Back In Front relives glory days for O’Grady
Golden Cygnet was without doubt the geatest novice hurdler I have ever seen and he won the the same race in ’78 with equal ease.
Indeed, his pilot, Niall Madden, was quoted afterwards as saying: "It was like driving a Rolls-Royce.”
Fast forward a quarter of a century and it was as if time had stood still.
Back In Front produced almost a replica of the Golden Cygnet display, as he totally outclassed his rivals to score by ten lengths.
Back In Front was a drifter in the market, easing to a remarkable 3-1. It was crystal clear after the race why that happened, however, with O’Grady revealing: "He had a few little blips over the last two weeks.”
Blips or no blips this was a stunning performance. He was hard on the steel for most of the journey for Norman Williamson except, momentarily, coming down the hill.
He was soon swinging back on the bridle, however, and was pulling Williamson’s arms out appproaching the second last.
Commented Williamson, who was partnering his 11th Festival winner: "I was a bit worried at the top of the hill, but once I got near Tony (McCoy on Lirfox) in front he picked up.
"I know the pressures of just getting the horses and yourself here for results like that. It really has worked and you have to enjoy every minute of it.”
Heading to the home turn Williamson eased Back In Front ahead and the response was explosive.
The winner simply burst clear, crossing the line a long way in front of compatriot, Tom Taaffe’s Kicking King.
"I knew he was very good and he jumps very quick”, continued Williamson.
"Hopefully, next year he will be champion class. Onward and upward, I was hoping for a winner and now I am going to get greedy and go for two.”
Even the legendary O’Grady seemed surprised at the ease of his charge’s success.
"I knew he was good, but didn’t expect him to decimate the field like that.
"I was confident that if he ran to his best he’d be difficult to beat, but I wasn’t sure I had him right.
"I was worried because I wasn’t able to prepare him as I wanted. It’s never easy to train them. His jumping ability is what makes him different and he is definitely Champion Hurdle class.”
"The idea was always to go to Punchestown and I will enter him in both the novice and champion hurdles now. He’s a hurdler through and through.”
A drifter Back In Front may have been, but top layer, Scotland’s Freddie Williams, reported that he laid a wager of £50,000 at 5-2.
Taaffe was delighted with Kicking King, who would have been a clear-cut winner in the absence of Back In Front.
Said Taaffe: "We talked about the race last week with the winner’s team and agreed we would finish first and second.
"I am thrilled with the way he ran. He is a real natural athlete and still only five-years-old.
“I hope he will keep going and we can carry on talking about him for the next six years.
"I don’t mind whether he runs again this season. I don’t want to do anything stupid, but if he tells me in three weeks time he wants another run then we shall certainly look at the idea.
“Chasing will be his game in due course.”
Ruby Walsh has long been convinced that Azertyuiop was his best ride of the meeting and he was spot-on with Paul Nicholls’ star landing the the Arkle Trophy by no less than 11 lengths.
When Le Roi Miguel fell at the third, Azertyuiop was left in front and Walsh quickly took the bull by the horns.
"I doubted myself for a few strides”, said Walsh.
"But I made it on him at Market Rasen and thought why not do it again.”
In truth the six-year-old was in different league to this opposition. He jumped brilliantly, only getting it wrong at the second last. But he powered away from that fence and had this in safe keeping turning for home. Azertyuiop flew the last and the rest is history.
“He’s an exceptional horse”, remarked Walsh, enjoying a third Festival success, "He’s champion class, a proper horse.”
Commented Nicholls: "He’s a real pro and had a great jockey riding him. I asked Ruby if I ran him in the Champion Chase would he ride and he said yes without hesitation.
"He will stick to novice races for the moment and we will bring him along quietly next season with the Champion Chase in mind.
"It is great to have a winner like this so early in the meeting, so now I can really enjoy the rest of it.
"I don’t know about running him again this season at Liverpool or Punchestown, we haven’t really thought beyond today.”
Cashmans offered Azertyuiop at 8-1 for the Champion Chase, with Paddy Power shorter at 6’s.
Youlneverwalkalone has been called some unkind names in the past, but repaid his trainer Christy Roche’s faith in him with a gutsy effort to win the William Hill National Hunt Chase.
He got a superb drive from the mult-talented Barry Geraghty, who delayed his challenge until he was good and ready. The winner and Haut Cercy had it between them from early in the straight, with Youlneverwalkalone proving the stronger through the last half furlong.
"I want him to go for the English National now, he stays forever and will never have 10-9 again. I was hoping for the National all along, Liverpool here we come, if I can convince the boss (owner, J P McManus), said Roche.
"He’s always been my favourite and today has proved me right. Barry was brilliant. I told him if he did something wrong to make it arriving too late and not too early.”
