Irish Horses Triumph Again
Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival brought one-two triumphs for Ireland in two major Grade 1 races with France's horses third and two Irish victories with a French horse second and third.
The exciting 5yo Pedler's Cross IRE (Oscar IRE) triumphed for Ginger McCain's son Donald under Jason Maguire in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 5f on the Old Course.
Pedler's Cross, who cost only 16,000 Euros, was described by his jockey as "the real package" and is headed for Aintree.
Reve De Sivola FR (Assessor IRE) was second by 1 1/2 lengths.
Weapon's Amnesty IRE (Presenting) was an exciting prospect for next-year's Gold Cup at best-price 12.1 after his seven-length victory over Burton Port IRE (Bob Back USA) and by another seven lengths over France's handsome Long Run (Cadoudal FR) in the RSA Chase (Grade 1), 3m 1/2f on the Old Course.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1), 2m on the Old Course, was won by Ireland's Big Zeb (Oscar IRE) who beat Forpadydeplasterer IRE (Moscow Society USA) by 6 lengths for £182,432 1st prize money and paid 10.1.
Kalahari King FR (Kahyasi) was third by 3 1/4 lengths.
Albertas Run IRE (Accordion) showed his skills for trainer Jonjo O'Neill in the Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) when he defeated 11.4 favourite Poquelin FR (Lahint USA) by 4 1/2 lengths and J'Y Vole FR (Mansonnien FR) by a further nose.
A P McCoy gave AR a brilliant run and the horse will head to Aintree where he could run in the Grand National though he does not like being crowded in big races.
The battle for first started a real argy-bargy when Ruby Walsh on Poquelin went after McCoy and found the beautiful Willie Mullins' mare J'Y Vole coming fast between them.
Walsh swung left closing her off by repeated bumping her jockey Davey Condon who tried fruitlessly to get through the gap two or three times.
Walsh cost her second as J'Y Vole was coming with far greater speed and momentum than Poquelin had.
Condon paid a further price of a four-day ban for trying to squeeze through instead of going around Poquelin only to lose by a greater distance.
An outspoken man of integrity, Condon took his bad luck with good grace but sent Channel 4's betting pundit a roundhouse on air for insulting a friend.
J'Y Vole was robbed of £13,000 in prize money and I lost a great deal of respect for Walsh given that he deliberately and repeatedly veered into her.
Other horses came together and she made a slight mistake on the last fence.
She must be one tough cookie to run Walsh down by a nose after all that and her Irish trainer Mullins can be proud of her and his jockey.
J'Y Vole is one to watch and so is her team.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
The exciting 5yo Pedler's Cross IRE (Oscar IRE) triumphed for Ginger McCain's son Donald under Jason Maguire in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1), 2m 5f on the Old Course.
Pedler's Cross, who cost only 16,000 Euros, was described by his jockey as "the real package" and is headed for Aintree.
Reve De Sivola FR (Assessor IRE) was second by 1 1/2 lengths.
Weapon's Amnesty IRE (Presenting) was an exciting prospect for next-year's Gold Cup at best-price 12.1 after his seven-length victory over Burton Port IRE (Bob Back USA) and by another seven lengths over France's handsome Long Run (Cadoudal FR) in the RSA Chase (Grade 1), 3m 1/2f on the Old Course.
The Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1), 2m on the Old Course, was won by Ireland's Big Zeb (Oscar IRE) who beat Forpadydeplasterer IRE (Moscow Society USA) by 6 lengths for £182,432 1st prize money and paid 10.1.
Kalahari King FR (Kahyasi) was third by 3 1/4 lengths.
Albertas Run IRE (Accordion) showed his skills for trainer Jonjo O'Neill in the Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) when he defeated 11.4 favourite Poquelin FR (Lahint USA) by 4 1/2 lengths and J'Y Vole FR (Mansonnien FR) by a further nose.
A P McCoy gave AR a brilliant run and the horse will head to Aintree where he could run in the Grand National though he does not like being crowded in big races.
The battle for first started a real argy-bargy when Ruby Walsh on Poquelin went after McCoy and found the beautiful Willie Mullins' mare J'Y Vole coming fast between them.
Walsh swung left closing her off by repeated bumping her jockey Davey Condon who tried fruitlessly to get through the gap two or three times.
Walsh cost her second as J'Y Vole was coming with far greater speed and momentum than Poquelin had.
Condon paid a further price of a four-day ban for trying to squeeze through instead of going around Poquelin only to lose by a greater distance.
An outspoken man of integrity, Condon took his bad luck with good grace but sent Channel 4's betting pundit a roundhouse on air for insulting a friend.
J'Y Vole was robbed of £13,000 in prize money and I lost a great deal of respect for Walsh given that he deliberately and repeatedly veered into her.
Other horses came together and she made a slight mistake on the last fence.
She must be one tough cookie to run Walsh down by a nose after all that and her Irish trainer Mullins can be proud of her and his jockey.
J'Y Vole is one to watch and so is her team.
Racing International http://www.racingint.com
Posted by susan trevelyan-syke at 3/21/2010 8:13 PM 
Categories: Cheltenham Festival 2010
Tags: Willie Mullins Poquelin Reve De Sivola J'Y Vole Ryanair Chase Cheltenham Festival Big Zeb Albertas Run Cheltenham Racecourse Grand National RSA Chase Novices' Hurdle Weapon's Amnesty Ruby Walsh Pedler's Cross Jason Maguire Racing International Kalahari King Donald McCain Davey Codon Forpadydeplasterer Burton Port AP McCoy Queen Mother Champion Chase Long Run
Categories: Cheltenham Festival 2010
Tags: Willie Mullins Poquelin Reve De Sivola J'Y Vole Ryanair Chase Cheltenham Festival Big Zeb Albertas Run Cheltenham Racecourse Grand National RSA Chase Novices' Hurdle Weapon's Amnesty Ruby Walsh Pedler's Cross Jason Maguire Racing International Kalahari King Donald McCain Davey Codon Forpadydeplasterer Burton Port AP McCoy Queen Mother Champion Chase Long Run
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