DAY THREE REVIEW
THOSE BELIEVING the phrase “banker” is a term of abuse got some more ammunition for their argument when Voy Por Ustedes joined Kasbah Bliss on the “shoulda-woulda-coulda” list by finishing only third behind Imperial Commander in the Ryanair Chase.
Betting odds on is a dangerous exercise at the best of times but such presumption at the festival has a habit of getting completely blown out of the water and so it proved again as Voy Por Ustedes did his best to blow a hole in the fourth last fence.
There had been a warning just two fences earlier when he made another mistake and the errors ultimately cost him, despite rallying to take second from the Irish horse Schindlers Hunt.
A couple of lengths ahead, however, was Imperial Commander who provided the previously out-of-form trainer Nigel Twiston Davies with a second winner of the week, and gave Galway-born rider Paddy Brennan a fourth festival success.
“It has been a frustrating year but I promise you this is worth 40 other winners,” Brennan beamed, while Twiston Davies predicted a return for the Gold Cup next year for which he is a general 14 to 1 shot.
Voy Por Ustedes’ trainer Alan King reported: “The mistake didn’t help – it happened at the wrong time – but there you go. We’ll freshen him up for Aintree.”
Liverpool was also mentioned by Dessie Hughes for Schindlers Hunt but there is also the intriguing possibility that the horse could be sent to Japan for the world’s most valuable steeplechase, the Nakayama Grand Jump, near Tokyo on April 18th, which is worth almost €1.3 million.
“If the ground was genuinely good, and not firm, then we would seriously consider it. It’s an awful lot of money,” Hughes said. “That’s probably the best race he has ever run but he wants good ground. That’s a bit tacky out there.”
Chapoturgeon won’t take up an entry in today’s Grand Annual, which is hardly a shock after notching up a success in yesterday’s Jewson. But it is at least a little surprising considering the Paul Nicholls-trained horse could hardly have won easier.
Timmy Murphy, riding for owner David Johnson, crept his way through the field on a well-handicapped horse that jumped impeccably and shot nine lengths clear of Isn’t That Lucky at the last.
“All credit to Paul. He knew he had a favourable mark and it’s not often that you do coming here. This lad has jumped absolutely fabulous,” Murphy said. “Paul had no doubt about him staying.”
Chapoturgeon was given general 14 to 1 quotes for next year’s Ryanair.
Co Cork born jockey Aidan Coleman has been one of the jockey finds of the season in Britain and he secured the first festival victory of his career when the 16 to 1 shot Kayf Aramis sparked a double for trainer Venetia Williams in the Pertemps Final.
Always prominent, Kayf Aramis made his move coming down the hill and had too much for Buena Vista in the closing stages. It gave Coleman a 50th winner of a season in which he is pursuing the conditional title.
Williams completed her double in the Freddie Williams Plate but it wasn’t with the 13 to 2 favourite Ping Pong Sivola, who led from almost a mile from home.
The mare was clear coming down the hill but was collared by her 33 to 1 stable companion Something Wells at the second last. It was a dour struggle from the last but the outsider held on by three parts of a length.
After the fireworks of the first two days yesterday was a washout for the Irish raiders, although Powerstation ran blinder to finish third in the World Hurdle at 33-1.
However, at least Irish amateur Jamie Codd was on board Character Building in the Kim Muir and he gave the grey a nerveless ride to beat Pretty Star in a close finish.
Winning jockeys on day three:
R Walsh1 (5 overall)
T J Murphy 1 (1)
A Coleman 1 (1)
P J Brennan 1 (1)
W Biddick 1 (1)
JJ Codd 1 (1)
From day one: BJ Geraghty 2, P Carberry, AP McCoy, Miss N Carberry 1, R Walsh.
From day two: R Walsh 3, S Waley-Cohen, PW Flood, TJ O’Brien, BT O’Connell.
Winning trainers on day three:
N Twiston-Davies 1 (2)
P Nicholls 2 (3)
Miss V Williams 2 (2)
JJ Quinn 1 (1)
From day one: N Meade, T Cooper,
J O’Neill, N Henderson, E Bolger; 1.
From day two: WP Mullins 2, N Twiston-Davis, P Nicholls, TJ Taffe, M Quinlan, P Fenton.
Irish winners yesterday: 0
Irish winners for festival 8
Irish record 10 (2006)
