Winning combination of high stakes and higher spirits make opening day a crowd pleaser, writes ALISON HEALYat Cheltenham
GOOD THINGS come to those who wait and wait they did until the sixth race for the sole Irish-trained winner. Girl power won the day when Quevega stormed home in the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle race.
There was also real tragedy earlier when two Irish horses, Scotsirish and Garde Champetre, were put down after the cross country chase.
That news did not emerge until late in the day but there was an Irish win of sorts in the first race when Cinders and Ashes took the glory. Chants of Olé, Olé, rang out in the winner’s enclosure and the Irish tricolour was thrown across the horse, which is owned by UK-based Dermot Hanafin and Phil Cunningham.
Hanafin is originally from Tralee and Cunningham has connections in Cahir so they were happy to declare it an Irish win. The horse’s name was inspired by Thomas the Tank Engine, and the gang of well-wishers suggested there would be lots of refuelling last night. “It’s going to be a late helicopter ride home tomorrow,” Hanafin shouted into his mobile phone.
He had more than one reason to be elated. Asked how much he had bet on the horse, he said: “I had a lot, at 33 to 1, so I’m happy now.” How much was a lot, a reporter asked and was told “you’re talking big six figures”.
There were lots of jaws bouncing off the ground when Hurricane Fly failed to fly in the Champion Hurdle and jockey Ruby Walsh had to watch another Ruby taking the prize. Rock on Ruby could be declared an Irish winner of sorts as he was piloted home by Cork jockey Noel Fehily. “Cheltenham is something you watch when you are growing up and you never think it will happen to you,” he said afterwards.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary had to be content with third for his horse Trifolium in the first race of the day and he declared it a good start. He created a stir on Monday night when he joined the Cheltenham-bound punters queuing at the boarding gate for Birmingham and began to check the boarding cards of the priority passengers. As the last few privileged passengers made their way on board he turned to the glum waiting masses and cheerfully chided them for not upgrading to priority. Having checked all passengers, he avoided the front rows and slid into seat 6E. He acknowledged the cheers – or were they jeers? – when the Ryanair bugle sounded at the end of the flight to announce another flight on time.
Young Offaly singer Mark Boylan, who will be performing his Festival and Kauto Star songs on the winners’ podium later this week, revealed that he had to pay extra to carry his guitar to Cheltenham. But he declined to tackle the Ryanair boss in the parade ring. “He puts so much into the racing game... I can’t fault him,” he said.
Celebrity photographers had a surfeit of riches at Prestbury Park yesterday with Ronnie Corbett, Ant and Dec, Niall Quinn and young royal Zara Phillips with her husband Mike Tindall all strolling around. Former Fianna Fáil minister Charlie McCreevy was there with his wife Noeleen as were his former colleagues Joe Walsh and John O’Donoghue.
The X-Factor's Dermot O'Leary said he was "loving it so far" at Cheltenham. "First time in Cheltenham. I've always wanted to come," he said. Asked if he would be back presenting the show in the autumn, he said: "I don't know – would you back me for X Factor?"
Westlife singer Shane Filan had not backed anything when he stopped to talk but his brother-in-law had backed the JP McManus winner Alfie Sherrin “so we’ll be splitting that, ha ha,” he said.