Cheltenham Results: Champagne moment for Walsh in the Supreme

Ruby Walsh delivered a masterclass from the front as he guided Champagne Fever to success in the opening race of Cheltenham 2013...

Champagne Fever, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, won the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle, the first race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival.

Last season's Champion Bumper winner doubled up with a game display under Ruby Walsh to strike for Irish trainer Willie Mullins.

My Tent Or Yours appeared to be going much the better at the final flight, but Champagne Fever kept finding more and held the favourite by half a length.

Jezki was third, a further two and a quarter lengths away, as the big meeting finally got going after a 35-minute delay caused by the Arctic weather.

Walsh said: "He jumped like a stag and travelled really well."

As expected, Champagne Fever took the field along from his stablemate Un Atout, with My Tent Or Yours third.

There was little change in the order as the 12-strong line-up bunched up at the top of the hill.

My Tent Or Yours looked as though he could take the leader whenever his rider Tony McCoy wanted, but Walsh and Champagne Fever had other ideas and ran out worthy winners.

Walsh said: "It's magic - he just came alive the last fortnight.

"I didn't ride him work last week but I was watching him work at the Curragh with Willie and we both kind of looked at each other. It was scintillating.

"Patrick (Mullins, trainer's son) has always maintained he was a two-miler and an out-and-out galloper - he was dead right.

"He wasn't doing a whole lot in front, but I knew AP (McCoy) was coming to me as I could feel the crowd revving up.

"But, in fairness, when AP got to him, he stuck his head down and away he went again."

Mullins said: "It was a very brave performance from the horse to lead like that and jump like that.

"Ruby said he heard Tony McCoy coming up behind him and the horse just took off with him.

"He knew he'd lots of horse. Ruby was trying to steady it and ride a tactical race - he obviously got it spot-on.

"It was fantastic to watch him coming up the hill."

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Normans Grove Chase Result: Blazing on fire under Walsh

News / Timeform / 22 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Mrs S Ricci's Blazing Tempo.

"It was clearly a top performance from the ultra-consistent mare as she had 4 lb to find with last year's Jewson winner going into the race..."

Smart chaser Blazing Tempo landed the most prestigious victory of her career over fences so far when taking the Grade 2 Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday afternoon.

With Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh having combined to win the first two races on the card, Blazing Tempo was backed into a Betfair SP of [3.48] and, despite making a minor mistake early on, she was always travelling well at the rear of the five-runner field.

Rank outsider Saludos was allowed to take the field along at his own pace, with Tranquil Sea heading the rest from Noble Prince, leaving Blazing Tempo to bring up the rear. However, Saludos had no answer when pressed four out and it was Tranquil Sea who looked to be going best, with Noble Prince not the quickest over the obstacles.

Despite touching an in-running high of [11.0], Blazing Tempo was not done with though and, having progressed from the rear, arrived travelling ominously well in between the pair going into the last and battled on for a three-quarter-length victory over the staying-on Noble Prince.

It was clearly a top performance from the ultra-consistent mare as she had 4 lb to find with last year's Jewson winner going into the race, and she will clearly warrant plenty of respect for the foreseeable future. She was fifth in the Jewson last year and it could just be that the Ryanair (currently [34.0]) is the race connections will choose at the Festival.

[2.0] favourite Noble Prince shaped as if he's in need of a return to further in second, and as a consequence he's now [7.6] market leader for the the same race at Cheltenham in March.

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