CONTRARY to many people's expectations and mine — the most exciting clash at the 2008 Cheltenham National Hunt Festival was not the meeting of reigning champion Kauto Star and his stablemate Denman in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. It was a very good race and full marks to Denman and jockey Sam Thomas for a brilliant tactical victory on the final day. But, I never felt that Kauto Star was on song from the early part of the race. Ruby Walsh was working to keep him up with the pace of Neptune Collonges and Denman up front and his jumping lacked its usual fluency. On reflection and assuming he was off colour, I believe he did really well to gain second spot and claw back a little of the lead as Denman began to tire up the famous finishing hill. If that was not the best clash of the festival which lost a day on the Wednesday because of safety considerations in respect of the high winds, what was? I was impressed by Master Minded's win in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase — you couldn't fail to be — but he has a long way to go to reach the top and one swallow doesn't make a summer. Trainer Alan King was quick to praise his charge, the gallant Voy Por Ustedes who went down by 19 lengths to Paul Nicholls's Master Minded. "I'm very proud of my fella. That was an awesome performance from the winner and I take my hat off to him. "We were beaten fair and square. It was a proper test today and the best horse won." Don't rule out VPU if he comes out at Aintree next week. My favourite moment was watching the three-mile Ladbroke's World Hurdle champion Inglis Drever work his way through the field from a seemingly vanquished position to snatch the title for the third time — a truly remarkable achievement for a grand horse, and for J Howard Johnson, the nine-year- old's trainer, despite a lean spell. Alan King's Katchit won the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on the opening day and although it was a very good performance, I would not class it as a great one. Local trainer David Pipe's victory with Our Vic in the Ryanair Chase brought a lump to the throat. he went one better than last year, taking this event in its first year as a Grade One, under Timmy Murphy. David said of the ten-year-old after the victory by five lengths over Mossbank: He is a real old favourite and has been around a long time. This is a great result for Pond House as well as David Johnson (the owner) and his family. The horse deserved to win a race at the festival. The first time blinkers just sharpened him up a bit. Timmy got some fantastic jumps out of him." Great credit must go to the organisers of the festival — having lost one day, they pulled out all the stops to put on a ten-race programme on Thursday and a nine-race one the following day, including the totesport Gold Cup. Sadly, I have to report that Whispered Secret suffered a fatal fall but, otherwise, the give in the ground helped to ensure an generally otherwise safe feast of racing for both horses and riders. Keith Whitford. Watch out for my Grand National tip!