RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
THE FESTIVAL, FIRST DAY
CHELTENHAM, TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2007
CROWD UP
Today’s crowd came to 55,903 - up 477 on the 2006 figure of 55,426.
Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham’s Managing Director, commented: “Cheltenham had a good crowd today, with everyone in great spirits.
“Racegoers enjoyed some wonderful spring sunshine and it was a terrific start to The Festival.
“The atmosphere was electric and we are looking forward to the next three days, with the battle between punters and bookmakers pretty closely-matched after day one.”
GOING AT THE END OF
DAY ONE
The going at the conclusion of day one of The Festival 2007, Tuesday, March 13, is now:
OLD COURSE (used today and tomorrow)
GOOD TO SOFT, SOFT IN PLACES
NEW COURSE: (used Thursday and Friday)
SOFT, GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES
Due to drying weather, the ground description was updated after the third race on Tuesday.
About two miles of rail will be moved after racing each evening to ensure that fresh ground is available for each day of The Festival on both the chase and hurdle courses.
Choc cut for top jockey title
Choc Thornton’s victory on My Way De Solzen in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy saw his odds tumble for the Festival’s top jockey award sponsored by the Racing Post.
Totesport keeps Ruby Walsh as 6-4 favourite, they lengthened Tony McCoy from 9-4 to 5-2, cut Thornton to 6-1 from 9-1 and pushed Richard Johnson out to 9-1 from 11-2. Mick Fitzgerald remains on 10-1, while Timmy Murphy is out two points to 12-1.
Ladbrokes keep Walsh the 6-4 favourite, offer McCoy at 2-1 and have also cut Thornton to 6-1. Paul Nicholls remains Ladbrokes 10-11 favourite to be the Racing Post’s leading trainer despite failing to score on the first day.
Totepool report record turnover for the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.
2006: £2,408,524
2007: £2,628,580
Spokesman Damian Walker said: “We had a record first day 12 months ago and now we’ve exceeded that by almost £220,000, a rise of just over 9%. Considering that there were winners at 40-1, 50-1 and 16-1, which would disrupt the normal churn of money back into the pool, we are very pleased.”
RECORD TOTE PLACEPOT
Today’s tote Placepot pool of £879,507 at Cheltenham is a record for any raceday in Britain. The previous record of £664,183 came on totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup day last year. Today’s figure has been helped by the fact that 2,000 William Hill betting shops now feed into the pool.
FIFTEEN STILL IN, SIX OUT OF LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE
Black Jack Ketchum, favourite for the £250,000 Ladbrokes World Hurdle, was among 15 horses declared this morning for Thursday’s big race.
Six horses were not declared, but there were no shock withdrawals - the 2005 winner Inglis Drever, plus strongly-fancied Blazing Bailey and Mighty Man were among those who are set to line up, while Asian Maze, who runs in today’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, has also been declared for the staying hurdler’s championship.
A bright and sunny start to the Festival and the prospect of drying ground will have been welcomed by the connections of several runners, not least Black Jack Ketchum’s. He lost his unbeaten record at Cheltenham’s January meeting when fifth to Blazing Bailey in the Cleeve Hurdle - trainer Jonjo O’Neill has stated the heavy going was the only possible explanation for that defeat.
Eight-year-old Black Jack Ketchum remains the sponsor’s 2-1 favourite, ahead of 4-1 chance Inglis Drever, who finished second in the Cleeve Hurdle (conceding 8lb to the winner). The Howard Johnson-trained Inglis Drever seems versatile as regards the ground, and has emerged from a spell on the sidelines in good heart this season.
Next in the betting as 6-1 joint third favourites are soft-ground horse Blazing Bailey and top-of-the-ground performer, Mighty Man. The latter was third to My Way De Solzen in last year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
Other interesting candidates who have stood their ground include the mares Labelthou and United, who have been in top form on heavy ground this season, French challenger Kasbah Bliss, who beat Blazing Bailey on one occasion last year, and the quirky Temoin, who will wear blinkers for the first time.
The sponsors’ prices on the Ladbrokes World Hurdle are: 2 Black Jack Ketchum, 4 Inglis Drever, 6 Blazing Bailey, Mighty Man, 10 Kasbah Bliss, 14 Asian Maze, Natal, Labelthou, Temoin, 25 United, 33 Overstrand, 66 Over The Creek, Strangely Brown, 200 Fire Dragon.
The horses that were not declared: Finger Onthe Pulse, Flight Leader, Korelo, Powerstation, Refinement, Rhinestone Cowboy.
NATAL BIDS TO RECOUP LATE ENTRY FEE
Among a field of fifteen that have been declared for Thursday’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle, one runner’s owner is £12,500 down before the race begins.
That is the sum Monica Hackett has paid to enter Natal after trainer Paul Nicholls made a late decision to put the six-year-old in at the supplementary entry stage on Friday. However, with £250,000 prize-money on offer and cash for the first six home, Natal has only to finish fourth or better to recoup the initial outlay.
He won his latest hurdle start, at Aintree in April - when beating Blazing Bailey, a strong contender for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle - but has been novice chasing this season.
Dan Skelton, assistant to trainer Paul Nicholls, said: “It’s cost us £12,500 to have our say, but on his latest hurdle start he beat Blazing Bailey and that gives him a very fair chance in a race that looks open. He definitely gets three miles and was a 153-rated novice, although obviously it’s a worry that he hasn’t got recent hurdling experience.”
Trainer Eric McNamara opted to run Strangely Brown in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, even though it wasn’t his first choice.
McNamara said of the six-year-old: “He’s been in good form at home, but he’s up against it in this class. We were hoping Zaiyad would remain in the Coral Cup with top weight [11st 12lb] because our horse looked good on 10st 13lb, but when Zaiyad came out we were left at the top and had no option but to take on the big boys.
“The ground at home has been so deep and he’s so small, but we’re hoping he’ll stay on up the hill on this nicer ground and might get a place. He was second in last year’s Coral Cup so he’s shown some form at the track.”
Much of the interest surrounding the race rests on the ground, since favourite Black Jack Ketchum and strongly-fancied Mighty Man could be withdrawn if the ground is considered too testing by their trainers.
One horse who will not mind cut in the ground is Blazing Bailey. His trainer, Alan King, walked the course this morning and said: “The ground won’t worry him in the slightest - I think it will be dead ground [by Thursday]. He’s had a break since his win in the [Byrne Bros] Cleeve Hurdle here in January and we’re very pleased with him.”
McNAMARA LOOKING FORWARD TO NEWMILL RIDE
Jockey Andrew McNamara believes Newmill has a real chance of winning tomorrow’s feature Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion for the second season running.
Speaking at a Horseracing Ireland press conference today, McNamara reported that the ground would not present a problem for his mount.
“The ground is not as soft as we were hearing beforehand and I don’t think the going is going to bother Newmill whatever it is,” said McNamara. “Newmill was a good winner last year and showed it again at Punchestown.
“At every Cheltenham preview I’ve been to and everything I’ve read has said that Well Chief can’t be beaten but I beg to differ - I’m not saying he is, but there’s every chance that Newmill might be the better horse.
“Of his other rivals, Nickname wins so easily that it’s hard to say how good he is while Voy Por Ustedes won here last year and has been a good horse this season.”
McNamara will partner the 10-time Grade 1 winner Beef Or Salmon in Friday’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup but feels that drying ground will not help his cause.
“He’s packing on in years and surely this is his last big chance at it so we’ll give it everything,” said McNamara. “He does go on good ground but maybe doesn’t have the cruising speed of others so is better on soft.
“He tries harder than any horse I’ve ever ridden but he’s a clever old fellow and blinkers keep him concentrating. If he’s there at the second last he’ll give them a race.
“Kauto Star is the best horse in training this year but it’s hard to know if he gets the trip and I’d be worried that he hangs left. But he’s the one beat.”
McNamara rides Hi Cloy in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase and added: “He had an operation last year which was why he was slow getting back to himself. We dropped him a bit far back in last year’s race and so he was always chasing. We’ll try and be a bit handier this time but it’s a tough race and will be hard to beat Monet’s Garden.
“I also like Vic Venturi in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase on Thursday. He was just shy of the top hurdlers and then had a wind problem before he came back to finish second in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown. He’s got a good weight, the drying ground will help, he’s a tough horse and will run a big race.”
HARRINGTON BIDS FOR FIRST BUMPER WIN
Trainer Jessica Harrington is no stranger to Festival success but she bids to break new ground tomorrow with likely favourite Cork All Star in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
“For me to have a runner in the Cheltenham bumper is something of a miracle,” said Harrington. “He’s not bred to get two miles but won at Cork then scored easily against something like 11 winners at Galway and I said that if we were going to come to the Festival we’d give him a look at Cheltenham. So he won here in November and there was no point in running him afterwards.”
Looking to her other runners, Harrington added: “Gazza’s Girl goes for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase tomorrow. Barry (Geraghty) said we should go for that because she needs three miles to bring out the best in her. As it turns out he wouldn’t have got in the Jewson anyway.
“Knight Legend will go for the Jewson on Thursday with Robbie Power riding. He’s got a chance but keeps making mistakes and would appreciate it if the ground dries up.”
Eoin Griffin will bid for a first Festival success this week and is represented in Friday’s JCB Triumph Hurdle by antepost favourite Lounaos.
“We brought her over a day earlier than we normally would and she was in good form on the track this morning,” said Griffin. “But it’s going to be a difficult race to win and Katchit battles all the way to the line.”
Nickname will represent Martin Brassill in tomorrow’s Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase but the trainer is hoping the course does not dry out too much.
“Ruby (Walsh) walked the track on Friday, told us he was happy with the ground and so we decided to travel,” said Brassill. “Nickname won a couple of times on holding ground when trained in France and today will tell us a lot about how the track is riding.
“He’s very professional and switches off well in his races. He’s only cantered each time he’s run, except first time out when he was not 100 per cent fit. I wonder what more the horse needs to do. Ruby was very impressed with him in the Tied Cottage and even more impressed next time. He’s very happy to ride, which I regard as a plus.”
GOING AT 10.00AM
The going at 10.00am on day one of The Festival 2007, Tuesday, March 13, remains:
OLD COURSE (used today and tomorrow)
SOFT, GOOD TO SOFT IN PLACES
CROSS COUNTRY COURSE (used today)
SOFT, HEAVY IN PLACES
NEW COURSE: (used Thursday and Friday)
SOFT
Simon Claisse, Cheltenham’s Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing, said: “Last night was dry and the going on all the course remains the same as yesterday afternoon.
“The rest of the week is forecast to be fine and dry, with plenty of warm sunshine.
“We have been delighted with the trainer reaction to the ground.”
About two miles of rail will be moved after racing each evening to ensure that fresh ground is available for each day of The Festival on both the chase and hurdle courses.
Race 4 - 4.00pm William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase
24 Iron Man (Vet’s Certificate)
BETTING NEWS AT NOON
In the opening Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2.00pm), several horses have come in for support. Granit Jack has been well-supported with totesport and is 7/1 (from 8/1) and 15/2 (from 17/2) with Boylesports. Former star South African performer Tyson is into 14/1 (from 18/1) with totesport and 14/1 (from 16/1) with Paddy Power. Paddy Power have also cut favourite Amaretto Rose to 9/4 (from 11/4) while the mare is also into 9/4 (from 5/2) with Boylesports. Also in the opener, Stan James has reduced De Soto to 12/1 (from 16/1), Tipperary All Star to 16/1 (from 20/1), Hobbs Hill to 20/1 (from 25/1) and Kalderon to 22/1 (from 33/1).
Favourite Detroit City is still attracting support in today’s highlight, the £360,000 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (3.15pm) and is now 2/1 (from 9/4) with Paddy Power while Ladbrokes report significant support but are holding out at 9/4. Stan James have clipped Straw Bear into 13/2 (from 15/2) in the same contest, as have Boylesports.
he Pricewise selection Rambling Minster is proving population with the sponsor in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase, who have cut the Keith Reveley-trained challenger into 9/1 (from 12/1) while Little Brick is now 6/1 (from 5/1) with the race sponsors. Rambling Minister is also into 9/1 (from 11/1) with totesport and Boylesports and 10/1 (from 12/1) with both Paddy Power and Stan James. Stan James have also trimmed outsider Irish Raptor into 20/1 (from 28/1). Boylesports have cut the Nicky Henderson-trained Juveigneur to 13/2 (from 15/2).
The only price change to have been made by Ladbrokes so far today is the Sporting Index Cross Country Handicap Chase (4.40pm), where the mare and former Welsh National winner L’Aventure is 16/1 (from 20/1).
Day one concludes with the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle (5.20pm) where Jayo is now 12/1 (from 14/1) with Paddy Power and 11/1 (from 16/1) with Stan James, who have also cut Laustra Bad to 20/1 (from 25/1). Pouvoir is 5/1 (from 11/2) with Boylesports, who have eased Saturday’s Imperial Cup winner Gaspara to 7/2 (from 3/1).
FURTHER BETTING NEWS
In the opening Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2.00pm), the favourite Amaretto Rose continues to attract support and is now 5/2 (from 11/4) with Cashmans. Paddy Power have eased De Valira out to 8/1 (from 6/1) and Hide The Evidence out to 8/1 (from 7/1).
Paddy Power have also lengthened the two market leaders in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (3.15pm), with Detroit City out to 9/4 (from 2/1) and last year’s hero Brave Inca out to 4/1 (from 100/30).
Pouvoir is into 9/2 (from 5/1) in the concluding Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle (5.20pm) with Cashmans, while Jayo has been further cut to 10/1 (from 12/1, opened 14/1).
FIRST RACE
ANGLO IRISH BANK SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE
EBAZIYAN GETS THE IRISH OFF TO 40/1 FLYER
Ebaziyan, returned at 40/1, became the joint second-highest priced winner ever of the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle when prevailing by three lengths in the opening race of The Festival 2007. The 1994 victor Arctic Kinsman (50/1) was the biggest outsider while the 1986 winner River Ceiriog was also returned at 40/1.
The winner, having only his third outing over hurdles, is owned by Dublin-based hotelier and businessman Peter Garvey, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Davy Condon, enjoying his first-ever Festival success on only his third ride at the event. Mullins was recording his 10th Festival success and his second victory in this race, following Tourist Attraction in 1995.
Mullins said: “I am delighted. To be honest, I’d have been delighted if he’d finished in the first six to eight and have counted it as a win if he’d finished in the first three.
“I had intended to run him last year, but he broke a pelvis. He ran well first time although he got beat, and then won at Thurles.
“We thought he might have more than he has showed so far so that is why we thought he was worth taking a chance with today.
“Davy has given him a great ride. He got caught up in the melee at the start and then did well to follow Amaretto Rose through. I thought he jumped well, although Davy said he wasn’t foot perfect at all of them.
“Peter Garvey has been a tremendous owner. We will have to think about it, but he could go to Punchestown now.”
The winning rider added: “Great - I can't believe it. I couldn't believe how well he was going. Coming here today, we didn't have much confidence, but he has done it really.
“It's brilliant. I was too far back all together. I was happy to see as we passed the bend that Mick (Fitzgerald) was right there, so I thought I can't be doing too bad, I'll follow him through, and it all worked out in the end. It's a brilliant buzz. I thought I had got there a bit too soon because he doesn't do much in front, but luckily he battled really well."
Placed horses bow to Ebaziyan
Despite defeat at the hands of 40/1 outsider Ebaziyan in the opening race at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival, connections of the placed horses had no complaints.
John Hales, owner of 15/2 runner-up Granit Jack, said: “It was a brilliant performance by the winner and we were beaten by a better horse on the day. But my horse is a chaser, he hasn’t been bought for hurdling.
“Ruby said he jumped badly, but what he meant was he jumped big because all the horse knows from his time in France is jumping fences.”
Granit Jack suffered from stomach ulcers earlier this season, and Hales said: “When we bought him in France, we had no reason to scope him because he was in such wonderful condition. He was eating up and there was no reason to suspect he had ulcers.
“I sent him to Bristol [to the equine hospital] expecting him to need a soft-palate operation, but I was told he was way above the average horse in terms of his engine and oxygen intake. They couldn’t find anything wrong with him, other than the ulcers that were in an area of his stomach that caused him distress in a race.”
Asked about future options for the grey, Hales said he would need to speak to trainer Paul Nicholls, and he added: “If he runs at Aintree or Punchestown I won’t be able to see him because I’m in Barbados for the Cricket World Cup - I’ll have to get to the nearest bookmaker.”
Johnny Weatherby, head of the 120-strong Weatherbys Racing Club and Weatherbys, racing’s secretariat, said of their mare, third-placed Amaretto Rose, the hot 2/1 favourite: “Mick [Fitzgerald] said she just got a bit hampered coming down the hill after the second-last which just stopped her rhythm and put her back a bit. She battled on up the hill and he said she would have been closer but for that incident.
“We’re all delighted and not deflated. Many owners strive all their lives to have a runner at Cheltenham, let alone a fancied one. We’ve achieved our objectives and she’s run a blinder.”
Paul Webber, trainer of fourth-placed De Soto, said: “He stayed on so the two-and-a-half miler at Aintree might suit him now. The ground was a bit tacky for him today. He loves this place, but he didn’t quite get the break after the false start. The first time he had a lovely position, but was facing the other way on the second start - but I’m pleased he’s run a super race.”
JOCKEYS’ VIEWS ON GROUND
Many of the jockeys riding in the opening Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle felt the ground was riding on the soft side of good.
Winning rider Davy Condon said: “The ground rode a bit dead but there was an excellent cover of grass.”
Paddy Brennan called the surface “good to soft” while Andrew Leigh described it as “tacky” and David Casey commented that it was “dead, on the soft side”.
Robert Thornton added “it’s good to soft and a bit dead but better than I thought it might be”, Niall Madden said the ground was “dead” while Mick Fitzgerald and Andrew McNamara felt it was “soft”.
CONDON SUSPENDED FOR TWO DAYS
Davy Condon, enjoying his first Cheltenham Festival winner on Ebaziyan in the opening Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, has been suspended for two days.
The Cheltenham stewards found that the rider had used his whip with excessive frequency and in an incorrect place. His suspension is on Saturday and Sunday, March 24 & 25.
SECOND RACE
IRISH INDEPENDENT ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY CHASE
‘THE BEST I’LL EVER TRAIN’ SAYS KING
My Way De Solzen could be the best horse Alan King will ever train - and that’s the view of the man himself.
The seven-year-old carried Choc Thornton to an emphatic five-length victory in last year’s Ladbrokes World Hurdle over three miles, and today he dropped back in trip to win the biggest race of the season for two-mile novice chasers.
King said: “I try to keep calm most of the time, but I can never cope when I run this horse. It doesn’t matter which race, and I was probably ten times worst when we had committed to this event [rather than the longer Royal & Sunalliance Chase].
“It’s been a pretty nerve-wracking 48 hours and I’m just glad we got it right. I just said to someone I hope to train for a long time - this horse is the best I’ve trained so far and he’s probably the best I’ll ever have. That was a special performance to drop back from the three down to two - I’ve got all sorts of problems for next year now. Is it Queen Mother or Gold Cup? Here we go again.”
Most bookmakers think it will be the totesport Gold Cup. That race’s sponsors make My Way De Solzen an 8-1 chance, while he is 10-1 with Betfred and 14-1 with Cashmans.
Asked why he opted for the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy, King said: “I thought the ground was slow enough and I made the right decision, because if the sun keeps shining we could be in trouble by Thursday. His work has been as good as ever in recent weeks.
“I can’t take any credit for his jumping. He’s French, and they do jump. He was wasted over hurdles really, although he got in a bit tight to the second-last today. Choc gave him a beautiful ride and I’m obviously thrilled, but it’s relief more than anything that’s kicking in now.”
“I'm delighted he's won. I was trying to cope quite well today, and I bumped into Michael Dickinson who told me I was the biggest prat ever for going over two miles [with My Way De Solzen]! I'm thrilled for the whole team, it's wonderful. He's always showed so much speed - he's a class horse.”
Thornton declared: "I was slightly worried two out because it's a desperate fence, and I panicked a little bit, but we got away with it. He picked himself up and did it great. Alan is a great trainer."
FALSE START PROVES COSTLY FOR FAIR ALONG AND FAASEL
Connections of both Irish Independent Arkle Chase runner-up Fair Along and fourth-placed Faasel felt the race’s false start hindered their horses’ chances.
Philip Hobbs, trainer of Fair Along, said: “He got bumped at the start and lost his position. If they had let him go first time he might have been alright but he was always making up ground.
“If he’s OK there’s no reason not to run him again later in the week (in the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle on Friday). We’ll see how he comes out of this.”
Nicky Richards, who saddled Faasel, added: “He ran a good race, especially given that it was only his second start over fences. Tony (Dobbin) said that he had a beautiful position coming in first time but was a bit flat footed second time around. As a result he was just three lengths further behind than he wanted to be the whole time and always had ground to make up.
“I’ll step him up in trip and might go up to three miles with him, possibly at Aintree if the ground’s alright. Otherwise we might wait for the Future Champions’ Novice Chase at Ayr.”
THIRD RACE WINNING QUOTES
SMURFIT CHAMPION HURDLE
SUBLIME VICTORY FOR CARR AND CARBERRY
Trainer John Carr had long sung the praises of Sublimity and the seven-year-old - backed by owner Bill Hennessy at odds of 600/1 downwards - lived up to his star billing when a brilliant three-length victory from Brave Inca in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
“Everything went according to plan, they went too fast for their own good and everything played into our hands. We were the best Flat horse and had the speed,” said Carr, who trains just 30 horses at his Co Kildare stable. “I knew when they went that terrible gallop, he’d go close with his finishing speed.
“I’d have been disappointed if he’d run badly and these are what dreams are made of. I was sat on a seat next to someone and I think he must have thought I was a bad man as I watched the race!
“He was great value and the owner had a small amount on at 600/1 on the exchanges before Christmas and backed him all the way down.
“His owner has had horses for the last 40 years so this is great for him. He was a good horse on the Flat for (Sir Michael) Stoute and won the Doncaster Mile. We bought him in Newmarket (for 32,000gns in October 2004) and the first day he ran we got the money back
“We were thinking about going for the County Hurdle if the top weight stayed in as we thought he’d be a bit of a certainty. But we decided the horse could be hurt or not around next year so we’d have a go at the Champion.
“Unfortunately we stopped milking cows last year - the cows are an easier job than this, I think!”
It was also a first Festival success for Sublimity’s 26-year-old jockey Philip Carberry, whose brother Paul and sister Nina are both no strangers to success at Cheltenham.
“I’ve never ridden a horse like him before and can’t imagine there being one better,” said Carberry. “I was very lucky to be on a horse like this, I always knew he had huge potential and it was crunch time from the last onwards. But he went away from the last and battled well. We had a dream run throughout and I even had the luxury of taking a pull down the hill.
“For the last couple of years we’ve thought he was very good and although it was not a great race he won at Navan, it was the way that he did it that was so impressive. He’s only seven and improving and maturing all the time.
“I’ve won some big races but the Champion Hurdle means an awful lot. Cheltenham is like the All Ireland Final.
“I was getting so excited before the race because I thought he would actually win! He's just a very, very good horse, the best horse I've ever ridden and probably ever will. He's class and better over hurdles than he was on the Flat.
“In fairness to him, he hasn't shown evidence that he could win the Champion Hurdle on the track, but at home he just keeps on surprising every time he worked, because he is actually that good. It's just been a dream to ride him. Thanks to Rob Hennessy and John Carr for letting me keep the ride on him. It's a great team. John had him in top order for the race.”
Sublimity is A1 for locals at the A1
Irish businessman Bill Hennessy, his son Robbie, and the team at trainer John Carr’s yard in Maynooth will be the toast of Ireland this evening after their horse won the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
The greatest cheers will be coming from the A1 pub at Artane in Dublin, which is owned by Bill Hennessy. Explaining the name, Hennessy said: “It was originally called the Ardleigh Inn, but after a direction sign went up with the letters A I, the locals began calling it the A1, and the name stuck.”
Hennessy also runs a hearing aid manufacturing business that supplied the name to one of rock music’s best-known vocalists. The Dublin-based business is called Bonavox, and U2 frontman Bono used it to create his own soubriquet.
Of their big-race winner, Hennessy said: “There was a virus in the yard at Christmas and Sublimity got the worse of it - there was a time when we thought we were going to lose him.”
Recalling the event, Carr said: “It was around the 10th of December when I went down to evening stables and Sublimity had a temperature of 105.5. I loaded him onto the lorry and set off on the 30-mile journey to the veterinary hospital in Dublin. Fortunately he cooled down in the lorry and his temperature was 103 when he arrived, but he stayed in for a couple of days.
“We had bought a horse at the Horses-in-Training Sale a few weeks earlier and he had a right bad dose that affected the yard.”
Describing his yard and saying he once rode as an amateur, Carr added: “I train on a farm and keep a few horses - the horses are increasing and the cattle are reducing, but I’ve got about 30 horses in full work at the moment.
“A year ago we came over here with Sublimity for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and people said I was mad in the head to spoil his handicap mark, but I knew he was better than that. He was a very good horse on the Flat for Sir Michael Stoute, and won a Listed race and was only beaten two and a half lengths in a Group 2.
“We went to Newmarket to buy a horse and never thought this one would be in our price range, but he had run poorly on his previous start at Newbury and we got him for 32,000gns.”
Carr backed his winner at a very appealing 600-1. He said: “He was a huge price on the exchanges before Christmas and the staff in the yard, family and friends had little bets on him. But that was just to give me a bit of support.”
INCA, AFSOUN & EUSTACE PLEASE CONNECTIONS
The second, third and fourth all pleased their connections following the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
The 2006 victor, Brave Inca, was beaten three lengths this year by Sublimity, but his trainer Colm Murphy was from despondent.
Murphy said: “The winner was exceptional.
“Brave Inca has runner a cracker and I’m thrilled to bits - he has run his heart out.
“There is new kid on the block now! That will probably be it for this year. We went to Punchestown after Cheltenham with him last year but that was a mistake.”
A further neck back in third was the fast-finishing Afsoun and his trainer Nicky Henderson was very pleased.
The master of Seven Barrows said: “Afsoun has run a smashing race.
“He stayed on well and Mick said the good gallop today really suited him.”
Afsoun’s owner Trevor Hemmings added: “His fitness was a worry today as he had been suffering from a slight virus.
“I think it was evident from his run that he may have just lacked optimum fitness.
“However, he is only five whereas the winner is seven and the second is nine, so there is hope for the future.”
Hardy Eustace, the winner in 2004 and 2005, was beaten under four lengths in fourth and his trainer Dessie Hughes was also satisfied.
Hughes said: “I thought it was a hell of a race.
“He never got a chance to get a breather today unlike in other years.
“Conor (O’Dwyer) said they were probably going about five miles an hour quicker today than for the past few years - nothing came easy today.
“He could go to Punchestown now and won’t be retired, but all good things come to an end!”
Detroit City can’t have been right, says jockey
Philip Hobbs, trainer of Detroit City, who was favourite for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle but could finish only sixth, said: “It’s very disappointing because he was favourite and he got stuffed. Richard [Johnson] got off and said the horse can’t have been right, so we’ll have to see. There’s probably something amiss but we’ll find out in the next few days.
“Even with a fast pace he can normally cope, but today he was never going. It’s not the end of the world and the horse is still alive, but it’s something you build for all season so it’s very disappointing.”
Seamus Mullins, trainer of fifth-placed Kawagino, said his horse will probably come back to the meeting on Friday for the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle.
Mullins said: “A horse fell in front of him and baulked him, so he lost all momentum. Wayne had to try and get back into the race from that point on. What a thrill it would have been if he’d jumped the last on the tails of the best four hurdlers in Europe. Sadly it wasn’t to be.
“I’d like to come back on Friday, but we’ll have to see how he comes out of the race.”
It was reported that the Nick Gifford-trained Straw Bear, who was pulled up, broke a blood vessel.
BOYLESPORTS SAVED FROM MASSIVE BONUS PAYOUT
The disappointing run of Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle favourite Detroit City saved Boylesports from paying out a £200,000 bonus.
The grey was successful in the £200,000 Boylesports.com International at Cheltenham on December 9 and qualified to go for the new bonus.
The £200,000 Boylesports bonus was offered to the winner of both the Boylesports.com International and Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
Boylesports sponsored Cheltenham’s December meeting for the first time this season and it has been transformed into one of the season’s biggest events, with prize money up 60 per cent on the 2005 total.
FOURTH RACE QUOTES
WILLIAM HILL TROPHY HANDICAP CHASE
JOES EDGE SPRINGS 50/1 SHOCK
Joes Edge sprung a 50/1 surprise when getting up in the final stride to lift the £85,000 William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase by a short-head from 7/1 co favourite Juveigneur, with fellow 7/1 co favourite Distant Thunder a further short-head back in third.
The 10-year-old was partnered by Davy Russell for owners Chemipetro Ltd and trainer Ferdy Murphy. This was a second Festival success for Russell while it was Murphy’s sixth.
Murphy said: “It’s a pity I didn’t tell myself to back back him!
“Joes Edge is a good horse.
“I don’t think the ground can be too soft today or he would not be winning.
“I thought my other runner, New Alco (sixth), probably had a better chance but Joes Edge is a spring horse.
“He takes a lot of work to get fit but, as you can see, his coat looked superb today.
“The aim is now to go for the Grand National with him. It would be borderline whether he gets in (he is allotted 10st 2lb) but he would have squeak. He ran well when seventh last year and we are keen to go to Aintree again.
“He has always run well around Cheltenham and was placed here a couple of times in his novice days. He got punished by the handicapper for winning the Scottish Grand National a couple of years ago.”
SO CLOSE FOR JUVEIGNEUR
A pair of short heads decided the outcome of the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase with 50/1 chance Joes Edge continuing a great day for bookmakers when landing the spoils in front of second-placed Juveigneur and Distant Thunder in third.
“Mick (Fitzgerald) said he had nailed the one horse (Distant Thunder) and then the other one came flying,” rued trainer Nicky Henderson. “Mine have all run blinders today and this was very close. Juveigneur won’t be going to Aintree as he hates the place.”
Distant Thunder’s trainer Noel Chance said: “It’s great to get so close and also a bugger to get so close - it’s a long run-in here. This was effectively his first run of the season and it was nip and tuck whether he got here in time.
“I’m just wondering whether to have a crack at the Irish National with him, otherwise we might look at Aintree.”
FIFTH RACE QUOTES
SPORTING INDEX HANDICAP CHASE (CROSS COUNTRY)
Great day for Carberrys as Nina follows Philip into winner’s enclosure
Limerick-based trainer Enda Bolger won the Sporting Index Handicap Chase for the second time in its three-year history when 5/2 favourite Heads On The Ground scored under Nina Carberry. Bolger also trained the fourth home, topweight Spot Thedifference, who won the inaugural running of the race and had been second in 2006.
The victory completed a wonderful day for the Carberry family - Nina’s brother, Philip, had ridden Sublimity to victory in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
Bolger was full of praise for Nina Carberry, who was recording her second Festival win - she landed the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Hurdle in 2005 on Dabiroun. Bolger said: “Nina rode a brilliant race and deserves all the credit. She was squeezed up at one point, but she’s some rider, and that seemed to wake the horse up. He grabbed hold of the bit with her and she was able to ride him for home.
“I was also watching for Spot - J T [McNamara] said he missed the bank the final time and that put him further back than he wanted. He’s 14 but I don’t think he’s finished yet and at level weights he’s very difficult to beat. The race back here in November is tailor-made for him.
“I have one of the best owners in the world [J P McManus, owner of both Bolger runners] and he lets me get on with the job. I must also thank Dessie Hughes who had Heads On The Ground before me and has given me plenty of help in telling me about the horse. The lads at home are a great help, too, but this was Nina’s day.”
Nina Carberry: “If you could have these days every day it would be great! The gap was there turning into the straight and that's the way race-riding goes - I was just lucky I had enough horse underneath me to get there. He did stop with me [when he hit the front] but he had enough there to keep going.”
Runner-up Silver Birch is now bound for the John Smith’s Grand National. “He ran a blinder and the winner was getting a lot of weight from us,” said trainer Gordon Elliott. “I couldn’t be happier and he’ll go to Aintree now. The Pardubice is the long-term plan.”
Bookmakers cut Silver Birch for the John Smith’s Grand National. Totesport now offer 25-1 from 40-1, while Paddy Power make Silver Birch a 33-1 shot from 40-1.
SIXTH RACE WINNING QUOTES
FRED WINTER JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE
GASPARA LANDS £75,000 DOUBLE FOR PIPE
Three days after winning Sandown’s Sunderlands Imperial Cup, the David Pipe-trained Gaspara earned his connections a £75,000 bonus after running away with the concluding Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.
The bonus was put up by Sunderlands for any horse winning Saturday’s race and an event at the Festival. It was also won in 1993 by Olympian and in 1998 by Blowing Wind, trained by Pipe’s father and Gaspara’s owner Martin.
"You couldn’t write this could you,” said Pipe junior. “We lost Little Brick earlier in the day [he broke his shoulder in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase], which was a massive blow for everyone in the yard, and now I’ve trained my first Festival winner and it’s owned by my father.
"It hasn’t sunk in yet - it’s an amazing feeling and everyone wants to win here. I’ve done it once and want to experience it again.
"The idea was to jump out and make it - there were quite a few that were going to make it, but they didn’t and Andrew [Glassonbury] did the right thing in sitting where he was up front. She’s very tough."
Martin Pipe was delighted to see his colours carried to victory and admitted: “This always was in the back of our mind and it seems the handicapper was right to put her up 12lb but I told everyone she was 13lb well in today!
“It’s a first for me to do this double as an owner - it’s fantastic.”
Jockey Andrew Glassonbury was also enjoying a first Festival win and said: “She just jumped from hurdle to hurdle and they couldn’t keep up with her. She just kept finding more. David said she wanted two and a half miles and so I let her bowl along in front.”
MOORE PLEASED
Trainer Gary Moore was very happy with the performance of Althilhar, the five-length runner-up behind Gaspara in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, the concluding race on day one of The Festival 2007.
The Dynaformer gelding kept on well to take second in the final strides, but was no match for the easy winner.
Brighton-based Moore quipped: “I think the winner is a very decent horse.
“I think only one trainer could have won the Imperial Cup on Saturday and then come out and won today with the same horse. I’d have given the winner a week off!
“My horse has run a good race. I had questioned whether we should have run today as I thought it might be a bit soft for him but that has not proved to be the case.
“I will have to speak to the owner before we decide where he goes next.
“He could go for a £20,000 race at Ascot but that might come a bit too quick and he could also be entered for Aintree.”
For old articles (from 1st March 2000) go to the Newslink
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