12.30 Peter O’Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup (4m)
1 Old Benny (Mr C Huxley) 9-1
2 Over The Creek (Mr J Guerriero) 7-1
3 Back On Line (Mr W Biddick) 8-1
Alan King, fresh from his success with Katchit on Tuesday, wasted no time
getting back to the winner’s circle with the victory of Old Benny, who was
providing his amateur jockey, Charlie Huxley, with his first Festival
success.
The winner, who was improving for a step up in distance having previously
shaped like an out-and-out stayer, raced in the thick of a bunched field
until he and Over The Creek pulled five lengths clear of the pack between
the last two.
Old Benny, holding a half-length advantage, came up well at the last before
extending his advantage over the runner-up to seven lengths at the finish.
It was another four-and-a-half lengths back to the third.
Ornais, the 9-2 favourite, travelled well for much of the race but was feeling
the pinch from the top of the hill. Sandhurst was down on his nose at the
fourteenth and never recovered. Mike Brewer
1.05 Royal & SunAlliance Chase 3m 1/2f Old Course
1 Albertas Run (A P McCoy) 4-1 Fav
2 Roll Along (T J Murphy) 20-1
3 Battlecry (P J Brennan) 25-1
11 ran
Tony McCoy, on his back in hospital after breaking two vertebrae in a fall at
Warwick two months ago, had his efforts to make the Festival rewarded with
the impressive success of Albertas Run.
The winner provided a boost for Jonjo O’Neill, who has struggled for form this
season, and completed a quick double for Trevor Hemmings, whose colours were
also carried victory by Old Benny in the opener.
McCoy settled his mount in mid-division, creeping closer from four out until
cruising up alongside Battlecry coming down the hill.
McCoy was looking back for dangers at this point but saw nothing to worry him
and had the race in safe keeping when clearing the last, staying on strongly
to score by four-and-a-half lengths.
Roll Along ran through fading horses to secure second, ahead of Battlecry,
with Silverburn well held in fourth.
Pomme Tiepy was an early casualty, falling at the tricky, downhill fence on
the first circuit. Joe Lively attempted to make all but was struggling after
making a mistake at the tenth.
“It’s nice to ride a winner,” McCoy told Channel 4 Racing. “I won on him here
a couple of months ago but he pulled up after the last that day so I didn’t
learn that much about him. I’m delighted for the trainer. Jonjo always
produces the winners come Cheltenham.”
Of his injury comeback, McCoy added: “You always have to be positive. It’s
part of the job to get the falls.
“You’re always in a mad rush to get back and thanks to all the doctors who
helped me.” Mike Brewer
1.40 Jewson Novices Handicap Chase (2m 4f 100yd)
1 Finger Onthe Pulse (B J Geraghty) 9-1
2 Barbers Shop (M A Fitzgerald) 12-1
3 Possol (M Bradburne) 25-1
4 Fleet Street (A Tinkler) 66-1
Some consolation for connections of Kicking King, who was ruled out of the
Gold Cup last week. Finger Onthe Pulse proved well suited by the strong
early pace, which was set by Gold Medallist and Gods Token, taking closer
order from halfway and clearly travelling best when he jumped his way to the
front three out.
Finger Onthe Pulse idled on the run-in and for a moment it looked as though
there may be a royal winner, as the Queen's Barbers Shop stayed on strongly
up the hill. However, Finger Onthe Pulse had enough in reserve to hold on by
a neck. Possol and Fleet Street stayed on from further back to snatch third
and fourth.
Of the other fancied runners, Mr Strachan was an early faller, while Dear
Villez was brought down before halfway by Something Wells. Ambobo, who was
staying on in a share of third coming to the last, made a jolting mistake
and faded on the run-in to finish sixth. Rob Wright
2.20 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase
1 Master Minded (R Walsh) 3-1
2 Voy Por Ustedes (R Thornton) 5-2 fav
3 Fair Along (R Johnson) 12-1
8 ran.
Non Runners: Azulejo, Contraband, Lennon.
Master Minded, trained by Paul Nicholls, put up a breathtaking performance to
land the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase in the colours of
Kauto Star.
Ruby Walsh comfortably tracked a searing pace set by Schindlers Hunt and
Tamarinbleu, and as they dropped away by four out the race had resolved
itself into a duel between Master Minded and the chasing Voy Por Ustedes,
the winner of the race last year.
Yet top-class though Voy Por Ustedes is, he simply could not cope with the
pace and impeccable jumping of the winner, who drew further clear up the
hill to pass the post 19 lengths in front of Voy Por Ustedes with the third,
Fair Along, another 16 lengths away third.
So impressive was Master Minded, only a five-year-old, that bookmakers quote
him at just even money to win next year’s Champion Chase. George Rae
2.55 Ryanair Chase 2m 4 1/2f Old Course
1 Our Vic (T J Murphy) 4-1
2 Mossbank (D N Russell) 4-1
3 Turko (R Walsh) 7-1
9 ran
Our Vic has proved something of an enigma in the past but, fitted with
blinkers for the first time, never put a foot wrong, jumping and travelling
well under a bold, front-running ride to score by five lengths.
Mossbank, the runner-up, was settled in rear under a patient ride, creeping
into the race to threaten the leader going to the last. However, with Our
Vic maintaining the gallop, Mossbank could make no further in-roads on the
run-in.
Turko was another seven lengths back in third, with Knight Legend running a
fine race at odds of 33-1 in fourth.
The Listener was sent off the 100-30 favourite but, denied his preferred spot
at the head of the field by the winner, failed to give his supporters much
of a run for their money.
The winner, who carried David Johnson's colours, was the second of the meeting
for David Pipe, whose An Accordion won the William Hill Trophy on Tuesday.
Johnson was understandably thrilled and said: “The horse has been knocking on
the door all season and deserved a big race - now he’s got it.
“David (Pipe) said the blinkers might liven him up - he’s been a bit lethargic
in his races - and it’s worked the oracle.
“Once he jumped the first I thought he’d have a real chance.Over the last I
was keeping my fingers crossed he’d get up the hill. Timmy (Murphy) gave him
a great ride.” Mike Brewer
3.30 Ladbrokes World Hurdle
1 Inglis Drever (Denis O’Regan) 11-8 fav
2 Kasbah Bliss (C Pieux) 9-1
3 Kazal (B J Geraghty) 12-1
17 ran
Inglis Drever became the first horse to win the Ladbrokes World Hurdle,
formerly the Stayers’ Hurdle, for the third time.
With the early pace set by Lough Derg and Hardy Eustace, Denis O’Regan adopted
his customary tactic of stalking the leaders, stealthily making his way
through the field.
At the top of the hill, My Way De Solzen could also be seen travelling well as
the early pace-setters gave way to Kazal, who swept down the hill with a
host of challengers in behind.
Kasbah Bliss, the French challenger, seized the initiative on the run to the
final bend, but by now Inglis Drever had crept close enough to have him
firmly in his sights.As the pair turned for home, Inglis Drever launched his
challenge and, after a sharp battle from the last, asserted his superiority
to win by 1l with Kazal seven lengths away.
"What a horse!" O'Regan said. "I can't believe it, it's a
dream. He's a serious horse. I never panicked and I was never in any
trouble. He just takes off.
"It was a good jump at the last and he did the rest.
Inglis Drever has won the World Hurdle in 2005, 2007 and 2008 - having missed
the intervening renewal because of injury - a fabulous record for trainer
Howard Johnson and owner Graham Wylie.
"It feels great, he missed a year and he's come good again," Johnson
said. "All credit to the horse firstly. Andrea and Graham (Wylie) have
been very good supporters for the yard and I'm pleased for them.
"It's just unbelievable."
Johnson added: "I'll have a word with Graham at the end of the season and
if he's a chance of winning the Order of Merit I might think about going to
Aintree, my lucky course. We might come back for one more next year but he
won't have a lot more races.
"It was near enough the best training performance of my life." George
Rae
4.05 Racing Post Plate Handicap Chase 2m 4f 1/2f Old Course
1 Mister McGoldrick (D Elsworth) 66-1
2 Gwanako (R Walsh) 9-1
3 Fundamentalist (P J Brennan) 28-1
4 Bible Lord (M D Grant) 6-1
22 ran
Also: 5-2 Fav Don’t Push It (fell)
Mister McGoldrick provided the upset of the meeting so far when turning what
had looked to be a competitive handicap into a procession under Dominic
Elsworth.
Taking over from the pace-setting Cossack Dancer going out on the second
circuit, Mister McGoldrick, who had finished third in the Champion Chase two
years ago, soon had his rivals on the stretch and could be called the winner
from the top of the hill.
Jumping the last around ten lengths clear, he galloped all the way up the hill
to score by 13 lengths from Gwanako, with Fundamentalist another 11 lengths
back in third.
Bible Lord secured an each-way return for his backers, but Don’t Push It, the
5-2 favourite, was a major disappointment.
Settled in rear on the inside, he made some gains to track the leaders down
the backstraight but was stuggling when blundering three out before falling
at the next.
The winner is trained by Sue Smith. Mike Brewer
4.40 Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle
1 Ballyfitz (P J Brennan 18-1)
2 Miko de Beauchene (R Walford 7-1 jt-fav)
3 According To Pete (F King 33-1)
4 Mobaasher (R Walsh 12-1)
24 ran.
Ballyfitz drew on all his reserves of stamina to land the Pertemps Final from
Miko De Beauchene, after a successful time over fences.
Paddy Brennan, marking an excellent first season as stable jockey to the
winning trainer, Nigel Twiston-Davies, had no doubts about his mount’s
ability to see out the three-mile trip and from the turn for home there was
only two in it.
Ballyfitz was sent on with Miko De Beauchene, the Welsh National winner and a
certain stayer, in pursuit. But for all Robert Walford’s urgings on Miko De
Beauchene, Ballyfitz had too much up his sleeve and ran out a three-length
winner. According To Pete was two and three-quarters of a length third.
However, the other joint-favourite, the Irish challenger Robin Du Bois, could
never land a blow after failing to make much progress under a patient ride
from Paul Carberry.
5.15 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase 3m 1 1/2f Old
Course
1 High Chimes (Mr J E Tudor) 14-1
2 Openide (Mr R O’Sullivan) 18-1
3 Burntoakboy (Mr T Weston) 12-1
4 Noir Et Vert (Mr R O Harding) 11-1
24 ran
Also: 7-1 Fav My Immortal
A Festival winner for point-to-point champion James Tudor and trainer Evan
Williams. High Chimes was not always fluent at his fences but travelled well
in mid-division before going on from the pace-setting Royal Man two out.
The nine-year-old quickly put a dozen or so lengths between him and the field
and, whilst tiring on the climb to the line, never looked in serious threat,
scoring by four lengths.
Openide, who came from well back, might have been closer still but for an
untidy leap at the last but deserves credit for running all the way to the
line.
Burntoakboy did well to finish third, another seven lengths away, while Noir
Et Vert looked a danger at the top of the hill but could only plug on at one
pace.
Newbay Prop blundered badly at the ninth and was pulled up before the
eleventh. Mike Brewer
5.50 Cheltenham
1 Cousin Vinny (Mr P W Mullins) 12-1
2 Corskeagh Royale (Miss N Carberry) 7-1
3 Zaarito (D N Russell) 3-1 Fav
23 ran
4th Shoreacres 80-1
NR: Timisvar.
Cousin Vinny gave Willie Mullins his sixth victory in the Weatherbys Champion
Bumper as the curtain came down on Cheltenham’s ten-race third day.
As the gloom gathered, the trainer’s son, Patrick, sent Cousin Vinny to the
front turning for home and, despite the winner showing signs of
inexperience, he ran on resolutely enough to hold the spirited challenge of
Nina Carberry on the runner-up by three and a quarter lengths.
Zaarito, another threequarters of a length away third, completed a 1-2-3 for
Ireland. George Rae
