Card is right on cue in Bumper
Sent off at 40-1, despite having struck in a Fontwell bumper on his debut in January, the four-year-old cruised up to challenge subsequent runner-up Al Ferof, the mount of Ruby Walsh, on the turn for home.
Once straightening up under Joe Tizzard, the trainer’s son, Cue Card went past the Paul Nicholls trained Al Ferof like he was stood still and bounded up the hill to score by eight lengths.
Having won the last six renewals, the best the Irish team could fare was third with John Kiely’s Frawley, another eight lengths in arrears of the mighty winner.
The winning trainer said: “We haven’t had very many bumper horses, but no-one expected to win like that.
He pulled too hard and I thought he’d stop, but he’s obviously a very good horse.”
Son Joe added: “He’s done it very well and we knew he was a lovely horse. The plan wasn’t to hit the front quite as soon as we did, but he had plenty left and he’s just proved what we always thought.
“There should be plenty to come as that was only his second time on a racecourse, so it’s very exciting.”
John Kiely said of Frawley: “I thought he was entitled to come here and I’m delighted with what he’s done and he’s not let us down.
“The idea is to have a look at the Punchestown bumper if he comes out of this OK and I think he’ll make up into a nice hurdler next season.”
In the Coral Cup, Nicky Henderson’s Spirit River was given a fine ride by Barry Geraghty to run out an impressive winner.
Geraghty, fresh from winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Big Zeb, settled the 14-1 chance just in behind the early leaders, but moved up menacingly running down to the second-last.
Geraghty looked full of confidence and, after rounding the turn for home, quickened clear and jumped the last with ease.
The jockey said: “They didn’t go that quick so I made sure I was in a good position all the way and he jumped brilliantly for a five-year-old.”
Henderson said: “He’s won twice round here now and I think we’ll look after him.
“He looked good today, he just missed the third-last at Newbury and it turned him sideways. But when Barry worked him the other day he was very happy with him.”
For a moment as they charged down the hill in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle, Dermot Weld’s Rite of Passage loomed large.
But the 7-2 favourite had to bow to winner Peddlers Cross and runner-up Reve De Sivola before finishing four and a quarter lengths back in third.
For Peddlers Cross trainer Donald McCain, son of Aintree and Red Rum legend Ginger, it was a third Cheltenham Festival success.
