Bookmakers not complaining as Irish roar returns

THE Irish may have been rather muted on the first day of the Cheltenham festival, but they raucously roared back to life yesterday when, remarkably, four Irish-trained horses won.

Pride of place went to Klairon Davis, who romped home the 9-1 winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase for Co Kildare trainer Arthur Moore and jockey Francis Woods. However, the roars of approval seemed to be based more on national fervour than on hard cash won.

Klairon Davis was the outsider of the three Irish horses in the race, as money poured on to Sound Man, racing in the colours of British Davis Cup captain, David Lloyd, forcing him down to favouritism. But, along with the English challenger, Viking Flagship, he faded in the straight as Klairon Davis powered up the hill to win at the festival for the second year running.

With the 9-1 SP the bookmakers didn't bother to disguise their glee at the result. The Corals representative, Rob Hartnell, grinned: "Sound Man was backed as if defeat was out of the question. Viking Flagship was backed ante-post and the one horse we had running for us was the brilliant, the inspirational Klairon Davis!"

Jockey Woods discarded the memory of, being thrown from his horse at the start of a race on Tuesday and beamed: "It was pure class. What a great thrill."

The bookmakers' happiness lasted only a couple of hours. The evening gloom was falling when Wither or Which won the concluding bumper and returned to the biggest reception of the two days so far. Trained and ridden by Willie Mullins, Wither or Which put in a remarkable effort - he was left at the start but recovered to land some monster bets.

The winners' enclosure was thronged, with Mullins orchestrating the crowd from his horse's back. "I'd hate to see what the reception would be if I won the Gold Cup. Every Irishman in the race must have backed him."

It didn't seem like an overstatement, but it took a Herculean effort by horse and rider to win. "We were left 10 or 15 lengths at the start. Everybody tightened up and I don't think his feet were even on the ground when the tape went up," Mullins added.

Urubande blazed home the 9-1 winner of the Sun Alliance Hurdle to give his brilliant 26-year-old trainer, Aidan O'Brien, his first winner in Britain.

On the day, however, there was a sting in the tail, as O'Brien will have to attend a Jockey Club inquiry in London over his withdrawal of Hotel Minella from the Coral Cup.

O'Brien withdrew Hotel Minella, scheduled to carry top weight, too late for the weights to be adjusted for the race and the local stewards took a dim view. O'Brien could face a £400 fine if the Jockey Club take a similar view.

Co Tipperary trainer, Edward O'Grady, had his second winner of the meeting when Loving Around won the marathon National Hunt Steeplechase under Co Limerick amateur jockey, Philip Fenton.