day one at the Cheltenham Festival indicate that Irish breeding will be the winner again this year with three out of five races won by Irish breds and two by French breds.
The Brits had the satisfaction of winning the Champion Hurdle which was the major race of the day.
Not to be outdone by horses, charitable Irish owner John P McManus celebrated his birthday with a thrilling Wichita Lineman (Ire) win of the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (Class 1), 3m1/2f on the Old Course and a one-two-three win in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase (Class 2), 3m7f x-Country with Garde Champetre (Fr), L'Ami (Fr) and Drombeag (Ire) winning in that order.
They were all trained by Enda Bolger (Ire) and the winner was ridden by popular Nina Carberry.
Garde Champetre repeated his 2008 win and is now 5 out of 6 in cross-country this year.
Bolger's Heads on the Ground (Ire), owned by McManus, led a cracking pace over this testing, gorgeous cross-country course.
A New Story (Ire), trained by Michael Hourigan (Ire) squeezed in for fourth.
Champion jockey A P McCoy showed all his skills in steering Wichita Lineman home, but missed out on the big one--the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdles Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (Class 1), 2m1/2f on the Old Course.
"I would pick Binocular all day long." McCoy said.
British-bred Punjabi disagreed as did Celestial Halo (Ire).
While those two fought it out in a neck finish, McCoy made every effort to get Binocular up to the front the long way finishing fast, but went down by a head after the jockey misjudged the race in waiting too long.
Crack Away Jack, also well backed, could only manage fourth 2 1/4 lengths behind.
Binocular, second last year, looked the best horse but had no chance to as jockey McCoy misjudged the race.
Barry Geraghty took his second win of the Festival on Punjabi and is in the lead for top jockey.
Nicky Henderson trained Punjabi for owner Raymond Tooth.
Five-year-old French mare Quevega creamed her opposition by 14 lengths in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1), 2m4f. She was ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Willie Mullins.
Posted Tuesday, March 10th, 2009
After the Cheltenham Festival closes Friday, we shall look at the Dubai International Carnival and a preview the Dubai World Cup.
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 3/16/2009 12:46 PM 
Categories: Cheltenham Festival 2009
Tags: Cheltenham Festival 2009
Categories: Cheltenham Festival 2009
Tags: Cheltenham Festival 2009
A new beginning.
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