2006 Day One Results

02:00 PM Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

The roar was, as ever, loud, eager and deeply approving as the starter let them go for the opening race of the 2006 Cheltenham Festival, and events that followed brought with them their usual recipe of drama, excitement and bravery. To say that it all does the heart good is an understatement, and there are still 23 races to come! In the race itself, Masafi and Buena Vista took them along at a steady pace (the eventual race time, though, was only just less than 1.5 seconds slower than last year's winning time so the going, which seemed to ride very well, would appear to be genuinely good) with, as is normally the case, the race beginning in earnest as the field raced towards the start of the downhill run. At this point, Orcadian travelled well but Crow Wood, Straw Bear and the 5/2 favourite Sweet Wake all held good positions, while Quatre Heures was making good headway on the outside of the field. By the time they reached the second-last flight, Noland had become outpaced and Orcadian led narrowly, but a mistake there, which caused him to hamper O'Muircheartaigh and, in turn, Quatre Heures, put paid to his chances. Soon after the flight, Straw Bear quickened up to lead and it looked as though the famous J P McManus colours were going to be carried to victory once again at the Festival by Tony McCoy; however, a slow jump at the last opened the door for Sweet Wake, the game Buena Vista and, also, Sublimity; however, the Nick Gifford-trained Straw Bear was equally as game but, just as he seemed set to extend his unbeaten record over hurdles to three, Ruby Walsh conjured a storming late run from Noland, who must have been eight lengths behind the leader as he jumped the last, one that eventually saw the Paul Nicholls-trained five-year-old home by a head. Once again, the famous Cheltenham hill had helped produce another classic Cheltenham finish. Other points from the race are that Sublimity, who was hampered by the loose horse, Pablo du Charmil, at the top of the hill, did well to finish so close in fifth place, and Jazz Messenger, who was slightly hampered by Pablo du Charmil when that horse unseated rider at the third, also deserves a good mention. Another one that ran well on only his second start over hurdles was Orcadian, until he made that all-important mistake, while Jazz Messenger also rates a solid mention. Returning to the winner, though, he was originally bought by owner John Hales to go chasing. Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning rider Mark Dwyer, apparently, bought the horse for 2,500 euros before selling him on for around 70,000 guineas to John Hales, whose famous colours will forever be associated with such great horses as One Man and Azertyuiop. Both of those horses, of course, won the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Festival, and Mr Hales is keen for the winner to take that route also, starting with the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy as next year's target. All in all, it was fantastic start to the 2006 Festival.

02:35 PM Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase (Grade 1)

The opening race of the Festival had seen plenty of horses in with chances as the field approached the final flight, but the 'Arkle' was a lot more clear cut as Monet's Garden, who had jumped really well, made sure that a good gallop from the third fence separated the contenders from the also-rans, By the time the field raced downhill towards the third-last fence, Accordion Etoile had fallen and only the Alan King-trained five-year-old, Voy Por Ustedes, stood as a threat to Nicky Richards' impressive grey gelding. Edging ahead at the second-last obstacle, Robert Thornton had the scent of victory in his nostrils; however, it was soon clear that Tony Dobbin and Monet's Garden would not go down without a fight. A good tussle up the Cheltenham hill ensued but it was Voy Por Ustedes who prevailed by a length and a quarter. It was five lengths back to Foreman in third place but, in truth, few got into the race once the first pair home went clear.

03:15 PM Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)

As is usually the case, the Champion Hurdle, sponsored by Smurfit Kappa, produced a fantastic race, one that was laced with great excitement and poignancy. It may have been the day that the king handed over his crown - Hardy Eustace had won the last two runnings of the race and was looking to become only the sixth horse in the race's history to win it for a third time - but he did not relinquish his crown without a huge fight. "He ran his heart out", said jockey Conor O'Dwyer afterwards, adding, "It was a shame that he missed his last run, but that said, take nothing away from the winner...both horses have given everything." He then added, "We are delighted that he has come back here and run such a good race." His embrace of the winning rider after the contest provided further evidence - as if it was needed - of the great camaraderie and sportsmanship that exists within this sport. That winning rider, of course, was Tony McCoy, and his winning mount, Brave Inca, who had been narrowly beaten into third behind Hardy Eustace and Harchibald last year but had been running so well this season that he was sent off as the 7/4 favourite for today's race, displayed his trademark courage and class in winning. Mind you, he had been one of the first off the bridle as McCoy had to coax him along from the fourth flight. As usual, his response was willing and you should have heard the roar when both he and Hardy Eustace took control of the race and got into a head-to-head tussle. Just as Brave Inca had decided that argument, though, Mac's Joy, who has twice previously beaten Brave Inca, loomed large as a threat, but that trademark battling character revealed itself once again and Tony McCoy, who rides the horse so well, was triumphant in this great race once again as Brave Inca ran on strongly up the hill, eventually beating Mac's Joy by a length. With Al Eile finishing fourth, the race was, once again, dominated by Irish horses. After the race, an emotional and delighted trainer Colm Murphy said: "This is the icing on the cake. I was afraid of the ground today, as he doesn't travel or jump so well in it. But our lad sticks his neck out," adding that, "Whoever gets by him will know that he has had a race." He ended by echoing what so many feel about Cheltenham, "To win a Champion Hurdle here is something else." Universal plaudits were very well-deserving for the unassuming trainer. Also, we have a fine champion - a new champion - in Brave Inca, even though Hardy Eustace lost very little in brave defeat.

04:00 PM William Hill Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

The success story of Dun Doire has been one of the features of the season. Prior to this race, he had risen 50 pounds in the ratings as a consequence of five successive wins. Surely he could not defy the handicapper once again, could he? At the top of the hill, it was long odds against him doing so as he was fully 25 lengths off the pace as Irish Hussar took the race by the scruff of the neck. Many tried to reel in the Nicky Henderson-trained 66/1 chance but it looked as though only his stable companion, Juveigneur, who had won the 'Kim Muir' at the 2005 Festival, was going to be able to mount a challenge as the leader approached the last fence. He managed to reel him in, right enough, but neither could handle the phenomenal late surge of Dun Doire, who simply powered up the hill to win going away in the hands of Ruby Walsh, who was gaining his second win of the afternoon, and this was also the second Irish-trained winner - the winning handler on this occasion was Tony Martin - of the day. With masterful understatement, the winning rider said afterwards: "He (the trainer) said take your time, sneak away and if it happens, it happens. He stays really well.". He certainly does, and maybe the John Smith's Grand National will now be on the agenda. It was a fine effort too from Nicky Henderson to train the second and the third horses home, it being particularly gratifying to see the former Cheltenham Gold Cup hope Irish Hussar show up so well today, while Model Son put in a fine run to finish fourth. The runners missed out the second-last fence in this contest because A Glass In Thyne and Andrew Thornton had taken a tumble at the fence first time around. It is to be hoped that Andrew is ok after receiving medical attention at the obstacle.

04:40 PM Sporting Index Cross Country Handicap Chase

A good crowd gathered on the infield to enjoy this hugely-popular cross-country event, in which the the Irish looked to hold a very strong hand as they attempted to land their third win from the first five races at Cheltenham on day one of the 2006 Festival. It proved to be no illusion, either, for not only did they win it with the well-supported 7/2 joint-favourite, Native Jack, trained by Philip Rothwell and ridden by Davy Russell, but in second was another Irish-trained horse in Enda Bolger's fantastic performer, Spot Thedifference, who was bidding to win on this cross-country course for the fifth time, had won this race last year, and clearly responded well to first-time cheekpieces today and did not relinquish his crown without a spirited defence. Furthermore, Ireland was also responsible for the third-placed horse in Buailtes And Fadas, who is also trained by Bolger, who was given a fine ride by Nina Carberry. For good measure, the fourth-placed horse, Il de Boitron, who was returned at 100/1, was saddled by Irish trainer Thomas Gerard O'Leary. The winner is now eligible for a 50,000 euros bonus from Blue Square should he win the La Touche Cup, which they sponsor, at the Punchestown Festival. Judging from the celebrations in and around the paddock after this race, the Irish have plenty of punting ammunition with which to return to Cheltenham on Wednesday - and there is still one race to come today! There was a lovely post script to the story of this race as the winning trainer revealed that he had become a father for the first time on Sunday, to a baby girl. He said: "I could not believe that we could have a week so good. I am chuffed to bits, really, and to have a winner at Cheltenham is excellent, amazing." It has, quite clearly, been a remarkable week for the Rothwell family!

05:20 PM Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

As Ruby Walsh on his father Ted's Cape Cross filly, Artist's Muse, closed in on the long-time leader, Shamayoun, as the field turned for home, it looked as though the great rider was going to land his third win of the afternoon on day one of the 2006 Cheltenham Festival, one that would have secured Ireland-based trainers their fourth success of the day. At last, though, some respite for the home team as Shamayoun, ridden by Paddy Brennan and trained by Charlie Egerton, kept finding more on the run to the line, eventually running out good winners. This was Brennan's first Festival winner and he described it as "the best feeling of my life." The bookmakers, in turn, breathed a sigh of relief, as the winner was returned at 40/1. A thrilling finale, then, to day one of the Festival, with many new chapters written and many new stars born within that proud shadow of Cleeve Hill. And we will be back for more tomorrow.