Watch the Fred Winter highlights on RPTV
What A Charm makes it six of the best for Ireland
Report: Cheltenham Festival, Wednesday
Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 4yo, Old course
IRELAND'S wonderful Wednesday rolled on into a super sixth success as the filly What A Charm, one of just two Irish contenders in the field, fought off top-weight Kumbeshwar up the hill.
The Arthur Moore-trained What A Charm, a second winner of the day for Pricewise at 12-1, kept the winners flowing for the away team.
It has beena quite amazing day for the Irish, following wins in the first five races, including victory in the Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase with Sizing Europe.
What A Charm was a first festival success for jockey Paul Townend and an eighth for Moore. And apart from becoming a sixth straight Irish-trained winner on day two, and ninth overall this year, she was following in thefootsteps of Gaspara and Silk Affair to become the third filly to land this race in its seven-year history.
Townend, who was replaced on Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly by Ruby Walsh, was clearly delighted.
"I've been lucky to ride Hurricane Fly and a lot of others that have been good, but it's special to ride a winner at the festival," he said. "She ran a little keen down the straight the first time but she got into a lovely rhythm down the back. She's a real battler and I can't believe it."
Paul Townend punches the air as he is led back in on What A Charm
PICTURE: GettyA compelling case could have been made for the winner, who on Flat form was some 20lb clear on personal-best Racing Post Ratings having landed Leopardstown's November Handicap.
And with the cheekpieces, for which she wore on that occasion, back on here she had to enter calculations and in the end won with something to spare for her legendary trainer.
It was a tremendous effort by the runner-up Kumbeshwar, who shrugged off his burden to lead his field a merry dance most of the way only to be outclassed in the end by the well-weighted winner.
Join the betting revolution! Download our FREE appfor iPhone and Android with brilliant built-in betting. Download the app now
Comments