Sublime Carberry lands Champion glory

Sublimity and Philip Carberry landed odds of 16-1 in a thrilling renewal of the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, the feature race on the opening day of the 2007 Cheltenham Festival.

Ante-post favourite Detroit City was never travelling with any momentum and proved a major disappointment as Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca went hammer and tongs at the head of affairs.

The latter took a narrow lead into the straight, but Carberry was always travelling sweetly just in behind the front two.

When he asked his mount to quicken, Sublimity shot up the final incline to win by three lengths from 11-2 chance Brave Inca.

Afsoun stuck on well to edge out Hardy Eustace for third, a further neck away.

Bookmakers had been forced to cut John Carr's charge in their markets for some time, but with the money pouring on Detroit City, sent off the 6-4 favourite, the success proved favourable for the layers.

Sublimity was settled in last place throughout the early stages, but moved menacingly into contention under a confident ride as the runners descended towards three from home.

Iktitaf was also still in contention at that obstacle only to take a crashing fall.

Hardy Eustace and Brave Inca were moving powerfully, but both were hard under pressure as the front three turned for home.

Sublimity joined the leaders at the final flight and scooted right away to win in impressive fashion, ensuring Philip joined siblings Paul and Nina in the record books having won a race at the showpiece meeting.

Detroit City was off the bit as early as the second flight, but seemed to have fought his way into the race halfway down the back straight.

Punters knew their fate soon after, however, as he dropped tamely off the principals coming down the hill.

Carberry told Channel 4 Racing: ``I couldn't believe how well he was travelling going down to the last.

“What a horse! He is the best horse I’ve ever ridden or ever likely to.

“He’s beaten some fantastic horses in the shape of Brave Inca and Hardy Eustace, but he has beaten them on merit.”

Owner Bill Hennessy said: ``I'm speechless. I'm going to pinch myself to make sure it's real! What a dream! It's fantastic.

“We wanted to buy decent horses off the Flat and this one was with Sir Michael Stoute.

“He won a Listed race on the Flat for us and we knew he was a serious horse.”

Sublimity had been well-backed since winning at Navan on his only start this term, but Hennessy added: “I didn’t need to back him.”

Although VC Bet at one stage had him at 100-1 in their ante-post book, spokesman Neal Wilkins said: “We count that as a good result on the day.”

Carr said: ``I was leaning for the County Hurdle because he would have been a certainty off his weight in that.

“But by this time next year the horse could have been dead or I could have been dead. There’s only one Champion Hurdle.

“The boys were on at 600-1 on the exchanges!

“It played into our hands. The main ones cut each others throats and we were the best horse in the race by far.”

Colm Murphy said of Brave Inca: ``I thought at the last we might still have a chance. I'm thrilled to bits.

"He's run his heart out and we were just beaten by a new kid on the block.

“He was as good as we’ve ever had him and he ran as well as ever. I wouldn’t rule anything out, but it’s more than likely that will be it for the year.

Nicky Henderson said of Afsoun: “He ran a super race and stayed on really well. Mick (Fitzgerald) said the good pace they went today really suited him.

Dessie Hughes said of long-time leader Hardy Eustace, who had to settle for fourth after winning in 2004 and 2005: “It was a hell of a race. Conor (O’Dwyer) said they just went quicker than in other years and he never really got a chance to get a breather into him.

“All good things come to an end and we’ll probably go to Punchestown next.”

Detroit City's poor performance left connections baffled.

Trainer Philip Hobbs said: “Obviously we don’t know at this stage what went wrong, but Richard (Johnson) got off him and said he was not himself.

“We are very disappointed. There may be something amiss but we will see how he is and watch him closely.

“He normally travels okay, even off a fast pace, but he couldn’t keep up with them today.”

Owner Terry Warner said: “I think there must be something wrong with him.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Philip were to ring me up in the next few days and said he had a bad scope or something.

“Today just showed the ups and downs of racing.”