Garde wins dramatic Cross Country Chase Garde Champetre won a dramatic renewal of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham this afternoon. The 12 year old was easy to back under top-weight as he attempted to compete a hat-trick in this race and was fortuitous to claim the spoils under John Thomas McNamara. Wedger Pardy had given Jacqueline Coward a great spin from the front, but she did not turn left-handed at the correct time and a number of her rivals either followed or were unable to take the turn, with Richard Johnson crashing through the rail on Balthazar King. However, experienced cross-country rider McNamara along with Nina Carberry (second on Chamirey) and Katie Walsh (third on Hennessy) took the correct course with Enda Bolger's popular veteran gaining a dramatic success. Seven runners took the wrong course although De Danu and Scotsirish retraced their steps and completed the race in fourth and fifth. McNamara said: "They took the wrong track but my horse knows the way better than me! "I'd have been fifth or sixth." Coward said: "I don't really know what happened. "I was leading round the home bend, and was looking for the second-last hurdle, but it wasn't there. "I just don't know what was going on - it all happened very quickly." Johnson attempted to take corrective measures aboard Balthazar King, but brought down A New Story. He said: "I was trying to turn round to get into the home straight, but the horses in front were going on to the Old Course and my fellow just followed them, and ended up crashing into the rails." Bolger accepted he had been fortunate. He said: "Lady Luck was on our side. "I thought I was going for seventh and eighth place but I ended up getting the first two - that's cross-country racing. "My two jockeys walked the course. I'm not saying the others didn't, but perhaps we had the most experienced jockeys in this race." Coward and Adrian Heskin, rider of A New Story, were suspended 12 days but the five other jockeys escaped any punishment. Stipendiary steward Paul Barton said: "Looking at the film, there were varying degrees of doubt whether the other five riders were attempting to take the correct course. "If there is doubt, then you have to give the benefit to the riders. "There's no question Jacqui Coward had taken the wrong course. Adrian Heskin appeared to be aiming for the correct route, but he changed him mind and went down the wrong course." Kim Bailey, trainer of Wedger Pardy, was looking for his first win at the course since returning to Gloucestershire from Northamptonshire. "I thought I was going to break my duck and it's a shame what has happened," he said. "I am a big fan of these races, I think they offer something different, and I hope they don't change."
