Irish must gird their loins in support of fancied raiders
Irish eyes were were green with euro signs after 3-1 shot Back In Front's runaway win in the first, the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and half an hour later Azertyuiop - with Ruby Walsh aboard - swelled wallets further after landing a mammoth one-million-pound gamble in the Arkle Chase.
J.P. McManus' Youlneverwalkalone also landed a minor gamble and finally delivered the sort of big prize he's often promised but never delivered as the opening day of three day extravaganza swayed this way and that.
Thereafter, though, a lot of the Irish gambles went west, and with them, tens of thousands of Euro. For all those throwing their hats in the air, many more were stamping them into the ground.
Azertyuiop, the name spelling out the first seven letters on a French keyboard, had his connections stuck for words after a deeply impressive performance in the Grade One two mile novices' chase.
Rated that most dangerous of things, the banker of the meeting, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding never looked like disappointing his supporters at odds of 5-4.
Now the Irish must gird their loins in support today of fancied raiders Moscow Flyer and Pizarro, after the tears of Rhinestone Cowboy and Like-A-Butterfly in the Champion Hurdle won in style by Rooster Booster.
Two separate €10,000 bets were struck on Noel Meade's Rosaker in the opening Supreme Novice's Hurdle in opposition to Edward O'Grady's Back In Front, but Meade's supporters had to bite their lip as Norman Williamson steered the 3/1 favourite home to a facile victory.
Back In Front was later reported to have had a few 'blips' in his preparation by Edward O'Grady.
Given Cheltenham's reputation as a parlour of rumour and speculation, it was a wonder that Back in Front wasn't deserted en masse.
Trainer O'Grady, celebrating his 17th Festival winner, said: "I'd be very disapppointed if he didn't make up into champion class next year."
"I've no idea how much he won by," Williamson reported afterwards.
"He was so far in front I couldn't hear the rest of them because of the noise the crowd was making."
Ruby Walsh's nap for the meeting was Azertyuiop and Paul Nicholls' six year old didn't disappoint either, winning by 11 lengths, an even greater margin than the eight which separated Back In Front from his pursuers.
Once again the Irish were delirious. Walsh had dutifully done the round of Festival preview nights over the past fortnight and had preached the Azertyuiop gospel to countless believers.
The altar of excess was a densely populated spot last night.
In advance of the Champion Hurdle, the Irish had claimed Jonjo O'Neill's Rhinestone Cowboy as 'one of our own', despite the fact that Sue Magnier's horse is technically English-trained.
However, there was to be no three-timer for the Irish battalion as after clattering the second flight he never really challenged the leaders. However, he stayed on gamely to finish third.
Richard Johnson, the winning jockey, had said beforehand that he would have liked the ride on Rhinestone "just to see what happens when they take the handbrake off," but must have been over the moon with Rooster Booster's hack canter victory.
"I'm thrilled to bits," Jonjo said afterwards, smiling through his disappointment. "But although he made a couple of mistakes, don't forget he's a nice horse." His optimism was not shared by the punters, for whom tomorrow not to mention next year never comes soon enough.
Legendary punter JP McManus, was taken by surprise by Youlneverwalkalone's win in the William Hill and he admitted having had no bet on Christy Roche's charge.
"I didn't back him," he admitted. I never even thought about it. I turned into the stands rather than the ring before the race. I could have backed him as easy as not."
Youlneverwalkalone's jockey Barry Geraghty went on to score a jubilant two-timer on Jonjo's Inching Closer, who certainly lived up to his name by just catching Royal Emperor on the line in the final race of the day, the Pertemps Hurdle final.
Geraghty did not know he had stolen victory until the result of the photo-finish was announced, but his leap from the saddle underlined that he now heads the race for top jockey of the meeting with two winners and Moscow Flyer running in the Champion Chase and Fadalko in the Mildmay of Flete today.
The Irish have cashed in their two bankers, and Moscow Flyer and Pizarro are expected to boost their accounts today before tomorrow's final onslaught.
Things are going to plan for the punters, in as much as they possibly can do at this infernal place.
