Garde Champetre heads McManus clean-sweep

Enda Bolger's Garde Champetre led home stablemates L'Ami and Drombeag in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

It was an especially satisfying outcome for jockey Nina Carberry, who was repeating her victory on the same horse from 12 months ago.

In what turned into an Bolger benefit, L'Ami, the 7-4 favourite, led into the straight under JT McNamara.

Fourth in the Gold Cup in his pomp, many expected his class would see him through.

However, despite conceding 4lb to the favourite, Carberry slipstreamed L'Ami before hitting the front at the final obstacle.

Drombeag ran on to finish third for Bolger, with Heads Onthe Ground, the long-time leader, the only one from the stable not to get a place.

A New Story finished fourth to make it a clean sweep for the Irish, who were securing a third winner on the day.

Bolger said of the 7-2 winner: ‘It was great, we had a bit of luck with everything finishing.

‘I've been saying it all along but I think she (Carberry) is probably the best rider I've ever seen, she's tremendous.

‘Without a doubt she has been the making of that horse.

‘He's not the biggest, we used to have old Spot Thedifference here and this one would be able to walk under him.

‘L'Ami got into a great rhythm, and got the run of the race, but the best horse on the day won.

‘Let's hope they are all here next year.’

Carberry was following up a victory for her brother, Paul, who rode Go Native in the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and she added: ‘He's a great little horse, he absolutely loves it.

‘I thought L'Ami had me turning in. I was squeezing my fellow but he wasn't really picking up.

‘I didn't want to help L'Ami up the straight so I pulled wide and gave him a chance to get at him.

‘He did it great and he's a class horse.’

All of Bolger's horses were running in the colours of JP McManus who said: ‘That was nice. I didn't know which one to fancy but thankfully for me the right one won as I had a few quid each-way - but the problem is I didn't have enough on!

‘Enda lives where I used to live and he has made these races his life.

‘He gives horses like L'Ami and Garde Champetre a new lease of life, they have found another vocation.

‘It's great that Cheltenham have put a race like this on so that these horses aren't forgotten about and I'm very much in favour of them.

‘Nina has wonderful hands and horses run for her.’