DAY ONE REVIEW:WHY CERTAIN people possess the ability to raise their game when it counts, when the pressure is most intense, is a huge sporting indefinable, but Barry Geraghty proved again at Cheltenham yesterday that having it is priceless.
The former champion jockey has never been one for the sort of flagellant obsession some of his colleagues indulge in to try to get it right at the festival, and never has his free-wheeling ability to think on his feet been more obvious than during Punjabi’s Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle victory.
No one knows better than Geraghty how highly regarded Binocular is by Nicky Henderson, a trainer who saddled See You Then to three-in-a-row in 1985-87, and whose ability to judge jockeys is second to none.
Mick Fitzgerald’s retirement last summer meant Henderson had one of the most prized jobs in racing to fill and he didn’t hesitate to plump for the man who continues to commute to England each week from his Meath home.
As JP McManus’s retained rider, Tony McCoy was always going to ride Binocular, who was backed into 6 to 4 yesterday as if defeat were out of the question. Typically, though, Geraghty still fancied his chances on the favourite’s stable companion.
“It was touch and go in the last 50 yards but what this horse has is bottle, bottle and more bottle. I thought he was the forgotten horse of the race,” he said.
In contrast, Binocular was the focus of all eyes, and as the field turned down the hill on the back of a furious pace there was an ease to the way he travelled that had favourite backers anticipating a pay off. With McCoy motionless, and Ruby Walsh pumping Celestial Halo into the lead, it looked a done-deal to most in the stands – but not to Geraghty.
“I knew that if McCoy wasn’t right on my tail at the second-last and travelling really well, then my danger would be Ruby,” he reported, after making the sort of split-second decision that can make or break a championship attempt.
Punjabi wore into Celestial Halo’s lead, leaving Binocular to look after himself, and although the favourite ran on noticeably well, Geraghty’s instinct secured a neck success.
Earlier, Geraghty’s big-race temperament was praised by Forpadydeplasterer’s trainer Tom Cooper after a dramatic Arkle victory.
“Barry really is the man for the big moment and his record here is just amazing,” he said.
“He’s a genius and a man for the big days.”
Cousin Vinny could only manage fifth to Go Native in the Supreme after a troubled run-up to the race that has Willie Mullins predicting an increase in trip.
“Patrick says the trip was too short for him on that ground, but you would have to think the last few days have had an impact as well. He travelled over all right but once he arrived he didn’t settle – he wouldn’t eat or drink. He wasn’t himself yesterday or the day before,” the trainer said.
It was a better story for Mullins in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle as Quevega ran away under Ruby Walsh to justify huge Irish support.
Enda Bolger and Nina Carberry view the Cross Country race in even more confident mood each year and the former champion amateur jockey enjoyed her fourth festival success on Garde Champetre.
“It has been a great day for the family, with Paul winning the first race,” she said. “It was my plan to follow L’Ami because my lad has a bit more boot. He’s a class horse.”
