Fehily enjoys greatest triumph after Hurricane Fly blows cold

Instead it was Rock On Ruby – and unsung hero Noel Fehily – who sprung a major surprise, beating the gallant long-time leader Overturn with Ruby Walsh back in third on the reigning champion Hurricane Fly, who was never in contention.

The 11-1 win received the loudest cheers from bookmakers, coming 35 minutes after the heavily-backed Sprinter Sacre’s electrifying victory in the Racing Post Arkle Trophy – Irish bookmaker Paddy Power reported losses close to the £5m mark.

Yet, while the Barry Geraghty-ridden chaser has the class to dominate for years and become a worthy successor to the likes of Moscow Flyer and Master Minded in the two-mile division, he still has to prove his credentials at championship level.

That is Sprinter Sacre’s next test, one which no longer applies to Rock On Ruby who had ironically been ridden by the aforementioned Walsh at Kempton on Boxing Day when finishing runner-up to Binocular, another of the leading protagonists to disappoint.

No one, however, will begrudge Fehily the biggest victory of his career. The jockey, who rides Ferdy Murphy’s Kalahari King in tomorrow’s Ryanair Chase, missed last year’s Festival with a broken wrist, prompting Paul Nicholls to replace him with Daryl Jacob as Walsh’s deputy.

And, in one of Fehily’s luckier career breaks, he only had the ride because Nicholls had four runners in the feature.

As widely anticipated, Jason Maguire – buoyed by the victory of Cinders And Ashes in the Supreme Novices – set a blistering pace on Overturn, who clearly benefited from a long lay-off.

He was only passed on the turn for home, and then briefly threatened to retake the lead when Rock On Ruby hesitated at the last in the only semblance of a mistake.

Though he closed, the 4-6 favourite Hurricane Fly – always in rear – never finished closer than third, with Binocular fourth.

Elated Fehily said: “I went down and schooled him earlier in the week and he felt amazing.

“I was told not to worry about sending him on but I was worried going to the last as he was pulling up a little bit, but he picked up again afterwards. The ground probably suited him a little bit, he was very well on the day.”

Nicholls, who was consolidating his position at the head of the trainers’ title race, said: “This horse is a seven-year-old, he’s the right age, and it’s brilliant. It was a great ride by Noel. He’s a good man and has got a great winner.”

That said, nothing should be taken away from the heroic Overturn, a 20-1 outsider who combines hurdling with brave runs in the major long distance Flat handicaps. He could even defend the Chester Cup that he won last May, said trainer Donald McCain.

“To see him stick his chin out again going down to the last and to the line is fantastic. His jumping was quicksilver,” said McCain. “He’s shattered now, but I guarantee in the morning he’ll come out like a tiger saying ‘where can we go tomorrow?’. It’s a fantastic problem as he’s a horse who wants to please you.

“I’m pretty sure there’ll be a Chester Cup down the line and going over fences is a possibility as I’ve schooled him and he’s absolutely lightning over a fence.”

Bitterly disappointed Walsh was slightly bemused by Hurricane Fly’s poor show – he says he was beaten a long way out.

A hat-trick hero on the Festival’s opening day 12 months ago, the chances of Walsh’s Arkle hope Al Ferof went when making a horrendous mistake in the back stretch.

That said, Sprinter Sacre was simply scintillating. He has the size, physique, agility and ability to reach the top, combining fluent jumping with a relentless cruising speed. He just oozes class.

Though he briefly idled approaching the last, it was clear Sprinter Sacre was dossing – and he soon pulled clear of Cue Card to win by seven lengths. Unbeaten in four starts over fences, he will surely be targeted at next year’s Champion Chase.

There was a neat symmetry to the win. Barry Geraghty has now ridden a winner at every Festival since 2002 when he landed the Arkle on Moscow Flyer, a wonderhorse who went on to win two Queen Mother Chases, and says Sprinter Sacre is the only horse to compare favourably to the former champion.

“He’s unbelievable, he has so much pace and scope – I’m not sure I’ve had the privilege to ride anything like that,” said the jockey as he received the crowd’s adulation.

“Moscow Flyer would always doss and might just beat an average horse a couple of lengths. The way he jumped the third-last he gives you some feel.”

The win was trainer Nicky Henderson’s 40th at the Festival, equalling Fulke Walwyn’s all-time record. “It’s nice to get it out of the way on the first day. This was a horse we hoped might do it and he could really be special,” he said.

“You wait for something to come out of the woodwork and be a real champion and it just might be him.”

Henderson is unsure whether Sprinter Sacre will run again this season while Cue Card’s trainer Colin Tizzard will step his star up in trip. He said: “I think we’re all in awe of the front one really.”

There was some consolation for Walsh when the iconic Quevega won a record fourth successive Mares’ Hurdle, though his misfortune returned in the last when he parted company from That’ll Do.