It was a day of strange results at Cheltenham, overshadowed by another black cloud.
The black cloud came in the shape of 2006 Champion Hurdle runner up Mac’s Joy breaking a leg in the International Hurdle. It was one of those horrible injuries that sometimes happens where it is immediately obvious what has happened and where you sadly know the ultimate outcome even before the horse has pulled up. Your only hope in those circumstances is the vets will be quickly on the scene and that the suffering will be short lived. It is a scene, which even after over two decades of going racing, still leaves a knot in the stomach.
In the race itself the 2007 Champion Hurdle winner, Sublimity, continued the run of bad form of Champion Hurdle winners in the race by only finishing fifth, some 18 lengths behind the winner. In a gritty front running performance the five year old Osana put his high class rivals to the sword, reinforcing the view of many that last months course and distance defeat can clearly be attributed to the appalling ground conditions that day. Shortly before the final hurdle it looked as though he would be challenged by Katchit, who was previously unbeaten on the course, however the runner up actually failed to make any impression on the winner. This was not a case of Katchit not running to form, he did. It was more a case of Osana improving well to take an 8 length victory. The one fly in the ointment was the fact the Elite Racing stalwart Penzance filled third, albeit a further 10 lengths behind the runner up. Champion hurdle third Afsoun was back in fifth and this run seemed to confirm that 17 furlongs is on the short side for this potentially classy performer and expect to see him over further next time out.
The big race of the afternoon was the Boylesports Gold Cup. New Little Bric from the Nicholls yard was the well backed 7/2 favourite, whilst the second favourite was David Pipes Abragante at 9/2. Well Messers Pipe and Nicholls filled the first two places but with their respective second strings. Pipe’s Tamarinbleu taking the honours with Nicholls Le Volfini taking the runners up spot, both at 25/1. To complete the bookies delight, third place Patman Du Charmil was priced at 20/1.
Abragante got no further than the sixth and was never going, whilst New Little Bric was tailed off when pulled up four out. All in all a somewhat disappointing race, contested mainly by exposed handicappers, which told you nothing at the end of the day.
The opener provided a shock for punters as 1/3 favourite, and up and coming star, Franchoek was beaten by Harper Valley. The runner up was conceding 7lbs to the winner and several defections from the race meant Franchoek had to make his own running, something that did not suit. Despite the defeat Franchoek, who was bought by JP McManus before the race, is still favourite for the Triumph Hurdle.
In the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle another up and coming star Gwanako was turned over, not by tactics this time but by the distance which tested his stamina. Pouvoir turned out to be the 5l winner of this 2 mile 5 furlong affair with the classy French raided Good Bye Simon filling the runners up spot. It appeared the ground was too lively for him and he must be a contender for the World Hurdle, provided conditions are in his favour come March.