THE Cheltenham cauldron boiled over with unrestrained joy yesterday when Istabraq saved thousands of Irish blushes, and bank balances, with a thrilling success in the Royal SunAlliance Hurdle.
After the embarrassment of the first day blank there was almost a sense of desperation about the way punters piled onto the Aidan O'Brien-trained horse in the market, forcing him down to a miserly 6 to 5, and the sense of expectation seemed to transmit itself to Istabraq.
The horse became upset in the paddock causing O'Brien to say after the race: "When they went out onto the course I didn't think he would win. Only a horse as great as he is could have."
That he had the coolest man at Cheltenham on his back was a not inconsiderable help too. The packed stands may have been tense but Charlie Swan dropped Istabraq back to stone last early in the race and gave the impression of blissful unconcern.
It was only with a mile to go that Swan began to make meaningful progress towards the leaders but at the second last hurdle Istabraq was badly bumped by Forest Ivory. It was only on the run in that Istabraq was asked for his maximum effort and he had to produce it as Mighty Moss and Daraydan proved persistent challengers but Istabraq held them off by a length.
Cheltenham's new security arrangements got their first test when Istabraq returned to a rousing reception in the winners enclosure and they produced mixed results. The enclosure was not invaded by a mob of happy punters but O'Brien was initially barred by security guards from greeting his winner.
Only the intervention of Ted Walsh saved an embarrassing situation for the executive but one punter breached the cordon, appreciatively patted Istabraq and was promptly frog marched away by the police.
The backers relief was understandable, however. Owner J P McManus had lost a figure as reportedly high as £100,000 on Finnegan's Hollow on the first day and he said: "I had a few quid on Finnegan's Hollow but downed tools after his fall. I chased my losses with this horse and now show a small profit."
McManus's first thoughts though were for John Durkan, Istabraq's intended trainer at the start of the season until being diagnosed with leukemia. McManus rang Durkan on a mobile phone at the New York hospital where he is undergoing treatment.
"If it wasn't for John we wouldn't have this horse," McManus said. After yesterday, Istabraq is definitely a horse worth having. A beaming Swan, scoring his 11th Festival winner, said: "He is like a Rolls Royce to ride. My only anxious moment was at the second last."
The Irish score for the meeting was doubled when Florida Pearl won the concluding Bumper with total authority. Richard Dunwoody, completing a double after landing the Sun Alliance Chase with Hanakham, sent Willie Mullins's horse to the front down the hill and the race was over as a contest.
Mullins, who trained and rode Wither Or Which to win the same race last year, said: "I have to think he's as good as Wither Or Which after that. Richard is very impressed and ranks him with Montelado who won this race too."
Florida Pearl raced in the colours of Mrs Violet O'Leary, wife of former Irish rugby international, Archie O'Leary.
Klairon Davis couldn't make it a bumper Irish day in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, managing only fourth behind the surprise winner Martha's Son.
"The ground was a little too quick for him and they didn't go half fast enough on it. If it's soft ground next year, he'll win this again," Frank Woods said afterwards.
Martha's Son had missed 18 months through injury before falling on his reappearance three weeks ago but swooped late under Rodney Farrant to beat Ask Tom and Viking Flagship.
