Revenge is sweet... for the bookies

STUNG by a Ruby Walsh hat-trick on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival, the bookmakers got their money back big time following the eclipse of two of the meeting’s bankers, Voy Por Ustedes and Kasbah Bliss.

The former was denied by the rejuvenated Imperial Commander in the Ryanair Chase, while Kasbah Bliss, backed as though defeat was out of the question, could not even reach the frame in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle won by Big Buck’s.

Much of the pre-Festival talk had surrounded the chances of these horses and two other hot favourites in Binocular and Master Minded.

Of the four, only Master Minded won and that was at the miserly price of 4-11.

The demise of three such strongly-fancied horses merely underlines how difficult it is to win at this meeting.

If you are not 100-per-cent, you won’t win and Voy Por Ustedes found that out to his cost when a shocking mistake at the fourth-last fence cost him valuable momentum just as Imperial Commander was striking for home.

Despite all his gallant efforts, Voy Por Ustedes could not peg back Nigel Twiston Davies’s horse, who was returning to the form which saw him land the Paddy Power Gold Cup over the same course and distance in November.

Imperial Commander was given a positive ride by Paddy Brennan, who enthused: “I opened my mouth after the Paddy Power and told everyone how good he was and I am thrilled that he has proved me right.”

As for Kasbah Bliss, who was supported to odds-on, the writing was on the wall two hurdles from home where Punchestowns and Big Buck’s appeared to be going better.

Punchestowns led into the home straight, but Big Buck’s was stalking his rival and, despite a mistake at the last, Walsh’s mount got the better of their duel on the run-in.

Big Buck’s was completing a double for trainer Paul Nicholls following the opening-race success of the impressive Chapoturgeon.

He said: “I know we were worse off at the weights with Punchestowns (from their running at this course in January), but if you watch a video of their race and know him at home you would know he only does just enough.”

Nicholls was not the only trainer to land a double.

His feat was emulated by Venetia Williams, whose Kay Aramis landed the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final before supplying a one-two with Something Wells and Ping Pong Sivola in the Freddie Williams Plate.

The concluding Kim Muir Handicap Chase went to the North via John Quinn’s Character Building, who was beautifully delivered by Jamie Codd, to head Pretty Star close home.