Moscow Flyer - a true great.

By Dave Ord

All good things must come to an end and all bar the romantics knew this day was close. Moscow Flyer has run his last race.

Throughout the year we have clung to the hope that there would be a revival when the Jessica Harrington team fired again. But sadly Father Time won this particular race.

Moscow Flyer ran his heart out again but to see him being pushed along five out and unable to muster the speed to close the leaders down showed it was over.

Think back to the horse in his prime. His cruising speed, the contempt with which he treated the opposition. Only last year we saw him silence the doubters when having the legs on Azertyuiop and Well Chief in the Tingle Creek. Thankfully he bows out in good health. The legs still work - they just take a little longer to get to their destination now.

He will go down as one of the great two-mile chasers. Cheltenham won't seem the same without him next year.

We had expected Kauto Star to take the throne but he was an early faller in a race full of incident.

It was left to Newmill to jump from fence to fence and spring a surprise.

There were two moments of anxiety when he pecked at the first and got to close to the second last but this hare wasn't for catching.

Fota Island came through to take second from Mister McGolrick who looked a real threat to the winner turning in.

Let's be fair it wasn't a vintage Champion Chase and few would bet against Newmill's reign being a short one.

But to be a Cheltenham champion you simply have to be the best horse on the day. He was.

There was the stench of burnt fingers after the opener, British banker Denman finding Nicanor too tough a nut to crack in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle.

The bookmakers may have tried to claim it was honours even on day one. They can't have the cheek to repeat that after this.

Nicanor and Denman have it all in front of them. For Moscow Flyer it is the end of the road. It has been some journey though and it was a genuine pleasure just to witness part of it.