Gallant Flyer calls it a day

Moscow Flyer’s distinguished career came to an end at the scene of some of his greatest hours after the popular veteran was retired following his fifth place in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham yesterday.

The 12-year-old’s chances of a third victory in the race were looking bleak as soon as he had been hampered early in the race by the fall of favourite Kauto Star.

But, in truth, the electric pace that won Moscow Flyer 26 of his 44 races and over €1.5m in prize money was always lacking and it was only sheer guts that saw the gelding gallop on up the hill to finish fifth under Barry Geraghty in an incident-packed affair.

After a brief consultation with owner Brian Kearney, trainer Jessica Harrington announced to the waiting press that the dream had come to an end.

“I’m delighted he retires in one piece, that we go on and he retired here at Cheltenham where he had his finest hours,” she said.

“Barry said he just got out of it a bit today but he was always just niggling at him and he was always under pressure instead of travelling.

“He doesn’t like being out in the field, only for a couple of hours a day, so we will see what we do now.”

Having struggled to get the horse to his peak this season, Harrington admitted retiring Moscow Flyer had come as something of a relief.

“I’m just pleased he is stood here with us now and hasn’t come back in one of those horrible white-and-blue wagons,” she said.

“We got him here when everybody was saying he wouldn’t and he hasn’t been disgraced. In fact, he never stopped trying.

“Everybody knows what he means to me and I would have to say that he was the best two-miler that I have ever seen.

“I think his greatest moment was at Sandown when he won the Tingle Creek in 2004, beating Azertyuiop and Well Chief.

“There were no excuses for anything in that race. It was just a great race and he beat two top-class horses fair and square.”

Moscow Flyer, who was making his fifth appearance at the Festival having won three times, was applauded with every step he took, both coming on to the racecourse and leaving from it.

Owner Brian Kearney said: “The horse will be retired. I think you get into a bit of a dream watching it but there was a very frightening moment today when it seemed he may be brought down.

“We’ve had a great time and it’s been wonderful with him. There have been so many great memories but his win here last year was magnificent.

“I have got to thank Jessie and all of her team for doing such a good job at looking after him.

“It was a dream while it lasted and something I will never forget.”

Barry Geraghty, who rode a double on the day, credited Moscow Flyer for giving his career the all-important “leg-up” that saw him join the elite group of jumps riders in Britain and Ireland.

Geraghty has failed to miss the ride once aboard the horse since winning the Arkle Chase at the meeting in 2002.

“I owe such a lot to him,” he said. “He’s the best horse I have ever ridden or am likely to ride.

“He was such a leg-up for my career. You could just pull him out and away you’d go.

“Paul Carberry said to me one day: ‘You’re a jammy so and so to have a horse like that when you are guaranteed success’.

“This season may not have been so great but the last four or five years we have had so much success with the horse going unbeaten for three seasons.

“He’s the best I have ever seen or rode and I hope he has a long and healthy retirement.”