Outsider Punjabi wins by a neck at Cheltenham

Published on Tuesday 10 March 2009 16:08

Nicky Henderson landed his fourth Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival – but not with favourite Binocular, who could finish only third behind stablemate Punjabi.

Binocular travelled well all the way for Tony McCoy, but Celestial Halo and Punjabi proved tough rivals out in front.

McCoy asked for everything after the last but could never quite get on terms with the 22-1 winner.

Osana set a fierce gallop under new jockey Andrew McNamara, but he was joined by Hardy Eustace and Celestial Halo at the halfway stage.

Ruby Walsh seemed to be happy to take up the running on last year's Triumph Hurdle winner Celestial Halo – but he looked a sitting duck for Punjabi and Binocular, the 6-4 favourite.

Third home last year, Punjabi was not that fluent at the last.

But when Geraghty asked for everything, he responded in kind to win by a neck from Celestial Halo, with Binocular a head away in third.

Geraghty said: "Happy days. A great performance.

"I thought I had Ruby well covered turning in. He ran on really well, he was all out, it was a great performance.

"I tipped a Nicky Henderson one-two. There was one in between but it's brilliant.

"It's my first winner for Nicky at Cheltenham, as well."

Henderson added: "It takes you back. Those great days of (three-time Champion Hurdle winner) See You Then were very special and it's nice to be back with horses that can do this sort of thing.

"Punjabi has always been a very talented horse and Barry gets on very well with him.

"Both of mine have run tremendous races. It's very special to see them both there with Celestial Halo in between them.

"You think you have two chances and you've still got one to beat – a great race."

Owner Raymond Tooth said: "Unbelievable, I couldn't believe it. It was like slow motion those last 100 yards. I didn't think we were going to do it, but he's hung on.

"He's my first Festival winner, I hope there will be many more. He's a fantastic horse. I'm sure I'll wake up in a minute.

"He was the forgotten horse. We'd have won a 1million (bonus, on offer from 'Fighting Fifth' sponsors WBX) if he hadn't fallen in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

"He would have won I think. He was cantering. Anyway this makes up for it.

"On Friday, Nicky said the horse was going terribly well and people had forgotten about him and said he had an excellent chance.

"All the talk was about Binocular, but there you are."

McCoy said of Binocular: "He ran a great race and if the ground had been a bit better, it would have helped him.

"He did stay on after the last."

Paul Nicholls said of the runner-up: "I can't say I'm not gutted not to win, but you have to say he has run a fantastic race.

"He got a bit tight at the last and lost momentum but he was getting back all the time from there.

"If he'd been sixth or something he'd have gone chasing.

"But he's a champion hurdler and only five so we'll have to come back and try and win.

"He's had a hard race so I'm not sure he'll go to Aintree."