Cheltenham Festival Memory Number 5

Yesterday we saw the gritty Edredon Bleu battle for his life to win the Champion Chase in 2000. I hope these videos are getting everyone in the mood for cheltenham after seeing, Barizan, Istabraq, Denman and of course Edredon Bleu in classic festival races. Today is no exception and a heart warming one at that. It was 2005 and the Champion Chase was to be contested between three horses. They were the young up and coming Well Chief, defending Champion Azertyuiop  and veteran Moscow Flyer. The latter was the 6/4 favourite and this probably going to be his last real attempt at the Cheltenham Festival. Take a look what happened.

Moscow Flyer - 2005 Queen Mother Champion Chase


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kPtQN0eVMo


The race all started to unfold after Azertyuiop made a terrible mistake at the water jump after leaving his legs behind leaving himself with a mountain to climb. From there on in it was Well Chief vs Moscow Flyer. Barry Geraghty sent Moscow Flyer to the front coming down the hill but was stalked all the time by Timmy Murphy and Well Chief. Moscow Flyer seemed to take a length out of his rivals at the third last while his main opponent was slow compared to the veteran. The roars of the crowd began to bellow out between the 3rd last and 2nd last fences and all of a sudden Timmy Murphy was working over Well Chief but turning for home the old boy only had a lead of a length and was under maximum pressure. A better jump from Moscow Flyer seemed to win the race for him as Well Chief couldnt close anymore and Moscow Flyer went on to win by 2 lengths much to the delight of the Cheltenham crowd. A golden time for the 2 mile chase division!

King George and victor chandler

First post and I shall talk about a race a while ago on boxing day, of course I refer to the King George at Kempton, the feeling of cheering home Kauto Star can not possibly be put into words as he breaks Desert Orchid's record in the race by landing his 5th win in the King George. However for me there is an underlying factor, not the terrible news of Master Minded sustaining a career threatening injury (to which I wish him a speedy recovery) but my point is about Somersby who seemingly cruised into the home straight and weakened. But it seems there is more to it than meets the eye, if you watch carefully it appears that Somersby's saddle slipped, not forward but backwards towards his hind legs. This happens just after the back straight before they turn for home. In this light we should be praising jockey Dominic Elsworth for remarkably staying aboard the horse to finish a more than respectable fourth.

Onto future racing and the victor chandler chase at ascot, I find it hard that there is any value in backing al ferof (a novice) at 5/2 after his form from the Henry 8th novice chase from sandown hasn't really sparkled with for non stop (2nd by half a length) comprehensively beaten by cue card at Newbury. If Nicky Henderson has him right the winner could well be last years Arkle runner up finians rainbow, after making a terrible mistake at Kempton in the desert orchid chase it looked his chance was all but gone, however under a more than cool Barry Geraghty and a strong late finish he got up to catch wishful thinking (who made an identical mistake at the same fence) just after the last fence with last years grand annual winner and haldon gold cup third Oiseau de nuit back just out of the placings in 3rd. On that form and no Master Minded it seems Finians Rainbow is the one to beat.