Cheltenham Day 3 & 4

We will jump right into the first race on day 3, this was the Marsh Novices Chase. The race lost one of its key protagonists at the 6th fence when Itchy Feet unseated Gavin Sheehan, Faugheen took the field along till Melon and Patrick Mullins took up the running. He led all the way round till the turn for home where a smooth travelling Samcro took a narrow lead, jumping 2 out Samcro made a mistake handing the advantage back to Melon. Melon jumped the last just in front with Samcro landing level with him as the 2 of them set off up the hill being chased home by Faugheen. The 2 of them flashed past the post together with a phot being called, resulting in Samcro winning by a nose. It was good to see Faugheen out there enjoying himself, he just didn’t seem to have the legs to get to the front 2 on the way home. You’ve got to feel for Melon though, thats the 4th time he’s finished 2nd at the festival, 2nd in the Supreme and twice runner up in the Champion Hurdle now this. 

(Samcro, Melon and Faugheen taking the final fence in the Marsh.)

Next was the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle, despite being 7lb higher in the weights from when he won it last year, Sire Du Berlais went on to make it back to back wins. This win looked slightly easier than last year, where he was hampered and had to be pushed along by Barry Geraghty. This year he travelled more smoothly and made his move 2 out, jumping the last he was just 2nd to stablemate The Storyteller, before Sire Du Berlais finished the better of the 2 to win by 1/2 a length. 

The Ryanair saw another horse looking to back to back wins in Frodon, he led like he always does, this time till the 6th fence, where the lead was taking by Min. He continued to lead jumping big and bold out in front, all the while Saint Calvados and Gavin Sheehan were making smooth progress up the inside. At the 2nd last Min had a length lead over the favourite A Plus Tard, with Saint Calvados a close 3rd, at the last Min put in another terrific jump as Saint Calvados made a mistake, to his credit he stayed on well after being switched but couldn’t quite catch Min and eventually was beat by a neck. It was a massive run from Saint Calvados, I’d say if he jumped the last well he’d of probably beat Min, but we will never know. 

There was another shock in the Stayers Hurdle with Paisley Park being the English banker for many only managing to finish 7th when looking to retain his crown. Apples Jade led the way from flag fall setting a nice pace and travelling well out in front, she still had a slight lead jumping the 2nd last before Lisnagar Oscar took over. Approaching 2 out Bacardys looked to be his danger but his challenge soon weakened leaving Ronald Pump to chase home Lisnagar Oscar for 2nd. After the race it was confirmed that this was Apples Jade final race and that she will now be retired to stud, also it came to light that Paisley Park had a fibrillating heart, so hopefully he will be back and well next season to see if he can regain the Stayers Hurdle.

The Brow Advisory & Merribelle Stable Plate was next, and there was a strong favourite in Simply The Betts who saw his form boosted on the Tuesday with the horse he beat last time at Cheltenham going on to win. He was always prominent behind the long time leader in Siruh Du Lac who won this last year. Siruh Du Lac had a narrow advantage at 2 out but took a crashing fall, leaving Happy Diva and Simply The Betts clear, Simply The Betts hit the last allowing Happy Diva a lead, but he managed to battle back on the run in to win by 1 1/4 lengths from Happy Diva.

The Mares Novice Hurdle continued with its usual tradition with Willie Mullins saddling the winner, this year it was with last years runner up and Concertista. She travelled well in mid division throughout before making her move at the bend, approaching the final flight it was the Mullins pair in Concertista and Dolcita that kicked clear before Concertista an Daryl Jacob quickly put the race to bed by powering clear and winning by 12 lengths. I thought Emmas Joy ran a nice race in 7th for the Skeltons, 3 from home she was in the back 3 and being pushed along, but she’s stayed on really well and will be a nice type to follow next season. 

The final race on day 3 is the Kim Muir and it was another winner for Gordon Elliot with Milan Native, he travelled well throughout the race before making a move 4 from home and taking up the lead approaching 2 out challenged all the way up the home straight by Kilfilum Cross, but managing to get the bette of him by 1 3/4 lengths. There was 2 horses that caught my eye Champagne Platinum who travelled and jumped much better than he had in his previous attempts, just didn’t have the pace to keep up with the others, and Fitzhenry who came from way off the pace to finish 6th. Both of these could have big handicaps in them in the near future.

Day 4 Kicked off with the Triumph Hurdle and what was gonna be the performance of the festival till disaster struck. Allmankind led the field all the way till approaching 2 out where he was joined by the strong travelling Goshen. He kicked clear around the bend and powered his way to the last hurdle where he held a 10 length lead, but he paddled through it and managed to get one of his back feet caught onto his front shoe, this caused Jamie Moore to be unseated. This left Burning Victory who had come from way back to lead she was challenged by a tired Allmankind, but she went on to win by 2 3/4 lengths from Aspire Tower,who passed Allmankind late on. This was gonna be a monster performance from Goshen before his freak accident, hopefully he’s fit an well next season where he will add another element to the Champion Hurdle picture.

The County Hurdle had been won in the last 5 yeas by either Dan Skelton or Willie Mullins, this year was no different with the Willie Mullins train Saint Roi coming home in front, followed by stablemates Aramon and Buildmeupbuttercup in 2nd and 4th. He travelled well during the race and approaching the final flight he and Buildmeupbuttercup came there tanking, they both jumped the last well but it was Saint Roi who quickened up well and went on to win by 4 1/2 lengths.  I was disappointed in one of Willie’s other runners, Ciel De Neige after a good 2nd in the Betfair hurdle he traveled well before weakening and finishing 15th.

The Albert Bartlett saw Thyme Hill go off as favourite, but he possibly had his chances ruined by the main Irish trio, the race really took off as they jumped 2 out. Monkish and Paul Townend led around the bend before being pressed by Latest Exhibition, with Johnson tying to get Thyme Hill in between the pair approaching the last, only to see his gap vanish, to which he then had to switch only to find Fury Road taking his other gap. He then had to switch again losing vital ground as the Irish 3 battled up the hill with Monkfish coming between the other 2 to get his neck in front from Latest Exhibition. The first 4 in this will be worth looking out for next season as novice chasers or even in the Stayers Hurdle which is where Thyme Hill will possibly go.

(Albert Bartlett field getting ready to race.)

The Gold Cup took centre stage next and it didn’t disappoint, Al Boum Photo was sent off favourite as he looked to become the first horse since Best Mate to win back to back Gold Cups. Elegant Escape took them along for most of the way, closely followed by Santini. The race really changed when Paul Townend decided to take Al Boum Photo to the front with 4 to jump all the while being tracked by a well travelling Lostintranslation. Al Boum Photo just led jumping 2 out with Lostintranslation following in a close 2nd, it was the same over the last with Santini just having to be switched after jumping the last. After being switched he stayed on really strongly up the hill like we all knew he would, moving past Lostintranslation, but he just ran out of time and it was Al Boum Photo who won by a neck. You’ve gotta feel with softer ground and possibly not having to be switched after the last Santini would of probably won. It was another poor show at Cheltenham from the 2 times King George winnier Clan Des Obeaux, for whom Paul Nicholls has now said he wont race at Cheltenham again.

(Lostintranslation and Al Boum Photo jumping the final fence together.)

There was a big priced winner of the Foxhunters, with It Came To Pass winning at 66/1, he was always in the mid division, but took up the lead with 2 to jump and quickly drew clear of them with Billaway the favourite 10 lengths. It was a good performance from the winner and it was nice to see the O’Sullivans land a big one at the festival. 

The Grand Annual was the final Irish winner of another successful Cheltenham festival, this went the way of Chosen Mate, for Gordon Elliot and Davy Russell. Approaching 2 out Chosen Mate came there tanking and took up the lead from Marracudja. He got close into the last but had enough left in the tank to get away from stablemate Eclair De Beaufeu and win by 1 3/4 lengths, with Us And Them in 3rd and Greaneteen finishing in 4th and the best of the English. I also thought Lisp ran a creditable race back in 7th, he was outpaced 3 out but managed to stay on well. 

The final race of the festival was the Martin Pipe, for much of the way it looked like Phillip Hobbs was gonna get his winner with Pileon. He travelled well throughout the race, he came through after 2 from home to challenge Great White Shark. He was then joined by Column Of Fire approaching the last, who took a crashing fall hampering Indefatigable who in turn hampered Flash The Steel. All of this left Pileon 3 lengths clear, but Indefatigable was closing on him with every stride and just managed to get her head in front on the line, it was good for Paul Webber and Rex Dingle to get a winner and the festival with this really likeable mare.

All in all it was a fantastic festival with many highs and lows as expected. Unfortunately this will be my last blog of the season due to the Coronavirus putting an end to the National Hunt campaign. I will hopefully be back later in the year with my 10 to follow and Chepstow come October. Thank you to everyone who had taken the time to read any of my blogs it means a lot. Wish you all good health and that you stay safe during these times and most importantly wash your hands. Aaron

A special thanks to Fran for allowing me to use her photos throughout my blog, you can find more of her work here:

Fran: 

twitter; @FrancescaJane_x

Website; www.francescaaltoft.co.uk