Queen Mother Champion Chase report: Tiara sparkles
Special Tiara made most to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase, as Douvan's unbeaten record came to an anti-climactic end at 2/9.
3.30 Cheltenham - Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase result
1st Special Tiara 11/1
2nd Fox Norton 7/1
3rd Sir Valentino 33/1
Race Report
Special Tiara produced a brilliant frontrunning performance to see off all challengers and take the Queen Mother Champion Chase under Noel Fehily, as Douvan's unbeaten record came to the flattest of finales in the Cheltenham sunshine.
From the very first fence, punters who took the 2/9 about Douvan which made him one of the shortest-priced favourites ever seen at the Festival might have wondered if they were in trouble, as he produced a mixed round of fencing and never travelled with any of his characteristic poise.
When Ruby Walsh asked him for an effort travelling to the second-last fence, the response was only for him to drop right out of contention.
In contrast, Noel Fehily, who had wrested a clear lead from Garde La Victoire heading out with a circuit to run, had tried to keep something up his sleeve in front. Without asking for everything, he eked out a little more effort from the 11/1 winner, third in this race for both of the last two seasons.
Steadily the pack were closing on him, with God's Own and Sir Valentino both bearing down two out, but Special Tiara was still two and a half lengths in front over the last and he kept on all the way to the winning post to hold the strong-finishing Fox Norton by a head with Sir Valentino making late gains to take third place.
Douvan eventually finished seventh, a dozen lengths behind the winner. He was subsequently reported by the veterinary surgeon to have finished lame behind.
Reaction
Noel Fehily: "He's such a great ride, he's everything a two-mile chaser should be. He's a very good horse.
"I didn't think I could beat Douvan, but I thought I had a great chance of being second. I got over the last and was surprised something hadn't come to me, but I knew he wasn't stopping.
"I was wondering where Ruby was. I thought he would be stalking me but we just got into such a great rhythm going down the back straight.
"He has one way of running and that's flat to the mat and jump - I just let him get on with it.
"I've always loved two-mile chasers, the Champion Chase is the one you want to win.
"It's difficult to make all in this race especially when you are going at that speed and you worry you are just making yourself into a sitting target. He really deserved this."
Henry de Bromhead: "He has been beaten a few times this year, but that was probably my fault for running him on bad ground. The drier it is, the better chance he has.
"Obviously we were coming here to try and pick up a bit of place money again. It's a horse race, but anything can happen and it just has.
"It's just incredible and very hard to believe at the moment. It's amazing, but no horse deserves it more.
"Noel (Fehily) gave him a super ride. He is a legend. Sometimes he has a tendency to jump up in the air but he was really quick today in flicking through his fences.
"I'd hate to think what I was saying or doing down there, it is pretty public as well. Normally I hide somewhere, but I don't know what I was saying. You can do that every now and again I suppose!
"Douvan is a phenomenal horse and has beaten me many times before, I don't know what has happened today, but I'm happy our horse has benefited from it."
Colin Tizzard: "When Fox Norton jumped the last it looked like he was going to get there.
"Special Tiara has done this for the last few years but to be fair to the horse he pulled out more.
"We had a conversation about this race and Douvan or the Ryanair and I still don't know if we made the right choice!
"He's a fresh horse so he'll go to Aintree next over two and a half miles (Melling Chase)."
Willie Mullins: "He was clearly never going and I thought at the top of the hill he'd do very well to win.
"I'm assuming something happened when he put in those huge jumps, which I've never seen him do before.
"I imagine I'll find a physical problem with him. Ruby (Walsh) said he didn't jump like he normally does and when I saw him jump the first couple of fences, I knew he couldn't get away with it in a Champion Chase.
"I'd been hoping he's my best ever and it's my job to try and get him back if I can. Ruby said he didn't feel like he was moving well behind and I imagine we'll find a physical problem."