DIARY – CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL – DAY 3
– THURSDAY 18 MARCH 2010
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The third day of the
2010 Cheltenham Festival dawned overcast in Hertfordshire. I was getting earlier and earlier with my
setting-off time, as today I left home at 06:30. My journey then took me via Hemel Hempstead
and Aylesbury, and around the latter’s outer ring-road, as the tanker style
lorry I was following took the inner one.
It’s obviously far quicker to go via the inner one this early in the
day, as the same tanker lorry was a distance in front of me as I turned onto
the A41 heading for Waddesdon and Bicester!
Luckily the lorry wasn’t travelling too slowly, and I reached Bicester
in good time, and then turned southwards onto the A34 heading for
Oxford. But that was when my first
travel problem began ... The queue from the
M40 junction stretched back almost to Bicester! So I took the Wendlebury turning, not
knowing quite where I was going ... as I don’t have satnav ... or need it
either!!! However, I didn’t turn left
at the top of the slip road to follow the majority of the vehicles ahead of
me, instead I turned right, and found my way to the B430. I wasn’t too sure whether to turn left or
right, but I choose the former which, as it turned out, re-joined the A34, but
at least I’d bypassed the long traffic queue!
At Wolvercote, the traffic on the road between the A44 roundabout and
the A40 junction was moving slower than on Tuesday, but faster than on
Wednesday. The journey along
the A40 to Cheltenham again went smoothly, the next hold-up I encountered was
‘school’ related as I’d arrived in
Charlton Kings during the morning rush-hour!
Having eventually cleared the traffic queues heading for the town
centre, I arrived at the racecourse at 09:00, once again parking in the
bottom field of the west car park. As I was very early,
I decided to walk into town. Initially
to purchase a map of Cheltenham, which I did in WH Smiths, then I popped into
Next to find out if they had any sunglasses, which they did. I found a style which suited, but they were
manufactured in two different colours – plum and brown – so, you’ve guessed
it, I bought both as I couldn’t decide between the two! I then dropped by
the branch of one of the local recruitment agencies ... not to register for a
job ... but to say hello, as I work at the Head Office and know a couple of
the consultants. It turned out that
the Manager, Georgina, is a bit of a racing fan too – her favourite jockey is
AP McCoy, and she also likes Kieron Fallon and Frankie Dettori. I’d also held a Cheltenham Festival related
conversation with Caroline from our Leeds branch the previous Monday – it’s
good to find people who actually know what I’m talking about and who don’t
find the conversation boring!!! I excused myself in
time to return to the racecourse by 11:00 and, having found a spot alongside
the Parade Ring, I was in time to see Choc arrive back from walking the New
Course. Each day before
racing there is a presentation in the Winners’ Enclosure where the leading
personalities of the day are interviewed by either Ian Carnaby or Jonathan
Powell. Today’s interviewees included
Philip Hobbs, Eddie O’Grady, and Katie Walsh (sister of Ruby) who had won the
Amateur Riders’ Steeplechase the previous day and had subsquently been voted
winner of Wednesday’s Guinness Award.
Also interviewed were Rachael Kane and Camilla Henderson (daughter of
Nicky) in connection with the Festival Ladies Charity Sweepstake race in aid
of Cancer Research UK which would take place at the end of today’s card. Being Ladies Day,
there were prizes for the Best Dressed Lady, the Best Hat and the Best
Accessories. Zoey Bird from At The
Races interviewed the winners, and Georgie Browne (partner of Paul Nicholls)
was interviewed as part of her role as Ladies Day Ambassador. As I was watching
the horses parade for the first race of the day, I noticed Choc’s mum, dad
and brother were standing not far from me, viewing the animals in the Parade
Ring. When the weather was fine, his mum
and dad would watch the races from the Owners and Trainers section of the
main grandstand. Choc didn’t have a
ride in the first race. Although Alan
King did have a runner, Awesome George, who was ridden by his usual jockey
Charlie Huxley. Prior to this race,
and well before the horses had left the Parade Ring, I set off to find a
vantage point beside the course-side rails.
The start of this race was in the mid-course chute.
Then
they were off. Heading towards the
first fence, Fiendish Flame, Othermix and Gansey were prominent.
In mid-field the AP McCoy ridden Jered over-jumped
at the first and fell. AP was down for
a while, having been kicked in the face, and would need stitches in a wound
to his chin. Gansey,
having gone to the front of the field, dived at the second and pecked on
landing. Gansey and Fiendish
Flame were tanking along at the head of affairs, the momentum forcing them
wide as they turned into the straight for the first time. Nicanor was soon
detached in rear. Tanks For That
blundered at the 4th; and Irish raider Lenabane
fell at the 5th. Fiendish
Flame took the advantage approaching the 6th, but Gansey
had taken up the running again by the 7th.
The favourite, Rivaliste, was tracking the
leaders, but would not jump well throughout the contest. Awesome George was in rear. Nicanor was
pulled up. Heading
for the farthest corner of the course, Fiendish Flame led the way by 3
lengths. The fancied Hey Big Spender,
when beginning to look like a major player, blundered and unseated Joe Tizzard at the 13th.
Door Boy fell at the 14th, hampering Dave’s Dream who was in
rear. Fiendish
Flame still led at the 3rd last, on his outside was China Rock and, on his
inner, Othermix.
In behind were Rivaliste and Copper Bleu,
the latter travelling well. Copper
Bleu led over the 2nd last and held off the persistent challenge of Othermix, before being driven clear towards the
line. Another Festival winner for
Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson, the latter’s 15th Festival victory,
equalling Choc’s current tally. Awesome George was pulled up before 2
out.
I
remained beside the course-side rails in preparation for the next race, in
which Alan King had two runners, Chamirey ridden by
Wayne Hutchinson and Trenchant ridden by Choc. The
start of this race was at the beginning of the back straight, with two full circuits
to cover. Fredo
was behaving mulishly at the start, but did set off with the other runners.
The
field was led away by College Daisy, who blundered at the first, and Ballyfitz. Soon
Buena Vista had pulled his way to the front.
Around the first bend, Chamirey was
prominent on the outside of the field, Trenchant to his inside taking a
mid-line route. Into
the home straight with one circuit to go, Wayne Hutchinson’s mount had
progressed into fourth position, with Choc tracking him. Buena
Vista still held the lead as they headed for the farthest corner of the
track, Chamirey having taken 2nd from 4 out. The favourite, Alfie
Sherrin, made a mistake 3 out. Trenchant was in 5th and being driven as
they headed downhill for the final time.
Buena
Vista was still clear when blundering at the last but held on to win by 5
lengths. Irish raider, Prince Erik,
having chased the leaders from 2 out, stayed on up the hill to take 2nd by a
head from Chamirey, with Cross Kennon
in 4th. Trenchant had faded after the
2nd last, and finished in 16th place. A
winner for Hadden Frost, son of Jimmy Frost, who
had trained the horse before it was transferred to David Pipe’s yard. Choc
dismounted from Trenchant as they came back down the horse walk, as his mount
appeared to be a little ‘distressed’.
Once again I remained beside the course-side rails
to await the appearance of the runners for the next event. The start of this race was in the mid-course
chute. This being the case, the horses
cantered across the home straight and up around the top of the course to
reach it. As I’d not been to the
Parade Ring, or read the small print in the race-card, it was as Choc
cantered across in front of me that I noticed Voy Por Ustedes was wearing first
time blinkers today.
The
field was led away by Deep Purple; Scotsirish hit
the first, Schindlers Hunt blundering at it
too. Choc rode Voy
Por Ustedes to the
outside of the field. Albertas Run, who had been travelling close up in second,
briefly took the lead as they cleared the 5th. Deep Purple regained it at the 6th. Ruby
took Pocquelin up the inside, saving ground; Choc
was in mid-division on the outside of the field. Barbers Shop hit the 7th. Scotsirish landed
awkwardly at the water-jump (9th), Petit Robin hit both the 10th (open ditch)
and the 11th (plain fence). Schindlers Hunt, having
been held up near the rear, dropped to the back of the field, unseating his
rider at the 12th, an open-ditch. His
jockey, Paddy Flood, was stood down for the remainder of the day. Voy Por Ustedes, still travelling
on the outside of the field, was not fluent over the 13th. Planet of Sound, who had made headway from
the 8th, hit the 13th and soon dropped out.
Albertas Run took over
the lead again 4 out. Poquelin was travelling well in behind the leader, as was
J’y Vole.
Around the final bend, Deep Purple and Poquelin
were disputing second, but J’y Vole was driven
between them, resulting in some ‘argy bargy’ occurring between the protagonists. Albertas Run was
driven clear before the last and went on to win by 4½ lengths from Poquelin, who battled up the run-in to beat the mare J’y Vole by a nose.
Deep Purple finished in 4th, and Voy Por Ustedes was 6 lengths back
in 5th. The
stewards took a look at the ‘interference’
which had occurred on the final turn, and deemed that the rider of J’y Vole, Davy Condon, had gone for a gap which was too
small. He was awarded a 4-day ban for
careless riding.
It
was noticeable that AP dismounted very gingerly from Albertas
Run when they reached the Winners’ Enclosure, presumably being very sore
following his first race fall from Jered. Alan
King had two runners in this race, Katchit with
Choc aboard, and the JP McManus owned Karabak
ridden by AP McCoy. As
this was the feature race of the day, there was a pre-race parade, the horses
being sorted into number order as they arrived on the course. The runners were then led up the course,
with No.1 Big Buck’s at the front of the line. Having completed the parade, the horses set
off through a gap in the rails, and up around the top bend to reach the
start. The
start of this race was at the beginning of the back straight, with 2 full
circuits to cover.
Then
they were off. The field was led away
by former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, War Of Attrition, followed by Ebadiyan, Fair Along and Time For Rupert. Katchit took a
centre line in 5th, with Lie Forrit on his
inside. Tidal Bay and Big Buck’s were
in mid-division, Sentry Duty brought up the rear. Downhill
for the first time, Sentry Duty was still in rear, Karabak
preceding him. War Of Attrition led
from Fair Along as they progressed up the home straight with one circuit to
go. Sentry Duty made errors at the
7th, 10th and at 2 out, before being pulled up prior to the last. Down
the back straight, Big Buck’s was coasting just behind the leaders, Katchit to his outside, with Tidal Bay soon dropping
out. Karabak
stalked Big Buck’s. When
they reached the far end of the course Time for Rupert was sent up to dispute
the lead with War Of Attrition, with Fair Along and Big Buck’s disputing
3rd. Turning
in, Katchit was in 6th place. With Big Buck’s now upsides Time for
Rupert, cheekily Ruby Walsh looked between his legs to see if any of the
other runners might be mounting a challenge.
They weren’t. So he sent Big
Buck’s on and, despite a minor blunder at the last, galloped on to win by 3¼
lengths from Time For Rupert, with Powerstation 11
lengths back in 3rd. Karabak stayed on under pressure to finish 4th. Choc
had eased Katchit towards the end of the race, and
finished in 11th.
Sadly, once Katchit
had reached the Unsaddling Enclosure, it was discovered that he was lame. Having then been transported away in the
horse ambulance, he was found to have fractured a hind pastern. He did not
have surgery, but the leg was heavily supported whilst he underwent a period
of box rest. After a period to two
weeks he was due to have his injury x-rayed. I had remained beside the course-side
rails, so my next view of Choc was as he cantered across the home straight on
the way to the start aboard the Alan King trained Tarotino. The start of this race was in the
mid-course chute.
Then
they were off. The field was led away
by The Sawyer and Atouchbetweenacara. Our Vic hit the first when prominent. Festival regular, Mister McGoldrick, tracked the leaders. Choc aboard Tarotino
was on the outside of the field. At
the back of the field were Martys Mission, Chapoturgeon, Song of Songs, I’m So Lucky, Gwanako and Mount Oscar.
My
Petra hit the 5th. Atouchbetweenacara
hit the 8th, and I’m So Lucky blundered in behind. At the far end of the course, The Sawyer
and Mister McGoldrick led from Great
Endeavour. Having quickly made up
ground on the outside of the field, Chapoturgeon
was in fifth position jumping the plain fence at the top of the hill. As
they galloped downhill to the third last, a group of 13 had pulled away from
the remainder of the field, the favourite Sunnyhillboy
travelling in around 10th. Having lost
touch with the main group, Choc pulled Tarotino up
before 3 out. The
Sawyer began to lose ground as Great Endeavour came to join Mister McGoldrick at the head of affairs, the former travelling
the better. From
Dawn To Dusk made a jumping error two out, and Song of Songs fell when in
7th, AP limping away to be attended by the medics. The grey Great Endeavour galloped on to win
by 1¼ lengths from the favourite, Sunnyhillboy, who was closing quickly towards the line,
having jumped the last obstacle in fourth.
Chapoturgeon having looked dangerous 4 out,
disappointed by fading into 7th. Two
painful falls for AP today, but also a Grade 1 win aboard Albertas
Run in the Ryanair Chase.
It
was now time for the sixth race of the day, the Amateur Riders Handicap
Chase. The start of this race was a short
distance down the home straight, with just over 2 circuits to travel. The weather had also taken a turn for the
worse, as it was now raining.
Then
they were off. The field was led away
by Khachaturian and Oodachee. Khachaturian reached for the open-ditch
(the 4th). Fingeronthepulse
fell at the 5th, hampering Parsons Legacy, who unseated his rider. Freds Benefit was
now in 3rd, with Heathcliff making a mistake at the
fence before the downhill section (the 8th).
Khachaturian
stood off the fence at the bottom of the hill. The favourite, Galant
Nuit, was in mid-field. Heading out into the country again,
Khachaturian still headed the field, followed by Freds
Benefit, Oodachee, and Lysander. Heathcliff fell
at the water-jump, Nostringsattached clouted the
next obstacle. At
the top of the hill, 5 out, Khachaturian and Freds
Benefit held a clear lead, with Ballabriggs in
third leading the chasing group. Freds Benefit made a mistake at the fourth last, and Mr
Robert fell at the same obstacle. Down
the hill Khachaturian remained ahead, his stable companion Ballabriggs now in second, the latter taking up the
running around the final bend. Isn’t
That Lucky, when in third position, took a tired looking tumble at the second
last. Ballabriggs slowed
considerably on the run-in, but just held on by half a length from Faasel, then Gallant Nuit, and
Ma Yahab.
Long time leader, Khachaturian, finished 5th. A second 2010 Festival winner for Donald
McCain Junior. The
screens were erected around Isn’t That Lucky, but fortunately the horse was
okay and eventually rose to its feet to be led away.
I returned to the Winners’ Enclosure
to see the horses arrive back. As
the weather had turned inclement, I decided to ‘call it a day’ and leave once the riders for Race 7, the charity
race, had left the Parade Ring.
Evidently,
two riders had gained the advantage over the remainder of the field as they headed
up the hill towards the line, Orla Madden aboard
Prince Picasso prevailing by the shortest of distances from the Alan King
trained Devil to Pay with Kate Doyle aboard.
Today, having returned to my car, I
decided to leave immediately. As it
was early, it was still light, and this made the journey across the Cotswolds
far easier, despite the rain. The following
day’s home bound journey was to be far worse, as it was both dark and wet! Once again my journey took me via
Oxford, Bicester and Aylesbury, and I returned via
the A41 bypass to the M25 in order to fill up my car with petrol. I arrived home at 20:20, once again logging
onto my laptop to upload my photos and update my blog before retiring for the
evening. Just one more day of my ‘Marathon’ week to go ... |
