DIARY – CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY 4
FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2009
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Today it was the turn of my friend Lesley to
accompany me to Cheltenham races. So I
left home at 07:05, driving to the village where she lives on the
Bedfordshire/Buckinghamshire border. Having
picked her up at 07:35, we drove out via the Leighton Buzzard bypass and down
to Aylesbury, where we encountered no long holdups today. As always, our route then took us via the
A41 to Bicester, and southwards on the A34 to Oxford before joining the
A40 to travel across the Cotswolds. It
always amazes me that the bleakest area of the route across the hills is just
after you leave the dual-carriageway and before you reach Burford. I always imagine it should be further
west! But I suppose it appears like
that because the road travels along a ridge at this point, with few trees to
provide protection. As we were early, there were no traffic build-ups
within Cheltenham, and we arrived at the course at around 09:45, again
parking in the West Car Park, in row D5 today. Lesley and I then walked across to the
south entrance, but we had to wait outside along with a crowd of other
ticketholders, as the gates didn’t open until 10:25. Once we were through the turnstiles, our
bags were searched, and we noticed a camera crew filming the punters as they
entered the course. We purchased
race-cards and then went in search of refreshments, before settling beside
the Parade Ring. We noticed Choc’s fiancée, Meally,
standing on the steps of the Weighing Room – she was very easy to spot today
as she was wearing her yellow coat, with a mini skirt (or dress) and
boots. After some time had passed, we paid a visit to
the Cheltenham Superstore, where I purchased a tea towel (which has Choc’s autograph, amongst others, printed on it), a
Cheltenham pen, and 2 postcards featuring a young and very cute Choc. The Guinness presentation today included an
interview with Michael Dickinson, famous for training the first 5 horses past
the post in the Cheltenham Gold Cup of 1983.
Following his training career in the UK he emigrated
to the USA where he continued to train, before giving up this career to
concentrate on his business of synthetic racetrack surfacing. There was also a presentation to Tony
McCoy to mark his 3,000 career winner, which was presented to him by Peter O’Sullevan and Lester Piggott. Her Majesty The Queen also arrived at around
midday as her horse, Barber’s Shop, was running in today’s Gold Cup. However, as we were situated at the bottom
of the Parade Ring steppings, we didn’t actually
see her, but we did stand when the National Anthem was played. It was soon time for the first race of the day,
in which Choc would be riding Alan King’s Walkon. Wayne Hutchison was aboard Alan’s second
runner, Trenchant.
Walkon
went off as favourite for this race.
One of his main rivals, Zaynar, was wearing cheek
pieces today and after being the ante-post favourite had drifted out in the
betting. The start of the race was at
the beginning of the home straight so the horses cantered up the horse-walk
in front of the stands before turning and heading down the course. There were
concerns about Jumbo Rio at the start, where he was trotted up for the vet
before being allowed to take his place in the line-up. Then they were off, to the roar of the
crowd. The field was led off by Stow, Reve de Sivola, Silk Drum, Ebadiyan and Jumbo Rio.
Choc aboard Walkon took a mid-line in around
6th. Starluck with Timmy Murphy aboard,
took a wide line down the back straight, with Zaynar
being ridden up the outside to take close order. Three flights from home Trenchant came under
pressure. As they approached the 2nd last flight, Choc was
just in behind the leaders, but the fancied Irish runner, Ebadiyan,
cocked his jaw and ran out at that hurdle when disputing the lead. Zaynar lead into
the final straight, Starluck on his outer, Walkon on his inner.
But despite Choc’s urgings, Walkon could never quite catch the leader, going down by
¾ of a length on the line. Mourad stayed on to finish 3rd, with Starluck
fading into 4th. Trenchant stayed on
to finish in 5th place.
Leaving Lesley to hold our place at the
course-side rails, I returned to the Winners’ Enclosure to see Choc return,
unsaddle, speak with connections and walk back to the Weighing Room. I then returned to the course-side rails in
preparation for the 2nd race of the day, although Choc had no ride in this
event.
Ruby Walsh was riding the grey,
American Trilogy, a 20-1 shot which had been very disappointing on his previous
runs. Dave’s Dream went off as favourite. Gloucester was running again,
having competed in Tuesday’s Supreme Novices. Initially the field was led off by Culcabock, with Working Title making a slight error at
the back of the field. By the time they
had reached the top bend, Khyber Kim, running keenly in first time blinkers,
had taken up the lead and was 3 lengths clear. Aachen flattened the 2nd flight down the
back. American Trilogy could be seen
improving effortlessly as they reached the end of the back straight, with Sunnyhillboy prominent on the outside too. Down the hill they came, initially still led by
Khyber Kim, but with Sky Hall and Gloucester taking over as they entered the
straight. Kandari
was now prominent on the outside, but Ruby was already on the premises and
drove American Trilogy between the leaders and went on to win by 11
lengths. Stradbrook
stayed on late for 2nd, Kandari fading on the
run-in. Ruby’s 6th winner of the Festival.
Top weight, Clopf, nearly unseated his rider
at the last.
It was now time for Choc’s 2nd ride of the day. He was aboard Thetwincamdrift,
presumably very disappointed that his intended ride, Bensalem, was unable to
run today due to a ‘dirty scope’. Alan
King’s 2nd runner was Midnight Sail ridden by Wayne Hutchinson. Also in the race was Picture in the Sky for
trainer Martin Keighley.
The race started at the beginning of the
back straight, so the horses cantered across course and up around the bend to
reach it. I noticed that Choc was
chatting to Warren Marston at the start, the rider of Picture in the Sky. Then they were off. The field was led off by Pride of Dulcote, Den of Iniquity, and Alpha Ridge, with Thetwincamdrift near the back taking a mid to inner
line. Picture in the Sky was running
on the inside in mid-field, and a little too freely in blinkers. Alpha Ridge, Den of Iniquity and Cape
Tribulation leading up the straight for the first time. Choc’s mount made
a little ground on the inside, but Picture in the Sky started to tail off as
they galloped down the back straight, eventually pulling up. Choc then started to lose his place again. Midnight Sail, Alan’s other runner, was
going well in 5th under Wayne Hutchinson.
At the top of the final hill, the lead was being
disputed by Pride of Dulcote, Cape Tribulation, Den
of Iniquity and On Raglan Road. Into
the final straight it was still Pride of Dulcote,
accompanied by Cape Tribulation, Midnight Sail, On Raglan Road and Weapon’s
Amnesty. Then as they galloped up
towards the line, Weapon’s Amnesty, under the inscrutable Davy Russell, was
driven past his rivals and held off the rallying Pride of Dulcote
under Ruby Walsh. Midnight Sail
finished in 6th. Choc aboard Thetwincamdrift, having been just behind the leading
group as they came down the hill, weakened to finish in 8th.
As Choc had
finished unplaced in the Albert Bartlett and thus would not be returning to
the Winners’ Enclosure, I remained at the course-side rails to hold our place
in preparation for the next race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, whilst Lesley went
in search of refreshments. Choc’s
ride this year was Halcon Genelardais,
which he had also ridden in last year’s race.
The horse was wearing cheek-pieces for the first time in public
today. 5 of the runners in today’s
race were trained by Paul Nicholls.
Being the feature race of the day, or
I should say of the Festival, the horses paraded in front of the stands,
headed by Noel Fehily aboard Air Force One, before cantering
to the start, which was two-thirds of the way down the home straight. A couple of the horses were a little wayward at
the start, but they were allowed to go first time. The field was led off by Neptune Collonges, with Madison du Berlais
and Snoopy Loopy close behind. Choc
rode on the outside of the field, near to the back. Exotic Dancer was held up in last place
under AP McCoy. Roll Along was also
near the back of the field.
Unfortunately Halcon Genelardais
was already struggling to go with the field by the time they had reached the
top of the hill for the first time. Kauto
Star, Denman and Barbers Shop were close behind the leader as they galloped
down the hill. Halcon
Genelardais looked like tailing off at this early
stage, and although Choc drove him a little nearer to the tail-end of the
field, he pulled the horse up as they galloped away from the stands having
completed just over one circuit. Kauto
Star raced on the inside throughout and there was a group of 7 horses which drew
away from the remainder as they reached the top of the hill for the final
time – Neptune Collonges, Denman, Kauto Star, Barbers Shop, Albertas
Run, Roll Along and tagging on at the back of these was Exotic Dancer. Miko de Beauchene fell at the 4th last. As they turned into the straight Kauto Star (inside rail) and Denman disputed the lead,
with the former galloping on to win impressively by 13 lengths. The horse’s 11th Grade 1 victory and first
horse to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup crown. Denman battled on bravely up the straight
to take 2nd place, a fabulous training feat to get the horse fit to do
himself justice after his health scare last year. Exotic Dancer finished 3rd, with Neptune Collonges 4th. Another Nicholls runner, My Will, finished
5th. The Queen’s horse, Barber’s Shop, finished in 7th place. As Halcon Genelardais was Choc’s last
ride at this year’s Festival, his endeavours had failed to provide him with a
winner, the first time this had happened since 2003, which was sad and I was
disappointed for him.
Having seen Ruby and Kauto Star walk back in, it was time for us to give up
our position on the rails and seek refreshments.
We remained paddock side, watching
this race on the big screen. There
were 3 horses in with a chance at the final fence, with Cappa
Bleu (making his English debut under rules) running on to triumph by 12
lengths on the line. The winning
jockey was Richard Burton, and I expect he had lots of support from the
Weighing Room where he has many friends, including Choc. He is also Godfather to Martin Keighley’s
son, Freddie.
The Queen left after the Foxhunters’ final
and I didn’t see her once - despite the Royal Box being situated right behind
where I was standing at the course-side rails. It just goes to show that I am more
interested in the racing (and in Choc of course!). At this point Ruby Walsh was presented with the
Leading Jockey’s Trophy, for riding 7 winners at this year’s Festival. The
Leading Trainer’s Trophy was awarded to Paul Nicholls.
Alan King’s runner in this race was
Penn da Benn under Charlie Huxley. David Pipe having 7 representatives in the
event. The field galloped around the top bend to reach the start. Then they were off. The field was led off by Gaspara,
having her 2nd run of the Festival, but she dived
at the 2nd flight and unseated her rider.
This left Carrickboy in the lead, and then
Khachaturian took up the running. Big
Eared Fran was near the back of the field. Little Shilling was also
prominent, and Midnight Chase held a good position too. Penn da Benn was
in mid-field. As they turned away from the stands, the 3 grey
horses were all at or near the back of the field. Little Shilling became the new leader. As they came down the hill Carrickboy moved up to dispute the lead with Leamington
Lad, as Little Shilling dropped away. Andytown and Piraya were close
up too. The grey Leamington Lad led the field into the
straight, with Andytown almost upsides, the latter being
joined at the last by 100-1 shot Midnight Chase. However, Andytown
jumped the flight better than his rival and ran on to win. Midnight Chase took 2nd place, with Big
Eared Fran coming up the stand-side to take 3rd. A first Festival winner for Felix de Giles,
the first non-Irish professional winning jockey this Cheltenham! Although a long-shot at 100-1, I suppose it
shouldn’t have been that surprising that Midnight Chase did well, as Choc has
won aboard the Neil Mulholland trained horse on 3 occasions this year. Penn de Benn finished 16th.
We returned to the Winners’ Enclosure
to watch the horses return, spotting Meally
speaking with a friend as we walked across the tarmac area. Instead of returning to the course-side rails,
Lesley and I then decided to cross the course to watch the final race of the
day (and the Festival) from the mound beside the final fence.
Alan King had one runner in this
final event - Oh Crick to be ridden by Wayne Hutchinson. Alan was seeking his first winner of this
Festival. This was Oh Crick’s first run in a Handicap
Chase. He was awarded a minimum weight
of 10 stones, but Choc cannot do less than 10 stones 2 or 3 lbs now, hence
the reason that Wayne Hutchison got the ride.
The field was led off by Lorient Express for Venetia Williams. Palarshan
unseated his rider at the first. French Opera was travelling in second, and
Oh Crick in 8th position as they galloped away from the stands. As they travelled down the back straight, Moon
Over Miami galloped up on the outside to join the leader, which remained
Lorient Express. Pocquelin,
under Ruby Walsh was not travelling well.
As they turned to travel down the hill, Oh Crick was up into 5th
place. Beggars Cap unseated Graham Lee
3 out. As they approached the 2nd last Oh Crick was
disputing the lead with Moon Over Miami and despite the latter’s efforts to
hold off the challenge, Oh Crick won by ¾ of a length. Alan’s first winner of
the 2009 Festival and Wayne’s first ever too.
It was only when Wayne was jumping the final fence that I realised who
it was, as it suddenly dawned on me that the jockey was wearing the same
silks as for Araldur and therefore it must be Oh
Crick!
Once the course was clear
(literally!) we crossed back to the stands-side of the course and then headed
for the Winners’ Enclosure to see Wayne unsaddle Oh Crick. Choc’s mum, dad, and
I believe brother and sister-in-law were there to see the celebrations. Lesley was the first to spot Choc in the
enclosure – he was dressed in black today, wearing a long black coat. He took a call on his mobile, before
returning to the ‘press room’(?) with Alan
King. We sat at the side of the Parade Ring until it
started to get dark, during which time Lesley was asked to take a photo for a
group of punters as they stood on the Winners’ podium. Meally and Choc’s family appeared outside the Weighing Room, but
waited ages for him to reappear, and then he stayed to chat with his
colleagues for a while. It was nearly dark by the time we returned to the
car and, as there was still a lot of queuing traffic, we decided to tuck in
to a packet of M & S cheese-straws I’d left in the car. Once the end of the queue was in sight, we
joined it, and were directed to leave the course by taking a left turn at the
gates. As we wished to travel back to
Oxford, we took a left, then another left, then a right, and a left, before
getting caught up in traffic. I took
the wrong turning at one point but, fortuitously, we arrived back at the
‘long-about’ which we drive around on our usual route in, so took a right
turn and arrived at the traffic lights on the A40. Any earlier build-up of traffic had cleared
from this part of the route, and even our trip back through Charlton Kings
was fairly free moving. We followed a car pulling a caravan
for much of our trip back, from just outside Cheltenham to just before the
A34/M40 junction. And, surprisingly,
it was keeping up a very good pace all the way! Our trip took us back along the A41 to
Aylesbury, then around the ring-road and a left towards Leighton Buzzard
where I dropped Lesley off in her village on the Bedfordshire/Buckinghamshire
border. It was then home to
Hertfordshire, arriving at 22:00. I was disappointed for Choc that he
didn’t ride any winners at this year’s Festival, but I hope I’ll be there
next year to see him triumph again. |
