Forgive Majborough’s error

WOW, what a rollercoaster Cheltenham has been. A few people will be disappointed as the favourites fell by the wayside, but you couldn’t escape the excitement we have witnessed, writes Page Fuller.

Majborough proved the first disappointment of the week in the Arkle, illustrating how low, fast jumping can come with risks attached.

Once it started going wrong, it all fell to pieces, and he did enough in defeat - both good and bad - to suggest that he is still likely to be an exciting prospect moving forwards.

All seemed to be going so well, especially at halfway, where he scored an 8.5, 9.0 and 8.4 out of 10 on the Jump Index at fences 4, 5 and 6.

His slick jumping finally caught out at the 10th fence, however, and he got too low, leaving his back legs trailing and losing -5.97mph in the process.

Unfortunately, that revealed his lack of respect for the obstacles and, when he did the same at the second last, it proved terminal for his chances.

He was only travelling at 28.71mph when he made the first mistake, but considering he was travelling at 32.3mph into the second last, the effect was magnified and the -8.6mph he lost at that fence cost him any chance of the win.

One thing is for certain, that to get within a length of the winner having made those costly mistakes, he must be a smart horse.

He is a big horse and we can’t forget he is only a five-year-old, so he is sure to improve for the experience and another summer under his belt too.

Bumper Bambino

Wednesday was a red letter day for Townend in the Champion Bumper, but not the Townend we’re used to cheering into the winner’s enclosure, as Jody Townend steered Bambino Fever to an electric victory in the Champion Bumper. She looks a really smart prospect.

When she won the listed bumper against the girls at the Dublin Racing Festival, her win time was nearly six seconds quicker than the boys’ event the day before. She proved she was just as good at Cheltenham too.

She put the race to bed with a devastating turn of foot, hitting 37.21mph down the hill and clocking four sub-13 second furlongs in the final five furlongs.

It’s easy to see why she found it so easy and looks a really exciting prospect to go novice hurdling with next season.