Cheltenham Festival In Brief: McCoy marvellous on Wichita Lineman

Published on Tuesday 10 March 2009 22:26

OUT of luck on Binocular, Tony McCoy excelled himself even by his high standards to win the William Hill Trophy on the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Wichita Lineman (5-1 favourite). Only third over the final fence, McCoy brilliantly drove his mount up the hill to collar leader Maljimar by a neck.

Wichita Lineman's owner JP McManus celebrated his 58th birthday with a double when Garde Champetre, ridden by Nina Carberry, headed home a 1-2-3 in his colours in the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase over the cross-country course.

Quevega blows away Mare rivals

WILLIE Mullins and Ruby Walsh got off the mark at the Cheltenham Festival when Quevega ran out a hugely impressive winner of the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle.

Mullins had stated before the meeting that he believed the five-year-old was his best chance of a winner all week – and she did not disappoint.

The 2-1 favourite scooted clear to leave daylight back to runner-up United, who was thumped by 14 lengths.

Totejackpot win for on-course punter

ONE lucky on-course punter at Cheltenham was celebrating as he landed the totejackpot to 50p and scooped 35,500 having staked just 96 on the bet. Totesport make Ruby Walsh their 11-10 favourite to be to be top jockey at the meeting, with Tony McCoy at 5-2 and Barry Geraghty at 11-4. The rest are available at 14-1 and upwards.

All the results from day one

1.30 - 1, *GO NATIVE, P Carberry (12-1); 2, Medermit (12-1); 3, Somersby (40-1). 20 ran . nk, 2. Trained N Meade. Tote: 11.80. Exacta: 108.80. Non Runner: Aachen.

2.05 - 1, FORPADYDEPLASTERER, B J Geraghty (8-1); 2, Kalahari King (8-1); 3, Planet Of Sound (10-1). 17 ran . shd, 5. Trained T Cooper. Tote: 8.30. Exacta: 72.60. NR: I'm So Lucky.

2.40 - 1, WICHITA LINEMAN, A P McCoy (5-1 Fav); 2, Maljimar (14-1); 3, Nenuphar Collonges (17-2); 4, Dear Villez (16-1). 21 ran . nk, . Trained Jonjo O'Neill. Tote: 4.70;. Non Runners: Hobbs Hill, Lothian Falcon, Star De Mohaison.

3.20 - 1, PUNJABI, B J Geraghty (22-1); 2, Celestial Halo (17-2); 3, *Binocular (6-4 Fav). 23 ran . nk, hd. Trained N J Henderson. Tote: 25.80;. Exacta: 247.90. NR: Sizing Europe.

4.00 - 1, *GARDE CHAMPETRE, Miss N Carberry (7-2); 2, L'Ami (7-4 Fav); 3, Drombeag (7-1); 4, A New Story (14-1). 16 ran. 1, 14. Trained E Bolger. Tote: 4.50. Exacta: 6.20.

4.40 - 1, QUEVEGA, R Walsh (2-1 Fav); 2, *United (10-3); 3, Aura About You (28-1). 21 ran. 14, shd. Trained W P Mullins. Tote: 3.00. Exacta: 7.80. Jackpot: 71,000.00 – part won. Quadpot: 4.40. Placepot: 122.50.

*The Scotsman selection