WHOEVER first coined the phrase "it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive" would have fitted in with the Irish at the start of the three day Cheltenham Festival yesterday.
Over 5,000 punters made the annual pilgrimage to the sleepy Cotswold town but only the victory of Ventana Canyon in the Guinness Arkle Trophy kept them from a blank.
There was a strong sense of anti climax after Danoli could only struggle home fourth in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle behind the 9-1 winner Collier Bay. Equipped with his usual St Benedict medal on his bridle and looking superb in front of the 40,000 strong crowd, Danoli started second favourite at 5-1 behind Alderbrook. Danoli was even cheered on his. way to the post by his large fanatical following but they knew their fate two hurdles from home when he made a bad mistake.
It looked like Irish luck as totally out in the Guinness Arkle Trophy when the best supported of the visitors, Manhattan Castle, lost his balance just as the tape went up and the jockey, Francis Woods, was thrown off. However, Ventana Canyon, racing in the colours of the Goff's managing director, Mr Philip Myerscough, survived some jumping errors to win at 7-1.
Ignoring the definition of a gentleman as one who can play the pipes but doesn't, Guinness supplied a bagpiper to escort Richard Dunwoody's mount back to a raucous reception.
Bar that, it was a largely unmemorable day for the Irish, with the Charles Haugheyowned Flashing Steel never a factor in the Ritz Club Handicap Chase. The J.P. McManus owned No When To Run was put down following a shoulder injury in the last race.
