The Smurfit Champion Hurdle featured a
showdown between Rooster Booster, winner of the Vincent O’Brien
County Hurdle the previous year and Rhinestone Cowboy, narrowly
touched off by Pizarro in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper in 2002, but
unbeaten in four subsequent starts over hurdles. However, the
showdown never really materialised because Rooster Booster quickened
clear in the closing stages to win, impressively, by 11 lengths from
Westender, with Rhinestone Cowboy a further 3 lengths back in third.
Moscow Flyer, trained by Mrs. John
Harrington, in the Queen Mother Champion Chase was one of five
winners for leading jockey Barry Geraghty, while other notable
winners included Liberman in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper,
Baracouda in the Bonusprint Stayers’ Hurdle and Best Mate in the
Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Master of Jackdaws Castle, Jonjo
O’Neill, saddled three winners, Inching Closer in the Pertemps
Final, Sudden Shock in the National Hunt Chase and Spectroscope in
the JCB Triumph Hurdle, to become leading trainer at the Festival for
the one and only time to date.
No comments:
Post a Comment