AT 2.02 p.m. yesterday 50,000 throats exploded into delighted roars of anticipation as the first race of the Cheltenham Festival started. Two minutes later many of those roars had turned into stifled croaks as the first of a series of favourites hit the literal and figurative turf.
Thousands of defeated and woebegone Irish punters ended the day trudging through the gates emotionally, and more importantly financially, challenged. That vicious intangible called luck had not been with them.
The featured Smurfit Champion Hurdle finished with four Irish-trained horses in the first five places. But with the bad luck that characterised the day for the Irish, none of the quartet managed to get within shouting distance of the runaway 7/1 winner Make A Stand.
Trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by the British champion jockey Tony McCoy, Make A Stand went straight into the lead at the start and Mcoy kept his foot pressed on the accelerator from then on to set a new course record.
Theatreworld ran on best of the Irish to be second, just ahead of the well-backed Space Trucker. McCoy, from Toomebridge in Co Antrim, was riding his second winner of the day and returned to the winners' enclosure standing in his stirrups and punching the air with both fists.
"Tremendous," exclaimed a beaming McCoy. "This horse is only a novice and can win it again, but right now this is some feeling." The punters applauded generously, considering that their own feelings would continue to take a battering.
Finnegan's Hollow, owned by the legendary gambler and businessman J.P. McManus, was plunged on as the horse to get the festival off to a swinging start in the Citroen Supreme Novices' Hurdle. One bookmaker estimated a sum of £250,000 was wagered in forcing Finnegan's Hollow from an opening price of 100/30 down to 2/1, but just as Charlie Swan's mount hit the front, he took a crashing fall.
In the following Arkle Trophy, Mulligan started a red-hot 11/10 favourite but couldn't negotiate the fourth last fence, leaving McCoy to win on Or Royal. McManus's Time For A Run in the Kim Muir Chase became the vehicle for some desperate hopes but in a driving finish just got beaten by King Lucifer.
It was enough to provoke Irish tears of frustration, but as one determined punter said through gritted teeth: "Today's only the first day. This thing is only starting." The anticipation hasn't gone yet.
