Had the new century's first renewal of the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival been confined to its first two days it would have been universally declared a truly glorious affair. However, once again, the world famous amphitheatre provided the perfect stage on which high drama would unfold - proving yet again the old adage that triumph and disaster are but two sides of the same coin, separated on occasions by the merest hair's breadth of chance … …

Retiring Clerk of the Course, Major Philip Arkwright, had left no stone unturned to produce going that was simply superb. Good ground with a dense covering of grass but, thanks to months of rain over the winter, completely without jar, provided perfect conditions that produced perfect, record crushing results one after the other. When asked what was so special about the Festival to him personally, Major Arkwright pinpointed the moment when the tapes go up for the start of the first race and a huge cheer erupts from the packed grandstands, a cheer that is both an expression of relief and of sheer enthusiasm, uniting the crowd in the sense of being part of a great occasion. He said "above all, there have been so many moments of magic - pure magic." He wasn't to be disappointed by the Festival in 2000.

Istabraq on parade prior to the race

The 'magician' of the first day of the meeting was inevitably the reigning Champion Hurdler - Istabraq, whose mission was to notch a hat trick of victories in the race, raising him to the same status as others such as Hattons Grace, Sir Ken, Persian War and See You Then. That he would succeed seemed merely a formality to the majority of the racegoers who had arrived at the course expecting to have their own share in his historic achievement.

Despite a scare on the morning of the preceding day when it seemed the horse had suffered a slight nosebleed, he was passed fully fit to take his place centre stage. Professionals of his calibre, whether human or equine, know their part and can usually be relied upon to produce their best when it truly matters and Istabraq is nothing if not professional.

It is true that he lacked opposition of the highest class to test his superiority to the limit on this occasion, but that was hardly Istabraq's fault. His own class was not in question, nor his courage and he did not disappoint his devoted public. He is a true hurdler, with superb technique, and his ability to cross the hurdles at speed and with a minimum of effort enables him to maintain any position his jockey chooses during a race. Charlie Swan, his regular rider, has postponed his retirement from the saddle in order to continue his association with Istabraq - it is easy to understand why!

Istabraq (right) vying for the lead with Blue Royal

The actual race was easy for the winner, who took up a position just off the lead near the rails and made his move as the field turned into the straight. Flying the final flight of hurdles, the result was simply never in doubt - he shot up the Cheltenham hill, which he seems to relish, and finished an easy 4 lengths in front of Hors La Loi III (who had won at the previous year's meeting by a distance of 17 lengths) and Nicky Henderson's lovely horse, Blue Royal, who was just a neck away in third. The latter seems to have enormous promise but surely his future will lie over fences. The race was run in record time.

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