Geraghty glee as double helps complete full Festival deck
Eventual winners Barry Geraghty and Punjabi (L) approach the second hurdle as Othermix (C), ridden by Paddy Brennan, make the early running in yesterday's Champion Hurdle
An enthusiastic racegoer cheers Forpadydeplasterer on his way to victory. Photo: Frank McGrath
Independent Newspapers’ group marketing director Paula Murphy presents the cup for the Irish Independent Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase to publican Charlie Chawke after Forpadydeplasterer was first past the post. Photo: Frank McGrath
International three-day event champion and British royal Zara Phillips enjoys the day’s racing. Photo: Frank McGrath
JP McManus celebrates his birthday with a win by his horse, Wichita Lineman. Photo Frank McGrath
Ireland captain Robbie Keane arrives with his Spurs teammate Jonathan Woodgate
Actress and film producer Liz Hurley in the stands at Cheltenham
TV fashion guru Trinny Woodall enjoys the action
Frances Nicholas from Limerick and Jackie O’Mahony from Kerry were all smiles as they enjoyed their day out
Punters keep a close eye on progress on the track. Photo: Frank McGrath
"Happy days! Champion Hurdles and Gold Cups are what it's all about and it's nice to do this in my first year with Nicky Henderson."
Barry Geraghty's gleeful reaction is testament to a man enjoying a renaissance in his fortunes and savouring the rewards of a partnership that flourishes daily.
Mobbed just an hour earlier by the delirious connections of Irish Independent Arkle Trophy hero Forpadydeplasterer, the 29-year-old proceeded to complete the full deck of Festival championships as he drove Punjabi to a surprise win over Celestial Halo and stable companion Binocular.
Thus, the most famous member of a horse-mad family from Drumree, Co Meath, added the Champion Hurdle to Gold Cup, Champion Chase and World Hurdle victories -- not to mention the 2003 Aintree Grand National on Monty's Pass.
He has completed six Liverpool marathons on the trot -- an enviable record -- and, yesterday, he extended an unbroken winning sequence around Cheltenham's unforgiving circuit to eight festivals.
Yet, he prefers to deflect much of the attention towards the trainers who have provided him with the fire-power to rack up these feats.
Here he lauded both new boss Henderson and Tralee's Tom Cooper for delivering Punjabi and Forpadydeplasterer at the fixture in the form of their lives despite mid-season setbacks.
A heavy fall when travelling well at Kempton in the Christmas Hurdle, effectively robbed the Punjabi camp of a €1m bonus as he'd previously landed Newcastle's Fighting Fifth before obliging here.
Sidelined while recuperating after Kempton, Punjabi could only finish third on his most recent outing at Wincanton.
The wide smile of satisfaction of a job well done was etched on Geraghty's face as he returned for the second time yesterday to the winner's enclosure, even if the celebrations were muted compared to the uninhibited joy that marked a second Cheltenham success for Tom Cooper's much smaller Kerry yard.
Held up for a fortnight over Christmas with a bruised foot, Forpadydeplasterer richly deserved another Grade 1 triumph after three domestic seconds at this level and his fast, accurate jumping was a joy to behold.
