So the best week in National Hunt racing has been and gone. We have to wait another year until we see the sustained quality of racing we have just witnessed over four consecutive days. Race after race of pulsating equine brilliance whether it be over hurdles, fences or the one flat race. Some of the superstars were missing, Thitlecrack and Sizing John among those ruled out with injuries. Brilliant mares Annie Power and Vroum Vroum Mag now retired from the racecourse. Missed they were, but in no way did that effect the quality we saw on unusually soft festival ground. The rain, then the snow followed by more rain certainly gave us ground we are unaccustomed too at this time of year. Those who prefer Spring ground would be out of luck, those who like to get their foot in a soft surface would be thanking "the beast from the east" as we opened and remained on soft, heavy in places.
So day one arrived, tens of thousands descended on Prestbury Park in anticipation of seeing exciting novice hurdlers in the Supreme, future champion chasers in the Arkle, the best mares in their division and if Buveur D'Air could retain his crown as the champion hurdler. As always the Cheltenham roar sent the festival opener the Supreme Novices Hurdle on its way. Getabird sent of the favourite did too much too early and never looked like winning, it was left to Summerville Boy and Kalashnikov to fight out the finish. The first two from the Tolworth hurdle proved their liking for soft ground again and finished in the same positions with Summerville Boy coming from off the strong pace and staying on slightly better up the hill even though he hit both the last two hurdles. With only 5 previous runs there could still be more to come from the winner while the runner up has novice chasing as his agenda next year.
Only five stood their ground for the Arkle nut it was still a quality field. Petit Mouchoir and Saint Calvados went off far too quickly, they would pay for that later as Footpad moved through them without any fuss and went on to win as he liked by fourteen lengths. He looks one to follow next year and with form over three miles in his hurdling career he could run in Champion Chase or go for Gold Cup. I would love to see him go for the King George but suspect Willie Mullins might keep him to Irish races.
The Champion Hurdle was the championship race for day one. A race with one definite and several what ifs, the definite in Buveur D'Air turning up in good form ready to defend his crown, possibly a better horse than last year. The What ifs surrounded Faugheen and Yorkhill, Willie Mullins' stars had had a disappointing lead up to the race but were previous superstars. Elgin had been supplemented at a cost and was nibbled at in the betting before the off. As they approached two out the champion put it to the rest and went on looking like the winner. Melon meanwhile was making headway all the time and got upsides at the last, Buveur D'Air had to dig deep but showed his fighting spirit not letting his younger rival past as he held on by a neck. Faugheen never figured from a long way out and looked a shadow of the former great he was, the enigmatic Yorkhill was pulled up and I'm not sure where connections go with him now.
In the other races Benie Des Dieux held on gamely by half a length to deny 33/1 shot Midnight Tout in the Mares Hurdle. The big disappointment was Apple's Jade, sent off the odds on favourite and one of many peoples bankers after winning last year. She was another who paid the price for going off and doing too much too early on such soft ground, although she did stay on well to claim third. I would love to see her run in the stayers' next year after hoping she would this year, especially having form with Supasundae over three miles. Coo Star Sivola was handicapped to go very close in the Ultima and didn't disappoint. Carrying just 10-10 with Lizzie Kelly taking off a further three pounds, she held on from the ever gallant Shantou Flyer by a neck. Vintage Clouds was a further six lengths back in third. The four mile National Hunt Chase went the way of Rathvinden, well backed before the off, Patrick Mullins got a good tune out of the ten year old up the hill to hold off the persistent and younger Ms Parfois by half a length. Those two finished a massive 21 lengths clear of third placed and fellow ten year old Sizing Tennessee. Close finishes seemed to be the order of the day in all the handicaps and the closing Close Brothers was no different. Mister Whitaker came with a late and sustained run up the hill to get up close to home from Rather Be by a head. That little bit of weight he was getting seemed to make all the difference.
Standouts for the day had to be Footpad who has the chasing world at his feet and Buveur D'Air who gamely held on from the improving Melon to retain his crown.
Day two was bitterly cold and still no sign of that fair Spring weather, we all hoped the racing would warm us up. What better way to start the day than with the Ballymore Novices Hurdle, with the weeks hot pot banker from Ireland Samcro. He came over with the tallest of reputations even though connections had tried to play it down, we all waited in anticipation and expectation. So off they went and for the first half of the race Gowiththeflow, Scarpeta abd Vision Des Flos se the place with Samcro positioned in midfield just on the outside out of trouble. The field moved towards the bend to swing into the final straight, Samcro moved effortlessly to the outside tanking along as he passed the leaders to take it up two out. One by one they faded away up the long run in with only Black Op staying on anywhere near him. Samcro idled and wondered around with no competition winning easy by just under 3 lengths. Next Destination stayed on well after looking outpaced and could be one for three miles next year. Second up was the RSA Chase for novices, a race that may have pointers to next years Gold Cup. Black Corton took them along at a fair clip right round to three out before tiring, Elegant Escape stayed on well after being off the bridle a long way out and after being up with the pace throughout. Monalee was quite keen for most of the race with Noel Fehily continuily having to take a pull, it was to his credit he finished as close up as he did. It would of been interesting if he had settled better but I don't think he would have won as Presenting Percy was very impressive and sensed there was plenty there if needed. He Immediately was installed as one of the favourites for next years Gold Cup and you couldn't argue with that.
Today's big race the Queen Mother Champion Chase was intiguing to say the very least. We had the hot favourite Altior get a poisoned foot just days before the race. We had the will he won't here situation with Douvan who was in one minute out the next, but in the end lined up on Ruby Walsh's recommendation. The confusion didn't end there Douvan then went for a walk in the betting and stable companion Min was heavily backed. Special Tiara and Ar Mad took the field along until Ar Mad lost touch. Douvan jumping like a stag moved effortlessly into second. Special Tiara's jumping let him down and Douvan jumped through to lead moving ominiously well. Altior was midfield and looking a little uncomfortable as others seemed to be travelling better. Four out and Douvan guessed at one and fell, God's Own Politologue and Ordinary World took it up three out. Altior was being niggled along while Min was travelling like a dream. Two out and Min took it up while Altior was switched right to challenge, they jumped the last almost together but it was Altior who surged clear to win by seven in the end. Still unbeaten, hopefully one day we will see him and Douvan battling out a finish.
So what of the other races from the day. There was another cracking finish in the Coral Cup where Bleu Berry got up late on to deny Topofthegame. Tiger Roll was another winner for Gordon Elliott in the Cross Country. Only French challenger Urgent De Gregaine could get close, the pair clear of the rest by eleven lengths. The Last Samuri ran a promising race for one inexperienced in that type of race finishing third. Relegate replicated last years winner Fayonagh by coming from the back to win nicely under Katie Walsh. Willie Mullins has some firepower coming out of that race, he had the first three home and five of the first seven. Acey Milan continued his fine form in fourth. In the Fred Winter Veneer of Charm sprang a bit of a surprise at 33/1 but winning nicely by three lengths. Ridden by Jack Kennedy for Gordon Elliott maybe it wasn't a surprise the form his string were in.
Three standouts from today were, Altior who went from looking in a little trouble to winning convincingly. Samcro confirmed himself as a potential superstar and one you want to watch wherever he goes next. Presenting Percy could only be described as very very impressive. He looks every inch a Gold Cup contender for next year. It also looks like at still only eight, there is still plenty of life left in Douvan too.
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