THE FESTIVAL 2015, CHELTENHAM
RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
GOLD CUP DAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 13
St James's Place Foxhunter Chase
Quotes
Off The Fringe and into centre stage
On The Fringe made it third time lucky when winning today's pinnacle of hunter chasing, the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase.
Trained by Enda Bolger and ridden by Nina Carberry in J P McManus's colours, On The Fringe had finished third in the race last year and fourth in 2011, one year after he had landed Punchestown's Champion Hunters' Chase as a five-year-old - he also won that race last year.
For Bolger this win made up for the disappointment of seeing Quantitativeeasing being taken out by another runner in Wednesday's Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase - cameraman Patrick McCann broke a leg when Bolger's runner went through the rail.
Bolger said: "We all figured out that maybe he wasn't staying, but he got his confidence last season. After he ran here he won at Punchestown and then a little race at Killarney and it did him a great power of good. On Boxing Day he was beaten at Down Royal, but needed the run and ran a cracker at Leopardstown behind Prince De Beauchene before coming here.
"He's a brilliant jumper and I can't wait to try him in a La Touche - he'd be great over a bank! Hopefully it will be Liverpool next for the [Crabbie's] Fox Hunters' Chase - that track will suit him. He's on the top of his game and the little drop of rain we've had didn't hurt him, but he likes good ground.
"J T McNamara used to ride the horse and Nina did a great job today. You don't give riders that good instructions, you just say go out and enjoy yourself and if it happens it happens, if it doesn't there's another day."
The runner-up was 50/1 shot Following Dreams, who is trained near Ludlow by Alistair Ralph. The horse was due to be ridden by Tom Weston until he suffered two punctured lungs in a fall at The Festival yesterday, and Sam Drinkwater deputised.
Ralph said: "That was amazing. Tom was due to ride, but Sam did a great job and was cool, calm and collected. He motored down the hill, and while he found one too good he ran so well for a 50/1 shot. He's still a novice, so the John Corbet Cup at Stratford would be a logical target."
Drinkwater said: "I feel sorry for Tom, but he's got a nice horse to look forward to. I'd not sat on the horse before and he gave me a great ride, but when I looked across I could see Nina going so well."
Foxhunter is Carberry's fifth Festival winner
On The Fringe, who took the St James's Place Foxhunter in impressive style, was jockey Nina Carberry's fifth Festival winner. The J P McManus-owned 10-year-old gelding was third in the race last year.
Carberry said: "He was properly right today. Last year there was something wrong with him and he finished very tired. I always knew he'd be able to stay and I was disappointed last year, but Enda [Bolger, who trained him] had him spot-on today.
"The start was a bit messy. It's hard - everyone wants to get a good break.
"I tracked Paint The Clouds most of the way and got a great run through, we got into a rhythm and that's what he needs. J T [McNamara] always believed in him from a young age and I suppose he's taken this long to mature. He's proved everyone right now.
"I am so happy for Enda and Sarah, who does such a good job, and J T as well - he believed in this horse the whole time and always said that he would win a Foxhunter. Today he was so impressive and he showed us what he was like.
"I am just so happy that J P and Enda let me back on because I am down at Aidan O'Brien's now and can never go into Enda's to do what I used to do."
Paint The Clouds does Greatrex proud
Warren Greatrex, trainer of third-placed Paint The Clouds, the 11/4 favourite, said: "He's run a blinder. I knew when the rain came it would be difficult; he's a far better horse on better ground.
"He's done everything right and like Sam [Waley-Cohen, who rode Paint The Clouds] said, he just didn't have the kick he normally has. But he's done us proud and we live to fight another day."
4.00pm St. James's Place Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup
£40,000 total prize fund. 3m 2f 110y. For 5yo+ which, since November 30th 2012 and before February 24th 2015, have been placed first or second on two occasions in a hunters' chase in Great Britain or Ireland or have won two open chases at point-to-point meetings in Great Britain or Ireland or have one won open chase at a point-to-point meeting in Great Britain or Ireland and have been placed first or second in a hunters' chase. Weights: 5yo 11st 12lb; 6yo+ 12st. Allowances mares 7lb. Penalty value 1st £23,984.00 2nd £7,492.00 3rd £3,744.00 4th £1,872.00 5th £936.00 6th £472.00
1) ON THE FRINGE (IRE) (J P McManus) Enda Bolger IRE 10-12-00 Miss Nina Carberry 6/1
2) FOLLOWING DREAMS (IRE) (Mrs D Ralph & Mrs S Rimell) Alastair Ralph 8-12-00 Mr Sam Drinkwater 50/1
3) PAINT THE CLOUDS (Peter Deal & Jill & Robin Eynon) Warren Greatrex 10-12-00 Mr Sam Waley-Cohen 11/4f
4) CARSONSTOWN BOY (IRE) (J Monaghan) Colin McBratney IRE 11-12-00 Mr Noel McParlan 11/1
5) CHOSEN MILAN (IRE) (Mr D Morgan) R E Luke t8-11-07 Mr Evan David
6) SHOREACRES (IRE) (David Nash) Gillian Jones 12-12-00 Miss Hannah Lewis
7) AERIAL (FR) (Tony Hayward & Barry Fulton) Jack Barber 9-12-00 Mr Will Biddick
8) NOBLE PRINCE (GER) (G Spain) Paul Nolan IRE p11-12-00 Mr G Spain
9) ALSKAMATIC (The Plantation Picnic Club) Richard Bandey p9-12-00 Miss Claire Hart
10) JUNIOR (Middleham Park Racing LI) Nicky Tinkler p12-12-00 Mr Roger Quinlan
11) CONSIGLIERE (FR) (Alan Hill) Alan Hill 12-12-00 Mr Joe Hill
12) CURRENT EVENT (FR) (Pearl Bloodstock Ltd) Rose Loxton 8-12-00 Miss Bryony Frost
13) BRACKLOON HIGH (IRE) (H Barlow) Michael Kehoe 10-12-00 Mr Andrew Barlow
14) VITAL PLOT (USA) (Liam Kenny/Thomas Hughes) Liam Kenny IRE t11-12-00 Mr Jamie Codd
15) MUIRHEAD (IRE) (Pat Sloan) Stuart Crawford IRE 12-12-00 Mr Derek O'Connor
16) CORK CITIZEN (Alurie O'Sullivan) Eugene O'Sullivan IRE t7-12-00 Miss Maxine O'Sullivan
17) TEMPLE GRANDIN (IRE) (Roy Stuart) Philip Rowley 8-12-00 Mr Alex Edwards
PU) SALSIFY (IRE) (Joan Sweeney) Roger Sweeney IRE 10-12-00 Mr Colm Sweeney
DNF) AITEEN THIRTYTHREE (IRE) (Tracy Parker) Kevin Parker t11-12-00 Miss Natalie Parker
DNF) FORT GEORGE (IRE) (Mark Hampson) Sally Randell p12-12-00 Miss Brody Hampson
DNF) NEED TO KNOW (IRE) (Marie Brennan & Colm Hearne) John Brennan IRE 7-12-00 Mr Barry O'Neill
DNF) NO LOOSE CHANGE (IRE) (Donlon, Doyle, MacDonald & Nicholls) Paul Nicholls t10-12-0 Mr James King
DNF) SEVENTH SIGN (Masterson Holdings Limited) Adrian Maguire IRE 6-12-00 Mr Declan Queally
DNF) UNIVERSAL SOLDIER (IRE) (Lindie King) Gareth Moore 10-12-00 Mr Nick Williams
24 ran
Distances: 17, nk, 1¼, 2½, 6, 2½, 3, 1, 1¾, nk, 4, 9, 6, 11, 3¾, ¾
Breeder: Pat Tobin
Breeding: b g Exit To Nowhere (USA) - Love And Porter (IRE) (Sheer Grit)
Tote Win £6.90 Place £2.50 £18.10 £1.80 Exacta £561.40
Winning Trainer: ENDA BOLGER Born: April 21, 1963 Based: Howardstown House, Bruree, Co Limerick, Ireland Background: rode many winners for the legendary P P Hogan including five renewals of the Champion Hunters Chase at the Punchestown Festival Also trained and rode Risk Of Thunder (who was owned by Sean Connery) to win seven La Touche Cups and Elegant Lord to glory in the 1996 Foxhunters Chase at Cheltenham and the 1999 Foxhunters Chase at Aintree. Retired from the saddle after Risk Of Thunder's seventh La Touche Cup victory in 1999 and decided to concentrate on training, most notably on the point-to-point circuit. Cheltenham Festival Winners (6): St James's Place Foxhunter (1996 Elegant Lord, 2015 On The Fringe), Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (2005 Spot Thedifference, 2007 Heads Onthe Ground, 2008 & 2009 Garde Champetre) Winners in Britain in (2003/2004-2013/14): 0; 3; 2; 4; 2; 2; 2; 0; 1; 0; 0 Wins in Britain this season: 1
Winning Jockey: Nina Carberry Born: July 21, 1984 Background: father Tommy, trainer of Grand National winner Bobbyjo, is a former champion Irish jump jockey. Brothers Paul, one of the biggest names in Ireland, and Philip are also both jockeys. Mother Pamela is the daughter of Dan Moore, trainer of dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero and Grand National winnerL'Escargot, and sister of former jockey and successful trainer Arthur Moore. Became the first women since Gee Armytage to ride a winner in a professionals' race at the Cheltenham Festival when guiding Dabiroun to victory in 2005. Married Ted Walsh Jnr in February 2012, son of leading trainer Ted, and brother to leading jockey Ruby Walsh. Appointed assistant trainer to Noel Meade in September, 2013. First Win Under Rules: Sabrinsky, The Curragh, July 15, 2001 (Masterchef Ladies Derby). Cheltenham Festival Wins (5): Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (2005 Dabiroun), Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase (2007 Heads Onthe Ground, 2008 & 2009 Garde Champetre), St James's Place Foxhunter (2015 On The Fringe) Wins in Britain (2003/04-2013/14): 1; 2; 0; 1; 2; 2; 2; 0; 0; 0; 0 Wins in Britain this season: 1
Great quote.