DIARY – CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2011
DAY 4 – FRIDAY 18 MARCH 2011
|
The Cheltenham Gold Cup – with one circuit to go I set my alarm for 04:30; so another very early
start. Having showered, washed and
dried my hair, applied make-up and eaten breakfast, I was ready to
leave. Today’s outfit was two thermal vests, my dark
purple sweater, black frilly edged cardigan, burgundy cardigan, purple
fleece, and turquoise fleece gillet. I wore my long black handkerchief skirt ...
with black treggings underneath ... and tights
underneath that too! Outerwear was my
long black faux sheepskin coat and suede coloured ‘Wow’ scarf. Plus my black leather ‘engineer’ boots. I was
taking no chances with the weather again, as I didn’t wish to suffer from the
cold as I’d done on Wednesday; morning rain was forecast for the Cheltenham
area, clearing in time for the start of racing. Coincidently, I left home at 06:28 today, as I’d
done for the past two days! My journey
took me via my local City Centre, and on to Hemel Hempstead, where I joined
the A41 bypass. I reached Aylesbury at
07:03 and Bicester by 07:25; en route red kites
were taking a risk just the other side of Waddesdon,
diving onto the A41 to pick up road-kill carrion. As usual my route then took me southwards
along the A34, to leave at the Peartree
Interchange. The quietest day yet at
this bottle-neck in my journey; there always seems to be less traffic on the
roads on a Friday morning – which I attribute to workers taking a long
weekend! This meant that I’d reached Burford
by 08:03; and the outskirts of Cheltenham at 08:25. I was thus the fourth car in the queue at
the ‘Six Ways’ junction. After a damp start at home, rain had
cleared as I approached the Buckinghamshire border and, having become wet
again as I drove across the Cotswolds, Cheltenham was dry at present. As usual each morning, my route through
Cheltenham took me via Hales Road and Bouncers Lane to the racecourse car
park in Swindon Lane. However, I arrived at just the wrong moment, as I
was directed to park at the end of one of the rows, immediately next to the
dusty gravel driveway through the car park.
Damn. I now expected that my
car would be even dirtier at the end of today than it had been following
racing on Wednesday. It started to spit with rain at 09:30, whilst I was
sitting in my car listening to Cheltenham Festival Radio. Clerk of the Course, Simon Claisse reported that it was tipping it down in Bristol
but was likely to mainly miss Cheltenham.
He said that sun was forecast for later ... so don’t wear too
much. However, it has to be remembered
that women feel the cold far more than men!!! As it was bound to be the busiest day of the
Festival, at 09:45 I decided to set off to join the queue at the turnstiles;
I always queue at the first public entrance down the hill from the Centaur
building, just across from the stable area.
The gates opened at 10:30; security staff set up their checking
stations early, examining the contents of handbags and bags some time prior
to letting the punters enter the course.
Once through the turnstiles, I needed to spend a penny – I’d started
my drive to the course at 06:28, so it wasn’t surprising really! I then purchased a race-card from the kiosk
on the concourse beside the Parade Ring. I was lucky enough to see Choc return from his
course-walk again today; he arrived back at 10:40 having walked the course
with his dad. As I feel most
comfortable either waiting beside the course-side rails or the Parade Ring
when I’m alone at the races, I returned to the latter in preparation for the
Friday preview. However, as I was walking down the steps
surrounding the Winners’ Enclosure, the shoulder strap on my handbag gave
way. I know that I always carry too
much with me ... the kitchen sink syndrome ... so I guess I shouldn’t have
been surprised that the swivel hook should pull apart. It was a ‘bowling’ bag, so had two handles in addition to the strap, but I
found I could improvise by unbuckling the handbag end strap detail and
looping the base of the swivel hook through the strap detail before
refastening it. My ‘fix’ worked brilliantly for the
remainder of the day. But, I have to
confess that when I got home I attempted to fix the broken connection using a
pair of pliers and promptly broke it!
What a pity, as I loved my handbag ... so I ordered an identical one
from ASOS (As Seen On Screen) and now have two handbags but just a single
shoulder strap. Soon it was time for the Friday preview, as usual
presented by Ian Carnaby and Jonathan Powell. The first interviewee was 13-year old Mark Boylan, a precocious Irish lad who had written a song
about the Festival. He played the
guitar and performed his song for the people watching from the steps around
the Winners’ Enclosure. In his
post-Festival Racing Post column, Choc mentioned that Mark visited the Weighing Room and seemed to be a
genuinely nice kid. Mark received a
pair of signed breeches from the guys and, in return, climbed on a table and
sang his song to them. The next ‘guest’
was totesport’s George Primarolo;
totesport being the sponsors of today’s Cheltenham
Gold Cup. George mentioned that last
year’s winner, Imperial Commander, was drifting in the betting. He also spoke about today’s fancies – Long
Run, Dirar and Shoreacres. Jonathan Powell then interviewed Nigel Twiston-Davies; they talked about Imperial Commander and
his sons, Sam and Willie. Paul
Nicholls was next up, and he mentioned the fact that Ruby Walsh had dropped
his whip during the final stages of yesterday’s World Hurdle; but of course
Big Buck’s won the race regardless.
Long Run’s amateur jockey, Sam Waley-Cohen
was interviewed about his hopes for today’s Gold Cup. It was also mentioned that Sam’s father,
Robert, would shortly be taking over as the Chairman of Cheltenham
Racecourse. It was then Martin Pipe’s turn to be
interviewed. He spoke about it being
30 years since he trained 50-1 shot Baron Blakeney
to beat the hot favourite Broadsword in the Triumph Hurdle. Evidently Martin’s Assistant Chester Barnes
had backed Baron Blakeney that day. Martin then talked about Conor O’Farrell’s winning ride aboard Buena Vista the
previous day. It was Conor’s first ride at the Festival; he’d been recommended
by ex-jockey Charlie Swan; and had carried out David Pipe’s instructions to
the letter. He also spoke about
yesterday’s winning ride aboard Junior by Jamie Codd. Martin Pipe’s tip today was Unaccompanied
in the Triumph Hurdle. He mentioned
David’s runners today – Notus De La Tour, Hunterview, Shoegazer, Leo’s
Lucky Star and I’msingingtheblues. Martin said he can enjoy himself at the
Festival now, as son David has all the pressure! The final interviewee was Lorna Fowler (née Bradburne); she’d won the Charity Race run at the end of the card the previous
afternoon. At 13:00 I set off to find a vantage point beside
the course-side rails. As expected, the sun put in an
appearance before racing began ... but I wasn’t overly warm despite my many
layers of clothing! After a very quiet
day yesterday, when he had just a single riding engagement, Choc had 5 rides
today – Smad Place, Salden Licht, Jetnova, Neptune Collonges and Oh
Crick. Smad Place being his first ride
of the day, in the first race, the JCB Triumph Hurdle for juvenile 4-year
olds. The starting gate
for this race was at the far end of the home straight with one circuit and a
straight to travel; so upon leaving the Parade Ring the competitors cantered
up the all-weather track in front of the stands before heading down the
course and entering the lower section of the track to reach the start. When talking about
the runners before the race commenced, Racing UK presenter Nick Luck
mentioned that both Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson each had 3 runners in
the race; all 6 horses had been brought in France by renouned bloodstock
agent Anthony Bromley.
The
jockeys were keen to get underway, with the horses quickly out onto the
track; Sailors Warn cantering across to the wide outside of the hurdles
track, leading the ‘charge’. The race commentator, Mark Johnson, was convinced
the Starter would not let them go first time ... but he did and they were
off. The
aforementioned Sailors Warn took the lead with, to his inside Architrave and Houblon Des Obeaux. Just behind was the lighter grey in the
race, being Choc’s mount Smad
Place, then First Fandango. On the
inside in mid division, Third Intention hit and flattened the first
flight. To the outside, in rear, Trop Fort, blundered over this obstacle. Heading up the straight on the long run to
the second flight, Houblon Des Obeaux
held a narrow advantage. In rear New
Den hit the second and began to lose touch; the 25-1 shot out of its depth in
this company. Heading
away from the stands and heading out into the country the order was Houblon Des Obeaux, from
Architrave, Smad Place, First Fandango, Sailors
Warn, Molotof, Grandouet,
Brampour, Local Hero, Zarkandar,
A Media Luz very keen (as usual) under AP McCoy, Tillahow,
Third Intention, Unaccompanied, Sir Pitt, Mister Carter, Sam Winner, Aikideau, Kuilsriver and Trop Fort; in rear were Walter De La Mare and High
Ransom. Having lost touch, New Den was
pulled up after the third. A
Media Luz had now pulled her way up through the field; in contrast, Ruby
Walsh’s mount, the favourite Sam Winner, had lost his place and was being
pushed along and by three out (which is located on the dogleg stretch of the
track before the far turn) he appeared to be struggling, there now being just
two horses behind him. Turning
downhill, Sailors Warn led from Molotof, Grandouet, A Media Luz, both Architrave and Smad Place were being driven, these were followed by Sir
Pitt and Third Intention. Over two
out, Sailors Warn still held the advantage, from the iron grey Molotof, Grandouet and Brampour; on the wide outside Mr Carter unseated here. Around
the final bend, Grandouet appeared to be going the
best, with Molotof and Sailors Warn to his
inside. Just in behind were
Unaccompanied, Brampour, Smad
Place and Zarkandar. Heading for the last, Grandouet
to the stand side was soon being challenged by the filly Unaccompanied, with Zarkandar wandering across the track to join them, the
latter taking the lead just before the flight. Zarkandar ran on
to win by 2¼ lengths from the white-faced Unaccompanied, then Grandouet and, surprisingly, Sam Winner. Ruby
had encouraged his mount into seventh place approaching the last and was then
a fast closing fourth at the line, where he was a mere neck behind Grandouet. Smad Place on ground which was too fast for him, finished
10th and not too far behind, as the early finishers were quite closely
packed. It
was Daryl Jacob’s first ever Festival winner, following a few near misses in
recent years, including Rock On Ruby’s narrow defeat on Wednesday.
As
Choc had been unplaced in this race, I remained beside the course-side rails
in preparation for the next one. Choc’s ride in this event was the Alan King trained top
weight, Salden Licht. As
with the previous race, again the starting gate for this event was at the far
end of the home straight; so the runners cantered up the all-weather track in
front of the stands before heading down to the start.
Then
they were off. The field was led away
by Ellerslie Tom, from Hunterview
and Ski Sunday. In rear were Alarazi and Gloucester.
In mid-field Ruby Walsh’s mount, Final Approach,
flattened the first; later Ruby said the horse hit the top bar and crashed
through the flight; they were lucky to survive he thought! Heading
up the straight, the order was Ellerslie Tom, Hunterview, Ski Sunday, Notus
De La Tour, Premier Dane, Cockney Trucker, Dee Ee
Williams, Salden Licht, Alaivan, Nearby, Ciceron, Zanir, Bellvano, Praxiteles, Grey Soldier, Inventor, Get Me Out
Of Here, Secret Dancer, and Alarazi. Choc’s mount, to
the outside, made a slight error at the second flight. Heading
away from the stands, the closely packed field was led by Hunterview
from Ellerslie Tom, Ski Sunday, Premier Dane and
Dee Ee Williams.
Both Zanir and Grey Soldier made errors at
the third flight. Travelling down the
back straight, Hunterview and Ellerslie
Tom continued at the head of affairs, from Premier Dane, Ski Sunday and Dee Ee Williams. Near
the rear, Grey Soldier made an error at the fourth, as did Praxiteles. Cockney Trucker blundered at the 5th. Hunterview was
still marginally ahead as the field jumped 3 out. Downhill
they headed; Hunterview, from Ellerslie
Tom, Dee Ee Williams, Ski Sunday, Alaivan, Cockney Trucker, Notus
De La Tour, Salden Licht,
Ciceron, Alarazi, Zanir, Bellvano, and Blackstairmountain; the well-fancied Dirar
was going okay near the rear of the field.
Over two out, in the front line were Hunterview,
Alaivan, Ski Sunday, Cockney Trucker, Salden Licht, Soldatino and Get Me Out Of Here. Approaching
the last there were five in line across the course; Ski Sunday, Hunterview, Alaivan, Get Me Out
of Here and Cockney Trucker, the latter slight ahead. Salden Licht was just in behind these. AP aboard Get Me Out Of Here then took over
the lead, but he’d not taken Final Approach into account, who having appeared
to have far too much to do to catch the leaders two out, was now driven up
the inside by Ruby (who else!) and was closing fast as they approached the
line. A photograph! No-one
knew who had won, it was very close; even AP and Ruby had no idea ... both
jockeys began the long ride back down the all-weather strip in front of the
stands, Ruby looked disconsolate. Then
the result was announced; Ruby covering his ears, he didn’t want to hear –
Final Approach had prevailed by a nose; Ruby punched the air, keen to show
his delight. Ruby’s 5th winner of the
week. Mind you, I didn’t think the
photograph was conclusive ... it certainly wasn’t a nose ... more like a
pixel! Nearby
had threaded his way through to claim third.
Cockney Trucker finished fourth and Salden Licht in 5th. Ciceron, near the rear, fell at the last; hampering
Praxiteles who unseated Sam Twiston-Davies.
A report from the Stewards’ Room following this race: The Stewards held an
enquiry into possible interference on the final bend. They found that
BLACKSTAIRMOUNTAIN (IRE), ridden by Paul Townend,
had interfered with GREY SOLDIER (IRE), ridden by Davy Russell, who in turn
interfered with BELLVANO (GER), ridden by D.J. Casey, all unplaced. They
found Townend in breach of Rule (B)54.1 and guilty of careless riding in that he manoeuvred
left handed. They suspended Townend for 3 days as
follows: Friday 1, Saturday 2, and Sunday 3 April 2011. The start of this race was at the beginning of
the back straight so, upon leaving the walkway from the Parade Ring, the
runners cantered across the course and up around the all-weather track in
front of the Dawn Run/Desert Orchid stands to reach it. The race covered almost two full circuits
of the track.
Then
they were off. The field was led away
by the Wayne Hutchinson ridden No Secrets together with Fiulin,
then Radetsky March and Teaforthree;
in rear Court In Motion took a keen hold; Allee Garde made a mistake at the second flight. Downhill
on the first occasion the order was No Secrets disputing the lead with Fiulin, from Radetsky March, Teaforthree, Sybarite, Our Island, Kilcrea
Kim, Court In Motion, Ackertac, Gagewell
Flyer, Bobs Worth to the outside of the field, Join Together, Start Me Up, Jetnova on the outside too. Gagewell Flyer
made an error at the flight at the bottom of the hill, the 5th; as did Court
In Motion. The Martin Keighley trained
Champion Court was pulling hard in rear.
To
the home straight, with one circuit to go, the order at the head of affairs
was No Secrets, Radetsky March, Fiulin,
Teaforthree, Kilcrea Kim,
Bobs Worth still to the outside, Sybarite, Court In Motion, Join Together, Ackertac, Mossley, Jetnova, Gagewell Flyer and
Start Me Up. Jetnova
received a slap down the neck as the field headed around the top turn and set
off into the country once more. Our
Island had gradually lost his place due to sketchy jumping. No Secrets continued to lead, however, Fiulin weakened and was pulled up. Ruby’s mount, Join Together started to
struggle and also lost his place, eventually being pulled up. Bobs Worth hit 3 out. At the far turn, Wayne Hutchinson’s mount
still held the advantage, from Radetsky March, Teaforthree, Court In Motion, Bobs Worth, Mossley, Kilcrea Kim, Champion
Court and Start Me Up. Jetnova wasn’t far
behind when clearing 2 out, but he stumbled on landing and fell, hampering
Our Island and Start Me Up. Teaforthree also blundered here independently, flattening
the flight. Off the turn and heading
for the last, at the head of affairs were 3 runners line across the course,
Bobs Worth, Court In Motion and Mossley, with
Champion Court just in behind these. Barry
Geraghty’s mount cleared the last in front, on the
run-in wandering out towards the centre of the track then back to the
stand-side rails again, but never looked like being caught by stable-mate Mossley. Court In
Motion completed in 3rd, with Champion Court in 4th, Kilcrea
Kim in 5th. The first winner of this
year’s Festival for trainer Nicky Henderson, with Barry Geraghty
also very pleased as he and his brother had purchased the horse as a yearling
before selling the horse as a 4-year-old to Nicky at the Doncaster
sales! Celebrations all round then!
Jetnova
got to his feet after the fall and cantered away but, having cornered wide,
he then bumped into the stand-side plastic rails before he headed up the home
straight via the ‘old’ course. People
further up the track then waved their arms as he approached, hoping to deter
him from continuing up the course, but he spooked and slipped over on the
(plastic/metal?) pontoons which are used the protect the turf from pedestrian
footfall. He then panicked, taking
several attempts to regain his feet, before cantering back down the course,
where he was caught by the jockey aboard one of the pulled up horses. Alan King came out onto the course to check
the horse over; as did the vet. He was
fine (apart from a few cuts) and was led back up the course to the
stables. Choc was fine to
ride in the next race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, although the green screens had
been erected around him for a short while, with medics in attendance. Fortunately, having recovered from the
initial impact, he was able to walk away unaided, his whip being handed back
to him by one of the stewards. Describing his fall in his Racing Post column,
Choc said he received a bump on the head and a few bruises. His ride in this
race was trainer Paul Nicholls’ fourth string, the grey Neptune Collonges. As
the Gold Cup was the feature race of the day ... and the Festival ... the
horses were led out onto the course, where they circled whilst being sorted
into number order ahead of the pre-race parade. The runners were then led up the course
beside the stand-side rail before being released to canter to the start,
which was part way down the home straight.
Then
they were off. The field was led away
by Midnight Chase, Weird Al, Imperial Commander, Kauto
Star, Pandorama, China Rock, Neptune Collonges, Long Run, Tidal Bay, What A Friend, Denman, Kempes, with Carruthers
bringing up the rear. It
had appeared that Choc wanted to ride Neptune Collonges
up with the pace having circled at the head of affairs just before the
off. However, his mount seemed to have
other ideas and looked a little reluctant as they trotted out onto the course
and he wasn’t the quickest away. Neptune
Collonges made an error at the first in the back
straight (the third fence) his nose almost touching the turf! Over the water-jump the order was Midnight
Chase, China Rock, Kauto Star, Weird Al, Imperial
Commander, Denman, Long Run, Pandorama, Tidal Bay,
Neptune Collonges, What A Friend, Carruthers and Kempes. By the time the runners had reached the far
turn, Weird Al had lost his position and dropped to the rear of the field. Travelling
downhill for the first time, the confirmed front-runner Midnight Chase still
led. Long Run made a slight error at
the fence before turning into the home straight; Pandorama,
to the inside of Long Run, was squeezed for room around the bend. Over the fences in the straight, the order
was Midnight Chase, China Rock, Kauto Star,
Imperial Commander, Long Run, Pandorama, Denman,
What A Friend, Neptune Collonges, Kempes, Tidal Bay, Carruthers
and Weird Al. Kauto Star took over the lead as the
runners headed out into the country for the final time, from China Rock and
Midnight Chase; Imperial Commander to their outside. Weird Al began to tail off and was soon
pulled up. The field headed down the
back straight for the last time; by the far turn the order at the head of
affairs was Kauto Star, China Rock, Imperial
Commander, Long Run, Denman, and What A Friend. Imperial
Commander challenged Kauto Star 4 out, but he
blundered away his chance, soon came under pressure and lost his place. Ruby’s mount led until 3 out, when Denman
took the slight advantage; Long Run was ridden along to close on them. Denman and Kauto
Star were neck and neck as they turned into the home straight, with Long Run
a close third; the three were almost in a line across the course 2 out. Sam Waley-Cohen
drove Long Run to lead over the last and galloped on to win by 7 lengths from
Denman. Kauto
Star faded and just held on to third from What A Friend by a nose. Midnight
Chase completed in 5th, the enigmatic Tidal Bay 6th. Pandorama
completed in 7th, with Choc and Neptune Collonges
8th, Carruthers last of the finishers in 9th. The remainder had pulled up. Paul Nicholls runners finished 2nd, 3rd,
4th and 8th; but another victory for trainer Nicky Henderson with the young
pretender Long Run at the age of just 6.
I
stayed beside the course-side rails to see the victor and the other gallant
runners return down the walkway in front of the stands; as I knew there would
be little hope of obtaining a good vantage point on the steps above the
Winners’ Enclosure. All
the participants seemed pleased to have taken part in this ‘special’ Gold Cup; both Ruby Walsh
and Sam Thomas were smiling, despite having been beaten; and they waited in
the Enclosure to see Sam Waley-Cohen arrive back
aboard the victor. Both Denman and Kauto Star had received very warm applause when they came
back in; and the crowd gave three cheers for them and for Long Run – nine
cheers in total! The
BSA’s ‘Why They Ran Badly’ reported on the Gold Cup as follows: The Veterinary Officer reported that
IMPERIAL COMMANDER (IRE), which was pulled up, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, was lame left fore. He subsequently
reported that during routine testing he found that the gelding was
distressed. It
was now time for the fifth event of the afternoon, the Foxhunters race ... in
other words the amateur riders’ Gold Cup.
The start of this race was part way down the home straight and takes
place over the same course and distance.
Upon exiting the Parade Ring, the riders cantered their mounts up the
all-weather strip in front of the stands before heading to the start.
Then
they were off. The field was led away
by Baby Run (who else?), from Herons Well, Noakarad
De Versee, Joaaci hit the
first as did Mount Benger; Zemsky
landed a little steeply over the second fence. Heading
away from the stands for the first time the order was Baby Run, Herons Well,
Description, Noakarad De Versee,
Mid Div and Creep, the flashy Just Amazing, Reach For The Top, Joaaci, Templer and Dante’s
Storm. On The Fringe jumped a little
awkwardly at the third. Distant
Thunder was soon detached in rear. Description
hit the 6th fence; leader Baby Run made a bad mistake at the 8th; Oscatello also blundered here, and Theatre Diva unseated
her rider. Description fell at the
9th, hampering On The Fringe. Five
horses were clear of the pack as they rounded the bend into the home straight
on the first occasion, namely Baby Run, Herons Well, Dante’s Storm, Reach For
The Top and Just Amazing; the latter soon beginning to drop off the back of
this group. The leaders headed out
into the country for the final time; Baby Run still at the head of affairs. The
next casualty was Herons Well, who unseated at the first in the back
straight. Dante’s Storm, now in
second, hit the open-ditch, fence 15.
Heading towards the far turn, the order was Baby Run, Dante’s Storm,
Reach For The Top, and Zemski; the latter gaining
on the leaders and taking third position 4 out. Eight
horses were now well clear of the ‘no
hopers’; these were Baby Run, Dante’s Storm, Zemsky,
Reach For The Top, On The Fringe, Oscar Delta, Turthen
and Mid Div and Creep. Baby Run
continued to lead as they cleared three out, hopes high that last year’s win
would be repeated; Zemsky taking second as a loose
horse hampered Dante’s Storm. Baby
Run led them into the home straight, but he put in a short stride before the
second last, breasted the fence and unseated Willie Twiston-Davies. This left Zemsky,
who had been 2 lengths down, well clear of his pursuers and he jumped the
last and went on to win by 17 lengths unchallenged. Mid Div and Creep stayed on to finish 2nd,
Oscar Delta completed in 3rd, with On The Fringe 4th. A
second victory of the week for Mr Derek O’Connor, who had ridden the winner
of the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup for Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase
on Wednesday aboard Chicago Grey. Nick
Luck pointed out that it was rare for an amateur to ride a double at the
Festival ... but he did say it had been done before ... mentioning none other
than Mr Robert Thornton (aka Choc) winning aboard Pharanear
and King Lucifer in 1997! Not
surprisingly, young Willie Twiston-Davies was
inconsolable following his mishap at the second last fence. It was a victory for Northern Irish trainer
Ian Ferguson. The first three horses
were at big prices 33-1; 100-1; 25-1; the joint favourite with Baby Run was
the 4th placed On The Fringe at 3-1.
Again
I remained beside the course-side rails ahead of the next event, the Martin
Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
Alan King saddled two runners in this race, Shalone
ridden by Charlie Huxley and Prince Du Seuil
piloted by Peter Hatton. The
start of the next race was in the mid-course chute so, upon exiting the
Parade Ring, the runners cantered across the course and up around the
all-weather strip in front of the Dawn Run/Desert Orchid stands to reach it.
Then
they were off. The field was led away
by confirmed front-runner Barizan, from another
keen running horse Riptide, and Rose Of The Moon. Barizan stepped
through and flattened the second flight, however it didn’t affect his
momentum and he continued to lead from Riptide, Rose Of The Moon, Mister
Hyde, Indian Daudaie, Astracad,
King Of The Night, Son of Flicka, Karesenir, Shalone, Kauto Relko, Hollins, Palomar and Monetary Fund; the later and King Of
The Night making an error at the third hurdle. Karesenir, losing
ground, blundered at the 5th. In
the back straight, there were three departures at the 7th flight, King Of The
Night falling and bringing down Mister Hyde and Siberian Tiger. Barizan continued
to lead from Indian Daudaie, Astracad,
Shalone, First Point, Shoegazer,
Prince Du Seuil, Son Of Flicka,
Rose Of The Moon and Kauto Relko;
Struggling were Palomar and Qaspal. The
runners galloped downhill, Barizan finally being
headed after 2 out, by Indian Daudaie, First Point,
Astracad and Son of Flicka
who were now disputing the lead. Shalone was a close 5th when disaster struck and he
crashed out on the flat as the runners headed towards the last. He had been
squeezed between Shoegazer and First Point on the
turn, and may have clipped the heals
of the former as they began the dash for home. Son
Of Flicka took the lead before the final flight and
stayed on under pressure until collared by Irish runner, Sir Des Champs just
before the line, the latter winning by half a length. First Point completed in 3rd, with Indian Daudaie 4th. Although it
initially appeared that Shalone’s unfortunate fall
may have been a fatal one, the horse appearing to ‘flop’ to the ground, amazingly he was fine; although shaken and
quivering initially, he was sound.
Jockey Charlie Huxley was uninjured too. I watched as Shalone
was led back up the course to the stables.
On viewing the
video replay, it was clear that although the prostrate Shalone
lay in his path, Qaspal had jumped over him; and
Monetary Fund had successfully jumped over the jockey!
This is the report from the Stewards’ Room following this race: The
Stewards enquired into the fall of SHALONE, ridden by Charlie Huxley,
approaching the final flight of hurdles. Having viewed the video recording of
the race they were satisfied that the fall was caused by SHALONE clipping the
heels of SHOEGAZER (IRE). Being satisfied that no other horse or jockey was
involved, they took no further action. It was now time for the final event of this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Choc’s mount in
this race was the Alan King trained Oh Crick, winner of this race in 2009
when ridden by Wayne Hutchinson; as Choc was unable to do the weight that
day. Today, Wayne would be riding
Alan’s other representative in the race, Mister Stickler. The start of this race was at the far end of the home straight,
the horses cantering up the all-weather strip in front of the stands before
returning down the course and continuing their journey down the lower stretch
of the track to reach the starting gate.
Then
they were off ... apart from Chaninbar who decided
not to; and this did become a bit of a habit this Spring! The field was led away by Tanks For That
under Barry Geraghty, until he blundered at the
first, handing the advantage to Fiendish Flame; Grand Lahou
made a mistake here too, as did last year’s winner, Pigeon Island. The latter made an error at the second and
so did Quito Du Tresor. Heading
towards the third and over it the order was Fiendish Flame, Tanks For That,
Santa’s Son, Grand Lahou, Askthemaster
and Oiseau De Nuit. Pepe Simo hit the third quite hard. Heading out into the country for the one
and only time, the order was Fiendish Flame, Tanks For That, Grand Lahou, Santa’s Son, Askthemaster,
Anquetta, Oiseau De Nuit, Film Festival, Beggars Cap, I’msingingtheblues,
Shoreacres, Oh Crick and Mister Stickler. Keki Buku, Quito De Tresor, Pigeon Island, Riguez
Dancer and Nomecheki were in rear. The
race was being run at such a frenetic pace that the runners were soon well
strung out; hence not everyone gets a name check as a number of them weren’t
in TV camera shot! Tanks
For That took over after the first in the back straight, Grand Lahou soon became his closest pursuer as Fiendish Flame
retreated through the field. Beggars
Cap blundered and unseated 5 out, badly hampering Keki
Buku.
Heading downhill, Barry Geraghty’s mount
still led, from Anquetta and Askthemaster,
who made an error 4 out; then came Oiseau De Nuit, Grand Lahou, Quito Du Tresor, De Boitron, Leo’s Lucky
Star, I’msingingtheblues, Shoreacres
and Mister Stickler. Anquetta had assumed the
lead turning in, from Askthemaster, Oiseau De Nuit, De Boitron and Quito De Tresor. Oiseau De Nuit hit the front 2 out, cleared the last and galloped
on to win by 3¼ lengths from Irish runner, Askthemaster. A winner for trainer Colin Tizzard. Leo’s
Lucky Star completed in 3rd, with De Boitron in
4th. Mister Stickler finished in 11th;
Oh Crick was a very disappointing 13th.
Winning
jockey Steven Clements was very emotional, tearful in fact, after the race;
he couldn’t believe he’d actually won a Festival race. Steven’s
father had trained Call Collect to win the Foxhunters in 1990; his father had
attended the meeting today, but his mother had stayed at home. Her reason?
Steven said it was because whenever she attends the races to watch him
ride, she always has to accompany him to hospital because he’d sustained an
injury! In
a post-race interview, Colin Tizzard revealed that Oiseau De Nuit had been lame in
a hind-leg on Monday. It was also the
first winner of the season for owner Terry Warner; it had been his worst
season ever he said. However, he did
say he’d won this particular event before, with Kibreet
in 1996 under AP McCoy; it had been AP’s first ever Festival winner. The following year AP had gone on to have a
brilliant Festival, winning the Gold Cup aboard Mr Mulligan, the Champion
Hurdle aboard Make A Stand, and the Arkle Chase
aboard Or Royal. The
final presentations of the Festival were the awards for the winning-most
jockey and trainer ... not surprisingly Ruby Walsh was top jockey with 5
winners, 3 thirds and 2 fourths; runner-up jockey was AP McCoy with 2
winners, 3 seconds and 3 thirds. Top
trainer was Willie Mullins with 4 winners, 3 thirds and 2 fourths; runner-up
was Paul Nicholls with 3 winners, 2 seconds, 1 third and 4 fourths. A
good Festival for Choc, after two lean years.
It may not have been the multiple winners of 2005 through to 2008, but
he had recorded his 16th victory; which must have been very sweet after the
trials and tribulations of a season interrupted by serious injury. And the first time I’d seen him ride a
Festival winner ‘live’ too. And
the 2011 Festival spoils were ‘even’
– 13 winners for the British and 13 winners for the Irish; with one northern
Irish victory. When
I set off up the concourse, walking ahead of me was Victoria Schlesinger who ‘looked after’ Choc at Kempton Park
when he was their ‘Face of National
Hunt Racing’ this winter. I
left the racecourse car park at 19:05; coincidently the same time as last
year on the final day! However, the
weather was totally different to last year, as it was a dry evening with a
full moon, which aided my trip home. I left the decision as to which route
I’d choose from Oxford to home until I reached the roundabout on the western
outskirts of the City, as it depended on how tired I felt at that stage of
the journey. As I felt okay, I took
the M40 option. Being a clear night,
both the M40 and M25 were being gritted; there was expected to be a frost
overnight. As my route took me close to my usual
petrol station, I decided to fill up the tank before proceeding home. However, I was extremely embarrassed upon
getting out of my car at the pumps, when I realised just how dirty my car was
... it was an absolute disgrace!!! I arrived home at 21:15. Despite four long days, I actually
felt okay by the end of Friday; and definitely better than I’d felt at the
end of Cheltenham week last year. This
being the case, I logged onto my laptop to check on Choc’s
rides for Saturday, which transpired to be 4 at Uttoxeter. I also wrote a blog entry, which included
the overview of Thursday’s racing which I’d been too tired to do the previous
evening. After the final day of the
Festival last year I hadn’t had the energy to log on when I got home; I’d
been operating on ‘empty’ since I’d
reached Aylesbury that evening! |
