Newmill upsets the odds, Flyer retired

Racing: Newmill produced a surprise in an incident-packed renewal of the Queen Mother Champion Chase on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The eight-year-old, trained by John Murphy and ridden by Andrew McNamara, made most of the running and the 16-1 shot bounded up the hill to land a convincing win by nine lengths from Fota Island (4-1).

Mister McGoldrick (50-1) was third and Central House fourth, with old champion Moscow Flyer an honourable fifth and has now been retired.

The 12-year-old was trying for a third win in the two-mile contest after
enjoying success in 2003 and 2005 but he will now bow out after failing to win any of his three starts this term.

Trainer Jessica Harrington told Channel 4 Racing: “I’m delighted he retires in one piece, that we go on and he retired here at Cheltenham where he had his finest hours.”

Kauto Star, the 2-1 favourite, fell at the third fence and only six of the 12 starters finished the two-mile course.

Paul Nicholls secured his second success at the Festival as 14-1 chance Star De Mohaison prevailed in an incident-packed renewal of the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Chase.

Always travelling well for Barry Geraghty, the five-year-old was in the lead but being challenged by Back In Front coming to the second-last. That rival crashed out to leave Idle Talk the only serious challenger but Star De Mohaison was not for catching and powered to a six-length win.

Darkness, who never jumped well at any stage, stayed on from another parish to finish a further 11 lengths back in third. The race lost some of its lustre as the well-fancied Our Ben unseated Ruby Walsh at the third and there was a further blow for punters when 9-2 favourite Commercial Flyer was pulled up before the fourth-last, while Ardaghey crashed out at the ninth.

In the day's opener Nicanor gave the huge Irish contingent plenty to cheer about as he took the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.

Noel Meade’s charge was cruising approaching the final bend as hot favourite Denman hit the front and Paul Carberry just bided his time on the 17-2 shot before easing away on the run-in.

Denman, the 11-10 market leader, had to settle for second, with the mare Refinement staying on up the hill to claim third.

Nicanor’s stablemate Mr Nosie set the early gallop as Carberry settled in the pack and Denman took up a prominent position on the outside.

As Carberry worked his way through, Ruby Walsh sent the Paul Nicholls-trained Denman to the front but the writing was on the wall as Nicanor came with a double handful at the last.

A good leap at the final flight sealed matters and Nicanor accelerated away to a two-and-a-half-length win, with Refinement a further six lengths back in third.

Cheltenham 2.00
1 Nicanor (P Carberry) 17-2
2 Denman (R Walsh) 11-10 Fav
3 Refinement (A P McCoy) 11-2
17 ran
Also: 9-1 Mr Nosie 4th

Cheltenham 2.35
1 Star de Mohaison (B J Geraghty) 14-1
2 Idle Talk (J M Maguire) 33-1
3 Darkness (P J Brennan) 11-2
15 ran
Also: 9-2 Fav Commercial Flyer, 66-1 Lord Killeshanra 4th

Cheltenham 3.15
1 Newmill (A J McNamara) 16-1
2 Fota Island (A P McCoy) 4-1
3 Mister McGoldrick (D Elsworth) 50-1
12 ran
Also: 2-1 Fav Kauto Star, 7-1 Central House 4th