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| Cheltenham Festival 15th - 18th March 2005 |
2.35pm THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
FESTIVAL TROPHY CHASE
Class A, Grade Two, £150,000 Guaranteed. For 5yo+, 2m 5f. Weights: 5yo 10st 9lb; 6yo+ 11st. Penalties: after September 30, 2003, a winner of a Grade Two chase 3lb; of a Grade One chase 5lb. Allowances: mares 7lb. Penalty Values: 1st: £87,000; 2nd: £33,000; 3rd: £16,500; 4th: £7,500; 5th: £3,750; 6th: £2,250
1) THISTHATANDTOTHER (Graham Roach) Paul Nicholls 9-11-03 Ruby Walsh 9/2
2) FONDMORT (Bill Brown) Nicky Henderson 9-11-00 Mick Fitzgerald 9/1
3) RATHGAR BEAU (One-O-Eight Racing Club) Eamon Sheehy IRE 9-11-03 Shay Barry 9/2
4) HAND INN HAND (Patrick Burling Developments Ltd) Henry Daly 9-11-05 Mark Bradburne
5) LE ROI MIGUEL (Judy Stewart) Paul Nicholls 7-11-03 Barry Geraghty
6) MIXSTERTHETRIXSTER (Tracey Barfoot-Saunt) Tracey Barfoot-Saunt 9-11-00 Joe Tizzard
PU) SEEBALD (The Macca & Growler Partnership) Martin Pipe 10-11-03 Tom Scudamore
PU) OUR VIC (David Johnson) Martin Pipe 7-11-03 Timmy Murphy 7/4 Fav
PU) NATIVE UPMANSHIP (Sue Magnier) Arthur Moore IRE 12-11-03 Conor O'Dwyer
PU) EDREDON BLEU (Jim Lewis) Henrietta Knight t13-11-05 Jim Culloty
PU) RISK ACCESSOR (J P McManus) Christy Roche IRE t10-11-00 Tony McCoy
PU) VALLEY HENRY (Andrea & Graham Wylie) Howard Johnson b1 10-11-00 Graham Lee
12 ran
Breeder: Mrs Joerg Vasicek Breeding: b g Bob Back (USA) - Baden (IRE) (Furry Glen)
Dist: .5, 2.5, 3.5, 5, dist
Tote Win: £5.10 Places: £1.60; £2.60; £1.90 Exacta: £32.60
Winning Trainer: Paul Nicholls Date of birth: 17/05/62 Date of first trainer’s licence: 01/11/91 Previous Occupation: professional jockey 1980-89. Rode 130 winners including Hennessy Gold Cup (1986 & 87), Irish Gold Cup (1988), Welsh Grand National (1987) Wins (1992/3--2003/04): 20,29,28,53,56,82,110,71, 83, 136, 152, 127 Horses in training (1997-2004): 52, 60, 66, 65, 78, 105, 106, 121 Cheltenham Festival Wins: (9) Irish Independent Arkle Novices’ Chase (1999 Flagship Uberalles, 2003 Azertyuiop), Queen Mother Champion Chase (1999 Call Equiname, 2004 Azertyuiop), totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (1999 See More Business), Christie’s Foxhunter Chase (2004 Earthmover), Grand Annual (2004 St Pirran), County Hurdle (2004 Sporazene), Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase (2005 Thisthatandtother) Other big race wins: Desert Orchid H’cap Chase (2000 Fadalko, 2002 Valley Henry), Mitsubishi Shogun Ascot Chase (2000 Rockforce), Mitsubishi Shogun Game Spirit Chase (2000 Flagship Uberalles), Aon Chase (2000 See More Business, 2001 Shotgun Willy, 2003 Valley Henry), Scottish Champion Hcap Hurdle (1999 Fadalko), Independent Newspaper Novices’ Chase (1995 Captain Khedive, 1999 Fadalko, 2002 Azertyuiop, 2003 Thisthatandtother) William Hill Haldon Gold Cup Chase (1998 Lake Kariba and 1999 Flagship Uberalles), Charlie Hall Chase (1999 and 2000 See More Business), King George VI Chase (1997, 1999 See More Business), Rehearsal Chase (1996 Belmont King, 1997 and 1998 See More Business), Scottish Grand National (1997 Belmont King), Pillar Chase (1998, 2001 See More Business), Feltham Novices’ Chase (1993 See More Indians), attheraces Gold Cup (2001 & 2003 Ad Hoc), Greatwood Hurdle (2003 Rigmarole), Totesport Bula Hurdle (2003 Rigmarole) 1000th Domestic Winner: Noble Action (Bumper, Folkestone, November 15, 2004) Wins This Season: 126
Winning Jockey: Ruby Walsh Born: May 14, 1979 Cheltenham Festival Wins (8): Weatherbys Champion Bumper (1998 Alexander Banquet, 2005 Missed That), Mildmay Of Flete (2002 Blowing Wind), Irish Independent Arkle (2003 Azertyuiop), Queen Mother Champion Chase (2004 Azertyuiop), Grand Annual (2004 St Pirran), County Hurdle (2004 Sporazene), Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy Chase (2005 Thisthatandtother) Other Big Race Wins: GRAND NATIONAL (2000 Papillon) HEINEKEN GOLD CUP (1999 Imperial Call), INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER NOVICES’ CHASE (2002 Azertyuiop, 2003 Thisthatandtother), GREATWOOD HURDLE (2003 Rigmarole), RACING POST CHASE (2004 Marlborough) Number of Wins in Britain (1998/99-2003/04): 1; 1; 5; 13; 77; 62 Other Details: Son of Ted Walsh, former leading Irish amateur rider who is now a trainer and broadcaster in Ireland. Rides regularly for Paul Nicholls Wins This Season: 69
Race Two: Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy - Winning Quotes:
NICHOLLS BELATEDLY GETS OFF MARK
After two frustrating days, Paul Nicholls finally got on the scoresheet when his previously luckless chaser Thisthatandtother ended a bout of seconditis when winning the inaugural running of the Daily Telegraph Festival Trophy.
In an epic tussle from the final fence, Thisthatandtother, runner-up in his last five races, gained his just reward when getting the better of course specialist Fondmort by half a length, with 7-4 favourite Our Vic pulled up after a series of jumping errors.
Ruby Walsh, punching the air as he entered the hallowed winner’s enclosure, dismounted and told connections "that makes up for the Paddy Power Gold Cup."
Walsh was reflecting on his defeat by Celestial Gold in that race in November, when he blamed himself for getting beat.
Nicholls said: "We weren’t sure that he would stay the trip that day and Ruby reckons he should have been positive, but he has more than made up for it today.
"Thisthatandtother has been taking on the best and, after being beaten by Well Chief in the Victor Chandler Chase (at Cheltenham in January), we decided to step him up in trip, and that, plus the better ground, has been the making of him.
"I knew that he would stay all the way to the line and it was a great scrap with Fondmort, but this was always going to be our race.
"He will now go to Aintree for the big two miles and five furlong race, but, like owner Graham Roach, I am already looking forward to the 2005 King George VI Chase at Sandown on Boxing Day.
"I have no doubt that Thisthatandtother will get three miles and that race is made for him, as it is Le Roi Miguel, who has run well to finish fifth here."
Reflecting on the first two days when little went right for the stable, Nicholls added: "The horses have run well without winning, but you can’t win them all.
"We might have won the Sporting Index Chase had Commanche War Paint not tipped up, and the only real disappointment has been Azertyuiop in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
"We scoped him this morning and he was 100%, but we have discovered that he has torn muscles in his abdomen. Hopefully, he might be back for Sandown next month."
FONDMORT TRIES SO HARD
Nicky Henderson was absolutely delighted with Fondmort even though the nine-year-old went down by half a length to Thisthatandtother.
He said: "Fantastic - that was Fondmort enjoying himself at his best and he didn’t deserve to be beaten but then again nor did the winner.
"That was the first time that he’s bowled along but Mick [Fitzgerald, jockey] said that there wasn’t a lot of pace.
"One thing you never want to do with this horse is disappoint him and just let him enjoy his racing.
"But he got beat - someone has to win. He got headed and then put his head back in front - it was just nip and tuck and a great steeplechase.
"You would have to think about the Grand National as you don’t get too many chances.
"He’s proved he’s come back to himself there. For two and a half milers to run in the National, they have to have class and he’s proved that he has that. And you have to jump and you won’t see many jump around here like he has today.
"Tracey [Brown] is nervous about Aintree but Billy [Brown, owner] is great and lets you get on with whatever you think."
Rathgar Beau was a further two and a half lengths away in third for Irish trainer Dusty Sheehy.
He said: "I thought that he was travelling the best of the three going to the last but there’s still probably a furlong to go then. I thought that he would win but he made a mistake.
"He might go to Aintree for the two and a half miler but he’ll probably run at Punchestown in a big chase worth euros180,000."
