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."

The winning rider said to Lydia Hislop: "I couldn't lay up early doors.

"I was just there thinking I'm on a two-and-a-half-mile to three-plus horse, so if I could just keep tabs on them.

Then in the back of my mind I sort of had Barry on Champ, and just seeing if I could just fill him up coming down the hill and have one crack at them and try and come with a wet sail and try and ride for a place as it were.

"To be fair, he's winged the last - I see Majborough had made a proper mistake and he's done well to get so close again - and then he's found all the way to the line and kept staying. 

"It's unexpected, but I'm very happy."

The rider added: "“t’s a great feeling when you know you are going to get there, but it’s gut-wrenching when you go down by a neck or a head, which does happen a lot. Today the stars were aligned and he got his head in front.”

Gavin Cromwell diverted Only By Night from the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase to the Arkle after the season-ending injury to Sir Gino and the Irish trainer was well vindicated as his 25-1 chance was just pipped into second. 

"For a little while I thought we had it won," Cromwell said to Lydia Hislop. 

"And Nico came and picked our pockets!

"I'm happy that we chose the right race anyway and she proved that she's a very good mare."

Of third home Majborough, Willie Mullins said: “Even though our horse was beaten and didn’t jump well, I thought it was an extraordinary race to watch and I’m delighted for Nico and delighted for Nicky.

“It was a fantastic ride from Nico on the winner, our fellow just didn’t jump and that’s not like him, so it’s disappointing. But to make the mistake he made at the second-last and still finish third, that shows what sort of engine he has.

“We had no worries about his jumping at all and I’m surprised that he did that, but that’s what can happen in the heat of battle.

“He looks like that (Gold Cup) type of a horse, I know he has the engine to do it, we’ve just got to get his jumping right and stay sound.” 

Harry Skelton, sporting a black eye and stitches having been kicked by a foal, added of L’Eau Du Sud, who is trained by his brother, Dan: “He’s run really well and hasn’t missed a beat and has just got beat after the last, there’s not much more you can ask.

“He’s just been beaten a length and a half and somehow finished fourth. He’s run well.”