Istabraq was the highlight and Generosa allowed the Irish to leave in good heart after the last race but the visiting punters were left gathering their wits following the earlier eclipses of Cardinal Hill and His Song.
Cardinal Hill and JP McManus' other well-touted runner Joe Mac were in A1 position at the top of the hill in the Citreon Supreme Novices Hurdle but that was as close as they ever got to the runaway winner Hors La Loi. Tony McCoy kicked Hors La Loi clear on the downhill run and Cardinal Hill was beginning to struggle when he unseated Paul Carberry at the second last.
Joe Mac kept on for second but at a 17 length distance. Arctic Fancy was a 66 to 1 third with Colonel Yeager, who struggled early on, fourth. Hors La Loi's owner Paul Green had been told Cardinal Hill had been catching pigeons in preparation but McCoy had no problem reassuring him. "I told him that this fellah can catch, cook and eat pigeons," McCoy said afterwards.
Noel Meade's search for a first festival winner thus continues. "It's hard to know if he would have won. He was going alright but so was the winner," he said. At least he was spared second spot again, a spot that Joe Mac's disappointed trainer Christy Roche described as "the loneliest place in the world."
His Song, the 4 to 1 favourite, never got in a blow in the Guinness Arkle Trophy, trailing home sixth behind the ex-Pat Flynn trained Flagship Uberalles who provided Somerset trainer Paul Nicholls with his first festival winner. "It's a little disappointing," said His Song's rider Shay Barry. "He jumped alright but he wants farther."
Linden's Lotto was a well supported 6 to 1 favourite for the Kim Muir but was hampered down the back and could manage only seventh behind the 20 to 1 winner Celtic Giant. Afterwards Time For A Run's rider Philip Fenton received a six-day ban following an incident on the bend in front of the stands when five horses came down.
Norman Williamson had a shock 25/1 success on Betty's Boy in the National Hunt Handicap but the Cork-born rider returned to Irish roars after giving Generosa a wonderfully patient ride to win the Stakis Casinos Final. Generosa arrived at the last to account for Melody Maid, the favourite Galant Moss and the well-backed Shannon Gale.
"Riding her the way Norman did is the key. It was a brilliant performance by him," said trainer John Hasset who trains the mare from his Quin, Co Clare, stables for the renowned breeder Timmy Hyde. "I just hope I haven't used up all my luck on the first day," said a delighted Williamson who, with Nick Dundee and Teeton Mill to come, is now a 4 to 5 favourite to be the festival's leading rider.
