Harchibald (left) - only second (Getty Images).

By Will Hayler

Nina Carberry became the first female rider for 18 years to win a race at the Cheltenham Festival when she steered Dabiroun to a clear-cut success in the finale on the first day of the meeting.

But if Nina's win was the toast of many, it was the riding performance of her brother Paul that was the talk of the terraces and bars earlier in the day as Harchibald snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the Champion Hurdle.

Rarely can a horse have looked as certain to win without ever managing to lead as Noel Meade's six-year-old did when hacking along next to Hardy Eustace up the run-in only to turn to jelly in the final strides and go down by a neck.

It speaks volumes about Harchibald's renowned lack of resolution that Betfair in-running punters traded him at 1.24 and no lower - any other horse looking so sure to go and win would surely have been backed at 10s on and shorter.

But even so, punters were left scratching their heads as to exactly how Harchibald had contrived to get himself beaten.

His trainer Noel Meade insisted that Carberry had given the runner-up an excellent ride, that had only just failed to be a magnificent ride.

But there was more than one 'wag' (wag is racing journalists' code for smart-arse) suggesting that the wrong Carberry had been booked for the ride after seeing Nina emulate Gee Armytage in the last.

The joy of being part of the screaming brigade of Irish punters at Cheltenham though is that any winner's a winner and no doubt the same tricolore's would have been unfurled for the success of Carberry's mount as they were for Hardy Eustace.

None of this, however, should take credit away from the winner, who even if Harchibald was taken out of the contest - accounted for some quality performers such as Brave Inca and Accordion Etoile.

The fourth, for my money, might be the one to take out of the race for Punchestown if he was allowed to go off at a silly price as he travelled supremely well until hitting the hill as he was switched out wide for a run.

Today wasn't my best as a punter. And I was going to whinge on about how unlucky I'd been. But I'll be back for more of the same tomorrow because through thick and thin I love it all.

Five minutes ago - an hour and a quarter after the last - an urgent call went out for a doctor over the public address system. I hope it wasn't a Harchibald backer.