RACING:IRISH HORSES scored twice on Day One of the Cheltenham festival, but even that double for racing's most famous owner-gambler, JP McManus, couldn't compete for the limelight with Katchit's ultra-brave display in winning the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
Katchit capped a memorable day for his English jockey Robert Thornton, whose nickname "Chocolate" must have only hinted at how sweet an afternoon it was for the 29-year-old.
Earlier he had stepped in for the spare ride on the McManus-owned Captain Cee Bee, who beat another McManus runner, Binocular, in the Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices Hurdle. Tony McCoy had the pick of the pair and got it wrong by two lengths.
Thornton received a three-day ban for his use of the whip on Captain Cee Bee, and got another four for the same offence on Katchit. But not even that could dampen his enthusiasm for the Champion Hurdle winner.
"The more I got stuck into him, the more he gives. I haven't found the bottom of him yet," Thornton laughed after Katchit battled through testing ground to beat Osana by a length. "He's a little legend, as tough as a box of nails. I knew he would fight, win, lose or draw, and he did."
Best of the eight-strong Irish team was the 2007 champion Sublimity in fourth. But there was huge disappointment for followers of the favourite, Sizing Europe, who was alongside Katchit and Osana at the second-last only to fade dramatically.
Sizing Europe was all but pulled up after the last and beat only one home to puncture all the hopes of those who had forced him down to 2 to 1 market leader.
"One minute we were flying. Andrew (McNamara) gave him the perfect ride and the horse was in control," said a disconsolate trainer, Henry De Bromhead. "He lost his action. I don't know why. We will see tomorrow. Sometimes these things come to light in the morning. When it happens, your heart sinks, but life goes on."
Nina Carberry was again the toast of Cheltenham after landing the BGC Cross Country Chase on Garde Champetre, who led home an Irish one-two-three-four while also wearing McManus's second colours. The champion amateur also won the race last year on Heads Onthe Ground.
"I'm gobsmacked by how easy he has won, but Nina is world class and the horse runs and jumps for her," said trainer Enda Bolger.
Carberry was quickly followed into the winners' enclosure by her brother Paul, who upset the hot favourite for the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices Hurdle, Ashkazar, on the 14 to 1 shot Crack Away Jack.
