Stratford bumper win for Walsh

Irish jockeys drew first blood in Cheltenham Festival week when beating their English counterparts in the Racing Channel England/Ireland Jockeys Invitation National Hunt Flat Race yesterday at Stratford, won by Liniyan.

Liniyan was completing a first four-timer for Venetia Williams who had earlier been successful here with Jocks Cross to add to a double at Plumpton.

Ruby Walsh, who partnered the winner - his third in Britain - said: "It is nice to get a winner in before the Festival.

"I have seven or eight rides there, and I think Alexander Banquet and Alexander Prize are my best chances."

Paul Carberry, who finished sixth on Martin Pipe's Barrettstown, is also in for a very busy Festival. He said: "I have rides in every race, so hopefully I will get a winner - I suppose Cardinal Hill, who runs in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle tomorrow, is one of my best chances."

Roundwood gave Irish visitors their first strike of the week in the Tote Handicap Chase. Jumping well throughout for Garrett Cotter, Roundwood had his rivals in trouble three out and won without having to be asked a serious question.

Dessie Hughes who was saddling his first winner in England since Miller Hill won the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Festival many years ago.

Hughes said: "Roundwood has done it well, he is a good jumper and will now for the Irish National at Fairyhouse on April 5th.

"We had planned to run Rathbawn Prince in the handicap hurdle here today, but the ground was too heavy so we are running him in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham tomorrow instead - it's a much hotter race of course but at least the ground will suit him."

A timely warning for jockeys at Cheltenham was handed out when the stewards at Taunton banned Tony McCoy for two days after finding him guilty of misuse of the whip. McCoy had given Northern Drums, the half-length runner-up behind Mr Snaggle, his usual battling ride in the Melody Man Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle but the officials adjudged he had struck the Martin Pipe-trained gelding in an incorrect place from the second-last hurdle.

Tony Dobbin faces an appointment with the doctor at Cheltenham today before learning if he is passed fit to partner Midnight Legend in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle following a fall at Taunton yesterday afternoon.

And the jockey is hoping that history does not repeat itself as he missed most of the Festival last term after taking a fall from Direct Route in the Guinness Arkle Trophy on the first day and missed the winning ride on One Man in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.