THE FESTIVAL 2008
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CHELTENHAM, THURSDAY, MARCH 13
KAUTO’S OWNER SMITH DREAMING OF MORE GOLD
Kauto Star’s owner Clive Smith is relishing the prospect of taking on Deman in tomorrow’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Speaking at a press conference organised by Betfair this morning, Smith stated that if his charge - once again in line for a £1 million bonus put up by Betfair - is not successful, he would like to see Denman win.
“I think Kauto Star is better than ever this year and Ruby has nothing to learn about riding him. If Ruby has picked up anything he’s certainly shown it in the last two runs when I think he’s been brilliant,” said Smith.
“Kauto’s grown up and he’s just right now - he’s spot on. But if we can’t win I’d love to see Paul (Nicholls) and Harry (Findlay)’s Denman win. But I wouldn’t dismiss Exotic Dancer, I know everyone says he’s had some injury problems, but he’s come on and is a fantastic horse and I think he’ll be serious challenger.
“I hope we have more battles in the future whatever happens this week. I know Harry’s long-term plan is the Grand National but maybe he’ll go for the Gold Cup first next season.
“I’ve had a little bit on Kauto but not much yet but with such a big bonus you don’t need much on. He’s 2.2 on Betfair which is about the right price but the ground was going to be the issue. But with no more rain expected the ground is going to be about right for us.
“I’ve had quite a lot on in other ways these past few weeks so my mind has been elsewhere but it’s back on the Gold Cup now.”
Jim Lewis, who won three totesport Cheltenham Gold Cups with Best Mate, is wishing both Smith and Findlay good luck.
“I know they will not be sleeping at all and I know every waking hour they will think of their horses coming up the hill - you try and ignore it but you can’t,” said Lewis. “But when you have a contender at the highest level it is the greatest privilege you can have in the sporting world.”
GREAT CLASH COULD BE A ONE-OFF, SAYS HARRY
Harry Findlay was in relaxed mood on the eve of steeplechasing’s great showdown between his horse, Denman, and Clive Smith’s Kauto Star in the totesport Gold Cup at Cheltenham - although he suspects the clash may never happen again.
“This might be the only time the two horses meet,” said Findlay at a forum organised this morning by Betfair. “Paul Nicholls is on the mark when he says everything has to come right for it to happen again. He’s done a great job with our fellow, because he takes a lot of getting fit and getting right.”
“A week ago it was all about trying to make sure no stone was unturned,, but even now things can change - Liam Heard was going to ride Neptune Collonges [a stablemate of Denman and Kauto Star] and now Mick Fitzgerald is on the horse, so you can never be sure what might happen.”
Looking for a weakness in Kauto Star, Findlay reiterated his doubts about the horse’s stamina, saying: “We want pace in the race, but so does Kauto. I have reservations about Kauto Star and so does Paul Barber [Denman’s joint-owner], but Paul Nicholls has no doubts Kauto Star gets the trip. To me the Gold Cup is a three-miles-three-furlongs race, because of the pace and the uphill finish.
“One things for sure, Denman won’t be going off favourite or joint favourite. On Tuesday night I thought Kauto was a massive lay at around 2.2 on Betfair, but we’ve had no significant rain, and now I think Kauto’s a bet.”
Findlay’s love of Denman is only marginally ahead of his appreciation of the reigning champion. He said: “Apart from Denman, Kauto Star is the horse I’ve spent most time around. They are in boxes next to each other, and whenever I go down to Ditcheat [Nicholls’ base], whether it’s to have a pint or talk about the horses, I see Kauto Star. And of course, he got me out the shit at this meeting last year.
Findlay has one eye on next year’s John Smith’s Grand National for Denman, but if his horse wins tomorrow his first target would be the Betfair Million, a bonus to any horse that wins the Betfair Chase at Haydock, the King George VI Chase at Kempton, and the totesport Gold Cup. Kauto Star won the bonus last year, and is poised to do it again tomorrow - unless ‘Arry’s ‘orse comes out on top.
GOING
The going for day three of The Festival is GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES.
Simon Claisse, Clerk of the Course & Director of Racing, said: “The track has been put back well since Tuesday.
“We will be running on fresh ground all the way round on the hurdles course today and we will also be providing fresh ground on the bends for the chases.
“The ground is in great nick and I’ve left it as good to soft, good in places. I thought it might have dried out a bit more than it did yesterday. We had a light shower overnight with around one to two millimetres of rain.
“Today is forecast to be mainly dry with the chance of a light shower. There will no wind and tomorrow should be much the same again.”
NON RUNNERS
The following horses are non runners this week:
Thursday, March 13
1.05pm ROYAL & SUNALLIANCE CHASE
No.10 Tidal Bay (Ran on Tuesday)
1.05pm BALLYMORE PROPERTIES NOVICES’ HURDLE
No.10 Logans Run
1.40pm CORAL CUP (HANDICAP HURDLE)
No. 28 Shazand
3.30pm totesport CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
No. 13 Ollie Magern (Ran on Tuesday)
ROBERT THORNTON WINS GUINNESS DAILY AWARD FOR TUESDAY
The first of the Guinness Festival Awards on Tuesday went to jockey Robert Thornton for his winning rides in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Katchit and Captain Cee Bee. Thornton will be presented with his prize in the winner’s enclosure at 11.15am.
The shortlist, selected by a panel of racing journalists, also included Captain Cee Bee’s trainer Eddie Harty, who enjoyed his first Festival win with his first ever runner, and Tom Scudamore, rider of An Accordion, winner of the William Hill Handicap Steeple Chase. Scudamore also finished runner-up in the Champion Hurdle on Osana.
Now in their 12th year, the daily awards are presented in recognition of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the racing action in the first three championship races of each day. The daily winners, who are decided upon via text messages from racegoers, receives a Waterford Crystal trophy presented in the paddock the following day, with Friday’s winner receiving their trophy after the fifth race that day.
Race 1 - Peter O’Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup - Winning Quotes
OLD BENNY ANOTHER FOR KING
Trainer Alan King, successful in Tuesday’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle with Katchit, started Thursday in fine form when Old Benny was the decisive seven-length winner of the four-mile Peter O’Sullevan National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup.
The winner, racing in the famous colours of Trevor Hemmings, stayed on resolutely to get the better of Over The Creek.
Alan King said: “It’s easy to say, but Charlie Huxley has given him a wonderful ride.
“Charlie has so much natural ability and is very relaxed - he almost had me worried he was so relaxed today.
“He is a very talented young lad from a good racing family.
“Old Benny can jump a bit too deliberate, but he was very good today. All he does is stay.
“The blinkers have helped him.
“We will now look at the Scottish Grand National for him.”
Charlie Huxley, who hails from Shropshire, added: “It was my grandfather Roy Edwards who really got me into racing.
“He rode the 1967 Champion Hurdle winner Saucy Kit and has been a real inspiration. This is for him because he's not very well.
"Its unbelievable! A dream! It's surreal really. I'd like to say thanks to the governor (Alan King) for giving me the opportunity because I never thought I would be doing this a couple of years ago.
“It's just super. You work hard and its unbelievable that it’s paid off for me.”
FIRST RACE PLACED QUOTES
PETER O’SULLEVAN NATIONAL HUNT CHASE CHALLENGE CUP
OVER THE CREEK JUST LOSES OUT
The David Pipe-trained Over The Creek failed by seven lengths to catch Old Benny in the marathon Peter O’Sullevan Chase Challenge Cup and - although cut to 33/1 from 40/1 with William Hill for the John Smith’s Grand National - is not certain to head to Aintree.
“He jumped, he travelled and he ran a great race but maybe was just done for a bit of toe at the finish,” said Pipe. “This race was tailor made for him, he relishes these long distances. He is in the Grand National but I’m not sure where he’ll go - he’ll be entered in all the long-distance races. He jumps and stays well.
Back On line delighted trainer Venetia Williams when finishing third. “She’s such a game mare and run a smashing race. Will (Biddick) gave her a great ride, he went on the inside for the first circuit but then had to switch to the outside because he was not getting much room.
“I think this race has got better since the conditions changed and this was the strongest renewal they have ever had and she finished third behind two terrific horses.
“I’d like to go for the mares’ chase final at Newbury but you always worry about the ground at that time of year, the trip is a bit shorter and the handicapper is likely to give her top weight. I would like to see some conditions races for mares.”
Graham Regan, the owner of fourth placed Niche Market, had expected his horse to run well. "We fancied him rotten. He was only half a length behind Old Benny at Lingfield, and we’ve been backing him for weeks," he said.
Though Regan lost his bets, with only three places paying, it was of no consequence to the euphoric owner. "I’ve got just two horses with Bob [Buckler], we are genuine small owners and look where we are," he said. "This is only our second-ever runner at The Festival. The first was She’s Our Daisy in the Supreme Novices last year and she’’s still out there in the country. If you see her, let us know," he joked.
AMATEURS SAY GROUND RIDING ON DEAD SIDE OF GOOD
Amateur riders who took part in the opening race, the Peter O’Sullevan National Hunt Steeple Chase, on day three of the Cheltenham Festival, gave the ground a thumbs-up.
After taking a four-mile victorious tour of Prestbury Park, winning rider Charlie Huxley, who partnered Old Benny, said: “It’s good to soft ground and very consistent all the way round.”
Other riders who took part included:
Derek O’Connor: “It’s yielding and tacky.”
Damien Murphy: “It’s dead.”
Tom Greenall: “It rides slower than it walks, but it’s in between good and good to soft.”
Nick Scholfield: “It’s riding on the dead side.
Josh Guerriero: “It’s just a little bit slower than dead ground.”
David Roche: “It’s a bit dead in patches.”
Will Biddick: “It’s good to soft.”
Michael O’Connor: “It’s on the dead side of good, but it’s lovely racing ground.”
Jamie Snowden: “It’s good to soft, but a bit dead.”
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SECOND RACE
WINNER’S QUOTES
McCOY GETS WINNER ON RUN
Tony McCoy notched his first winner since coming back from a serious back injury when Albertas Run landed the Royal & SunAlliance Chase for trainer Jonjo O’Neill. The winner is owned by Trevor Hemmings, who was completing a quick double following Old Benny’s victory 35 minutes earlier.
Despite the satisfaction of victory, McCoy was self-critical at having led two fences out, and said: “I should have been a bit cooler. He idled when I won on him here in December, and I should have waited a bit longer today, but when a horse is going so well you don’t want to keep disappointing them.
“I’m delighted for Jonjo - he gets some criticism, but he always comes up with winners at the Cheltenham Festival.”
McCoy’s wife, Chanelle, said: “This will mean the world to Tony. He’s worked so hard to get fit again, and Tuesday was disappointing when he was beaten [on Binocular] by Captain Cee Bee, but this is great. I’m so proud of him.”
Trevor Hemmings said wryly: “It could get better, but we haven’t got a runner in the next! It’s a lovely feeling and everybody is so nice about it. And of course it’s special to see Tony ride a winner.”
O’Neill said: “It’s marvellous to get a winner on the board. The horse jumped great and travelled well so it was always looking good. There was plenty in the tank coming down the hill, and when Tony looked between his legs I thought there must be a little bit up his sleeve, so I was happy on that.
“The horse will probably go to Liverpool now - he’s in the Irish National but I don’t think he’ll run there. But he must have good ground. We ran him on heavy and got him beat, so won’t do that again.”
Second race
Place quotes
ROLL ALONG NEEDED EVERY YARD
Roll Along finished the Royal & SunAlliance Chase with such gusto that he went from fourth to second after the last and had the owners wishing that the race had been just a little longer. But there was a brief moment of anxiety for connections: ““Down the back he stumbled and I wasn’’t sure for a minute whether he was sound, but then he settled and I was nudging away,”” said jockey Timmy Murphy.
Owners Bryan and Philippa Burrough, famous for their connection with Grand National winner Corbiere were very pleased with the performance: ““He made a couple of mistakes, but we’’ve always thought that he would make a three-miler and that proved it,”” he said.
““He was very well-behaved before the race, which gave his confidence. He does need a lot of gaps between his races.”” added Bryan’’s wife and co-owner Philippa Burrough, though both were left wondering what might have happended had Roll Allong started rolling along a little sooner.
A deadpan Carl Llewellyn suggested that he was disappointed: ““I was hoping we would win it and we didn’t,”” he said.
Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said of third-placed Battlecry: ““He ran a superb race and I couldn’’t be more pleased. A bit better ground would have helped, he’’s just got a bit tired after the last.””
CODD BANNED
Amateur rider Jamie Codd was suspended for seven days (dates to be notified) following his ride on Niche Market in the opening Peter O’Sullevan National Hunt Chase.
The stewards found Codd guilty of improper riding in that he had used his whip with excessive frequency from the second last.
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THIRD RACE WINNING QUOTES
JEWSON NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE
FINGER SCORES FOR TAAFFE
The 2006 totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Kicking King may be an absentee at The Festival this year but his owner Conor Clarkson, trainer Tom Taaffe and jockey Barry Geraghty gained some compensation when Finger Onthe Pulse held on by a neck to take the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase. The Queen’s horse Barbers Shop was second.
“I said after we won the Gold Cup that it would be great to come back here and win some of the lesser races,” said Taaffe. “Cheltenham is the know all and be all to me, it’s the mecca and has been for since I was a kid. To win by a neck here is as good as a mile elsewhere.“
”We were gutted about Kicking King but Finger is a bloody good horse in his own right and he’s shown it today, We always felt that there was a big race in him and he jumped like a buck. Barry gave him a spectacular ride and he’s brave and he’s stayed on.
“He generally takes a keen hold but Barry restrained him and we were grateful that there was such an early pace on and he jumped spectacularly well. We’ve always felt that he doesn’t have gears, that he stays and Barry’s got him to the front three fences out and he’s stayed on bravely. Barbers Shop ran exceedingly well and I was getting a bit nervous but I’m sure the Queen will have another day.
“I’d never bring horses here unless they had a realistic chance and this was the plan since January with Finger Onthe Pulse, when he was second at Leopardstown to Glencove Marina - who Willie Mullins told me might be the best he has trained. We decided to lock him up at home after that and fortunately it has worked out. It was actually a tough call whether we went for this or the Royal & SunAlliance Chase but just decided this race might be easier and Punchestown is the obvious place to go with him now.”
Taaffe also had news on Kicking King. “He might run at Navan on March 29 if he sparkles at home beforehand, he just didn’t spark in his gallop before Cheltenham which was why we didn’t come here,” said Taaffe.
Geraghty added: “He’s won on soft ground and I knew that he would stay. It was a super run though. He was brilliant everywhere, foot-perfect. He took off outside the wings at the third last and the second last. I knew that he was going to keep going so I was happy enough. It’s great to have a winner and his jumping really made it today. It’s unfortunate that Kicking King isn’t here but he’s still there at home.”
Third race - The Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase
Place quotes
NOT QUITE BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT
It would have been The Festival story to end all Festival stories: the Queen’s first-ever runner at The Festival recording a fabulous victory. No wonder that Mick Fitzgerald looked frustrated at the end of the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase for Barbers Shop, owned by The Queen, had finished just a neck behind the winner Finger Onthe Pulse. “He was staying on,and staying on and staying on,” said Fitzgerald.
The moment that could have cost the six-year-old the race was at the last fence. As the trainer Nicky Henderson explained: “He did nothing wrong, he jumped really well all the way round, but as he landed after the last fence, just for a stride, he didn’t get going,” he said.
There were no complaints, though, from Sir Michael Oswald, who manages the Queen’s National Hunt horses. “I don’t know what Mick was worried about, he’s ridden a smashing race, we’re absolutely delighted,” he said.
The Queen’s second runner at the Festival, Gold Award, goes in the final race today, the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
Henry Daly, trainer of third-placed Possol, said: “He’s run a smashing race. He wants better ground than that and will be out again when we get it. It’s frustrating, but that’s what the handicapper does for you. He’s only five and he’ll be a three-mile handicapper for next year.
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The superlatives were almost exhausted after a prodigious performance by Master Minded, who became the first-ever five-year-old to win the Seasons Holidays Champion Chase.
“This is some horse. He’s unbelievable. I just couldn’t steady him. He was pulling my arms all the way and I was worried that he might be going to easily,” said jockey Ruby Walsh, “ Jesus, he’s some horse! He’s only a five-year-old. They went a hell of a gallop and they were running away everywhere. I thought turning the top of the hill I was looking round thinking this is probably not the right thing but he was going so well it didn’t matter, just get over these fences He’s a machine.”
“We thought he was good, but not this good. He was awesome,” echoed the owner Clive Smith, whose Kauto Star goes in the totesport Gold Cup tomorrow.
“It’s funny how things work out,” Smith continued, “We had Kauto Star in this race two years ago and he fell. Maybe, if he had won then, he would still be in this race. So perhaps it was fate that he didn’t.
“Paul thinks Master Minded has improved about two stone this year so that’s incredible. The nerves aren’t quite so jangled now!”
The word “awesome” also fell from the lips of the trainer Paul Nicholls, who had suggested to his rider before the race that Master Minded could even be better than Azertyuiop, who won the Champion Chase in 2004. “He is,” said Walsh as he returned to the winner’s enclosure.
Nicholls, winning the race for the third time, had been worried about Master Minded’s jumping after Exeter in December, when the horse had unseated Sam Thomas. “He was jumping a bit French-style, so we did a lot more work with him after that. He’s a very intelligent horse,” he said.
Nicholls, who also won the Champion Chase with Call Equiname in 1999, was confident throughout the race. “It was always a good gallop which suited him and when he cruised up to the lead, I thought there’s no way he’s going to be stopping now.”
“These are the races that we want to be winning,” said the trainer, who added that the horse will now be put away for the season. “He’s still only five and we’ve got to look after him.
“He’s awesome isn’t he for a five year-old. He jumped absolutely brilliantly, he travelled well and I’m gobsmacked really. I know he’s been improving at home and he was obviously a hugely talented horse and it’s just incredible.
“I said to Ruby beforehand why don’t we win handicaps (at The Festival) and he said they win their races during the winter and it’s the races like this that we want to be winning and he’s spot on.
“He’s a proper horse to win a race like that. I’ll look forward to tomorrow and isn’t Clive lucky to have horses like that. The great thing with Clive is that he leaves it to me and Charlie. I’ve got free hand to do what I want and run them when I like and it makes a massive difference.
“Anthony Bromley bought him for us and he was a horse that both Anthony and myself had been following for 12 months trying to buy. We could see huge potential in him and he wasn’t that dear now.”
KING SALUTES WINNER
Trainer Alan King was quick to pay tribute to Master Minded, runaway winner of the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, after his defending champion Voy Por Ustedes finished the 19-length runner-up.
King said of the 5/2 favourite: “I’m very proud of my fella.
“That was an awesome performance from the winner and I take my hat off to him.
“We were beaten fair and square. It was a proper test today and the best horse won.
“It had been said before that it might not be a vintage renewal, but it doesn’t look that way now does it?”
Looking to the future, King continued: “I think we might look at stepping him up in trip now.
“Providing he comes out of today OK, we could look at running him over two and a half miles at Aintree next month.”
TOO FAST FOR FAIR ALONG
The normally front-running Fair Along could not take his customary early lead in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase but stayed on to take third, albeit 35 lengths behind the hugely-impressive winner Master Minded.
"He was just flat out from the word go and then stayed on at the end," said Fair Along''s trainer Philip Hobbs. "He saved himself a bit and then ran on. The obvious race for him now is the two and a half miler at Aintree because there is knowhere else for him to go and the way he stayed on here you''d say he''d have no trouble with that trip."
It was left to Schindlers Hunt, who finished fourth, to make the running and his trainer Dessie Hughes added: "It was a great run and it was good to see him come back to himself. We maybe made a bit too much use of him and he could have finished third but the winner was just a machine, he was unbelievable and he''s a beautiful horse to look at as well. We might go to Aintree and we''d definitely think about the Swordlestown at Punchestown."
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Race 5 - Ryanair Chase - Winning Quotes
OUR VIC GOES ONE BETTER IN RYANAIR
Our Vic went one place better than last year when taking the Ryanair Chase, run as a Grade One race for the first time in 2008, for owner David Johnson, trainer David Pipe and jockey Timmy Murphy.
Always prominent, the 10-year-old saw out the two mile, five furlong contest well to record a five-length victory over Mossbank.
David Pipe said: “He is a real old favourite and has been around a long time. This is a great result for Pond House as well as David Johnson and his family. This horse deserved to win a race at The Festival.
“Today’s trip on an undulating course like Cheltenham really suited him. The (first-time) blinkers just sharpened him up a bit. It was Eddie Buckley, who rides him every day, who suggested that we tried blinkers on him. Timmy got some fantastic jumps out of him .
“Timmy gave him a great ride and was positive on him. We just put the blinkers on because last year he got a bit outpaced and he’s travelled well today. I could see Mossbank coming on the outside, but Out Vic has travelled all the way to the line. He’s a very good horse. David said he’s won £440,000 in prize money and he’s just collected a bit more now.”
Timmy Murphy said: “The horse really deserves this win and it is great for the yard.
“The blinkers have made a good bit of difference and the ground is slower this year as well. We went a pretty good gallop considering the ground and I know he stays a little bit further.
“I was just worried again turning in that he was going to fold on me but he’s kept picking up all the way to the line. He deserves to win a big race. He’s one of our best horses and he’s earned an awful lot of prize money and he deserves a big day here.”
Successful owner David Johnson added: “Timmy was being modest because he has given the horse a great ride. Coming to the last I was slightly worried but he did it brilliantly.
“I’d like to say well done to Timmy. The horse has been knocking on the door all season and he deserved a big race and now he’s got it. Hopefully, they will take away his Timeform squiggle now.
“David has thought for some time that the blinkers might liven him up as he’s been a little bit lethargic in one or two of his races and it has worked the oracle today. We’ve worked him in them at home and he’s gone the right way and he’s done it today. Coming over the last we were fingers crossed that he would get up the hill. He’s disappointed us once or twice before when he hasn’t got the trip but he’s got there today and all credit to Timmy and David, whose got him spot on the day and I’m just lucky enough to be the owner.
“Once he jumped the first I thought he had a really good chance. He needs things to go his own way and that’s what’s happened today. Tom Costello sold us this horse. We have had some good and some bad horses off of him. This is a brilliant horse.”
CREDIT GOES TO OLD VIC
Michael Hourigan, who trained second-placed Mossbank in the Ryanair Chase was quick to give credit to the horse which beat his. “The winner [Our Vic] was very deserving and the blinkers really worked on him today. I was expecting him to stop, but he didn’t.”
“I’m very pleased with the way our’s ran. He jumped well and although the ground may have been a bit tacky for him, I’ve no excuses and he was beaten fair and square. He’s just able to cruise on better ground and he’ll go to Punchestown now and see what happens there.”
Andy Stewart, owner of the third-placed Turko, was equally generous in defeat. “They did well with Old Vic, that David Pipe will make a trainer yet,” he said, smiling.
Stewart will take the Paul Nicholls trained Turko to Aintree and is then set upon entering a significant number of horses at Punchestown, including Turko.
Trainer Jessica Harrington was delighted by the run of Knight Legend, who finished fourth at 33/1.
“I’m really thrilled, he jumped brilliantly throughout. People can’t go on saying that he’s a bad jumper now. And it was on ground that he probably have preferred a bit quicker,” she said.
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SIXTH RACE
WINNER’S QUOTES
DREVER A RECORD-BREAKER
Inglis Drever became the most successful staying hurdler in the history of the Cheltenham Festival when winning the Ladbrokes World Hurdle for a record third time.
The nine-year-old did not have the clearest run during the race, but when he saw daylight in the finishing straight he had too much pace for his rivals, and eventually beat Kasbah Bliss and Kazal by a length and seven lengths.
Owner Graham Wylie said: “Maybe one day I’ll realise what he’s done, but it is all so emotional now. I just sat quietly in the stand and watched and watched - and he had so many traffic problems. But when he came over the last he was too good for them.
“He’s a street fighter, who never knows when he’s beaten, and he loves the attention he gets in the winner’s enclosure.
“I was very quiet until the last and than I went crackers. Can I just say what a great performance by Howard Johnson. I’m chuffed for him, for the yard, for the horse and for Denis. We knew the horses were in good form and we stayed calm and quiet throughout the week. I’m very proud and happy.”
Trainer Howard Johnson went to church this morning, continuing a lucky routine that has stood him in good stead in recent years. He said: “It’s all been worthwhile, all the hard work. My daughter Lucy went out this morning back at home and the daffodils were out, and the same thing happened in 2005 when I had three winners. She sent us a picture of the flowers on her phone and we took it as a good sign.”
Talk of Inglis Drever’s retirement was not completely dispelled after the race, and Johnson said: “He’s only nine, but I don’t want anything to happen to him. If we’ve got a chance in the Order of Merit we might go to my lucky course Aintree. We might come back here for one more next year but there is not many races left in him. This is near enough the greatest training performance of my life and I’m very proud.”
“He can be tailed off in a gallop at home, then hit the hill and run past horses, and he does the same here. You can always tell when he’s coming with a run because he puts his head on one side and his eyes pop out.
“I said to Denis, stay on the inside no matter what happens, because he’ll take you there when it matters.
“He missed a year and its come good. All credit to the horse first and then Andrea and Graham have been great supporters of the yard. It’s just unbelievable!
“He’s one of the toughest horses, next to Direct Route, I’ve trained. He’s come good today which is great. I’ve been getting a bit of stick from certain press men which I didn’t take very nicely, to be honest. A few people have been writing articles in the Racing Post which I didn’t take nicely too. I’ve always had faith in the horse.”
Denis O’Regan, riding his second Festival winner after Tidal Bay in the opener, commented: “What a horse! What a horse! I can’t believe it, three in a row! I never panicked, we were never in trouble.
He just took off. Howard said beforehand that we wouldn’t want to get there before the last. I was a bit down at the last but he did a good jump at the last and he did the rest himself. What a fantastic week to get on these two horses.”
Ginni Wright, Inglis Drever’s groom, said: “It’s so nerve-wracking when you know you’ve got probably the best horse in the race and he felt so fantastic at home. He felt even better here this morning leading him out and yet you know there are so many things that can go wrong – all these hurdles and fantastic horses in the race but he’s done it.
“It doesn’t make for easy viewing. My heart is going so fast – I hope the paramedics are well trained in cardiac arrest! My legs are like jelly and I’ve no stomach left but it’s all worth it. I knew once he jumped the last hurdle just in front, I always start my run then because, if there’s a horse sitting on his back side, they’ll not pass him. And yet again, just behind another horse he would probably make you feel he wouldn’t do it.
“He had to fight. They are all fantastic horses – there were no bad horses in the race or at Cheltenham . Top horses and top jockeys. But the one who deserved to win it most has won it today.
“You can never get used to bringing in winners here. I’m not a party girl – I party with the crowd. They make it for me, for the horse and for everyone. This is my party.”
LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Trainer Howard Johnson paid tribute to his stable star Inglis Drever after the nine-year-old became the first horse ever to win three Ladbrokes World Hurdles.
"He loves to come up hills, he loves to do that at home and loves it here and you can tellhe’s enjoying it because he cocks his jaw and his eyes pop out when he’s running well. As I’ve often said he’s like a terrier, he’s like a little Jack Russell - a bit like me," said Johnson.
"I suppose I’ve had to be like a terrier in here. It’s not bad to have come from being a sheep farmer and cattle dealer to having two winners at Cheltenham this year. It’s been hard at times, I’ve been kicked and got tinnitus which gives me a buzz in my ear all the time, but it makes it easy to get up in the morning with owners like Andrea and Graham Wylie.
"There’s been a little bit of tension with how the horses have been running but we were more positive after Tidal Bay winning on Tuesday.
"If he’s got a chance in the Order of Merit I might go to Aintree if the ground is good to soft, but if not we’ll turn him out and if he’s still loving racing then we’ll keep him going next season. But he wouldn’t have any more than three runs next season - Newbury, the Cleeve and then here. The problem is finding another one like him. I know Sir Mark (Prescott), who sold him to us, will have send us a fax when we get home, he’s a top man."
Johnson has changed his stable jockey a couple of times in recent seasons but hopes Inglis Drever’s rider Denis O’Regan will still be attached to his Co Durham stable next season.
"Denis will still be there next season if he wants to be," added Johnson. "I’m still pally with Paddy Brennan, who didn’t settle in the north and is much happier now he’s based in the south, but not with Graham Lee but that’s because he won’t speak to me. But Graham has looked after Denis very well since he came over here."
Denis O’Regan added: "I’m just delighted to be here in the year of Inglis Drever although in a way this was the hardest year to be riding because of him having won twice before. I had great faith in Howard that he would get the horses here spot on this week and he has got them here in one piece and it’s a privilege to ride them.
"He didn’t hit a flat spot today, just got into a bit of trouble at the top of the hill and it was always in the back of my mind that the boss had said to me that there was no need to be in front going over the last. But I winged the last in front then came up the outside because I knew there was better ground there from when I walked the course. I was worried half way around by the French rider (Christophe Pieux) because he was knocking the whole place down going round.
"This is only my third visit to the Cheltenham Festival and I realise that I’m a very lucky fellow - I’m only 25 next week and I’ve been very jammy."
Owner Graham Wylie, who bought Inglis Drever for 110,000 guineas at the 2003 Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale, added: "He was my third-ever horse. My first was Lord Transcend, who won three or four, then Royal Rosa and then this one so that really got me the bug. But I will leave all decisions to Howard and if he wants to retire the horse I’ll go along with that. Denis has ridden a great race but let’s not forget Paddy Brennan and Graham Lee who have also won on him.
Sixth race - The Ladbrokes World Hurdle
Place quotes
DOUMEN DREAMS OF FUTURE BLISS
The nine-year-old Inglis Drever may have stolen the moment with his third victory in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but trainer Francois Doumen was dreaming of a future belonging to six-year-old Kasbah Bliss, after his horse’s sterling effort, which came so close to upsetting the favourite.
“I always look to the future, even at my age, and I think with my horse we have one that could be the future, and maybe next year,” he said.
What cheered Doumen particularly was the attitude of Kasbah Bliss as Inglis Drever came to make his challenge. “I think he had a very good reaction when he saw the other horse arriving - he fought back.”
Doumen suggested that the ground did not help his horse. “We were getting worried beforehand about the ground which was sticky and not ideal for my horse, but I don’t want to concentrate too much on that. I don’t want to make excuses,” he said.
They were, he admitted, beaten by “some horse”.
Race 6 - Ladbrokes World Hurdle - Third-placed quote
KAZAL DELIGHTS GRIFFIN
Irish trainer Eoin Griffin was over the moon with the effort of 12/1 shot Kazal, who finished third in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle behind Inglis Drever and Kasbah Bliss.
Griffin said: “I am delighted with Kazal, absolutely thrilled.
“This was the horse’s first try at this level and he has acquitted himself well.
“What can you say about Inglis Drever? What a horse he is. I hope if we come back next year he might have retired by then!
“Turning for home, I thought we might have it. He is a really battling and strong horse. Even when he was headed, I thought he might come back but it just proved too much for him.
“Barry (Geraghty) thought that better ground would have just helped him a bit. He now hopefully heads to Punchestown and the ground should suit him there.”
THE FESTIVAL 2008
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CHELTENHAM, THURSDAY, MARCH 13
Seventh race - The Racing Post Plate
Winner quotes
SUE SMITH’S VETERAN MISTER HAS HIS MOMENT
Mister McGoldrick belied his odds of 66/1 to bring trainer Sue Smith a first-ever victory at the Festival, and the 11-year-old veteran did it in some style.
“That’s made my year,” said Smith, “The horse has always been able to win a big race, and he jumped brilliantly and did it really well. He was not even off the bridle.”
Smith had three times come close to a Festival victory, with Royal Emperor finishing second in both the SunAlliance Chase and the Pertemps Final, and Mister McGoldrick placing third in the Champion Chase two years ago.
Mister McGoldrick spent a year with Carl Llewellyn and had only returned to the Smith stable before this season. “He obviously loves it at our place. We go steady with him and I ride him out a lot. He’s run well all season,” she said, “That was superb. I couldn’t believe how easily he was travelling. I’m absolutely delighted. That’ll stop everyone from saying that he only wins at Wetherby! He’s 11 years old and he’s absolutely been the most wonderful horse.
“He obviously loves it at our place. We go steady with him. He doesn’t gallop a lot and I ride him a lot. He’s better than ever.”
The trainer also felt that this win might lay the ghost that the horse only wins at Wetherby. It was a sentiment echoed by the owner Richard Longley. “I hope that finally stops people saying that Mister McGoldrick can’t win anywhere else. He’s a geniune, tough horse, never quite up to top class, but today is his day,” he said.
“And I don’t know how he started at 66/1, it certainly wasn’t down to me,” said Longley, “I backed him on the Tote.” The Tote paid 147/1.
Dominic Elsworth, riding his first Cheltenham winner, said: “He’s done it fantastically, hasn’t he? I didn’t realise I was quite so out in front as I was. All credit to the owner, Richard Longley, he’s been very good with me, so has the horse.
“Mister McGoldrick can be fairly exuberant at his jumps which is a bit of a worry sometimes but he’s done it well today. It’s a smashing feeling to come into the winning enclosure.”
STEWART AND FUNDAMENTALIST CAMP SATISFIED
Andy Stewart, owner of Racing Post Plate runner-up Gwanako said: “Good luck to Harvey and Sue with Mister McGoldrick, that’s what racing is all about.
“I’m pleased with the way our horse has run and he could go to Liverpool or Ayr next.
“Alternatively, there is a race here in April that we won last year with Nycteos, and that is a possibility.”
Stewart has never had a Festival winner but he said: “We’ve got three possible chances tomorrow with Celestial Halo, Saintsaire and Poquelin, although he would swerve the race if it rains too much. Rain would certainly suit Celestial Halo in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and we are hoping he will run a big race.”
Fergal O’Brien, assistant to Nigel Twiston-Davies, was happy with the effort of third-placed Fundamentalist.
He said: “We are over the moon with him.
“The two-and-half-mile trip really suited him well today.
“Maybe he would have been a bit closer if he had not run in the William Hill on Tuesday!
“He will now hopefully head for a race at Aintree.”
THE FESTIVAL 2008
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CHELTENHAM, THURSDAY, MARCH 13
Race 8 - Pertemps Final
BALLYFITZ TAKES THE PERTEMPS
Ballyfitz demonstrated he has abundant reserves of stamina when landing the Pertemps Final by three lengths from 7/1 favourite Miko de Beauchene.
The 18/1 shot battled on well from the top of the hill and was clearly suited by the three-mile trip.
Winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies commented: “That was a great performance from Ballyfitz.
“He won superbly at Haydock the last time and we thought he’d do the same thing here. We are very, very pleased. He’s been very good this season. He’s back over the hurdles, he had one run over fences, and he’s done great.
“I thought he was handicapped up to the hilt and you are always worried in this race that there could be something at the bottom who has been really primed for the day.
“He likes testing ground and so today’s conditions were ideal for him. It was a brilliant ride from Paddy, as we’ve come to expect.
“It has been a great season for us. Knowhere runs in the Gold Cup tomorrow and is very well. If there are any chinks in the armour of the favourites, he could exploit them.
“We’re fed up with thirds here and we want a bit more. Just wait for Knowhere tomorrow!”
Winning rider Paddy Brennan added: “This was a great way to finish the day.
“I was very happy with the way he was travelling at the top of the hill and I thought he might have a bit more speed in the finish than Miko de Beachene.
“This victory was a great way to cement my relationship with Nigel and I am happy for him as he hasn’t had a winner at The Festival for a few years. It’s just lovely for all the team.
“Ballyfitz stays well and loved the softened ground which is taking a bit of getting which really suited the horse well. I know how hard it is at Cheltenham to get a winner so any winner is special and I’m delighted to be amongst them.
“The horses have been running well and obviously I had no stand out rides, no Inglis Drever - and it was great to see him win today, but it was nice to finish the day like this.”
WELSH NATIONAL WINNER RUNS BLINDER IN PERTEMPS
Miko De Beauchene, who won the Welsh National at Christmas and the Red Square Vodka Gold Cup at Haydock last month, tried his hand at hurdling today, and finished second in the Pertemps Final.
Owner Andrew Wiles said: “He was entered in the William Hill Handicap Chase and the Midlands National on Saturday, but he had 11st 12lb in that. We are still thinking of the Scottish National, but this was a convenient interim race. We thought he would run well, because although he stays extreme distances he’s not slow.”
Trainer Sally Alner said: “He could still go for the Scottish National if the ground is right [good to soft or softer], but it’s quite likely this will be his last race this year.”
Malcolm Jefferson, trainer of third-placed According To Pete, said: “He keeps running well and the handicapper never lets him go - he’s not won this season, because he goes up two or three pounds every time he runs. He’s an honest little horse and I wish they were all like that.
“It’s hard to win with horses like him, that always try their best and never run a bad race. He might go to Liverpool or Ayr, because he likes left-handed tracks. I hope we can click with him somewhere.”
PIEUX’S THREE-DAY BAN FOR WHIP MISUSE
French jockey Christophe Pieux was suspended for three days for misusing his whip when riding runner-up Kasbah Bliss in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
Having heard Pieux’s evidence and viewed a recording of the race, the stewards found the jockey guilty of improper riding in the light of Instruction H9 headed “Use of the Whip”, in that he had used it with excessive frequency and without giving his horse time to respond. He was suspended from Monday, March 24 to Wednesday, March 26 inclusive.
The stewards also interviewed Tony McCoy following his victory on Albertas Run in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase. After viewing a recording of the race they found McCoy guilty of improper riding for using his whip in an incorrect place. They cautioned him as to his future use of the whip.
In a separate inquiry Irish trainer Eamon ‘Dusty’ Sheehy, who was responsible for Merry Cowboy, a runner in the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase, was fined £1,000 for entering the racecourse stables with a prohibited substance.
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CHELTENHAM, THURSDAY, MARCH 13
GROUND UNCHANGED OVERNIGHT
The going for the final day of The Festival will be left overnight at GOOD TO SOFT, GOOD IN PLACES.
Simon Claisse, Clerk of the Course and Director of Racing at Cheltenham, said: “We move on to the New Course tomorrow and I am leaving the going description as good to soft, good in places, overnight. We will assess the situation further when we arrive at 6.00am tomorrow.
“We saw around one to two millimetres of rain this afternoon and we are forecast to receive the same amount again tonight.
“On the New Course tomorrow, we will be using a strip of ground that has not been used since the end of last season.”
Looking back on today’s 10-race card and ahead to tomorrow, when nine races are due to be staged, Claisse continued: “Planning proved a challenge but fortunately the execution proved very successful.
“Everyone has been very supportive and it has been a great day.”
“We now look forward to another high-class day tomorrow.”
THE FESTIVAL 2008
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CHELTENHAM, THURSDAY, MARCH 13
NINTH RACE
WINNER’S QUOTES
CHIMES RING OUT FOR WELSH VICTORY
Wales celebrated a winner in the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir Chase with High Chimes, trained at Llancarfan by Evan Williams and ridden by his assistant, James Tudor.
It was a first Cheltenham Festival victory for the pair, and also for owners William and Angela Rucker, who bought the horse from point-to-point trainer Sheila Crow after he had won a couple of races in that sphere.
Tudor, 24, Britain’s reigning point-to-point champion, said: “The whole race went fairly easily, although he’s a big horse and he got in a bit tight to one or two fences. I couldn’t believe how well he was travelling as we came down the hill.
“It’s an amazing feeling - I love this place and I’ve ridden winners at Cheltenham, but to do so at the Festival is something else.”
Tudor rides fancied Bon Accord in tomorrow’s Christie’s Foxhunter Chase.
Williams said: “This is all down to the help I’ve been given by my assistants, Nicky Williams and James, who are both good amateur riders, but James was on the horse because he could do the weight.
“It’s teamwork and I can’t do that on my own. Last time this horse ran at Warwick [when pulled up] he was never travelling and never happy on the sticky ground, so we gave him a break and he came here a fresh horse.
“We had a winner at Ayr on Monday and before that it was a fortnight since the last one, and people start questioning what we’re doing, but I suppose we want to be known as a yard that has a winner every day, and big winners on Saturdays.
“It’s fair to say I’m somewhat emotional, particularly for James, who has been with me since he was 15. Mr and Mrs Rucker [who also own Williams’ Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup winner State Of Play] have supported me, and Mrs Rucker’s mother, Pat Tollit, was the first person to send me a horse, so it means a lot.”
THE DUKE AND THE DOCTOR
Finishing second at the Festival sometimes see trainers looking a touch philosohical, but not Brendan Duke, whose Openide was second to High Chimes in the Kim Muir.
Duke was more than a little misty-eyed when he talked about his horse’s performance. “The ground has beaten him, but he’s such a special little horse. He put up a great performance today,” said Duke.
“I bred him and to get a silver medal at the Olympics of National Hunt racing is truly wonderful,” he added. It’s now likely that the seven-year-old will now have a crack at the Scottish National next month
Dr Richard Newland, trainer of Burntoakboy, the winner of last year’s Coral Cup, and third in the Kim Muir, also felt the ground took it’s toll.
“To be absolutely honest, it’s gone against him now. This rain will be getting into the ground and it’s the soft-ground specialists who are starting to show up ,” he said.
“We’ve got no complaints, though, it was a fantastic effort and Tom [Weston] has given him a super ride,” said Newland.
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CHELTENHAM, THURSDAY, MARCH 13
The Mullins family has long been synonymous with success at Cheltenham and there was a new name on the roll of honour after today’s concluding Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
The 18-year-old Patrick Mullins partnered Cousin Vinny, trained by his father Willie, to an emphatic success and returned to a huge cheer in the winner’s enclosure.
“I think I’ve ridden 39 winners but I’d swap them all for this one,” said the successful rider, who is still at school and will take his leaving certificate in June. “I didn’t have a choice about which of Dad’s I would ride, he picked which ones we would all be on but I was happy to be aboard Cousin Vinny.
“He travelled so well that I was concerned he might be going too easily and not keep going but in the end it was a matter of how far he was going to win by. This was my only ride and I’ll be celebrating tomorrow.”
Willie Mullins, who was saddling his sixth winner of the race, also rode one of those horses to victory - Wither Or Which in 1996.
“Patrick is not going to ride for too long because he’s tall and will probably get too heavy,” said the winning trainer. “I thought this might be his only chance ever of getting a win here and I was just hoping that I’d got him on the right one, but we managed it.
“I just thought this horse’s finishing speed would come into play but I was worried it might be getting too soft because the horse is by Bob Back, you worry about everything at Cheltenham.”
“It’s been a hell of a long day and it seems a long time since we were walking the course this morning but this will give us all a bit of a lift.”
Tenth race - The Weatherbys Bumper
Place quotes
A RIGHT ROYALE TIME FOR THE QUEEN MAEVE RACING CLUB
Willie Mullins, trainer of Cousin Vinny, winner of the Weatherbys Bumper, said to Noel Meade, trainer of second-placed Corskeagh Royale, “I thought you were going to catch me up the hill.”
“Believe me,” replied Meade, “I was trying.”
Corskeagh Royale could not quite bridge the gap with the Mullins’ charge even though the winner ran green up the hill, but Meade thought his horse had “come home well and could improve - he’s still a little bit hyper.”
The trainer had no complaints either from the owners of Corskeagh Royale who had turned up mob-handed to cheer their horse.
The members of the Queen Maeve Racing Club are based in Roscommon and Mayo and 132 of them chartered a flight to Cheltenham to watch their horse. Having had to wait for nine races and over five hours, their celebrations were suitably demonstrative.
Zaarito had started a solid 3/1 favourite but, coming late, the horse had never quite got into contention.
CROWD
Today’s crowd came to 56,922, the highest ever on a Thursday since The Festival switched to four days.
TOTE FIGURES
Today’s on-course tote turnover came to £3,485,992 compared to £2,451,069 on the Thursday in 2007.
Spokesman Damian Walker said: “Our turnover will be down on the week but we managed to claw some back from the lost day with strong trading figures today.”
OVER-KEEN AMATEURS IN HOT WATER
After partnering High Chimes to victory in the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon, rider James Tudor received a five-day ban for a whip offence.
The dates have still to be finalised.
Joe Burns, Ian Popham, Richard Burton, Jason McKeown and Lenny Flynn received a two-day ban for charging the tape at the start, and Burton, Flynn and Popham were given an additional four-day ban for ignoring the starter.
The dates have also still to be finalised.
RACING POST LEADING TRAINER - THIRD DAY STANDINGS
Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd
David Pipe 2 3 -
Alan King 2 1 -
Howard Johnson 2 - -
Paul Nicholls 1 1 2
Nigel Twiston-Davies 1 - 2
Enda Bolger IRE 1 - -
Edward Harty IRE 1 - -
Emma Lavelle 1 - -
Willie Mullins IRE 1 - -
Jonjo O’Neill 1 - -
Sue Smith 1 - -
Tom Taaffe IRE 1 - -
Evan Williams 1 - -
Nicky Henderson - 2 1
Michael Hourigan IRE - 1 1
Robert & Sally Alner - 1 -
Brendan Duke - 1 -
Charles Egerton - 1 -
Carl Llewellyn - 1 -
Noel Meade IRE - 1 -
Ferdy Murphy - 1 -
Philip Rothwell IRE - 1 -
Francois Doumen FR - 1 2
Philip Hobbs - - 2
Henry Daly - - 1
Eoin Griffin IRE - - 1
Malcolm Jefferson - - 1
Colm Murphy IRE - - 1
Dr Richard Newland - - 1
Venetia Williams - - 1
RACING POST LEADING JOCKEY - THIRD DAY STANDINGS
Jockey 1st 2nd 3rd
Robert Thornton 2 1 -
Denis O’Regan 2 - -
Tony McCoy 1 2 1
Timmy Murphy 1 2 -
Miss Nina Carberry 1 1 -
Tom Scudamore 1 1 -
Ruby Walsh 1 1 2
Paddy Brennan 1 - 2
Barry Geraghty 1 - 2
Paul Carberry 1 - -
Dominic Elsworth 1 - -
Mr Charlie Huxley 1 - -
Mr Patrick Mullins 1 - -
Mr James Tudor 1 - -
Davy Russell - 3 1
Christophe Pieux - 1 1
Mick Fitzgerald - 1 -
Mr Josh Guerriero - 1 -
Mr Richard O’Sullivan - 1 -
Robert Walford - 1 -
Richard Johnson - - 2
Mr William Biddick - - 1
Mark Bradburne - - 1
Fergus King - - 1
Andrew McNamara - - 1
Mr Tom Weston - - 1
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