What a race! Jango Baie flashes home in remarkable Arkle

Despite being the second race of the meeting, we might not see a better finish this week at the Cheltenham Festival as Jango Baie flashed home under Nico de Boinville to prevail in a four-way finish to the line in a remarkable five-runner My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy.In a finish that resurrected memories of Champ’s incredible success in what is now the Brown Advisory five years ago, Jango Baie was fully six lengths down at the final fence but stormed home to pip Majborough and Only By Night in the shadow of the post, with the strong-travelling L’Eau Du Sud less than a length behind the victor in fourth. Touch Me Not trailed home last of the runners. Such a finish could not have been anticipated for much of the contest, with hot favourite Majborough – one of the perceived ‘bankers’ of the meeting beforehand – slotting in behind the leaders before taking up the running after the fourth fence and standing off at several obstacles down the back as he traded blows up front with Touch Me Not. Majborough looked in command heading to three from home at the bottom at the hill, but the eye was drawn to L’Eau Du Sud and a confident-looking Harry Skelton before the leader made a momentum-shuddering error at the second-last and lost his hind legs on landing, handing the initiative to the British challenger before Only By Night – the only mare in the line-up – swept to the front after the final fence. It was De Boinville and Jango Baie who had the final say however, and in remarkable fashion as trainer Nicky Henderson witnessed his 73rd Cheltenham Festival winner and surely one of his most dramatic. The winner was matched to small sums in-running on Betfair at 329, while Majborough traded at 1.33. L’Eau Du Sud was matched at 1.4 and Only By Night at 1.22 in an enthralling contest.

Nico De Boinville has an enviable record in Cheltenham Festival Grade Ones races - before play on Tuesday, a 24 per cent strike-rate to a level stakes profit of £32.16, and an overall record 45 per cent better than anticipated by the market - and Henderson hailed a fine ride from his stable jockey.

"We got one thing right the whole way through - this is not a two-miler," Henderson told Racing TV on his winner.

We wanted to make the running and he couldn't go fast enough - he really couldn't go fast enough. 

"It was some ride. He let them go. They did go hard and it's lovely ground, proper jumping fast ground, and they were hammering away and he couldn't go fast enough.

"I have seen it before when they are outpaced that you have alwaus got the hill to come to your aid if you need it. 

"He looked as if he flew the last and just got running- I didn't know he could go that fast, I must admit!"

When asked by Lydia Hislop when he thought Jango Baie was in with a chance, the trainer said: "Nowhere.

"Because from where I was it looked as though it was going to be too late.

"You can take it from me that's the last time you'll see him over two miles."