Moscow Flyer passes Baton to Newmill

Moscow Flyer passes baton to Newmill as this great Champion Chaser reign was brought to an end at Cheltenham yesterday, but it wasn't the young pretender Kauto Star who seized his crown but 16-1 Irish outsider Newmill.

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The highly-touted Kauto Star, sent off 2-1 favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, crashed out at the third fence, interfering in turn with Moscow Flyer, who eventually battled on to finish fifth in what proved to be the final race of his glittering career.

But the eight-year-old Newmill, trained by John Murphy and ridden by Andrew McNamara, quietly went about his business, made most of the running, and bounded up the hill to land a convincing win by nine lengths from Fota Island (4-1).

Mister McGoldrick (50-1) was third and Central House fourth, as only six of the 13 runners completed the course.

"That was amazing, I can't believe how well he travelled all the way. He has a serious amount of speed," said 22-year-old Irish jockey McNamara, a second-season professional who shot to prominence earlier this season with a treble at Musselburgh.

"I had one look behind before the last. I heard a big roar (when Kauto Star fell) but I wasn't sure if it was him or not."

Murphy said: "We only decided to come for this two weeks ago. I was considering the Champion Hurdle. He will stay three miles, but I don't know what we will do with him next."

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