Jezki leaves fancied rivals trailing in McManus Champion Hurdle 1-2
OWNER JP McManus hailed “a very special day” after claiming a one-two in the Champion Hurdle, 9-1 shot Jezki pipping the fancied My Tent Or Yours to win the feature race on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Favourite Hurricane Fly got nowhere near a third victory in the race, as Barry Geraghty and the Jessica Harrington-trained Jezki held off AP McCoy and his Nicky Henderson-trained mount.
“National Hunt season centred around the Champion Hurdle for me because I didn’t have any Gold Cup horses and I’m unlikely to win the Grand National,” said McManus. “It’s a very special day.”
The race was marred, however, by the death of Our Conor. His fall held up Sam Twiston-Davies and The New One, who rallied to take third. Owner Barry Connell had pledged any of The New One’s winnings to a fund in aid of paralysed jockey JT McNamara, injured here last year.
Trainer Willie Mullins hailed “superstar” Quevega after Ruby Walsh steered the 10-year-old past Glens Melody in the final 100 yards to claim a record sixth consecutive triumph in the Mares’ Hurdle.
“I’m happy now for the week,” said Mullins, who played down talk of a seventh tilt. “She’s a superstar. She has her own place in history now.”
It was Walsh’s second win of the day, having earlier ridden favourite Vautour to an emphatic victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.