English/Ire
King Rasko Grey gallops on to Turners glory
Willie Mullins claimed a record-extending eighth Turners Novices' Hurdle when the easy-to-back King Rasko Grey powered home to prevail in the Cheltenham Festival opener.
Plenty of eyes were on Paul Nicholls' 5/2 market leader No Drama This End but favourite backers seemed to know their fate from some way out as he struggled to get into contention when the pace began to lift.
In contrast, King Rasko Grey, who had always been well-positioned throughout by Townend, picked up well with Nicky Henderson's Act Of Innocence heading down towards the final flight. However, the latter, who carries the same colours as yesterday's Supreme winner Old Park Star, failed to match the finishing kick of King Rasko Grey, who powered on up the hill to land the spoils by two and a half lengths.
Act Of Innocence held on well to finish back in second, with Zeus Power defying his starting price of 50/1 in third for Joseph O'Brien.
"I looked at the big screen after the race, and I couldn't believe he was 11-1," said Mullins . "I thought he was one of ours coming here with a really good chance
"You never have a banker coming to Cheltenham, but I thought he would be 2-1 or 3-1 max after his run at the Dublin Racing Festival. I wasn't tipping him to my friends as I thought he'd be too short for them – they're all very poor!
"I said after the Leopardstown that he would step forward. I thought he was a little short going into that and I expected him to improve.
"I think Paul chose to ride this horse straight away, there was no debate, and I thought the same – to me this fellow was head and shoulders above a lot of the horses here.
The winner, who is now two from three over hurdles and back to winning ways after finishing third behind Talk The Talk and Ballyfad in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, was providing a welcome to tonic for owner-breeder Audrey Turley after dual Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs was ruled out of Friday's feature.
"It's great for the Turleys after the disappointment earlier in the week, it's fantastic for them to have a winner here."
Paddy Power introduced the winner at 8/1 for next year's Champion Hurdle, with Mullins by no means ruling out the route.
He added: "I actually thought he could be a Champion Hurdle type. I don't know whether he is or not and I'm sure he'll jump a fence, but we'll have a look at his Champion Hurdle credentials first."
Whilst King Rasko Grey could be set to continue his career over hurdles, Nicky Henderson is already left looking forward to next season over fences with his runner-up.
He said: "He's done nothing wrong and he's a lovely big horse like yesterday's winner. I should think it's holiday time for both of them.
"They are young and they have big futures. They are big, proper chasing types."
The contest eventually got underway four minutes later than advertised following a series of false starts, with the early scrimmaging at the tapes causing something of a heated discussion between Irish amateur Declan Queally and Nicky Henderson's stable rider Nico de Boinville.
Queally told ITV Racing: "The start was a bit of a mess, and I got trapped back further than I wanted.
"I was being abused by an English rider Nico de Boinville and it's not very nice. I'm an amateur coming here riding in front of my kids and that, it's horrific."
When asked what he thought of the incident, De Boinville commented by saying: "Maybe he should look in the mirror."
On the performance of No Drama This End, who ultimately had to settle for a position much further back than connections would have liked, owner Max McNeill said: "I think they should have given them another chance to walk in again at the start. If they don't do it first time, they should tell them off and do it again.
"The Irish jockeys know what they are doing and they are going to make it as difficult for the class horse in the races possible.
"The horse wasn't good enough on the day, but we live to fight another day. I'm not blaming Harry at all.
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