Results & Reviews / Timeform / 16 March 2012 /

Timeform look back on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, providing provisional ratings for the winners....

The 2012 Champion Hurdle, on day one of the Cheltenham Festival, seemed to be set up for a triumph for one "Ruby" - Ruby Walsh, who was aboard odds-on favourite Hurricane Fly - but became the stage for another, as the Paul Nicholls-trained Rock On Ruby showed great determination to prevail under an attacking ride from Noel Fehily at a Betfair SP of [13.04].

Hurricane Fly, the winner 12 months before, travelled well held up for a long way but could not bridge the gap on Rock On Ruby, who raced close up until striking for home after two out. In the end, the champ could not overhaul the earlier front-runner Overturn, either.

At the line, Rock On Ruby was drawing away again and had three and three-quarters of a length to spare over Overturn, with Hurricane Fly a further length and three-quarters back, followed closely by the never-dangerous Binocular and Zarkandar.

With the first two prominent throughout, there were some suggestions that they were favoured by how things had unfolded.

It is worth noting that the closing sectional of this year's Champion Hurdle was similar to the last two years but in a race run in a faster overall time. That hardly supports such an argument, and nor does wider sectional comparison (closing sectionals are given below).

Rock On Ruby plied his trade at around two and a half miles last season and looks a natural for the Aintree Hurdle at that trip on April 14. While it seems likely that Hurricane Fly and Binocular were not quite at their best this time, all the signs are that Rock On Ruby is top-class himself. His provisional rating - again given below - is comfortably above par for recent Champion Hurdles.

The Festival started in traditional style with a huge roar as the runners got under way for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, in which Cinders And Ashes emerged victorious for trainer Donald McCain and jockey Jason Maguire.

With little separating the first five to finish, this was probably not a vintage winning performance for this two-miler. But Cinders And Ashes travelled well, overcame a blunder when leading at the last and has now won four out of five over hurdles.

The route from Supreme Novices' Hurdle to Arkle Chase is a well-trodden one, and the last two winners of the former took their chances in the latter this year. In the event, neither Menorah nor Al Ferof (who blundered soon after halfway) was anywhere near good enough to trouble Sprinter Sacre, who strolled home by seven lengths from Cue Card.

Sprinter Sacre was decent as a hurdler - third in the 2011 Supreme Novices - but looks like he could be truly outstanding over fences, and is now unbeaten in four over the larger obstacles. His provisional performance rating is higher than any horse in this race since Azertyuiop in 2003, and he already shades favouritism over Sizing Europe on Betfair for next year's Champion Chase. Sacre Bleu!

Owner J P McManus has had many a Festival winner over the years and bagged another in the three-mile handicap chase. It was not through the favoured Quantitativeeasing, however, but through Alfie Sherrin, who came from off the pace to collar pacesetting Fruity O'Rooney early on the run-in.

Alfie Sherrin - an eyecatcher over hurdles the time before - represented trainer Jonjo O'Neill and jockey Richie McLernon, the latter having his first Festival winner.

Cheltenham would not be Cheltenham without an Irish-trained winner or several, and the first was registered by odds-on Quevega, winning the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle for a fourth time in a row.

The Willie Mullins-trained and Ruby Walsh-ridden eight-year-old sat just off a slow pace before pouncing at the last to win by four lengths from Kentford Grey Lady. Quevega is seen only infrequently but at her best is not far behind the top hurdlers at two and a half miles plus on a figure of 158 that she did not have to get near to on this occasion.

The concluding novice handicap chase went to the remarkable Hunt Ball, who started this season by winning off a mark of just 69 but who came home eight lengths clear off top-weight and a mark of fully 142. He probably needs to find "only" another stone or so to mix it with the best around.

Plaudits must go to Hunt Ball's trainer Keiran Burke, while jockey Nick Scholfield did another polished job.

Times on the first day suggested that "Good" was a correct call, but with little or none of the "Good to Soft in places" of the official description. The Cross-Country course was officially described as "Good to Firm" and two horses reportedly died in the race on that track won by Balthazar King.

Day one provided proof, if proof were needed, that success at the Festival is never a formality. Day two sees two "shorties" in Sizing Europe in the Champion Chase and Grands Crus in the RSA Chase. Now, how will they fare?

The Day One Winners (with provisional performance rating and sectional for leader/winner from three out to line)
Cinders And Ashes h149 (55.9 sec)
Sprinter Sacre c168+ (53.5 sec)
Alfie Sherrin c136 (56.2 sec)
Rock On Ruby h171 (56.4 sec)
Balthazar King c142 (56.9 sec)
Quevega h144+ (55.4 sec)
Hunt Ball c153 (56.7 sec)
...........
Get unsurpassed levels of analysis and statistics for any race in Britain and Ireland with Timeform Race Passes. Click HERE to find out more.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: