Cheltenham / Editor / 11 March 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

McCoy wins the plaudits from Simon Rowlands following his truly exceptional ride on Wichita Lineman.

Too often in life anticipation merely serves to pave the way for anticlimax, but day one of the Cheltenham Festival once again delivered a multitude of thrills and stories that 12 months of waiting demands.

Some said that this year's Champion Hurdle was a poor one, and it is indeed unlikely that the shock victor Punjabi will go down as one of the race's best winners. But give me a Champion with 23 runners and the winners of the last five editions every year and I would be quite happy.

The race also developed into a fascinating battle of tactics, with the early leaders going fast and the short-priced favourite Binocular held onto as long as possible in order to conserve his stamina. Punjabi and Celestial Halo went at it head-to-head from after three out, with Binocular tracking them. But Tony McCoy on the last-named was niggling from between the last two and could make up most, but not all, of the two-length deficit under stronger pressure from the last. Punjabi led early on in the run-in and showed great courage to cling on with nothing to spare from the other pair.

Those who were inclined to criticise McCoy for not committing sooner on Binocular (who went as short as [1.52] in-running) might wish to consider the fact that Punjabi's time from three out was in the region of 10 to 15 lengths slower than those for the other two hurdle races on the card and a remarkably slow closing sectional for a Champion Hurdle.

Some of the also-rans were catching the principals by the end, and the race undoubtedly ended up something of a slog. It was popularly supposed that that might not suit Binocular beforehand and connections will surely still fancy their chances of winning a Champion under different circumstances.

The day started earlier than ever this year, at 1:30 to be precise, with the traditional curtain-raiser, the Supreme Novices Hurdle. Cousin Vinny was the main Irish-trained hope, but he jumped sketchily and came back only fifth behind the Noel Meade-trained Go Native, who went a few lengths clear before holding Medermit by just a neck.

Go Native is clearly improving all the time, but it is difficult to get away from the impression that Hurricane Fly, who thrashed him at Leopardstown at Christmas, would have taken the world of beating had he not been forced to miss this race.

Go Native's winning performance was not a vintage one, and nor was Forpadydeplasterer's in the Arkle Chase 35 minutes later. Both horses idled and seemed rather better than the result, however, with Forpadydeplasterer holding the late thrust of Kalahari King by just a short head.

Truly top-class equine efforts were arguably lacking on the opening day of Cheltenham, but you wont see many better rides than the one McCoy gave the favourite Wichita Lineman in the William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase. Still only 12th and under pressure going to three out, having made mistakes, Wichita Lineman hit [60.0] in-running but stuck to his task as Maljimar ([1.06] in running) tied up, getting up close home.

The cross-country chase is not everyone's idea of an appropriate race for such a big occasion (my colleague Ian Dean once memorably described it as like having crazy golf at the British Open), but it too provided a stirring finish, with Garde Champetre leading home a 1-2-3 for owner J P McManus and trainer Enda Bolger. The winner is down to [23.0] to back in Betfair's ante-post market for the Grand National at Aintree on April 4th.

There was no contest for the easiest winner of the day, which was Quevega in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle. The heavily backed mare stormed 14 lengths clear in the finale to make it win number four for Irish-trained horses at the Festival already. More than seven Irish-trained winners over the four days could be backed at [3.0] on Betfair at the start of play but was being offered at just [1.5] by the end.

The top jockey prize remains very much up for grabs, with Ruby Walsh (one winner, on Quevega) [1.85] from [2.34] and Barry Geraghty (doubled up on Punjabi and Forpadydeplasterer) [5.0] from [10.5].

Finally, a special word of congratulations should go to Cheltenham Clerk of The Course Simon Claisse (much maligned in some quarters, including by me), whose description of the going as good to soft, soft in places seemed spot on. For once.

Winner/Form Rating/(Sectional from 3 out)
Go Native 144 (58.8 sec)
Forpadydeplasterer 154 (56.9 sec)
Wichita Lineman 149 (57.8 sec)
Punjabi 162 (62.1 sec)
Garde Champetre 157 (58.7 sec)
Quevega 150 (58.7 sec)