Tuesday, March 16, 2010

THE FESTIVAL, CHELTENHAM
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2010

SLIGHT CHANGE IN GOING DURING DRY DAY

A sunny, spring day and drying conditions created a slight change in the going during the afternoon of the opening day of the 2010 Cheltenham Festival.

Clerk of the course Simon Claisse said: “After the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase and before the last I went out and had a look at the ground and felt it had quickened up a little bit on both chase and hurdle courses, and therefore changed it to ‘good, good to soft in places’.

“We’ll be racing on this course tomorrow so we have a lot of treading in to do after six races today, but that’s about it overnight.

“We’re expecting another nice day tomorrow with similar temperatures of about 13 degrees - there might be a little more cloud with sunny spells and the chance of an odd shower in the afternoon.”


THOMAS PINK LEADING RIDER AWARD

FIRST DAY STANDINGS

Jockey 1st 2nd 3rd
Tony McCoy 1 1 -
Paddy Aspell 1 - -
Adrian Heskin 1 - -
Richard Johnson 1 - -
Andrew Lynch 1 - -
Ruby Walsh 1 - -
Andrew Tinkler - 1 1
Paddy Brennan - 1 -
Mr J T McNamara - 1 -
Timmy Murphy - 1 -
Robert Thornton - 1 -
Rhys Flint - - 1
Barry Geraghty - - 1
Jimmy McCarthy - - 1
Andrew McNamara - - 1
Brian O’Connell - - 1




THOMAS PINK LEADING TRAINER AWARD

FIRST DAY STANDINGS

Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd
Nicky Henderson 1 1 1
Philip Hobbs 1 - 1
Henry de Bromhead IRE 1 - -
Michael Hourigan IRE 1 - -
Jimmy Moffatt 1 - -
Willie Mullins IRE 1 - -
Enda Bolger IRE - 1 -
Henrietta Knight - 1 -
Jonjo O’Neill - 1 -
David Pipe - 1 -
Nigel Twiston-Davies - 1 -
Philip Fenton IRE - - 1
Colm Murphy IRE - - 1
Edward O’Grady IRE - - 1
Renee Robeson - - 1




FIRST DAY WINNERS


1.30pm Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade One)
MENORAH (Diana Whateley) Philip Hobbs 5-11-07 Richard Johnson 12/1

2.05pm Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy (Grade One)
SIZING EUROPE (Ann & Alan Potts Partnership) Henry de Bromhead IRE 8-11-07 Andrew Lynch 6/1

2.40pm William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade Three)
CHIEF DAN GEORGE (Maurice Chapman) James Moffatt 10-10-10 Paddy Aspell 33/1

3.20pm Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (Grade One)
BINOCULAR (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 6-11-10 Tony McCoy 9/1

4.00pm Glenfarclas Handicap Cross-Country Steeple Chase
A NEW STORY (Storey’s Over Syndicate) Michael Hourigan 12-9-07 Adrian Heskin (7) 25/1

4.40pm David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle (Grade Two)
QUEVEGA (Hammer & Trowel Syndicate) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-5 Ruby Walsh 6/4f





FOURTH RACE WINNING QUOTES
SMURFIT KAPPA CHAMPION HURDLE (GRADE 1)

BINOCULAR JUST CHAMPION

Last year’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle runner-up Bincolular - who looked set to miss this year’s running after a disappointing season - not only turned up at Cheltenham this afternoon but came back to his very best under Tony McCoy to beat Khyber Kim in a great finish.

The six-year-old underwent extensive veterinary examination in both Britain and Ireland before he was confirmed at a starter in the race last week by trainer Nicky Henderson.

“When he was beaten last year we said we’d come back in 12 months’ time and win this year but we have not had an easy passage,” said Henderson. “We were 9/10ths of the way to taking him out of this year’s race but a lot of work has been undertaken by a lot of people on both sides of the Irish Sea to get him here. We ironed a few things out and his jumping was the real difference today.

“I think A P (McCoy) was the first to say that he was not firing on all cylinders and we’d got to the point of writing off the season.”

The victory was Henderson’s fifth in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, making him jointly - with Peter Easterby - the most successful trainer in the race’s history.

Owner J P McManus added: “I’d given up all hope so have only really been sweating since last week - I’d torn up my tickets. They are all tough to win but I did think he looked great before the race and Nicky really had him in peak condition.

“Nicky worked the oracle and brought him back and I just wondered if it was for real. I’m so pleased because he believed so much in this horse. I knew the horse was in safe hands.

“But my first thoughts after the race are with (businessman and trainer) John Mulhern, who passed away yesterday. He was with us at Cheltenham every year and I just wish he was here today to see this.”

Tony McCoy added: “He had such a bad start to the season and didn’t jump and didn’t finish in his races. You get a bit despondent and down when that happens. After jumping two hurdles today he felt for the first time like he had when winning at Ascot last year. He was jumping like a champion hurdler should.

“Today he showed everybody what I felt that day at Ascot, he showed what a good horse he is. I thought he’d win a Supreme Novices’ and then last year’s Champion so I’m so pleased now he has won.

“When he’s like that he’s very easy and straightforward to ride. I’ve only got the feeling like this once before and I’m so happy for the horse, I’ve always thought the world of him. I’m delighted for him because I couldn’t believe he didn’t win the Champion Hurdle last year.

“J P said to go and sit on him so I went down on Wednesday and rode him as fast as I’ve ridden any horse schooling. I frightened myself we went so fast and thought that he was good enough to run. I went back to ride him on Friday but Wednesday had made my mind up.”



MCCOY “I AM NOT AS MISERABLE AS YOU THINK”

Binocular, a horse who was not going to run at one stage, made one of the greatest comebacks to win the 2010 Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle in tremendous style under 14-time champion jockey Tony McCoy.

The rider, who is retained by Binocular’s owner J P McManus, said: “You never saw a horse go so fast as this fellow (when he was worked to see if he should run in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle following extensive tests showed that there was nothing wrong with the horse).

“I wanted to see if the real Binocular was going to show up. I rode Zaynar, the third favourite, at the same time and there was no comparison. So I was clear about which horse I wanted to ride in the Champion Hurdle.

“I am delighted for J P and Norah (McManus). Racing is so lucky to have a family with so much enthusiasm for Jump racing. I don’t know why they let me ride them but they do.

“I am not as miserable as you think am I?”

McCoy also said: “I think at long last, the real Binocular showed up. I schooled him at Nicky’s on Wednesday morning and I wouldn’t have thought that he had seen another horse go as fast over five hurdles.

“I wanted to see whether he was going to jump the way he has done and for some reason he jumped really well and, while I am not knocking Zaynar, I rode him 10 minutes later and there was no real doubt as to which one I was going to ride here.

“Binocular just had such a bad start to the season - he didn’t jump, travel or finish at Newcastle and did the same at Kempton. I was very unimpressed at Sandown and he just didn’t feel himself.

“Today I jumped two hurdles and it was the first time that I felt that I was riding the horse I rode at Ascot last season. You just watch him today and he just clips the top bar all of the way round - he hurdles like a Champion Hurdler should. For some reason, the Binocular that I thought was always there showed up.

“When he is like that, he is a very easy and straightforward horse to ride and he is a real fast jumper. I have only got that feeling off him once before, at Ascot.

“I am so happy for the horse because, every time that I have ridden him, I have thought the world of him, and I can’t believe that he didn’t win this race last year. He did not have a great lead-up to the race.

“You get a bit despondent and you feel for the horse a bit because lots of other people are knocking him and you know that there is something that is stopping the real Binocular being as good as he can be.

“I was just hoping he would come right - I am so happy for J P and Norah (McManus). This was a better feeling than I have ever had on a horse.

“Coming down the hill, I said to Ruby, how I am going and he replied Khyber Kim was cantering behind but send Binocular on.

“It is hard to win at The Festival. I don’t think I have had such a torrid time (in recent years) as everybody else thinks. But this is everything.”



Race 4 - Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle - Press Conference Quotes

SMURFIT KAPPA CHAMPION HURDLE - PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FROM NICKY HENDERSON

Nicky Henderson: “Apologies - this wasn’t a ploy! AP’s face after Binocular won at Sandown said it all and we couldn’t pretend to be happy. The horse just wasn’t performing the same way as he was last year.

“You need great back-up in this game and we have that, both from the team at home and from others.

“John Halley is J P’s vet in Ireland and he looked at Binocular, as did Mary Bromley, as well as our own physios and vets. The horse also went for a bone scan in Ireland, which revealed zero.

“We therefore took the view that it was worth persevering with him as there was not anything physically wrong with him. It was difficult to say what actually was wrong with him, but he just wasn’t the same horse.

“After I said that he was unlikely to run, Weatherbys contacted me to ask if I actually wanted to scratch the horse. I spoke to J P about this and he said we should leave him in, as that gave us the option to run if we changed our minds. The bone scan had revealed nothing physically wrong and the treatments for the horse were still continuing.

“The horse certainly had a weird preparation. If it had been left to Henderson he probably would have taken him round the country for racecourse gallops and wrecked him!

“He was never lame at all at any time during the build-up - it was just that we could see it wasn’t the real Binocular. We can’t actually say what happened to him before he worked so well last Wednesday, but that day we saw the real Binocular. There have been so many people involved in getting the horse right again and it is just a great team effort. It is also amazing what a couple of days of sunshine can do for a horse.

“It has been a rollercoaster ride. Of our three runners, Punjabi probably had the best preparation while Zaynar has clearly shown that the Kelso race wasn’t his true running.

“I don’t know if Binocular will run again this season. Nobody cares more about his horses than J P does and he might want him to go to Martinstown (his stud in Ireland) rather than run again this year.

“We had originally thought that he might go to Aintree if he missed Cheltenham. I would say that he is unlikely to run at Punchestown. I need to discuss all the options with J P.”



Race 4: The Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle - Placed Quotes

TWISTON-DAVIES ADMITS FRUSTRATION

The well-fancied Khyber Kim gave trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies his best-ever placing in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, but could not fend off a rejuvenated Binocular, and was beaten by three and a half lengths in second place, with Zaynar six lengths back in third place.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Khyber Kim, admitted that he was feeling frustrated:

“If it had been a bit softer ground that might have sorted it out. I don’t know maybe that’s grasping at straws. If he [Binocular] hadn’t run, it would have been different and he wasn’t meant to be running a week ago. If he hadn’t run, we’d have won by six lengths.

“It’s really frustrating, but we were beaten by a better horse on the day.

“But it’s beyond what we were thinking at the start of the season. This is brilliant. It’s just that I’m a spoilt little bastard and this is so close but so far.

“We had a fourth, Mister Morose, years ago, but this is the best. But no one does second, it’s no good.

“We go to Aintree now and a bit more give in the ground won’t do any harm at all.”

Anthony Bromley, of Highflyer Bloodstock, bought the first four horses home. Bromley said: “I was thinking it was a quiet day, but it’s picked up a bit. It’s really weird, I didn’t shout at all as they came up the hill, I just watched it. It’s just unreal. You think that you’re going to have the winner anyway. We had the first three home last year, but this is the best ever. We normally buy chasers.”


Fourth race
Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle

‘CHASING NEXT FOR HALO’, SAYS NICHOLLS

Celestial Halo ran another fine race in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, but after he finished fourth trainer Paul Nicholls accepted chasing was next on the agenda.

In first-time blinkers, Celestial Halo set a fierce early gallop in a bid to go one better in the race - he was second last year - but he ran out of steam in the home straight.

Nicholls said: “The plan is to go chasing now, but he might run once more over hurdles. He won’t go to Aintree for the two-and-a-half miler, but we might find something, and he could run in a beginners’ chase in May if the ground is alright.

“He’s schooled over fences and that will be his job next year. It’s something to look forward to. He’s a great jumper and that will be a massive advantage - to win an Arkle you have to be nearly Champion Hurdle class.

“Who knows, he might win a Champion Chase one day.

“There’s no point in staying over hurdles, because he’s had two goes at this race and isn’t going to win it. He’s run two gallant races.”




Race 4 - Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle - Beaten Favourite

EARLY MISTAKE COSTS NATIVE ANY CHANCE

Go Native started the 11/4 favourite for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle but could fare no better than 10th behind Binocular.

However, his trainer Noel Meade revealed that a mistake at the second flight cost the seven-year-old any chance of success.

Meade said: “Paul (Carberry, jockey) said he was lucky to stand up at the second - he sort of dived at it - and never felt right after that.

“He was probably lucky to get away with the mistake but it meant he was never travelling and never gave Paul the same feeling.

“We will now go home and re-group. These things happen in racing and hopefully he will be back here for another day.”









FIRST RACE WINNING QUOTES
SPINAL RESEARCH SUPREME NOVICES’ HURDLE

MENORAH JOY FOR HOBBS AND JOHNSON

Trainer Philip Hobbs and jockey Richard Johnson teamed up to make the best possible start to the 2010 Festival at Cheltenham when taking the opening Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Menorah.

The five-year-old had suffered a surprise defeat on his previous outing at Ascot but bounced back to hold off the fast-finishing Get Me Out Of Here by a head.

“I said beforehand that if we had one winner this week I’d be delighted and we’ve got out of trouble at the first. It’s an enormous relief, that’s the main feeling. We’re out of trouble and hopefully we might find some more winners now,” said Hobbs.

“Richard said that he made a mistake at the third last but he gained ground despite that and then two out he was a bit green but Richard poached the lead. We might have been in trouble if he hadn’t done that and it was a really good ride.

“He could have gone for a handicap but I thought why not come here, you can’t be afraid of one horse (favourite Dunguib).

“He’s been beaten twice before but both time they were muddling races and this was strongly-run, which suited him.

“He’s only five and at this moment I’d think we might go for the Champion Hurdle next year rather than going chasing although his long-term future lies over fences. There’s a lot of room for improvement.”

Johnson added: “It was a farcical race last time at Ascot but he’s a very, very good horse. I’ve always thought a lot of him and he’s never properly had a race run to suit him until today. It was a true-run race.

“He only ran in a bumper eight months ago so there’s a lot of reason to believe that he’s going to improve a lot. He won a two and a half mile bumper and I always thought he would stay well but you never know up that hill.

“I thought we might see a sudden black and white flash (Dunguib’s colours) but fortunately it never came.”


OWNER THRILLED

Menorah’s owner Diana Whateley, from Worcester, said after her horse won the opening race of the 2010 Festival: “I am completely overcome, thrilled, delighted and ecstatic. We did not think we had much chance of winning with Dunguib running but Menorah has done it.

“We bought the horse through Aiden Murphy, bloodstock agent, and Philip Hobbs is our trainer, whom we have a few horses with.

“They have always been a fantastic team and we had great excitement about him though he did not run well when we were at Ascot but today is just phenomenal.

“My husband is leading the horse in, I hope. Unfortunately, I cannot because I broke my leg skiing in December.”


Winning jockey Richard Johnson said: “On a couple of days this season things didn't work out for Menorah, but they have today and it is a great day for it to happen. He got beat last time because it was a very false-run race.

“I always thought Cheltenham and a fast-run race would suit him far better. He was a bit green at the second last but he was very good.”

First race
Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

O’NEILL ACCEPTS DEFEAT AND NO EXCUSES

Trainer Jonjo O’Neill and owner J P McManus were making no excuses after Get Me Out Of Here finished a head second in the Festival’s opening race.

McManus said: “It’s always nice to be in the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham, but full marks to the winner.”

O’Neill said: “It was a great race and we have no hard luck stories. I wish the winner was mine. He ran well and Dunguib [favourite, finished third] ran well so there are no excuses.

“When you are beaten a head you cannot say the Newbury race [the totesport Trophy] left its mark. He came here in tip-top form so we’re thrilled to bits. His preparation was spot on - he had a few cuts at Newbury and bled a lot [from a leg gash] son the day, but we cleaned it all out and he was going to have a few easy days after that in any case so it made no difference to him.

“We’ll have a look at Liverpool now, but we’ll see how the horse comes out of this race. He’s done us proud and we don’t want to abuse him.

“He’s a big enough horse to jump fences next season, but he might be good enough to stay hurdling.”


FENTON PHILOSOPHICAL AS BUBBLE BURSTS ON DUNGUIB

Dunguib, considered the Irish banker for The Festival by many people, could fare no better than third in the opening Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, just under two lengths behind the winner Menorah.

Settled towards the rear by jockey Brian O’Connell, the 4/5 favourite still had plenty to do as the field approached the third last. Although the seven-year-old made up a significant amount of ground in the straight, he was unable to reach Menorah and Get Me Out Of Here.

Trainer Philip Fenton was philosophical in defeat, stating: “We are satisfied with his performance although it’s obviously disappointing we are not in the number one spot.

“He has come back in one piece and seems fine - that’s the main thing. We live to fight another day.

“Things just didn’t work out on the day. He has travelled well although I thought the gallop might have been a bit stronger. He had plenty of light at the last couple of hurdles and jumped the last well. He just couldn’t pick up the first two.”

When asked if any blame could be attributed to Brian O’Connell’s ride, Fenton responded: “These things happen in a split second and I wouldn’t criticise Brian.

“We are still in the winner’s circle here at Cheltenham.

“We have been beaten and we have to take it, and take it on the chin.”

Jockey Brian O’Connell commented: “We had every chance.”




Race 2 - The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy - Winning Quotes

SIZING EUROPE BACK WITH PHENOMENAL ARKLE VICTORY

Two years ago Sizing Europe was favourite for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, but after appearing to be travelling supremely well at the top of the hill he faded badly to come home last of the 14 finishers behind Katchit.

However, today in The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy was totally different. Travelling well throughout, the eight-year-old was always in a handy position under Andrew Lynch. He was in front as the field entered the straight and having got the better of Osana and Mad Max, who had put himself out of contention with a bad mistake at the top of the hill, he stayed on resolutely to hold off the challenge of Somersby by three-quarters of a length to give the Irish their first success of The Festival 2010.

Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead commented: "It is just a great feeling. The roar when he passed the line was just phenomenal.

“He ran with the choke out a bit today, but he is probably better that way than when he is held up and put to sleep. He did a great leap at the ditch at the top of the hill.

“He had problems with the ligaments in his back when he ran in the Champion Hurdle and he had some silly problems last year, but we have got him right now and have learnt a lot about him. He is stronger now and we know how to manage him.

“I am never confident, but we came here with the horse in his best form and we saw the true him today. It has taken a phenomenal effort from the team.

“Today was just absolutely fantastic. It is great for his owners Alan and Ann Potts who have been big supporters of the yard. Unfortunately Alan couldn’t make it today as he is suffering from a stomach bug.

“Sizing Europe really is like one of our children at home and has put us on the map. When he has run disappointingly a couple of times, he has always had a valid reason.

“We will celebrate tonight and see where we are. He could go to Punchestown and I would say he could possibly go over further. We have to discuss all these things.”

Paddy Power make Sizing Eurpe 8/1 for the 2011 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase while Sky Bet go 7/1.

OWNERS’ DAUGHTER OVERWHELMED


Julie, daughter of owners Ann and Alan Potts, thought of her parents after the victory of Sizing Europe in the The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy.

She told Festival Radio: “It was absolutely amazing. I am overwhelmed.

“This is one day that we will never forget.”

Alan Potts was unable to be at Cheltenham today because of his health.

“He is just so emotional, so over the moon, just wonderful. Today is their wedding anniversary - just wonderful for 30 years. And it is Ann’s birthday as well. It is just unbelievable - overwhelming.

“It is a dream come true and I am really sorry Dad cannot be here but God bless him. He is so emotional on the phone.”


Andrew Lynch, the winning rider, commented: “Sizing Europe jumped super - the best he has ever jumped.

“I was a bit concerned that I was getting there too soon when Mad Max made a mistake at the second last but he was going so well.

“I let him stride on and he got going again after the last. I knew he was back to his best - I rode him last week and he had never worked better in his life.

“At Leopardstown he never jumped a fence and people were knocking him, saying he was soft and that. We knew he wasn’t and that he was back to his best.”


SOMERSBY SENDS ALL THE RIGHT SIGNALS


“We just wanted the post a little further up the hill,” said trainer Henrietta Knight, after Somersby could not quite get on terms with Sizing Europe in the Irish Independent Arkle Chase, the 4/1 second-favourite going down to the Henry de Bromhead-trained horse by just three-quarters of a length.

“It was a terrific race especially considering it was only his third chase. He [Robert Thornton] had a very good ride on him. He just got a bit close to one of the open ditches, but he was very good. This is very exciting for the future,” said the trainer.

“The other horse [Sizing Europe] ran in a champion hurdle didn’t he? And won the Irish champion hurdle? So, there’s no disgrace,” she said
“Next season I think we may [campaign him for the Gold Cup]. I shouldn’t think he’ll be doing much more this year. We’ll go back and talk about it, he might go in a field - but next year he certainly will be [going up in distance],” she said.

Thornton added: Sizing Europe won it with gears early on, but I’m really pleased with that.”



OSANA A GOOD SIGN FOR O’GRADY’S FESTIVAL TEAM

Osana, a former Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle runner-up when trained by David Pipe, gained another Grade 1 place when finishing third in The Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase for novices.

Jockey Andrew McNamara, wearing the colours of owner Thomas Barr, said: “He ran a great race and jumped brilliantly, which is why he got so close. I thought turning in to the home straight we had a chance, but it wasn’t to be.”

Trainer Edward O’Grady said: “It’s the best run he’s had for me - he jumped terribly well, flattered to deceive turning into the straight, but was beaten by two good horses [winner Sizing Europe and Somersby]. I think he’s got a good future over fences.

“I knew my horse wasn’t at his best at Leopardstown at Christmas [when second to Sizing Europe] because we’ve had terrible frost at home and I didn’t want to risk hurting him. I went there knowing I would take my beating, but it’s paid off in the way he’s run here.

“We’ve had a terrible year - we’ve had one night of minus two degrees, and the rest have been minus four. I know other trainers have suffered, but we’ve been particularly cold.

“It’s taken me time to get to know the horse. He’s a gross horse, and getting a little grosser as he gets older and takes a lot of work. The conditions have mitigated against that. We’ll discuss plans with the owner, but we’ve got Aintree and the Powers Gold Cup in Ireland - maybe we’ll see where Sizing Europe goes next.”

Favourite Captain Cee Bee (5-2) finished only eighth, and trainer Eddie Harty said: “He burst a blood vessel and unfortunately that’s one thing you cannot legislate for. He’s not done it since Liverpool last year and it’s something we’re going to have to work around.”


Third race
William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase

MOFFATT IN A ‘RUSH’ AFTER GEORGE PROVES CHIEF

Trainer James Moffatt, from Grange Over Sands in Cumbria, enjoyed his first Festival winner as a trainer when 33-1 shot Chief Dan George won the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase under Paddy Aspell.

Moffatt, who won the 1995 Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle on Home Counties, trained by his father Dudley, beamed a broad smile and said: “I’ve got a rush going through my system like you wouldn’t believe.

“This is nearly as good as the win 15 years ago, although as a jockey you’re so focussed on what you’re doing that you go past the line before you realise what you’ve achieved. As a trainer I jumped every fence.

“Dad’s very busy running my yard and doing a good job - I should think there will be one or two drinks sloshing about tonight.

“We’ll discuss future plans with Paddy and [owner] Maurice Chapman, but we might take in a race at Aintree and then go back to the Scottish National, in which he was fifth last year.

“We never thought this horse was a back number - he won a Grade 1 hurdle at Aintree and has taken time to adjust to fences, and doesn’t like jumping them out of soft ground. To have this horse back is marvellous. He really jumped well when winning at Doncaster and we were really confident he would run well today.

“We all backed him each-way and we’re not surprised at what’s he done.”

Asked how it felt to beat some of the biggest trainers in the game, Moffatt said: “We’re all human beings and we can all do the job if we’re given the right horses. I train 25 horses and wouldn’t want any more than that because we can give them individual attention.”

Paddy Aspell said: “It’s this horse’s time of year. I was delighted to see the drying ground. It was a big ask but he didn’t let us down. The way my horse was going to the second-last I knew he had some petrol left. He won’t go to the John Smith’s Grand National - he’ll go to the Scottish National. He was fifth last year and to be honest it wasn’t my finest hour in the saddle.”


PACKAGE COULD BE BOUND FOR AINTREE

The Package failed by a head to justify 9/2 favouritism in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase when storming up the Cheltenham hill to finish second to 33/1 chance Chief Dan George. A trip to Aintree could now be on the cards for the runner-up.

“He’s run a blinder and in a matter of strides he would have got there,” said The Package’s trainer David Pipe. “But that can happen to you at Cheltenham.

“He’s in the John Smith’s Grand National and would look well in there after that run but Mr (David) Johnson’s got a few in the race so we’ll just have to see what we do.”


Renee Robeson, trainer of the third-placed Ogee, said: "I was ever hopeful [in the final furlong] but he ran so well and I’m delighted. He got a short one at the last and that just cost him - and he made a mistake early on. I thought he would run very well because he was well in. We will wait and see how he comes out of the race, and we may or may not go to Aintree.”



Fifth race
Glenfarclas Handicap Chase

FAIRYTALE STORY FOR HOURIGAN AND TEENAGER HESKIN


On his 80th outing and four and a half years since his most recent victory, 12-year-old A New Story carried teenager Adrian Heskin to victory in the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Handicap Steeplechase.

Winning trainer Michael Hourigan said: “He’s not won since November 2005, but he’s kept me in the limelight by finishing placed in races like the Irish National and Becher Chase. His owners [Christy Guerin and Sean Moran from Ennis in County Clare] have owned him since he was a five-year-old and he’s taken them all around the world, so to speak.

“He was placed fourth in this race last year sand third the year before, so it was always the plan to come back here again. He doesn’t like being in front, but today he didn’t seem to mind. He’s a character, a star.

“Adrian is very talented and I hope he keeps that talent. He’s been with me on and off for five years from school. To win at Cheltenham is one of racing’s gold medals. I’ve not been in here [winners’ enclosure] for at least ten years since Deejaydee won the National Hunt Chase [in 1999].”

Hourigan’s horse beat the J P McManus-owned L’Ami, but the two men will be sharing a drink at a party tonight. Hourigan said: “J P’s won this race a few times, but it was my turn today.

“I’ve got the horse in the Pertemps Final [on Thursday] but I don’t think he’ll get in, and he’s also in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter on Saturday. He’ll run there if he’s okay and Adrian will ride.”

Asked when he realised he would win, Heskin, 17, from County Cork said: “After I crossed the line - he doesn’t do a whole lot in front!

“I’ve been involved in horses all my life - my father, Michael, has ten or 12 broodmares at home. That’s my first ride at Cheltenham and it feels brilliant, magic.”

L’AMI AND LACDOUDAL KEEP CONNECTIONS HAPPY

The Glanfarclas Handicap Steeple Chase provided one of the rare occasions when owner J P McManus and trainer Enda Bolger didn’t win a cross-country race. Indeed Bolger had won 13 of the 17 previous cross-country races at Cheltenham.

Although providing five of the 16 starters, McManus had to settle for a best placing of second, by the Enda Bolger-trained L’Ami, who was two and a half lengths adrift of the winner A New Story.

But McManus, still basking in the afterglow of his Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle win with Binocular, was more than happy.

“We found one better than us today, but L’Ami did us proud,” he said.

There were similar vibes from the Lacdoudal camp. Sarah Hobb’s, wife of trainer Philip was delighted with the performance of Lacdoudal who was two and three-quarter lengths behind L’Ami.

“What a treasure he is, he doesn’t owe us anything. He’s been fantastic and Rhys [Flint] had the time of his life on him.

“It was his first cross-country and he loved it. He didn’t make a mistake. He needed a turn of foot at the end and he didn’t have that.

“We schooled three here the other day - Oceanos des Obeaux, Monkerhostin and Lacdoudal. Monkerhostin and Lacdoudal took to it straight away. And I’m surprised that Monkerhostin didn’t run better [he was 14th],” she said.

Race 6: David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle - Win Quotes

QUEVEGA ENCORE

If there were any concerns that the lack of a prep race could affect Quevega’s attempt for successive victories in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, it was swiftly put to bed in the race itself. Jockey Ruby Walsh always had plenty of horse underneath and cruised into the lead at the business end of the race.

Quevega’s victory brought Walsh his 25th Festival victory to equal the record of Pat Taaffe, famous for his exploits on Arkle.

“Ruby gave her a confident ride. She jumped so well early on that he was afraid she might catch the top of one so he put her back a little bit,” said trainer Willie Mullins.

The mare has had a difficult year since last season, suffering a hind-leg suspensory injury in Auteuil.

“It was very bad and we debated whether we would put her in foal, but it was too late so we thought we’d have one go at trying to get her ready to run here and we banked everything on having her ready for today. We couldn’t school her because the veterinary advice was not to jump her too much.

“I was nearly going to run her in Gowran, but she scoped badly and the ground was heavy anyway so I thought I might leave it,” said Mullins.

“She did a fantastic piece of work last Tuesday and then Ruby rang me up to check saying the reports in England last week were that she’d only got three legs.

“God knows where the rumours came from. The one horse we did pull out, Mourad, there were no rumours at all,” he added.

Mullins suggested that the mare’s next outing would be at Punchestown, in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle, in which Quevega finished third last year.

WALSH EQUALS TAAFFE RECORD

Jockey Ruby Walsh is now the joint most-successful jockey of all-time at The Festival following his victory on Quevega, who was recording a second successive victory in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle.

Walsh has now ridden 25 winners at The Festival, equalling the record set by the late Pat Taaffe. With a book of rides later this week that contains the likes of Master Minded, Big Buck’s and Kauto Star, it looks highly likely that he will break Taaffe’s record.

After his winning ride on Quevega, Walsh said: “It’s always great to get a winner on the board, especially on the first day as it relieves a bit of pressure.

“I thought Quevega was my best ride today by far - she really is the best mare around when she is on song.

“She was beaten twice after winning here last year - in France she just didn’t fire and she was third at Punchestown behind Solwhit and Punjabi so you would have to say that’s in fair form.

“I’ve got through the first day in one piece and there is still lots to look forward to this week.”

Ruby Walsh’s 25 winners at The Festival

Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: 2006 Noland
William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase: 2006 Dun Doire
Weatherbys Champion Bumper: 1998 Alexander Banquet, 2005 Missed That
Byrne Group Plate: 2002 Blowing Wind
Irish Independent Arkle Trophy Chase: 2003 Azertyuiop
Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase: 2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 & 2009 Master Minded
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase: 2004 St Pirran
Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle: 2004 Sporazene, 2006 Desert Quest, 2009 American Trilogy
Ryanair Chase: 2005 Thisthatandtother, 2007 Taranis
RSA Chase: 2007 Denman, 2009 Cooldine
totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup: 2007 & 2009 Kauto Star
Neptune Investment Management: 2008 Fiveforthree, 2009 Mikael D'Haguenet
JCB Triumph Hurdle: 2008 Celestial Halo
David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle: 2009 & 2010 Quevega
Ladbrokes World Hurdle: 2009 Big Buck's




CAROLE’S CONTINUES TO IMPROVE

Although she proved no match for runaway winner Quevega, the Nicky Henderson-trained Carole’s Legacy continued her upward career path when finishing second in the Grade Two David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle.

“She ran a cracking race and has done nothing wrong all year. She’s improved and run to a higher level on each start,” said Henderson. “The obvious thing for her was the mares’ final a week on Saturday at Newbury but she was already rated 141 so we can guess what the handicapper is going to do after today. She will face an impossible task with the weight she’s going to have to carry and that’s what made us thinking about coming here.”

Paul Murphy, who owns and bred Carole’s Legacy, called for a championship mares’ chase to be added to the race programme.

“If a mares’ steeplechase was added to the programme next year then she would stay in training but she will probably retire at the end of this season because otherwise she will just have to go around in handicaps,” said Murphy. “If there was a programme over fences then these mares would stay in training but as it is she would have to carry a coal truck on her back if she ran at Newbury, although we haven’t completely ruled going there.”

Colm Murphy, trainer of third-placed Voler La Vedette, commented: “She ran too keen early on but take nothing away from the winner, who is obviously very good. We’ll go to Punchestown now.”



GUINNESS AWARDS FIRST DAY

The three contenders for the first day of the Guinness Awards are a) Tony McCoy b) Henry De Bromhead and c) Richard Johnson. Voting is open until 7pm.

RICHARD JOHNSON BANNED FOR FOUR DAYS

Richard Johnson was banned for four days - March 30 & 31, April 1 and 3 - for his use of whip on Menorah, winner of the first race. The stewards found that he used his whip with excessive frequency and without giving the horse time to respond.

TOM SCUDAMORE OKISH

Tom Scudamore was shaken up and assessed for a possible shoulder injury after Knowhere fell at the seventh in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase.

There was nothing broken but Scudamore stood himself down and missed his ride in the last on Arctic Magic. He does not have to pass the doctor tomorrow and intends to ride.

CASEY JONES

Casey Jones was unfortunately a fatality in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase after being brought down at the seventh.

MURPHY HOPES FOR BIG RUN FROM ZEB AND VOLER

Trainer Colm Murphy has given a positive report on Big Zeb ahead of tomorrow’s Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.20).

“Everything has gone according to plan,” said Murphy. “We had a few little hiccups last year [Big Zeb fell in the race when tracking favourite Master Minded] but we couldn’t be happier this time. He’s fresh and well.”

Big Zeb was disappointing when only fourth to Twist Magic at Sandown in December, and Murphy said: “In hindsight we shouldn’t have gone there. He seems to be best fresh and we backed him up too quickly. He won easily enough at Navan [four weeks earlier], but Barry [Geraghty] felt it left a mark. We got greedy and burnt our fingers.

“The fact that Barry rides the horse tomorrow is a massive confidence boost. He’s ridden him all year and it’s a relief to have him on board.”

Murphy runs strongly-fancied Voler La Vedette in today’s David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle. She has last year’s winner Quevega to beat, but Murphy felt that was a better option than tackling the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle. “That race will still be here next year,” said Murphy. “She’s only a second-season novice and at 16-1 and 20-1 for the Champion Hurdle it said a lot about her chance.

“I hope our mare will settle today. She can be her own worst enemy and was very free when winning under Paul Townend at Leopardstown. She has to settle today to see out the trip.”


O’GRADY SAYS JUMBO NO DUMBO AT BIG ODDS

Thirty-six years ago Edward O’Grady trained his first Festival winner - Mr Midland in the National Hunt Chase - and he is back with several smart contenders.

Jumbo Rio, a 66-1 chance, is his challenger for today’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, but O’Grady, who now has a tally of 18 Festival firsts, says: “I wouldn’t have brought him here if I didn’t think he had a chance. He’s in fantastic form and I hope he’ll be in the first four.

“He was only three lengths behind Solwhit at Leopardstown during Christmas and he was quite short of work because of the frost when finishing second to Luska Lad at Gowran. A week later he would have carried Luska Lad and won.”

Tranquil Sea is O’Grady’s representative in Thursday’s Ryanair Chase. O’Grady said: “I was very happy with him at Leopardstown [won under Andrew McNamara] - Ruby [Walsh] is reported to have said my horse beat a lot of Grand National horses, but that wasn’t his fault and he won easily enough. My fellow won a Grade 1 hurdle on good ground so that’s okay too.”

Tranquil Sea won the Paddy Power Gold Cup at this track in November, and O’Grady said: “There’s no doubt that horses who run well here do so again - a horse like Willie Wumpkins [a three-time Festival winner] comes to mind.”
Of Shot From The Hip, his runner in tomorrow’s Weatherbys Champion Bumper, O’Grady said: “I thought his performance was very good at Leopardstown and it was nice to see the form franked on Sunday at Limerick when the third and fourth were first and third. He will have come on from Leopardstown because we were held up by the frost.

“The jockey [J P Magnier] said that when he hit the front he exploded under him. He’s got what it takes to win this race, but whether he’s good enough I don’t know. Willie Mullins’ horse Day Of A Lifetime looks very good as does Dermot Weld’s Elegant Concorde, but I’ve seen nothing to put me off.”

Other runners from O’Grady’s yard include Rocco’s Hall in Thursday’s Pertemps Final - “He has to find last year’s best form and he hasn’t yet, but I’m hoping he will run better on good ground” - and Alaivan in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

“I’m happy with the ground for Alaivan,” said O’Grady. “He’s not a big horse, he has a wonderful action and a great stride. Carlito Brigante beat our horse easily at Leopardstown, but at least we learned he jumps well going fast. I’m hopeful we can reverse placings.”

A fun runner from the yard is Lou’s Coole Girl, who will carry Rachael Kane in the Cheltenham Festival Ladies’ Charity Sweepstake, a Flat race on Thursday. O’Grady said: “Rachael is a competent lady rider, but my mare will be thinking it’s a long run to the first fence. I hope they enjoy themselves.”




TOM COOPER AND DAVY RUSSELL LOOK AHEAD

Trainer Tom Cooper and jockey Davy Russell talked through their main hopes for this year's Festival at a Horseracing Ireland press conference this morning.

Tom Cooper
Forpadydeplasterer (Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, Wednesday):
"He was bright as a button this morning and it's great to have him back this well. He knows what he's here for. He only got his ground once last season, which was here, and you saw what he did then. He got a stone bruise injury which might have been a blessing in disguise because he swam for seven or eight days and then came back a fresh horse. When Barry Geraghty schooled him the other day, the first thing he said was that he'd love to go around again. He said the horse felt really good and I've got a couple of pieces of work into him since. I knew that Big Zeb was always going to be Barry's ride here but back in December I got A P (McCoy) to ride Forpadydeplasterer at Sandown and he said afterwards that he'd love to ride him at Cheltenham and I'm glad he will be on board. The ground is a huge factor for him and he's got that in his favour. If Master Minded was the horse he was two years ago then he will be unbeatable but I don't think that's the case."

Son Amix (Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, Wednesday): "He won very well at Navan and it was a combination of various things why he was beaten before that at Thurles, one of which was that he was a sick horse. He couldn't win any easier than he did at Navan and he's going to love this ground. He has his chance and my son Bryan takes 7lb off him, he's well up to the job."

Prudent Honour (Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase, Thursday): "He's been given a very high rating and hasn't actually won a chase. But he has had plenty of experience, he jumps and I don't think the ground will be an issue to him."

Davy Russell

Tavern Times (Weatherbys Champion Bumper, Wednesday): "He's a lovely horse that has done nothing wrong but it would have been good to have got a second run into him so that's a worry. He was set to run at Naas, but that was called off, and then the rescheduled race at Leopardstown was too close to Cheltenham. It was always the plan that he was a Cheltenham bumper horse but he got sick although he's back to his best now."

Some Present (Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle, Wednesday): "I thought he was going to be a bit special but he hasn't progressed as I thought he would. His jumping leaves a lot to be desired but he has a bigger engine than anything else in the race. The extra distance and ground will suit him but his jumping is going to be the worry."

Weapon's Amnesty (RSA Chase, Wednesday): "He's improved and grown to like jumping. From his first run until his latest start, his jumping has improved 100 per cent and it's pretty much there now. As to his opposition, there's not every year you see a horse like Punchestowns, who was capable of second in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, running in this. I haven't seen Long Runs so I can't really comment on him. Mine should be the best of the Irish and conditions shouldn't be a problem. He's also a staying horse."

War Of Attrition (Ladbrokes World Hurdle, Thursday): "He's overpriced and people seem to have lost respect for Mouse (Morris) who is always dangerous around here. He has serious form around here, both over hurdles and fences and he's back to his best and I think has a big chance. He won over two miles and five furlongs but he's better over this three miles. I think he'll improve for the distance, ground and scenery."

Carlito Brigante (JCB Triumph Hurdle, Friday): "He'd break your heart riding work because he doesn't do anything so I was surprised when he won at Leopardstown and so was his trainer. He just keeps winning and I honestly don't know whether he's a Triumph Hurdle horse because of how he works. But I won't be worried about anything if my horse is jumping and travelling."



DECLARATIONS FOR THURSDAY’S TWO GRADE ONE CONTESTS - THE LADBROKES WORLD HURDLE AND THE RYANAIR CHASE

2.40pm The £250,000 Ryanair Chase, 2m 5f
Horse Trainer Weight Jockey
1 Albertas Run (IRE) Jonjo O'Neill 11st 10lb Tony McCoy
2 Barbers Shop (Sheepskin C/P) Nicky Henderson 11st 10lb Barry Geraghty
3 Barker (IRE) Willie Mullins, Ireland 11st 10lb -
4 Deep Purple Evan Williams 11st 10lb Paul Moloney
5 Jack The Giant (IRE) Nicky Henderson 11st 10lb Andrew Tinkler
6 Petit Robin (FR) Nicky Henderson 11st 10lb Paul Carberry
7 Planet of Sound Philip Hobbs 11st 10lb Richard Johnson
8 Poquelin (FR) Paul Nicholls 11st 10lb Ruby Walsh
9 Schindlers Hunt (IRE) Dessie Hughes, Ireland 11st 10lb Paddy Flood
10 Scotsirish (IRE) Willie Mullins, Ireland 11st 10lb Paul Townend
11 Tranquil Sea (IRE) Edward O'Grady, Ireland 11st 10lb Andrew McNamara
12 Voy Por Ustedes (FR) (Blinkers) Alan King 11st 10lb Robert Thornton
13 J'Y Vole (FR) Willie Mullins, Ireland 11st 3lb -

3.20pm The £260,000 Ladbrokes World Hurdle, 3m
Horse Trainer Weight Jockey
1 Big Buck's (FR) Paul Nicholls 11st 10lb Ruby Walsh
2 Cape Tribulation Malcolm Jefferson 11st 10lb Phil Kinsella
3 Cousin Vinny (IRE) Willie Mullins, Ireland 11st 10lb -
4 Ebadiyan (IRE) Oliver Brady, Ireland 11st 10lb John Cullen
5 Fair Along (GER) (Sheepskin C/P) Philip Hobbs 11st 10lb Rhys Flint
6 Karabak (FR) Alan King 11st 10lb Tony McCoy
7 Katchit (IRE) Alan King 11st 10lb Robert Thornton
8 Lie Forrit (IRE) Willie Amos 11st 10lb Campbell Gillies
9 Oscar Dan Dan (IRE) Tom Mullins, Ireland 11st 10lb Paul Townend
10 Powerstation (IRE) Eamon O'Connell, Ireland 11st 10lb Andrew McNamara
11 Sentry Duty (FR) Nicky Henderson 11st 10lb Barry Geraghty
12 Tidal Bay (IRE) Howard Johnson 11st 10lb Denis O'Regan
13 Time For Rupert (IRE) Paul Webber 11st 10lb William Kennedy
14 War of Attrition (IRE) (Sheepskin C/P) Mouse Morris, Ireland 11st 10lb Davy Russell


FURTHER BETTING NEWS

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies has never won a Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (3:20pm), but more than a few punters think that today could be the day and Khyber Kim could be the horse. Paddy Power and William Hill have both shortened the eight-year-old to 15/2, from 8/1 and totesport are half a point shorter at 7/1. With each of those bookmakers, Khyber Kim is joint second favourite with last year’s winner, Punjabi.

Stan James, though, report a particular interest in the Nicky Henderson-trained Punjabi and are only offering 6/1 against a repeat win, from 8/1 this morning. Go Native remains a solid favourite, but William Hill report that Binocular, who was third a year ago, is noticeably weak in the market, at 17/2.

In the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (2:20pm) three horses have caught the punters’ eyes; Bensalem, Ogee and The Package. The race sponsors have seen sustained support for The Package. Two weeks ago, when they opened the book on the race, the David Pipe-trained seven-year-old was on offer at 14/1. He is now down to 6/1 and clear second favourite with William Hill.

The Renee Robeson-trained Ogee, who was one of Pricewise’s selections in the Racing Post, has been supported with Paddy Power and is now 10/1 from 11/1, while William Hill have seen plenty of interest in the seven-year-old, though still holding the price at 11/1.

Heading the market, though, is Bensalem, backed from 6/1 to 5/1 with the race sponsors and from 11/2 to 9/2 with totesport. Trainer Alan King has had patchy season, but punters clearly believe that the stable has come into form at the right time.

EARLY BETTING NEWS

Dunguib is the banker for many people at The Festival and this was certainly true for one Ladbrokes punter who had a £250,000 wager last night on the favourite for the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.30pm). Ladbrokes report Dunguib as by far the best-backed horse of the day and he is now 4/5 from evens with the Rayners Lane firm. Similarly, a William Hill customer had £20,000 on Dunguib in a north London betting shop this morning but the firm are still offering evens.

Also in the opener, Stan James and totesport have cut the Philip Hobbs-trained Menorah, with both firms now going 10/1 (from 12/1).

I’m Delilah is the only mare among the 12 runners in The Irish Independent Arkle Trophy Chase (2.05pm) and the Ferdy Murphy-trained outsider has come in for some support. Paddy Power now go 40/1 (from 100/1) while Stan James are 33/1 (from 66/1) and totesport are 40/1 (from 50/1).

In the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Steeplechase (4.00pm), Ladbrokes punters have latched on to two horses they think can break Enda Bolger’s stranglehold on the race, with the veteran Monkerhostin now 14/1 (from 16/1) and A New Story, from the Michael Hourigan yard, now 25/1 (from 40/1).

Day one comes to a close with the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle (4.40pm) and Paddy Power have cut the Emma Lavelle-trained Easter Legend to 16/1 (from 18/1) in this event.

GOING NEWS AT 10AM

The going remains unchanged ahead of the first day of The Festival.

Old Course - Chase and Hurdle (used on Tuesday and Wednesday):
Good to Soft, Good in places.

Cross-Country Course (used on Tuesday):
Good, Good to Soft in places.

New Course (used on Thursday and Friday):
Good to Soft, Good in places.

The GoingStick readings are 7.0 on the Old and New Courses and 7.4 on the Cross Country Course.

Simon Claisse, Cheltenham’s Director of Racing, said: “This ground is going to dry out a little bit but there’s plenty of moisture in there so I don’t anticipate the Old Course getting signifcantly drier. We will have 120 horses racing over it and they will bring more moisture to the surface.

“The New Course, which we use on Thursday and Friday, might dry out a little more.

“We are due some rain later in the week, with two to three millimetres forecast on Thursday, but it’s now looking like we won’t get a huge amount before and during racing on Friday.

“People have been talking about a lot of rain on Friday but my latest forecast is for three to four millimetres during the day and then more after racing so I don’t expect it to change the ground to a huge extent.”


FIRST RACE RESULT

1.30pm SPINAL RESEARCH SUPREME NOVICES' HURDLE (GRADE ONE)
£100,000 guaranteed, 2m 110y Old Course, For 4yo+. Weights: 4yo11st; 5yo+ 11st 7lb. Allowances fillies and mares 7lb. Entries 104 pay £ 125. Confirmed 34 pay £125. Penalty value: 1st £57,010; 2nd £21,390; 3rd £10,710; 4th £5,340; 5th £2,680; 6th £1,340

1 MENORAH (IRE) (Diana Whateley) Philip Hobbs 5-11-7 Richard Johnson 12/1
2 GET ME OUT OF HERE (IRE) (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill 6-11-7 Tony McCoy 9/2
3 DUNGUIB (IRE) (Dan Harnett/Lily Lawlor) Philip Fenton IRE 7-11-7 Brian O'Connell 4/5f
4 OSCAR WHISKY (IRE) (Walters Plant Hire Ltd) Nicky Henderson 5-11-7 Barry Geraghty
5 FLAT OUT (FR) (Michael O’Riordan) Willie Mullins IRE 5-11-7 Paul Townend
6 SPRING JIM (Andrew & Julia Turner) James Fanshawe 9-11-7 Felix De Giles
7 FIULIN (Robin Geffen) Evan Williams 5-11-7 Paul Moloney
8 VINO GRIEGO (FR) (C Stedman) Gary Moore 5-11-7 Jamie Moore
9 FAR AWAY SO CLOSE (IRE) (Gigginstown House Stud) Paul Nolan IRE 5-11-7 Davy Russell
10 BLACKSTAIRMOUNTAIN (IRE) (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins IRE 5-11-7 Ruby Walsh
11 HOLLINS (R Bickenson) Micky Hammond 6-11-7 Jason Maguire
12 DAN BREEN (IRE) (Stuart Mercer) David Pipe 5-11-7 Tom Scudamore
13 DREAM ESTEEM (Roger Brookhouse) David Pipe 5-11-0 Danny Cook
14 COOTEHILL (IRE) (Felicity Griffin) Nigel Twiston-Davies 6-11-7 Paddy Brennan
15 TAKESTAN (IRE) (P Woods) Oliver Brady IRE 7-11-7 John Cullen
16 CHAIN OF COMMAND (IRE) (Malcolm Denmark) Warren Greatrex 7-11-7 Wayne Hutchinson
17 MISTER WALL STREET (FR) (Mrs C McKeane) Ferdy Murphy 5-11-7 Graham Lee
F1 GENERAL MILLER (Henry Ponsonby) Nicky Henderson 5-11-7 Andrew Tinkler

18 ran
Distances: hd, 1 3/4, 2, 6, 2 1/2, 1/2, nk, 1/2, nk, nk, 3 1/2, 4, 8, 3, 1/2, 4
Breeder: E Grant & Anna Brislane
Breeding: b g King’s Theatre (IRE) - Maid For Adventure (IRE)
Totes: Win: £13.50 Places: £3.20; £1.90, £1.20 Exacta: £43.10

Winning Trainer: PHILIP HOBBS Based: Sandhill, Bilbrook, Minehead, Somerset Date of Birth: 26/7/55 Background: Philip was brought up surrounded by horses. His father Tony Hobbs farmed, and had a permit to train for many years, breeding several good horses to run in the family colours. After school at Kings College, Taunton, Philip went on to Reading University and achieved a BSc honours degree. He rode at Hickstead, show jumping as a junior, and rode several point-to-point winners and winners under National Hunt rules as an amateur before turning professional at the age of 21. Rode 160 winners in a ten year career including The Black and White Gold Cup at Ascot, The Killiney Novice Chase and The Midlands Grand National on such good horses as West Tip and Artifice. Date of first Trainer’s Licence: August 1, 1985 Cheltenham Festival Wins (12): Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2010 Menorah), Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle (1990 Moody Man, 2002 Rooster Booster), Grand Annual Chase Challenge Cup Handicap (1996 Kibreet), Coral Cup H’cap Hurdle (2000 What’s Up Boys, 2004 Monkerhostin), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2002 Flagship Uberalles), Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (2003 Rooster Booster), RSA Chase (2003 One Knight), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2004 Made In Japan, 2006 Detroit City), Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (2007 Massini’s Maguire)Number of Winners (1990/91-2008/09): 33; 51; 37; 64; 86; 77; 64; 71; 84; 120; 82; 119; 134; 121; 121; 112; 111; 108; 103; Winners this Season: 65

Winning Jockey: Richard Johnson Date of birth: 21/07/77, Madley, Hereford Background: Richard Johnson attended Belmont Abby school, the alma mater of Peter Scudamore, before leaving at 16 to take a job with then champion trainer David Nicholson. He was born and raised at Madley, Herefordshire,. where his parents have a farm. Johnson comes from racing stock as his mother Sue holds a licence to train, while his father Keith, who won the 1982 Midlands Grand National on Bridge Ash, and his grandfather Ivor were both good amateur riders. Johnson is unlucky to be riding in the same era as Tony McCoy as he has finished runner-up to his rival in the jockeys' championship on nine occasions. In 2007 he married Fiona Chance, daughter of the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Noel Chance. First winner 30 April 1994, Rusty Bridge, Exeter Cheltenham Festival wins: (14) Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2010 Menorah), Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle (1999 Anzum), Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup H’cap Chase (2000 Dark Stranger, 2003 Young Spartacus), Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup (2000 Looks Like Trouble), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2002 Flagship Uberalles), County Hurdle (2002 Rooster Booster), Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (2003 Rooster Booster), RSA Chase (2003 One Knight), Cathcart Chase (2003 La Landiere), Coral Cup (2004 Monkerhostin), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2004 Made in Japan, 2006 Detroit City), Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle (2007 Massini’s Maguire) Leading Rider At the Festival: 2002 (2). Number of Wins (1993/94-2008/2009): 1; 12; 53; 102; 120; 133; 143; 161; 132; 147; 186; 135; 167; 154; 122; 132; Wins This Season: 140


SECOND RACE RESULT

2.05pm IRISH INDEPENDENT ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY CHASE
(GRADE ONE)
£150,000 guaranteed, 2m Old Course. For 5yo+. Weights 11st 7lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Entries 47 pay £370. Confirmed: 17. Penalty value: 1st £85,515; 2nd £32,085; 3rd £16,065; 4th £8,010; 5th £4,020; 6th £2,010.

1 SIZING EUROPE (IRE) (Ann & Alan Potts Partnership) Henry De Bromhead IRE 8-11-7 Andrew Lynch 6/1
2 SOMERSBY (IRE) (Camilla Radford) Henrietta Knight 6-11-7 Robert 4/1
3 OSANA (FR) (Thomas Barr) Edward O'Grady IRE 8-11-7 Andrew McNamara 14/1
4 MAD MAX (IRE) (Carole Skipworth & Paul Murphy) Nicky Henderson 8-11-7 Paul Carberry
5 RIVERSIDE THEATRE (Jimmy Nesbitt Partnership) Nicky Henderson 6-11-7 Barry Geraghty
6 QUISCOVER FONTAINE (FR) (B Doyle/T Connolly) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-7 Paul Townend
7 KANGAROO COURT (IRE) (Nick Mustoe) Emma Lavelle 6-11-7 Jack Doyle
8 CAPTAIN CEE BEE (IRE) (J P McManus) Eddie Harty IRE 9-11-7 Tony McCoy 5/2f
9 FOSTERS CROSS (IRE) (Patrick O’Donovan) Tom Mullins IRE 8-11-7 Davy Russell
10 I'M DELILAH (C Johnston) Ferdy Murphy 8-11-0 Graham Lee
11 SPORTS LINE (IRE) (TKPP Syndicate) Willie Mullins IRE 7-11-7 Ruby Walsh
12 WOOLCOMBE FOLLY (IRE) (The Hon Charlotte Townshend) Paul Nicholls 7-11-7 Nick Scholfield

12 ran
Distances: 3/4, 1 3/4, 2 3/4, 3 1/2, 5, 3/4, 4, 2 1/2, 8, nk, 4 1/2
Breeder: Angela Bracken
Breeding: b g Pistolet Bleu (IRE) - Jennie Dun (IRE)
Totes: Win: £6.90 Places: £2.40, £1.80, £5.00 Exacta: £26.50

Winning Trainer: HENRY DE BROMHEAD Based: Knockeen, Co Waterford, Ireland Date of first Trainer’s Licence: January 2000 Background: Worked as assistant for Sir Mark Prescott. Took over from father Harry in 1999. Had first winner in Britain when Sizing Europe won the City Inn National Hunt Maiden Hurdle at Newbury on November 24, 2006. First Winner: Fidalus, Tramore, January 1, 2000 (his first runner) Cheltenham Festival Wins (1): Irish Independent Arkle (2010 Sizing Europe) Big Race Wins: Craddockstown Novice Chase (2009 Sizing Europe), Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (2007 Sizing Europe), Irish Champion Hurdle (2008 Sizing Europe), Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (2008 Mister Watzisname), Sharp Novices' Hurdle (2009 Loosen My Load), Bord na Mona with Nature Novice Chase (2009 Sizing Europe), Arkle Novice Chase (Irish) (2010 An Cathaoir Mor) Wins in Britain (2006/07-2008/09): 1; 1; 0 Wins in Britain This Season: 2

Winning Jockey: Andrew Lynch Background: Andrew had his first racecourse ride on a horse called Jack Dante in a bumper at Fairyhouse in April 2001. He had to wait over a year to get off the mark, which he did at the 26th time of asking on Tristernagh in a novice hurdle at Downpatrick on May 18th 2002. Amazingly, Lynch only rode three winners in the two years that followed that day at Downpatrick. Won the Amateur Derby at Epsom in late-August 2004 on Tender Falcon. His win on Ballard Lad in a bumper at Wexford on 24th July 2005 proved to be the final winner of his amateur career as he took the brave decision to turn professional days later. Cheltenham Festival Wins (1): Irish Independent Arkle (2010 Sizing Europe) Big Race Wins: Bord na mona With Nature Novice Chase (2009 Sizing Europe), Craddockstown Novice Chase (2006 Blueberry Boy, 2009 Sizing Europe), Dunboyne Castle Novice Hurdle (2007 DeValira) O'Connell Transport Cork Stayers Novice Hurdle (2006 Emma Jane), paddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle (2006 De Valira), Kinloch Brae Chase (2007 Forget The Past), Aramark Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (2007 Duty), Grimes Hurdle (2007 Essex), Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle (2006 Victram), Freshways Handicap Hurdle (2007 Nintytwo Team), Knight Frank Novice Chase (2007 Notre Pere), Punchestown Gold Cup (2009 Notre Pere), Sharp Novices' Hurdle (2009 Loosen My Load), Thurles Chase (2007 Forget The Past) Coral Welsh National (2008 Notre Pere) Wins in Britain (2005/06-2008/09):1; 0; 0; 1 Wins in Britain this season: 2





THIRD RACE RESULT

2.40pm WILLIAM HILL TROPHY HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE THREE)
£80,000 guaranteed, 3m 110y, Old Course. For 5yo+. Minimum weight 10-0. Penalties after February 28th, a winner of a chase 5lb (no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb). The Tother One's Handicap Mark 158. Entries: 88 pay £100; Confirmed: 55 pay £300. Penalty value: 1st £45,608; 2nd £17,112; 3rd £8,568; 4th £4,272; 5th £2,144; 6th £1,072.

1 CHIEF DAN GEORGE (IRE) (Maurice Chapman) James Moffatt 10-10-10 Paddy Aspell 33/1
2 THE PACKAGE (David Johnson) David Pipe 7-10-9 Timmy Murphy 9/2f
3 OGEE (Sir Evelyn de Rothschild) Renee Robeson 7-10-5 Jimmy McCarthy 8/1
4 OFFSHORE ACCOUNT (IRE) (Brian Polly) Charlie Swan IRE 10-10-3 David Casey 33/1
5 THE TOTHER ONE (IRE) (Graham Roach) Paul Nicholls 9-11-12 Ruby Walsh
6 THEATRICAL MOMENT (USA) (Masterson Holdings Ltd) Jonjo O'Neill 7-10-10 Tony McCoy
7 OLLIE MAGERN (Roger Nicholls) Nigel Twiston-Davies 12-10-6 Tom Molloy (3)
8 NENUPHAR COLLONGES (FR) (Top Brass Partnership) Alan King 9-10-12 Wayne Hutchinson
9 NICHE MARKET (IRE) (G Regan) Bob Buckler 9-11-3 Harry Skelton (3)
10 OFFICIER DE RESERVE (FR) (Seasons Holidays) Venetia Williams 8-10-5 Aidan Coleman
11 BIBLE LORD (IRE) (Martin Tedham) Andrew Turnell 9-10-7 Mark Grant
12 CHARACTER BUILDING (IRE) (Mrs E Wright) John Quinn 10-10-13 Barry Geraghty
13 COMPLY OR DIE (IRE) (David Johnson) David Pipe 11-11-4 Danny Cook (3)
14 JOE LIVELY (IRE) (Richard Dimond) Colin Tizzard 11-11-9 Joe Tizzard
15 KICKS FOR FREE (IRE) (Trevor Hemmings) Paul Nicholls 9-10-12 Christian Williams
16 STAN (NZ) (Paul Beck) Venetia Williams 11-10-1 Mr Harry Challoner (7)
17 NEW ALCO (FR) (D McGowan & S Murphy) Ferdy Murphy 9-10-10 Graham Lee
F KNOWHERE (IRE) (Raymond Mould) Nigel Twiston-Davies 12-10-6 Tom Scudamore
B CASEY JONES (IRE) (Gillian Burke) Noel Meade IRE 9-11-5 Paul Carberry
B EXMOOR RANGER (IRE) (The Rangers Partnership) Victor Dartnall 8-11-0 Tom O'Brien
F 2out BENSALEM (IRE) (Alan Marsh & John Duggan) Alan King 7-10-11 Robert Thornton
U 2out TATENEN (FR) (The Stewart Family) Paul Nicholls 6-11-2 Nick Scholfield
PU BEAT THE BOYS (IRE) (New Club Ladies) Nigel Twiston-Davies 9-11-0 Jason Maguire
PU RAZOR ROYALE (IRE) (Clive Cornes) Nigel Twiston-Davies 8-11-3 Paddy Brennan

24 ran
Distances: hd, 1 1/4, 4, 7, nk, sh, 1 3/4, nk, 5, 14, 1 3/4, 6, 7, 6, 3/4, 14
Breeder: Matthew Brady
Breeding: b g Lord Americo -Colleen Donn
Totes: Win: £52.70 Places: £9.10, £2.00, £2.00, £10.00 Exacta: £297

Winning Trainer: JIMMY MOFFATT Born: June 14, 1972 Based: Pit Farm Racing Stables, Cartmel, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria Background: Former jockey, rode about 100 winners, including the 1995 County Hurdle on Home Counties Other info: Won on his first ride in public, on Silver’s Girl at Ayr, April 13, 1989 (Flat apprentice handicap) Cheltenham Festival Wins (1): William Hill Trophy (2010 Chief Dan George) Aintree Festival Wins: Citroen C6 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle (2007 Chief Dan George) Other Big Race Wins: Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle (2007 Chief Dan George), Brit Insurance Prestige Novices’ Hurdle (2007 Chief Dan George) Number of Wins (2002/03-2006/07): 1; 6; 2; 6; 6; Wins this Season: 4

Winning Jockey Paddy Aspell Born: 6/1/82 Based: Darlington Background: Formerly an amateur with Sue Smith. Moved to Mary Reveley in the middle of the 2001/02 season and turned professional. Rides mainly for Richard Guest and Anne Hamilton. Riding Weight: 9st First career double: Catterick, January 31, 2002 (Hunters Creek and Vilpano) Cheltenham Festival Wins (1): William Hill Trophy (2010 Chief Dan George) Big Race Win: Punchestown Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (2005 United) Number of Wins (2000/01-2008/09): 2; 12; 23; 18; 6; 13; 28; 11; 20 Wins This Season: 12



FOURTH RACE RESULT

3.20pm SMURFIT KAPPA CHAMPION HURDLE CHALLENGE TROPHY (GRADE ONE)
£370,000 guaranteed, 2m 110y, Old Course. For 4yo+ which are allotted a rating of 130 or more by the BHA Head of Handicapping following a review of the horses entered and after taking account of races run up to and including March 9th; horses which are not qualified a rating in Great Britain, Ireland or France may also be entered - such horses may be eligible providing the Handicapper is satisfied that the horse's racecourse performances up to and including March 9th would merit a minimum rating of 130 (the decision of the BHA Head of Handicapping shall be final). Weights 4yo 11st 3lb; 5yo+ 11st 10lb. Allowances: fillies and mares 7lb. Entries: 34 pay £430; Confirmed: 15 pay £430. Penalty value: 1st £210,937; 2nd £79,143; 3rd £39,627; 4th £19,758; 5th £9,916; 6th £4,958.

1 BINOCULAR (FR) (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 6-11-10 Tony McCoy 9/1
2 KHYBER KIM (Caroline Mould) Nigel Twiston-Davies 8-11-10 Paddy Brennan 7/1
3 ZAYNAR (FR) (Men In Our Position) Nicky Henderson 5-11-10 Andrew Tinkler 15/2
4 CELESTIAL HALO (IRE) (The Stewart Family) Paul Nicholls 6-11-10 Ruby Walsh
5 STARLUCK (IRE) (Andrew Wates) Alan Fleming 5-11-10 Timmy Murphy
6 SOLWHIT (FR) (Top Of The Hill Syndicate) Charles Byrnes IRE 6-11-10 Davy Russell
7 MEDERMIT (FR) (The Dunkley & Reilly Partnership) Alan King 6-11-10 Robert Thornton
8 JUMBO RIO (IRE) (Patrick Wilmott) Edward O'Grady IRE 5-11-10 Andrew McNamara
9 PUNJABI (Raymond Tooth) Nicky Henderson 7-11-10 Barry Geraghty
10 GO NATIVE (IRE) (Docado Syndicate) Noel Meade IRE 7-11-10 Paul Carberry 11/4f
11 RAISE YOUR HEART (IRE) (Gaeltacht Gang Syndicate) Joanna Morgan IRE 7-11-10 John Cullen
12 WON IN THE DARK (IRE) (Gerard Crehan) Sabrina Harty IRE 6-11-10 Graham Lee

12 ran
Distances: 3 1/2, 6, 2 1/2, nse, 6, 3/4, 4 1/2, 1 1/4, hd, nk, 19
Breeder: Elie Lellouche Breeding: b g Enrique - Bleu Ciel Et Blanc (FR)
Totes: Win: £10.60 Places: £3.40, £2.50, £2.40 Exacta: £80.20

Winning Trainer: NICHOLAS (NICKY) JOHN HENDERSON Based: Seven Barrows, Lambourn, Hungerford, Berkshire Date of birth: 10/12/50 Background: The son of financier and amateur jockey John Henderson MBE, Nicky attended Eton before working in the City for stockbrokers Cazenoves. Ended up in their Sydney office and rode out each morning prior to work before deciding to study farming at Cirencester. Also spent six years as an amateur, riding 78 winners including the Imperial Cup and the Foxhunters Chase at Liverpool. He was assistant to the legendary Fred Winter from 1974 to 1978. In July 1978 he first took out a trainer's licence and trained from Windsor House in Lambourn. He moved to Seven Barrows in 1992. Cheltenham Festival wins (35): Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2009 Andytown), County (1997 Barna Boy, 1993 Thumbs Up), Kim Muir (1990 Master Bob, 2002 The Bushkeeper, 2005 Juveigneur), Mildmay (1985,1986 The Tsarevich, 2005 Liberthine), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (1989 Rustle, 2000 Bacchanal), Cathcart (1994 Raymylette, 1990 Brown Windsor, 1999 and 2000 Stormyfairweather), Supreme Novices H (1986 River Ceiriog, 1992 Flown), Queen Mother (1992 Remittance Man), Arkle (1991 Remittance Man, 1993 Travado, 2000 Tiutchev), Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (1985, 1986, 1987 See You Then, 2009 Punjabi, 2010 Binocular),JCB Triumph (1985 First Bout, 1987 Alone Success, 1999 Katarino, 2009 Zaynar), William Hill National Hunt H’cap Chase (2000 Marlborough), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2005 Trabolgan), Ryanair Chase (2006 Fondmort), Racing Post Plate (2006 Non So), Grand Annual Chase (2006 Greenhope) Number of Winners (1982/83-2008/09): 40, 43, 40, 46, 67, 40, 43, 41, 49, 52, 53, 48, 45, 47, 58, 54, 73, 67, 81, 92, 69, 79; 53; 85; 74; 83; 115; Wins this Season: 113

Winning Jockey: Anthony Peter McCoy MBE Date of Birth: 04/05/74 Background: Tony McCoy is the greatest jump jockey of his era and many would argue the greatest of all time. McCoy started out with Billy Rock then tried his luck as a Flat jockey with Jim Bolger. Since growing too heavy and turning to jump racing he has not looked back. He was champion conditional rider in Britain in 1994/5 when attached to Toby Balding's Hampshire yard and took his first senior title in 1995/96 season with 174 wins. His domination has brought 14 consecutive jump jockey's titles. McCoy broke Peter Scudamore's record of 221 wins in the 1997/8 season with 253 successes and broke his own record for the fastest 200 winners in the 1999/2000 season, ending up with 245 successes. In 2001/02 he beat by 20 the record of 269 winners in any season set by Sir Gordon Richards. He has passed the double century mark five times. He had a fairytale 1998 Cheltenham Festival, riding a record five winners, and also rode a rare double the previous year on Make A Stand in the Champion Hurdle (for his boss Martin Pipe) and Mr Mulligan in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. McCoy added a second Champion Hurdle when successful on Brave Inca in 2006. In April, 2004, he left Martin Pipe's stable after accepting a reportedly huge offer from J P McManus and rides for McManus's principal trainer in Britain, Jonjo O'Neill. McCoy, O'Neill and McManus teamed up to capture the Irish Grand National with Butler's Cabin in April 2007. McCoy cracked a vertebra in a terrible fall Warwick in January, 2008, but was back in winning action with Alberta’s Run at the Cheltenham Festival in March. His wife Chanelle gave birth to their daughter Eve in late 2007. Tony was awarded an MBE in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours. 1000th Win Over Jumps In Britain: Majadou, Cheltenham, December 11, 1999 2000th Win Over Jumps In Britain: Corporate Player, Wincanton, January 17, 2004 3000th Win Over Jumps In Britain: Restless D’Artaix, Plumpton, February 9, 2009 First Winner: Thurles, 26/03/92, Legal Steps (First winner in Britain: 07/09/94, Exeter, Chickabiddy) Cheltenham Festival Wins: (22) William Hill Trophy (2009 Wichita Lineman), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2008 Alberta’s Run), Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (1996 Kibreet, 1998 Edredon Bleu), Irish Independent Arkle Chase (1997 Or Royal, 1998 Champleve, 2004 Well Chief), Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle (1997 Make A Stand, 2006 Brave Inca, 2010 Binocular), Totesport Gold Cup (1997 Mr Mulligan), Cathcart Chase (1998 Cyfor Malta, 2002 Royal Auclair), Pertemps Final (1998 Unsinkable Boxer), Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle (1998 Blowing Wind), Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1999 Hors La Loi III), Mildmay of Flete Challenge Cup Hcap Chase (1999 Majadou), Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (2000 Edredon Bleu), Weatherbys Champion Bumper (2003 Liberman), Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase (2006 Reveillez), Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Black Jack Ketchum, 2007 Wichita Lineman) Leading Rider at The Festival: 1997 (3), 1998 (5) Wins in a season 1994/5-2008/09: 74; 175; 189; 253; 186; 245; 191; 289; 257; 209; 199; 178; 184; 140; 186; Wins this season: 183



FIFTH RACE RESULT

4.00pm GLENFARCLAS HANDICAP CHASE (CROSS COUNTRY)
£45,000 guaranteed, 3m 7f Old Course. For 5yo+. Minimum weight: 10-0. Penalties after February 28th, a winner of a chase 5lb (no penalty to increase a horse's weight above 11st 12lb). Garde Champetre's Handicap Mark 161. Entries: 30 pay £65; Confirmed: 25 pay £160. Penalty value: 1st £28,179.00 2nd £8,325.00 3rd £4,162.50 4th £2,083.50 5th £1,039.50 6th £522.00

1 A NEW STORY (IRE) (Storey’s Over Syndicate) Michael Hourigan 12-9-7 Adrian Heskin (7) 25/1
2 L'AMI (FR) (J P McManus) Enda Bolger IRE 11-11-4 Mr J T McNamara 4/1
3 LACDOUDAL (FR) (Carol Skan) Philip Hobbs 11-9-12 Rhys Flint (3) 28/1
4 ANOTHER JEWEL (IRE) (F Magee) Denis Murphy IRE 8-10-0 Davy Condon 16/1
5 GARDE CHAMPETRE (FR) (J P McManus) Enda Bolger IRE 11-11-12 Miss Nina Carberry 7/4f
6 FRENEYS WELL (J P McManus) Enda Bolger IRE 10-9-13 Richie McLernon (3)
7 DROMBEAG (IRE) (J P McManus) Enda Bolger IRE 12-10-0 Mark Walsh
8 DOUBLE DIZZY (Martyn Forrester) Bob Buckler 9-10-0 Andrew Glassonbury
9 CORNISH SETT (IRE) (Peter Hart) Paul Nicholls 11-10-2 Nick Scholfield
10 HEADS ONTHE GROUND (IRE) (J P McManus) Enda Bolger IRE 13-10-0 Paul Carberry
11 SIZING AUSTRALIA (IRE) (Ann & Alan Potts Partnership) Henry De Bromhead IRE 8-10-2 Andrew Lynch
12 TAWNIES (IRE) (Lady Insan Syndicate) Thomas O'Leary 10-9-11 Philip Enright (3)
13 PREISTS LEAP (IRE) (John Donohue/Thomas O’Leary) Thomas O'Leary IRE 10-10-13 Davy Russell
14 MONKERHOSTIN (FR) (Martin St Quinton) Philip Hobbs 13-11-7 Richard Johnson
15 SILVER BIRCH (IRE) (Brian Walsh (Co Kildare)) Gordon Elliott IRE 13-10-3 Robert Power
16 OCEANOS DES OBEAUX (FR) (Mike Tuckey) Philip Hobbs 8-10-0 Tom O'Brien

16 ran
Distances: 2 1/2, 2 3/4, nk, 1/2, 2, 1/2, 7, 4 1/2, 5, 3/4, 2 3/4, 8, 3 1/4, 17, 11
Breeder: Thomas Brennan Breeding: b g Fourstars Allstar (USA) - Diyala (FR)
Totes: Win: £29.80 Places: £3.70; £2.00; £6.90; £2.90 Exacta: £215.40

Winning Trainer: MICHAEL HOURIGAN Born: December 8, 1947 Based: Lisaleen, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, Ireland Background: Born in Rathkeale, Co Limerick, the son of a cattle dealer and publican, Hourigan joined Curragh trainer Charlie Weld at the age of 14, with hopes of making it as a jockey. He rode on the Flat and over jumps, winning 14 races. He took over the running of the family pub after he married his wife Ann in 1973, and converted a couple of stables behind the pub to train point-to-pointers. After taking out his licence to train under Rules in 1975, the stable yard soon grew to house around 20 inmates, but finding a winner proved difficult. He was on the verge of quitting when Ramrajya took division two of the Holiday Handicap Hurdle at Limerick on March 17, St Patrick's Day, 1979. The operation began to expand and in 1985, Hourigan moved his string to Lisaleen Stables near the Limerick town of Adare. Hourigan's fortunes really took off in the early 1990s when Dorans Pride arrived in the yard. The gelding went on to win 30 races from 73 starts and gave Hourigan his first Cheltenham Festival success when winning the 1995 Stayers’ Hurdle. Dorans Pride went on to become one of Ireland's best chasers of recent times winning the Lexus Chase (1998) and the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (1998) among six Grade One triumphs. The trainer took the second of his two Cheltenham Festival wins with Deejaydee in the 1999 National Hunt Chase and his John Smith's Grand National meeting wins came with Tropical Lake in the 1994 John Smith's Anniversary 4-Y-O Hurdle and High Cloy in the 2006 John Smith's Melling Chase. Following Dorans Pride, Hourigan, who still has a big point-to-point team, unearthed another chasing superstar in the phenomenal Beef Or Salmon, winner of 10 Grade One contests, including three renewals of both of Ireland's two most prestigious three-mile chases, the Lexus Chase and the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup. He also saddled Rockholm Boy to win the 2002 Galway Plate. Date of First Trainer’s Licence: 1975 First ever winner: Ramrajya, Holiday Handicap Hurdle (Div. 2), Limerick, March 17, 1979 Cheltenham Festival Wins (3): Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (2010 A New Story), National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Chase (1999 Deejaydee), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (1995 Dorans Pride) Aintree Festival wins: John Smith’s Anniversary 4-Y-O Novices’ Hurdle (1994 Tropical Lake), John Smith’s Melling Chase (2006 High Cloy) Other Big Race Wins:Boyne Hurdle (1995 Dorans Pride), Clonmel Oil Chase (1997, 1998, 1999 & 2000 Dorans Pride, 2002 Beef Or Salmon, 2007 Mossbank), Drinmore Novice Chase1996 (Dorans Pride), Dr P J Moriarty Novice Chase (1997 Dorans Pride), Galway Plate (2002 Rockholm Boy), Gowran Park Champion Chase (1998 Dorans Pride), Hatton's Grace Hurdle (1995 Dorans Pride), Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup (Ireland) (1998 Dorans Pride, 2003, 2006 & 2007 Beef Or Salmon), Hilly Way Chase (2002 & 2003 Beef Or Salmon), JNWine.com Champion Chase (2004 & 2006 Beef Or Salmon), John Durkan Memorial Chase (1997 Dorans Pride, 2003 Beef Or Salmon, 2005 Hi Cloy), Kinloch Brae Chase (2000 Amberleigh House, 2008 Hi Cloy), Knight Frank Novice Chase (1996 Dorans Pride), Lexus Chase (1993 Deep Bramble, 1998 Dorans Pride, 2002, 2004 & 2005 Beef Or Salmon), Lismullen Hurdle (1994 & 1995 Dorans Pride), Paddy Fitzpatrick Novice Chase (1997 Ultra Flutter), Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase (2005 Hi Cloy), Pierse Hurdle (1995 Anusha), Powers Gold Cup (1997 Dorans Pride, 2004 Hi Cloy), Punchestown Gold Cup (2004 Beef Or Salmon), Ten Up Novice Chase (2006 Church Island) Wins in Britain (2005/2006-2008/09): 2; 0; 0; 1; Wins in Britain This Season: 6

Winning Jockey: Adrian Heskin Age: 17 Background: A seven pound claimer who hails from Kilally, Kilworth in Fermoy and is attached to the Michael Hourigan yard. Cheltenham Festival Wins (1): Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (2010 A New Story - his first ride at The Festival) Wins in Britain this season: 2



SIXTH RACE RESULT

4.40pm DAVID NICHOLSON MARES' HURDLE (GRADE TWO)
£90,000 guaranteed, 2m 4f Old Course. For 4yo+. Weights 4yo.10st 6lb; 5yo+ 11st. Penalties after September 30th, 2008, a winner of a Class 2 weight-for-age hurdle or a Class 1 handicap hurdle 3lb; of a Class 1 weight-for-age hurdle 5lb. Entries: 31 pay £120. Confirmed: 21 pay £330. Penalty value: 1st £50,697; 2nd £19,098; 3rd £9,558; 4th £4,779; 5th £2,394; 6th £1,197.

1 QUEVEGA (FR) (Hammer & Trowel Syndicate) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-5 Ruby Walsh 6/4f
2 CAROLE'S LEGACY (Paul Murphy) Nicky Henderson 6-11-0 Andrew Tinkler 20/1
3 VOLER LA VEDETTE (IRE) (Mrs M Brophy) Colm Murphy IRE 6-11-5 Barry Geraghty 9/4
4 AMBER BROOK (IRE) (The Yes No Wait Sorries) Nigel Twiston-Davies 9-11-0 Paddy Brennan
5 EASTER LEGEND (Simon Willes) Emma Lavelle 6-11-0 Aidan Coleman
6 ARCTIC MAGIC (IRE) (Midd Shire Racing) Stuart Kittow 10-11-0 Tom O’Brien
7 AURA ABOUT YOU (IRE) (J Mernagh) Paul Nolan IRE 7-11-0 Alain Cawley
8 ALASI (Shully Liebermann) Paul Webber 6-11-0 Wayne Kennedy
9 NO ONE TELLS ME (Lakeside Racing Syndicate) Jessica Harrington IRE 5-11-3 Robert Power
10 ARGENTO LUNA (P Gardner) Oliver Sherwood 7-11-3 Sam Jones
11 SWAY (FR) (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill 4-10-11 Tony McCoy
12 PEPITE DE SOLEIL (FR) (The Whittaker Family) Paul Nicholls 5-11-0 Robert Thornton
13 ZARINAVA (IRE) (D Donegan) Jessica Harrington IRE 6-11-5 Paul Moloney
14 PRINCESS RAINBOW (FR) (P & Mrs G Clarke) Jennie Candlish 5-11-0 Allan O'Keeffe
15 JUST BEWARE (The Secret Circle) Zara Davison 8-11-0 Gemmelle Gracey-Davison
16 HERE COMES SALLY (IRE) (Andrew Pierce) Paul Pierce IRE 10-11-0 Sean Flanagan
PU STRAVINSKY DANCE (Robert Waley-Cohen) Nicky Henderson 5-11-5 Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

17 ran
Distances: 4 1/2, 1 1/4, 3 1/2, 1/2, 10, 1 1/2, 3, sh, 3 1/2, 1 1/2, 17, 9, 2, 28, dist
Breeder: Pierre Rives
Breeding: b m Robin Des Champs (FR) - Vega IV (FR)
Totes: Win: £26.00 Places: £4.10, £1.30 Exacta: £38.10

Winning Trainer: WILLIE MULLINS Date of Birth: 15/9/56 Based: Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow Background: Born September 15, 1956, Willie Mullins was six-times amateur champion rider in Ireland and his major successes in the saddle included the 1983 John Smith’s Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree on Atha Cliath, before taking out a training licence in 1988. He hails from one of Ireland's most famous racing families, being a son of Paddy Mullins, the now retired outstanding all-round trainer, whose most famous star was Dawn Run, winner of the 1984 Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup two years later. Willie Mullins rode and trained Wither Or Which to win the 1996 Weatherbys Champion Bumper. Mullins, who began training in 1988, has around 100 horses at his Closutton yard near Bagenalstown in Co Carlow. He was crowned both Champion and Leading Trainer in Ireland for the first time in the 2007/08 season and celebrated a second championship the following campaign. Cheltenham Festival wins (16): David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle (2009 & 2010 Quevega), Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (2008 Fiveforthree, 2009 Mikael D’Haguenet), Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1995 Tourist Attraction, 2007 Ebaziyan), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (1998 Florida Pearl, 2004 Rule Supreme, 2009 Cooldine), Weatherbys Champion Bumper (1996 Wither Or Which, 1997 Florida Pearl, 1998 Alexander Banquet, 2000 Joe Cullen, 2005 Missed That, 2008 Cousin Vinny), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2002 Scolardy) Number of Winners in Britain (2001/02-2008/09): 4; 1; 1; 2; 0; 1; 2; 3; Wins in Britain this season: 1

Winning Jockey: Ruby Walsh Born: May 14, 1979 Background: Ruby (short for Rupert) is associated with the powerful stables of Paul Nicholls in Britain and Willie Mullins in Ireland. He is the son of 11-times Irish amateur champion jockey, Ted Walsh, now a trainer. Ruby is the second of Walsh's four children and his younger sister Katie is a successful amateur. He followed in his father's footsteps when capturing the Irish amateur riders’ championship (1996-97) at the age of 19 while still studying for his Leaving Certificate. He was crowned champion Irish National Hunt jockey in his first season as a professional (1998/99) and has taken the title a further five times (2000/2001, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/7 and 2007/08). Walsh has won the John Smith's Grand National twice. His first success came in 2000 on his first ride in the race aboard Papillon, trained by his father, less than a month after returning from a fractured leg sustained in a fall in October, 1999, in the Czech Republic. The Willie Mullins-trained Hedgehunter provided him with a second success in 2005. He followed Papillon's Aintree triumph with an Irish Grand National victory aboard his father's Commanche Court but surpassed that achievement in the 2004/2005 season when his John Smith's Grand National success aboard Hedgehunter was augmented by wins in the Welsh National (Silver Birch) and Irish Grand National (Numbersixvalverde). He narrowly missed out in that season's Scottish Grand National when his mount, Cornish Rebel, finished a short-head second to Joes Edge. In the 2008/09 season he was leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival for a fourth time. Equalled Pat Taaffe’s Festival record of 25 wins with Quevega’s 2010 win in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle. First Winner: Siren Song, Gowran Park, July 25, 1995 Cheltenham Festival Wins (25): Ladbrokes World Hurdle (2009 Big Buck’s), David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle (2009 & 2010 Quevega), Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle (2008 Fiveforthree, 2009 Mikael D’Haguenet), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2008 Celestial Halo), Weatherbys Champion Bumper (1998 Alexander Banquet, 2005 Missed That), Mildmay Of Flete (2002 Blowing Wind), Irish Independent Arkle (2003 Azertyuiop), Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (2004 Azertyuiop, 2008 & 2009 Master Minded), Grand Annual (2004 St Pirran), County Hurdle (2004 Sporazene, 2006 Desert Quest), Ryanair Chase (2005 Thisthatandtother, 2007 Taranis) Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (2006 Noland), William Hill Trophy (2006 Dun Doire), Royal & SunAlliance Chase (2007 Denman, 2009 Cooldoine), totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (2007 Kauto Star) 1,000th Winner in Ireland: Rare Article, Smirnoff (Mares) Maiden Hurdle, Thurles, May 4, 2008 (became only the second jockey to complete the feat after Charlie Swann) Number of Wins in Britain (1998/99-2008/09): 1; 1; 5; 13; 77; 62; 81; 69; 73; 69; 69 Wins in Britain This Season: 62

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