Champion Hurdle
The 2004 Champion Hurdle produced a
surprise, with 33/1 outsider Hardy Eustace, trained by Dessie Hughes
in Co. Kildare and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer, making just about all
the running and drawing away when challenged at the last flight to
beat defending champion Rooster Booster by 5 lengths. The 7-year-old
had won the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle at the previous
Cheltenham Festival, so was clearly no slouch. However, connections
tried first-time blinkers after a few disappointing runs and the
headgear had the desired effect.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Without wishing to detract from the
performance of the winner, Azertyuiop, the Queen Mother Champion
Chase was lessened, as a spectacle, by the departure of the reigning
champion Moscow Flyer at the fourth last fence, before the race had
begun in earnest. In any event, Azertyuiop ran out a ready, 9-length
winner from Flagship Uberalles, with Tiutchev a further 1½ lengths
away in third. Moscow Flyer can beaten Azertyuiop by 4 lengths in the
Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown the previous December, so connections
were left to mull over what might have been.
Stayers’ Hurdle
The finish of the Stayers’ Hurdle
involved the same two horses as the previous year, but Iris’s Gift
reversed the form with reigning champion Baracouda – who was
attempting to win the race for the third year running – to the tune
of 2¼ lengths, to win by 1½ lengths. Baracouda held every chance
and was upsides on the run-in, only to be outbattled in the final 100
yards. The pair finished well clear of Crystal D’Ainay, who could
only keep on at one pace to finish third, 13 lengths away.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
The 2004 Cheltenham Gold Cup featured
history in the making, as Best Mate justified odds of 8/11 to win the
most prestigious race in the National Hunt calendar for the third
year running. In so doing, he became the first horse since Arkle, in
1966, and just the fourth horse ever, to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup
at least three times. Sir Rembrandt, an unconsidered 33/1 outsider
trained by Robert Alner and ridden by Andrew Thornton, finished well
to give the favourite a fright, but Best Mate held on to win by half
a length.
