Swindon's Hutchinson remains upbeat despite fall on Balder Succes (From Swindon Advertiser)

Swindon's Hutchinson remains upbeat despite fall on Balder Succes

6:00am Wednesday 13th March 2013 in Sport By Ned Payne

WAYNE Hutchinson was in pragmatic mood after suffering a fall in yesterday’s Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, writes NED PAYNE.

The Swindon jockey was piloting outsider Balder Succes in the feature race of the day when he came off midway through the race.

It was the second successive Festival that Hutchinson had failed to finish in partnership with Balder Succes, who is the charge of Barbury Castle trainer Alan King. Although downhearted, Hutchinson believes there was not a great deal he could have done to prevent the fall.

“It was a disappointment on my part,” he said.

“I was flat out from the word go and jumped well but I’ve missed the fourth, I’m struggling away and the faller was in front of me.

“I couldn’t help but go over the top of him and got locked off, so it was disappointing, but unfortunately things like that happen.

“It happened so quickly in front of me and it’s just part of racing.”

Prior to the Champion Hurdle, Hutchinson finished 10th aboard Cloudy Too (16-1) in the Speciality Handicap Chase.

And the jockey admitted he had been up against stiff competition after ending up well out of contention.

“He got round, he was flat out all the way,” said Hutchinson of Cloudy Too.

“The ground was a bit livelier than what he’d encountered on his last couple of runs.

“He probably wasn’t good enough on the day, but it’s a tough place to be competitive.

“Cheltenham is a place of disappointments and there are more disappointments than there are highs, but when there are highs, you relish them.”

Hutchinson has several chances at redemption today and he begins by piloting Two Rockers in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.

The Swindonian will follow that up with a ride on Medinas in the Coral Cup and his third race of the day will be aboard McVicar in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

Covers were put on the racecourse last night with an 8am inspection scheduled to take place this morning to determine whether racing will go ahead.

“I don’t think the weather’s going to be much better, it looks like it’s going to be cold again,” added Hutchinson.

“But I’m not going to worry about the weather forecast, it’s doesn’t affect you once you’re on the move.

“I’m looking forward to Wednesday and it’s a fresh day.”