Buena Vista and his amazing Cheltenham Festival record

When David Pipe’s 10-year-old gelding Buena Vista set off on his journey in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final last March he was running in his seventh consecutive Cheltenham Festival. Even more remarkably, he set off at such a fast pace that he looked more like a sprightly novice, leading his rivals a merry dance and holding on tenaciously up the famous Cheltenham hill under 5lb-claimer Conor O’Farrell. It was a repeat of his victory in the same race 12 months earlier and, had it not been for Kayf Aramis in 2009, it would have been a third consecutive victory in one of the toughest staying handicap hurdles of the entire season.

If David Pipe can get Buena Vista to Cheltenham in March 2012 ready to run for his life, he could join the legendary Willie Wumpkins as the only horse to have won this race three times. Willie Wumpkins achieved this between 1979 and 1981, becoming one of the meeting’s best-loved participants in the process. Not unlike Buena Vista, his form would amount to very little between festivals but he would be at his peak on the day that mattered.

Buena Vista’s long association with this meeting started in 2005 when Martin Pipe and Jamie Spencer teamed up for the Champion Bumper. He stayed on respectably to finish 6th of the 24 starters and the following year went for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle having chalked up four wins. This time ridden by Timmy Murphy, he was more prominent and stayed on gallantly to finish a highly creditable third behind Noland and Straw Bear.

He was then sent chasing and won a couple of minor events before returning to the 2007 festival to line up in the Arkle Chase, now in the care of Martin’s son, David Pipe. A mistake at the first shook his confidence and he and Murphy eventually made their way round to finish a distant sixth. By 2008 he was back over hurdles and had his first crack at the competitive Pertemps Handicap Hurdle with Tom Scudamore riding. Starting off in rear, he made good headway to chase the leaders from 2 out but had to settle for fifth place behind Ballyfitz.

In 2009 there was some confidence behind him as he was sent off a 10-1 shot but could never get to the well-handicapped Kayf Aramis despite Scudamore’s urgings and finished second, 2 lengths behind the winner. By 2010 the pattern was well and truly established and once again he was aimed at the Pertemps final, this time ridden by Hadden Frost claiming a 3lb allowance. The horse was so well that he took it up after four flights and kicked clear on the home turn to record a 5-length victory. His astonishing repeat in 2011 revived memories of Willie Wumpkins and, should he make it to Cheltenham in March for a remarkable eighth appearance, there would few more popular winners at the entire festival.