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Amateur now competes with McCoy for ride of the week.Tony McCoy's ride aboard Wichita Lineman earlier in the Cheltenham Festival was pretty special, but it was equalled by the cool ride given to Character Building by Mister J J Codd in this afternoon's Kim Muir Chase. Keeping Character Building on the bridle all along the Cheltenham straight, the jockey crept slowly towards the front, only giving his mount the office to take the race with just under fifty yards to go. It was the kind of cool ride one would associate with a top professional, and it showed the riders complete understanding of the nature of his mount. Pretty Star ran in second to give trainer Venetia Williams a day to remember, while New Bay Prop just edged out Beau Lees for third place. Stable mate floors the punters hopes.With five fences to go, the lightly weighted favourite for the Freddie Williams Festival Plate, Ping Pong de Sivola, made a decisive break, and only stable mate Something Wells could go with her. At the second last, the favourite was six lengths in advance of her stable mate, and punters were hopeful of some relief from the terrible beating they had suffered during the other four races. But as the gap narrowed, the inevitable came true, and it was the thirty three to one shot who gained a narrow lead after the last, and although Ping Pong de Sivola rallied, she could not overpower her stable mate in the climb to the line. Notable D'Estruval put in an eye catching late run for third place, and will probably be suited by a longer trip in due course. Big Bucks provides Walsh with fifth win of the Festival.The bloodbath for punters continued when Kasbah Bliss was a very disappointing fourth in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. But that cannot take anything away from the dignified elation felt by Ruby Walsh as he timed his run on Big Bucks to perfection. The Nicky Henderson trained Punchestowns had made a bid for glory at the second last, and for a few seconds, it seemed he had obtained enough of a lead to hold off all comers, but with a great turn of foot, Walsh got Big Bucks on terms at the last, but then as he had done several times in the back straight, his mount put in a bad jumpwhich seemed to hand the initiative back to Barry Gerrity on Punchestowns. However, Big Bucks has a superb engine, and he forged past the eventual second as both horses galloped up the Cheltenham hill. Powerstation landed a huge each way gamble by snatching third place, and Mighty Man obtained a superb fifth place after nearly two years off the track. Imperial Commander brushes aside Voy Pour Ustedes.In an imperious manner, similar to his victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup earlier in the year, Imperial Commander showed his love for Prestbury Park with a totally deserved victory in today's Grade One Ryanair Chase. Taking it up half way down the back straight on the final circuit, he forced such a pace, the odds on favourite Voy Por Ustedes made a series of jumping errors which seemed to have ended his chances in the race. In fact, coming into the straight the main danger was from irish raider Schindler's Hunt, but Imperial Commander continued to find more, and after a perfect jump at the last, he galloped up the Cheltenham hill. To be fair to Voy Por Ustedes, he rallied and snatched secon place on the run-in, but there was only one likely winner of today's race, and to the delight of the bookmaking firms, it was not the odds on favourite. Market mover Kayf Aramis runs them ragged.Supported on the course from twenty eight to one into sixteen to one prior to the off in today's Pertemps Hurdle Final, Kayf Aramis took it up a long way from home, and just kept on galloping all the way to the line. At the second last the David Pipe trained Buena Vista threatened to become a danger, but the cut in today's ground probably saw off his challenge, and eventually he had a hard task to hang on to his second position from the fast finishing Pennek. Speaking after the race, trainer Venetia Williams admitted a few months ago she was doubtful Kayf Aramis would actually win a Maiden Hurdle, let alone the Pertemps Final. But once he gained his first victory in a small handicap, he has been a total revelation, and he now has a string of three consecutive victories to his name. Chapoturgeon another Nicholls progressive type.The way Chapoturgeon bounded away from his field after the second last in today's Jewson Novices Chase earmarks him as a progressive type who will get further than today's trip of two miles five furlongs. Of the rest, Isn't that lucky ran on well to secure second place, just as Jonjo O'Neill had predicted he would in the article we published earlier this morning, (see story below). Carberry ride in doubt.Having this morning been confirmed as the rider of Star de Mohaison in tomorrow's Cheltenham Gold cup, Paul Carberry suffered a heavy fall from Jaamid in the Jewson Novices Chase, and his rides for tomorrow must now be in doubt. Binocular to take early rest.Nicky Henderson has confirmed Binocular is now finished for the current national hunt season. The anti post favourite for the Champion Hurdle only failed by under a length to secure the hurdle title, but the trainer believes he is still developing, and he wants to give Binocular the best possibility of developing into a top class six year old, so a long summer rest is now the order of the day. Today's Cheltenham Going.Racing at Cheltenham today switches to the New Course, and in an interview with At The Races this morning, Cheltenham Clerk of the Course Simon Claisse reported the going on the unused track to be good to soft all around. With temperatures likely to reach thirteen or fourteen degrees celsius tomorrow afternoon, the Cheltenham Gold Cup could be run on going which is good, soft in places. Bookies could take a battering today!Tuesday was a day when the bookies made some hay, but yesterday at Cheltenham, three winning favourites in the form of Mikael D'Haguenet, Cooldine and Masterminded, plus the short priced Dunguib in the Champion Bumper, edged the day in favour of the punters. However, even the most stoic bookmaker is fearing wins for Voy Por Ustedes and Kasbah Bliss in today's Ryanair Chase and World Hurdle respectively. The major firms are exposed by both horses in the anti post markets, and it is likely a large on-course gamble will follow, leaving the bookies trembling with fear about the possibility of both horses winning their respective contests. The only thing which could make this scenario worse for the layers would be for two of the favourites to win a couple of today's big handicaps, and strangely enough, I suspect that is exactly what will happen at today's meeting. Tidal Bay to take his chance.After much indecision, Graham Wiley and Howard Johnson have finally decided to run Tidal Bay in today's Ryanair Chase, but it will be interesting to observe which Tidal Bay turns up today. If it is the sparkling version, the easy winner of last year's Arkle Trophy, he could give Voy Por Ustedes a real fright in today's contest. However, if it is the horse who has seemed to struggle with his jumping this season, then the best he can hope for is second place. Can Mighty Man emulate Well Chief?A couple of years ago, Mighty Man got very close to defeating Inglis Drever in the World Hurdle, but then a career threatening injury kept him off the track for nearly two years. Today, he returns to action for the first time in one of the toughest contests held during the Cheltenham Festival. The questions which arise are, has he retained his old ability, and has he had the same soung preparation as that exhibited by a born again Well Chief in yesterday's Champion Chase? The only man who knows the answers to those questions is trainer Charlie Mann, but one thing is for sure, the trainer is the kind of person who would not risk the well being of his horse unless he thought he was fully recovered from his injury, and that he had a real chance of competing in today's race. Jonjo fancies late qualifier.Isn't that lucky only qualified for today's Jewson Novices Chase by winning at Stratford on Monday, but despite the quick turn around, trainer Jonjo O'Neill believes his charge has every chance in today's race. "He did everything we asked of him on Monday, and his sixteen length win made sure of his qualification for today's race, but he did not have to work too hard for the victory, so I expect him to put in a good show in the Jewson". Musselburgh Ladies Day bucking economic trend.While many racecourses are feeling the pinch at present, Musselburgh are reporting they only have one thousand tickets still available for the prestigious Ladies Day Meeting planned for 06 June. In fact, course officials are advising potential race-goers to make urgent contact with the course if they want to ensure tickets for the above meeting, for based on the current rate of sale, they expect all public tickets to be sold by this time next week.
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News Stories prior to July 2008
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