Champion Hurdle
Binocular, who’d finished third,
beaten a head and a neck, in 2009, when 6/4 favourite, had originally
been declared a non-runner by trainer Nicky Henderson in February.
However, after an exceptional piece of work, the Lambourn trainer
changed his mind and, somewhat controversially, his charge won the
Champion Hurdle, running on well to beat Khyber Kim by 3½ lengths.
Zaynar, also trained by Henderson, finished third, a further 6
lengths away.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Reigning champion Master Minded was all
the rage, at 4/5, to complete a hat-trick, but ran a lifeless race,
fading into fourth place on the run-in as Big Zeb asserted to beat
compatriot Forpadydeplaster by 6 lengths. The winner, trained by Colm
Murphy in Co. Wexford and ridden by Barry Geraghty, had fallen at the
fourth last when still travelling well within himself the previous
year. Second favourite Kalahari King kept on to take a never
dangerous third, beaten 9¼ lengths by the winner.
Stayers’ Hurdle
Defending champion Big Buck’s,
unbeaten since sent back over the smaller obstacles the previous
season and firmly established as the leading staying hurdler in the
country, started odd-on, at 5/6, to retain his crown. Retain his
crown he did, in emphatic style, cruising upsides the leader, Time
For Rupert, between the last two flights and asserting on the run-in
to win by 3¼ lengths. Powerstation, third in 2009, was third again,
11 lengths further behind.
Cheltenham Gold Cup
Stable companions Kauto Star and Denman
faced off for the third year running, with Kauto Star sent off 8/11
favourite to win his second consecutive Cheltenham Gold Cup and his
third in all. However, having been given time to recover from a bad
blunder before halfway, Kauto Star fell at the fourth last, when
seemingly struggling and Denman was comprehensively outpointed by
Imperial Commander. Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by
Paddy Brennan, Imperial Commander headed Denman at the second last
and won, going away, by 7 lengths. Mon Mome, at 50/1, finished a
well-held third, 23 lengths further behind.
