17:27 Well that’s it from day three of the festival where the two hotpots were turned over, although I’m sure those bookie chappies will still find something to complain about.
Tomorrow is the big one with the Gold Cup. The Queen will be here tomorrow to cheer on her Barbers Shop in the big one – not without a chance and should it win I would not fancy the chances of the roof staying on the grandstand here at Cheltenham.
From a dull, but dry Cheltenham good evening and see you tomorrow.
Tomorrow is the big one with the Gold Cup. The Queen will be here tomorrow to cheer on her Barbers Shop in the big one – not without a chance and should it win I would not fancy the chances of the roof staying on the grandstand here at Cheltenham.
From a dull, but dry Cheltenham good evening and see you tomorrow.
17:22 As promised some reactions to our racing this afternoon.
Beginning with our big race, winning trainer Paul Nicholls, speaking of Big Bucks, said: "He's a very good horse. I knew he had improved because the ground he won on over Christmas isn't his ground.
"He just keeps plenty for himself and has won with his ears pricked.
"I was very confident we had him at his peak and he looked fantastic.
"We bought him to be a Gold Cup horse, and he just might be one day, but it could be in two years' time now.”
Nicky Henderson, trainer of the runner-up Punchestowns said, "He's done absolutely nothing wrong.
"We had to keep that stamina up - the horse stays and jumps.
"Because of his name, you'd rather like to think he should go to Punchestown - there is an ideal race for him there.
"You just wouldn't want the ground to be too quick, otherwise he'll be put away for chasing."
Francois Doumen, trainer of the disappointing favourite Kasbah Bliss, said: "He was fairly and squarely beaten.
"Today he came here 200% right and I can't find an excuse.
"Christophe (Pieux) said he couldn't catch them up.”
Pieux commented, "I have no excuse, except that this race came fairly soon after Haydock.
"It just wasn't the normal Kasbah Bliss - he didn't have any power in the back straight and I could feel there was something missing."
Turning to the Ryanair, Winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said, "He just gallops and jumps and he kept pulling out more.
"I was a bit worried because he hadn't run for a long time and I thought they might catch him out.
"But he was brilliant and he could definitely come back next year for the Gold Cup as he won that race by staying."
Barry Simpson, racing manager to Voy Por Ustedes' owner Sir Robert Ogden, said, "He made one bad mistake at such a crucial time, just as the field was starting to quicken.
"He was travelling well enough but made that error.
"It's amazing he was able to stay up and, if you watch the replay, it was a horrific mistake.
"He's one of the most consistent horses we've seen for a long time and next stop will be Aintree."
A delighted Venetia Williams was understandably on cloud nine after saddling the first two in the Festival Plate
"The first two and not a hairsbreadth between the pair of them.
"We had hoped to get Ping Pong in the Jewson, but she didn't make the cut.”
Speaking of her earlier winner, Kayf Aramis, she said "I can't believe it. Two runs ago I couldn't win a maiden hurdle with him. It's fantastic.
"One thing I said to Aidan was if you get stuffed it won't be through lack of stamina.
"That was the best he's ever jumped and I'm so thrilled for his owner, who also bred him - she has stuck with him through thick and thin.”
17:03 An amateurs Chase to end proceedings for day three and without wishing to sound jingoistic it was a whitewash for the home team today and the Irish were, once again, defeated, bringing the running score to UK 11 – Ireland 8. All to play for tomorrow.
Actually this race turned out to be the most competitive of the week and approaching the last any one of ten runners could have won the contest., it was that close.
The primary ones in contention were Bowleaze, who had taken up the running three out, the grey Character Building and Pretty Star. In a dour, exciting battle up the hill it was Character Building who got the better of his rivals by a length with Pretty Star in second and Judge Di Clarke having to use the photograph to separate Newbay Prop and Bowleaze.
16:36 Just one race left today and once the final race is out of the way we will look at reaction to today's events.
Beginning with our big race, winning trainer Paul Nicholls, speaking of Big Bucks, said: "He's a very good horse. I knew he had improved because the ground he won on over Christmas isn't his ground.
"He just keeps plenty for himself and has won with his ears pricked.
"I was very confident we had him at his peak and he looked fantastic.
"We bought him to be a Gold Cup horse, and he just might be one day, but it could be in two years' time now.”
Nicky Henderson, trainer of the runner-up Punchestowns said, "He's done absolutely nothing wrong.
"We had to keep that stamina up - the horse stays and jumps.
"Because of his name, you'd rather like to think he should go to Punchestown - there is an ideal race for him there.
"You just wouldn't want the ground to be too quick, otherwise he'll be put away for chasing."
Francois Doumen, trainer of the disappointing favourite Kasbah Bliss, said: "He was fairly and squarely beaten.
"Today he came here 200% right and I can't find an excuse.
"Christophe (Pieux) said he couldn't catch them up.”
Pieux commented, "I have no excuse, except that this race came fairly soon after Haydock.
"It just wasn't the normal Kasbah Bliss - he didn't have any power in the back straight and I could feel there was something missing."
Turning to the Ryanair, Winning trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies said, "He just gallops and jumps and he kept pulling out more.
"I was a bit worried because he hadn't run for a long time and I thought they might catch him out.
"But he was brilliant and he could definitely come back next year for the Gold Cup as he won that race by staying."
Barry Simpson, racing manager to Voy Por Ustedes' owner Sir Robert Ogden, said, "He made one bad mistake at such a crucial time, just as the field was starting to quicken.
"He was travelling well enough but made that error.
"It's amazing he was able to stay up and, if you watch the replay, it was a horrific mistake.
"He's one of the most consistent horses we've seen for a long time and next stop will be Aintree."
A delighted Venetia Williams was understandably on cloud nine after saddling the first two in the Festival Plate
"The first two and not a hairsbreadth between the pair of them.
"We had hoped to get Ping Pong in the Jewson, but she didn't make the cut.”
Speaking of her earlier winner, Kayf Aramis, she said "I can't believe it. Two runs ago I couldn't win a maiden hurdle with him. It's fantastic.
"One thing I said to Aidan was if you get stuffed it won't be through lack of stamina.
"That was the best he's ever jumped and I'm so thrilled for his owner, who also bred him - she has stuck with him through thick and thin.”
17:03 An amateurs Chase to end proceedings for day three and without wishing to sound jingoistic it was a whitewash for the home team today and the Irish were, once again, defeated, bringing the running score to UK 11 – Ireland 8. All to play for tomorrow.
Actually this race turned out to be the most competitive of the week and approaching the last any one of ten runners could have won the contest., it was that close.
The primary ones in contention were Bowleaze, who had taken up the running three out, the grey Character Building and Pretty Star. In a dour, exciting battle up the hill it was Character Building who got the better of his rivals by a length with Pretty Star in second and Judge Di Clarke having to use the photograph to separate Newbay Prop and Bowleaze.
16:36 Just one race left today and once the final race is out of the way we will look at reaction to today's events.
16:24 Well it is a good day for the Brits as we lead 5-0 today and a good day for Venetia Williams as she has a 577/1 double as Something Wells takes the Freddie Williams Festival Plate from stablemate Ping Pong Sivola, the 13/2 favourite.
Cossack Dancer was the one to take the 23 runners along in a race which saw plenty of thrills and spills.
Silverburn was another old favourite who was up with the pace before dropping out quickly as they came down the hill, by which time Ping pong Sivola had the lead and was looking very comfortable for favourite backers.
However Something Wells wanted to be a party pooper and as they turned for home the pair were well clear of their rivals.
Even at the last the wise money would have been on the jolly but Something wells was nothing if not brave and he fought to record a ¾ length victory.
Notable D’Estruval was eighteen lengths further back in third, with Three Mirrors back in fourth.
15:44 Well the good news from a British perspective is the score today is now 4-0 to the Brits as yet another hot shot gets turned over.
This time it was the French raider Kasbah Bliss who was turned over in our feature contest the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
The Irish may well claim a moral victory but not in the way may expected, for it wasn’t the horse named after Ireland’s premier jump track, Punchestowns, that took the race but the Irish jockey who seems almost unstoppable this week, Ruby Walsh, riding Big Bucks.
Irish raider Whatuthink was the pace setter and they did indeed set of a fair place in this 3m contest. The leader was kept company by compatriot Shakerville, whilst Fair Along and Mighty Man tracked the front two.
Of the principles Punchestowns was settled about fifth or sixth, whilst Big Bucks and Kasbah Bliss were second last and last respectively.
Once they braced the hill Punchestowns under Barry Geraghty was making steady progress into third, also Kasbah Bliss made eye catching progress as well, along with Powerstation, with Runy Walsh biding his time.
At the second last Punchestowns and Kasbah Bliss jumped into the front with Powerstation between them.
That, however was the end of Kasbah Bliss’s challenge and when Punchestowns ran on the French raider had nothing to give. Meanwhile Ruby Walsh had begun to get to work on Big Bucks and by the time they approached the last it was a battle between Punchestowns and Big Bucks with the latter putting in the slightly better jump and took a lead into the run-in.
It was a good battle to the line and Punchestowns did not go down without a fight but Walsh always had his measure and came home a 1¾ length winner.
To show how good the front pair were their nearest rival, Powerstation, came home 17 lengths behind, with a tired looking Kasbah Bliss a very disappointing fourth.
15:02 I know I backed Voy Por Ustedes and I may be talking out of my pocket but it has to be asked if Robert Thornton was fit enough to ride this afternoon.
Had he been fully fit then would he have made up the two lengths by which he was beaten by Imperial Commander?
Our Vic set the pace , although both Imperial Commander and Mister McGoldrick made sure he did not have things his own way. Voy Por Ustedes and Monets Garden settled mid-division whilst L’Antartique was always last.
As they came downhill only Imperial Commander, of the front runners, was in contention being challenged by Voy Por Ustedes and Schindlers Hunt.
Voy Por made a right Horlicks of the third last and Choc Thornton did well to keep the partnership intact, although it could not have done the jockeys already tender body much good.
Coming round the bend Imperial Commander had the lead and Schindlers Hund looked to be the danger with Voy Por back in third.
Jumping the last the order was still the same with Imperial Commander having a couple of lengths.
To his credit Voy Por Ustedes did run on in the closing stages but never enough to challenge the winner.
14:32 Mixed news for the Carberry family today. After Nina won her award brother Paul was unseated from Jaamid in the first. Unfortunately he has broken a rib and punctured a lung and has been taken to Cheltenham General Hospital.
14:29 I am going to say this quietly, lest I tempt fate, but it is 2-0 to the Brit’s so far today.The Pertemps Final, a 3m hurdle produced a popular winner in the shape of Venetia Williams Kayf Aramis, who seems to have been transformed of late, having won his last two races. Sam Thomas kept the gelding with the leaders throughout before taking up the running two out.
As in the first the result was never in doubt as he powered up the steep run-in to a rapturous reception, even though he was only a 16/1 shot.
There was a battle for second place with Buena Vista, who came from the pack, just getting the better of Pennek, another running on in the latter stages.
The Sliotar came home fourth.
The favourite Ballydub seemed to disappear without trace.
13:53 It is absolutely heaving out there today.
A nice “easy” 20 runner handicap chase, The Jewson, to get us underway this afternoon, with a fairly open betting heat, going 15/2 the field.
As is his wont Pancake was with the pace but as he also tends to do he had little to give at the end, running flat and taking a battering from his rivals in Olney he could see it through to the end.Kia Kaha was sent off favourite and although challenging for fifth place around half way he was never in contention for the champion jockey AP McCoy.
Au Courant looked as though he wanted to be anywhere bar Cheltenham.
Keeping Pancake company up front were Astrador, whose run ended the same time as Pancakes and Slash and Burn who also burned out around the same time.
Timmy Murphy on Chapoturgeon, in the David Johnson colours but, unusually trained by Paul Nicholls, had played a patient game. Settling mid-division before being bought into the race by Timmy Murphy as they turned for home, by which point Cresent Island had the lead.
Cresent Islands proximity to the front was something of a surprise as he looked to be an absolute dog in the parade ring. However Murphy soon passed him and once in front the race never looked in doubt as he tackled the run-in with east.
Cresent Island, on the other hand, was labouring in the run-in and was passed by the running on
Isn’t That Lucky who looked eye catching but had no chance of catching the winner.
12:12 I have just had a look at tomorrow's runners and the most noticable facet is that David Pipe saddles eight of the twenty-four runners in the race named after his dad tomorrow afternoon.
11:40 They have just had a dress rehearsal for tomorrow’s visit by the Queen, specifically getting her from the Royal Box to the Parade Ring and back again – all well and good having a practice 11:30 on Thursday morning – it will not be the same at 15:00 on Friday afternoon with an 80,000 crowd!!
11:22 There is a huge gamble developing on Poker De Sivola 15/2 first knocking this morning he is now a best priced 9/2, generally 4/1 for the Kim Muir. The plunge being partly inspired by being the Pricewise selection in the Racing Post.
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0:25 Some heavy betting this morning with Voy Por Ustedes already being backed heavily for the Ryanair and he looks likely to be sent off an odds-on shot. Robert Thornton is with the doctor following his fall yesterday - I hope he is fit enough to ride Voy Por.
In the World Hurdle the money this morning is coming for Punchestowns.
0:25 Some heavy betting this morning with Voy Por Ustedes already being backed heavily for the Ryanair and he looks likely to be sent off an odds-on shot. Robert Thornton is with the doctor following his fall yesterday - I hope he is fit enough to ride Voy Por.
In the World Hurdle the money this morning is coming for Punchestowns.
09:53 Ignore what I said about the wind being light - once in the open it is a stiff breeze, head on in the home straight.
Not able to walk the course this morning, it is being restricted to owners, trainers and jockeys and the guy on the gate won't let me through.
Turning out to be a bad day all round as the first bite of my bacon and egg sandwich sent egg yolk all over the front of my suit.
We will have contrasting commentary styles this afternoon with Richard Hoiles and Mark Johnson sharing the honours.
09:31 Good morning from Cheltenham for day three of the 2009 Festival.
The weather is overcast, the wind light and the official going is good to soft with a going stick reading of 7.0
The important thing to bear in mind is we are racing on the New Course today so fresher ground.
As was the case yesterday it will be a bacon and egg roll then out to see what the ground is like - one must sort out ones priorities!!!
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Racing on day three will be on the New Course
The highlight of day three is the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. Last year saw an emotional third victory for Inglis Drever and many hoped he would return to try for a fourth victory.
Unfortunately he was injured at Newbury earlier in the season and has gone off for a well earned retirement.
Last years runner-up Kasbah Bliss is favourite to take the prize back to France this year, however the new kid on the block, Punchestowns, is fancied by many to deny him glory once again.
Immediately before the World Hurdle is the Ryanair Chase, where Voy Por Ustedes will be attempting to win a race at the festival for the third time in four years.
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