Ruby Walsh may have endured a nightmare season so far but the clouds lifted as he enjoyed a dream start to the 2011 Cheltenham Festival.
The rider has spent much of the season sidelined through injury, but the Paul Nicholls-trained Al Ferof made the fight back to fitness worthwhile as he landed the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
Last season’s Champion Bumper hero Cue Card was sent off favourite for the Grade One race, but although he travelled well for much of the contest he was hard at work from the turn for home.
Sprinter Sacre looked the most likely winner at the top of the straight, with his stablemate Spirit Son there as well, but Walsh produced Al Ferof with a perfectly-timed run to claim top honours by two lengths.
Spirit Son filled the runner-up spot, with Sprinter Sacre third and Cue Card only fourth.
“I went into the ring expecting Paul to tell me to ride him in the first three, but he said no, give him time to settle and come home and he was right,” Walsh said.
“They went a good gallop, the ground was a bit dead and he picked up when I really needed him to. He jumped super.
“It’s great to be back, a lot of people have helped me, including my family.”
Nicholls added: “You need to stay in this race – Noland won it for us a few years ago. Cue Card beat him last year in the bumper when we gave him weight.
“This is the first time I’ve ever had the horse right and it was a brilliant ride. It’s great for Ruby.
“We’ve had a few get beat in the last fortnight and some people were questioning our form, but all I was concentrating on was getting the horses right for this week.
“If they all go like that we’ll be laughing. To start like that takes the pressure off and it’s amazing for Ruby to be able to do that. It’s brilliant for him.”
PA
