Racing: Moscow Flyer's flaw lets Flagship sail in

Once again we were reminded at Punchestown yesterday that one of the few certainties in racing is that there are no certainties. Moscow Flyer, the prince of Cheltenham, he of the flawless record at the Co Kildare course, the horse that appeared to jump from cloud to cloud, unseated both Barry Geraghty and what had become an impression of invincibility in the BMW Chase. It was shocking, not least to those who took the 4-11.

Moscow Flyer's only previous defeat this season had been on a foreign sortie, when he was most unfortunate to deposit Geraghty in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown last December after stumbling into Flagship Uberalles.

That old rival was again among the players yesterday, but the script suggested he was just there to help form the guard of honour. In winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase at an earlier Festival, the principal gathering of Cheltenham, Moscow Flyer was so fluent, so brilliant, that it became dangerously easy to see him as something close to impregnable.

That consideration would have taken a jolt, like the nine-year-old himself, at Punchestown's first yesterday, when Moscow Flyer jinked over rather unconvincingly. He got better quickly and the pulses would have settled as he pulled himself to the lead before the fourth last.

Yet just as the thumbs went under the champagne corks, a challenger emerged from the pack. The old Flagship was shivering his timbers and put in a challenge which may have played some part in the favourite's submission.

For, as Moscow Flyer approached the second last, he put in a little staccato step which threw Geraghty both mentally and physically. The jockey had a ground-level view as Flagship Uberalles and Richard Johnson galloped on to victory.

"Richard said he felt like he was back to his very best," Philip Hobbs, the trainer, said. "He travelled and jumped well all the way round and even if Moscow Flyer hadn't fallen I can tell you he'd have been staying on right to the line."

It was nice to see a big man win, for this was yet another success for JP McManus, for whom Flagship Uberalles had become to look a rich man's indulgence. First Gold too had begun to take on the appearance and racing expertise of a white elephant for McManus until he collected the Martell Cup at Aintree, and further payback may come on the second day of Punchestown this afternoon in the Heineken Gold Cup.

This will be a great race if the weather has played its role overnight. For, without a softening in the going, Michael Hourigan's Beef Or Salmon will not be among the field. "I've spoken to the jockeys and they say it is on the fast side of good, and they are the men who should know," the trainer said. "Perhaps if it rains non-stop between now and the race he might still run but, as things stand now, he definitely would not and that would most probably be the end of his season.

"As much as I would like to win the Heineken with him, his career will always be more important and we still have next season to dream about."

Rince Ri and Harbour Pilot are others who need the heavens to open to ensure participation. If all nine declared run it will be one of the highest quality field of chasers ever assembled. For the home team, Native Upmanship, Florida Pearl and Foxchapel King are also in there, as well as the British pairing of Hussard Collonges and Young Spartacus.

As far as Richard Hills is concerned it might as well rain until September, as it was confirmed yesterday that the jockey will miss both the fancied mounts of Muqbil in the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday and Khulood the following day at Newmarket in the fillies' equivalent.

Even though Hills's punishment for a riding misdemeanour at Newcastle last Tuesday was reduced on appeal to 12 days at Portman Square he will still miss the Classics. "I was looking forward to the Guineas rides," the jockey said. "Horses like those do not come along every day. I will especially miss Khulood – she and I have struck up a wonderful relationship.

"This was unfortunate, but it is not the end of the world." You need four horsemen for that.

RACING IN BRIEF: CONCUSSION KEEPS WALSH OUT OF PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL

* Ruby Walsh sustained concussion in a fall on Shady Lad in the first race of the five-day Punchestown Festival. The jockey will miss his rides today to undergo a mandatory rest period and must pass a doctor's examination if he is to ride tomorrow. The race went to Native Beat, well ridden by Barry Geraghty's brother Ross.

* Aidan O'Brien's Tomahawk has come in for support for Saturday's 2,000 Guineas and is 9-1 from 12-1 with the Tote. The trainer's Yesterday is 16-1 from 20-1 with Ladbrokes for Sunday's 1,000.

* Croeso Croeso, at 20-1 in the featured Lansdown Stakes, was the highlight of a 1,511-1 treble for Seb Sanders at Bath yesterday.

* Doncaster racecourse and the trainer Andrew Reid have settled their differences over a race in 2001, contested by Reid's Pants, that was run over the wrong distance. Both sides have called on racing's rulers to take responsibility.