Cheltenham Festival: Cole Harden makes all to win World Hurdle

Thursday 12 March 2015 19:39, UK

Cole Harden made every yard of the running to win the Ladbrokes World Hurdle in brave fashion at 14/1.

Image: An early start for Willie Mullins as his Thursday and Friday team stretch their legs
Image: A kiss for the photographers from this racegoer...
Image: ...but these two seem to have lunch on their minds
Image: It's TV host Jeremy Kyle
Image: Vautour pours it on from the front in the JLT...
Image: ...and is in complete command up the hill
Image: It's arguably the most impressive performance of the meeting - and another Walsh-Mullins winner
Image: Call The Cops (nearside) rallies to regain the lead and win the Pertemps Final
Image: Andrew Tinkler celebrates as he returns on Nicky Henderson's first winner of the week
Image: A huge moment at the Festival as Uxizandre and AP McCoy win the Ryanair Chase
Image: The pair are too strong for Ma Filleule having made all the running
Image: It's a sweet moment for the remarkable jockey
Image: Tony McCoy celebrates winning the Ryanair Chase on Uxizandre alongside trainer Alan King (far left) and owner John P McManus (far right)
Image: There's a kiss from wife Chanelle
Image: He finally gets his hands on the trophy
Image: Cole Harden jumps the last as he wins the Ladbrokes World Hurdle
Image: Gavin Sheehan celebrates their win in the feature race
Image: Darna and David Bass land the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate
Image: Another jockey has that winning Cheltenham feeling
Image: Jamie Codd celebrates his second winner of the week on David Pipe' The Package in the Kim Muir

Warren Greatrex's six-year-old jumped beautifully for Gavin Sheehan, with the pair celebrating their first Cheltenham Festival victories in the third Grade 1 contest of the day.

Sheehan was soon able to get Cole Harden in front, with Reve De Sivola unable to force a change of tactics on the eventual winner, who had been beaten on his previous three visits to Prestbury Park but clearly benefitted from a breathing operation since his last defeat.

Sheehan's mount made a couple of minor mistakes on the way round but most of his rivals were niggling away by the time the field got to the top of the hill.

However the key incident came two out, where the strong travelling Zarkandar (6/1) made a terrible mistake, Noel Fehily doing well to pick his nose up off the ground - he also badly hampered Blue Fashion, who was threatening to get involved in the finish.

Sheehan kicked again off the turn and got a fine response, with a lovely jump at the last maintaining a lead of a couple of lengths which he extended in the final 100 yards.

Saphir Du Rheu (5/1f) stayed on to claim second for Paul Nicholls,and Nicholls also saddled Zarkandar, who rallied after his mistake and just held off At Fishers Cross and AP McCoy for third.

"If you're going to break your duck (at Cheltenham), you may as well do it in a big one," Greatrex said.

"This means everything. I was struggling with him early season, but then he went and won at Wetherby and I didn't know what to think.

"I knew there was something wrong in the winter so we had his wind done after the Cleeve and I haven't missed a day since then. I need to thank my head lad Graham who does everything with this horse.

"We knew he was spot on, you don't come thinking you are going to win, but I knew the rest would have to be right on their game.

"I thought going to the last we had them as he wouldn't stop. It's fantastic. We're trying to compete with the big yards and hopefully this will help."

Sheehan added: "It's pretty special - very, very special.

"Warren got me psyched up before the race. With fractions, you can't get them right all the time but you can only feel what your horse is giving and he gave me an exceptional ride.

"His jumping was brilliant. He was very quick and did everything right.

"I was very nervous coming down the hill, I was holding on to him and wondering if I should send him on. Then I turned into the straight and he kept picking up and I was like 'where is everybody' but when I saw the line, it meant everything."

Of his placed runners, Nicholls said: "Zarkandar was travelling really well but he lost any chance when he made a mistake and I think he is dead unlucky.

"Saphir Du Rheu travelled extremely well but you can see why he's a chaser as he just lacks a gear on that ground."

Rebecca Curtis was more than satisfied with At Fishers Cross' effort in fourth under Tony McCoy.

She said: "He has run a blinder and it's nice to see him finish his race today. I think he bumped into trouble a couple of times and AP said if he knew he was going to finish like that, he would have had him a bit handier.

"It's nice to see him back to his best. The blinkers have done him no harm and and there's no reason why he won't go to Aintree as long as he's fine next week. The ground was probably quick enough for him today."

Around Sky

DO NOT USE IN ARTICLES

Upgrade to Sky Sports to watch over 200 live festive football matches and all the darts

DO NOT USE

Not got Sky? Get instant access to Sky Sports with no contract