Cheltenham: Voy Por Ustedes won an eventful Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, the feature race on the second day of the 2007 Cheltenham Festival.
The 5-1 shot, trained by Alan King and ridden by Richard Thornton, was following up his victory in the Arkle Trophy 12 months ago.
Leading at the last, he galloped on strongly to beat Dempsey (20-1) by a length and a half, with River City (33-1) five lengths away in third.
There was drama at the second fence when Well Chief, the even-money favourite, fell
Defending champion Newmill and Ashley Brook set a furious pace from the off and it was no surprise when there was an early casualty, with Well Chief giving Timmy Murphy a heavy fall.
Ashley Brook soon went on and continued to lead until after the third-last, where Dempsey was still going well.
Meanwhile, Voy Por Ustedes was making relentless progress and it was between those two horses at the last that the valiant Ashley Brook came down.
It was a second success at the meeting for King and Thornton following their victory with My Way De Solzen in the Arkle Trophy on the opening day.
The winner was bouncing back after unseating Thornton in the Game Spirit at Newbury last time out.
King said: "He was a bit forgotten about after his run at Newbury, which didn't go quite according to plan, but we've been thrilled with his preparation and the ground came right for him.
"He's a much better horse when it dries up so I was quite pleased when I walked the course this morning and 'Choc' (Thornton) gave him a wonderful ride.
"He got in a bit tight at the second-last, but he stays very well. I was looking forward to today and it's great for the team."
Irish-trained Newmill eventually finished fourth and his trainer John Murphy said: "He ran a cracking race, but he made two bad mistakes, one of which knocked the stuffing out of him.
"It didn't help us getting taken on by Ashley Brook in the early
stages, but I had him every bit as good as last year. Providing
he's OK we will look at Punchestown and also Liverpool as he's had
a light campaign."
Denmanerased memories of a short-priced reverse at
last year's Festival when running out a thoroughly convincing
winner of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase.
Ruby Walsh always had the Paul Nicholls-trained 6-5 favourite to the fore in the Grade One contest and the pair soon got into a beautiful rhythm.
Having rounded the turn with a sizeable lead, Denman got over the last safely enough and bounded away up the hill to inflict a 10-length defeat on 10-1 shot Snowy Morning.
According To John, sent off at 66-1, belied his starting price by sticking on well to claim third, a further three and a half lengths away.
Aces Four had looked the only plausible threat to the well-backed winner as he matched strides and was still travelling strongly enough when making a real hash of the third-last.
Denman may just have been getting the better of the argument at that point, but the error gave him a clear advantage and he strode on purposefully.
Irish mare Cailin Alainn came to grief early on in the contest and other market rival Dom D'Orgeval struggled to get competitive.
Favourite-backers were given few anxious moments once Walsh pushed the button approaching two out as Denman measured it well before powering away.
Snowy Morning and According To John both stayed on very strongly but never looked like threatening the winner, who scored in the style of a smart horse.
Walsh, riding his first winner at this year's fixture, beamed: "He's some horse. I had him grand and settled then he got a bit keen going past the stands.
"When Graham Lee nearly feel from Aces Four, he almost pulled himself up. He's a hell of a horse."
Massini's Maguire gave the Philip Hobbs team a fine start to the day when causing a 20-1 upset in the opening Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle.
After the disappointment of Detroit City and the defeat of Fair Along yesterday, Hobbs and jockey Richard Johnson had reason to smile again.
Cork All Starlanded odds of 11-2 in the concluding Weatherbys Champion Bumper for the Jessica Harrington team.
Barry Geraghty was content to settle his mount in midfield for much of the contest but always looked to be travelling powerfully.
Sophocles belied his huge starting price of 40-1 and flashed home late to grab second, while Aranleigh stayed on very powerfully when hitting the rising ground to take third.
On freewheeling down the hill, Geraghty asked Cork All Star to improve his position and the duo nosed ahead entering the home straight.
After going on by a couple of lengths, the winner began to tire as a host of strong-finishing rivals threatened to take a hand.
Cork All Star responded well to Geraghty's urgings, however, and fought on dourly to score by a length and a quarter and one and a half lengths respectively.
Harrington said: "I can't believe it. For the horse to win four
bumpers, including two here, is absolutely amazing. He's some
horse, but I can't work him at home. He won't do it. I'm thrilled
and Barry was brilliant."
Earlier,
Massini's Maguiregamely made all the running and
held on from Tidal Bay by a neck, with Catch Me a length and a half
away in third.
Johnson dictated affairs from the start and got an uncontested lead by a couple of lengths in the early stages, followed by Imperial Commander and My Turn Now.
The favourite Aran Concerto soon recovered after making a mistake at halfway, but his chance disappeared when he stumbled after jumping two out when the leaders got close together.
Massini's Maguire found more on the run to the last, but had to be vigorously ridden to hold Tidal Bay and Catch Me in the closing stages.
Dr Richard Newland plundered another big handicap pot when sending out Burntoakboyto lift the Coral Cup with something in hand.
Powerstation (12-1) ran a big race to claim second but could only get within three lengths of the winner, while 20-1 chance Baron De Feypo stuck to his task to secure third, a further five lengths away.