Galopin Des Champs dazzles for Mullins and Townend

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Galopin Des Champs and Paul Townend powered clear of Bravemansgame to justify favouritism and land the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, giving Willie Mullins chasing’s blue riband for a third time in five years.

In an eventful renewal, Ahoy Senor set a searching gallop until getting too close to the sixth fence from home and crumpling on landing.

Townend had bided his time, tracking the early pace before getting into contention coming down the hill, tailing Protektorat, Bravemansgame and Hewick, who had been left in front.

He crashed through the third-last, which almost cost him the race, but quickly recovered and by the time American Grand National hero Hewick had come to grief two out, Irish Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs had gone upsides Harry Cobden and the Paul Nicholls-trained Bravemansgame.

Both jumped the last on a good stride, but the King George winner could not find the same turn of foot as Townend drew clear.

Galopin Des Champs (7-5 favourite) had seven lengths to spare at the line, with Conflated a further sixth and a half lengths down in third.

Mullins said: “I didn’t realise the pressure I was under. I’m absolutely delighted for Audrey Turley (owner), Paul was under huge pressure too and gave him a peach of a ride.

“The plan was to drop him in and come through, I said to him ‘I think you’re on the best horse, the fastest horse, so as long as he doesn’t get running with you just tuck him in somewhere and put him asleep’ – and he did.

Paul Townend celebrates winning the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup
Paul Townend celebrates winning the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It just worked out, he gave him a brilliant, cool ride. Everyone was questioning the distance and his stamina, they were going to make it plenty fast so I didn’t want him up there in the early exchanges.

“If he has the class, he’ll come through, if he hasn’t then there’s no point.

“All the thoughts go through your head, have we gone too far back? They had gone such a gallop, something had to give.

“One or two fell and we missed all that, we’d a lot of luck. I think that man on board, when the pressure comes on, he’s very good.”

He added: “I was surprised myself how I was over the last two fences. With this horse, we’d elected him as our Gold Cup horse whereas Al Boum Photo sort of just happened. This fellow, we thought he was good enough and that puts you under pressure.

“Every time we’ve upped him in trip, it’s been no problem. He has that bit of class, you could run him over two miles, two and a half miles. He has that bit of speed when you want it.”

Townend – like Mullins winning this third Gold Cup – said: “It was messy for me – I couldn’t get a clean passage early, and he started jumping in the air a little bit, but when I got a bit of room, in fairness to him he came back into a rhythm with me and was very, very brave.

Galopin Des Champs comes back victorious
Galopin Des Champs comes back victorious (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I think he got me out of a fair hole, to be honest – I was a lot further back than I wanted to be, but it was just the ride I had to give him.

“There was so little fresh ground that everyone wanted to be in it, and the start was very messy.

“He was good and brave. There were horses going left of me and right of me (when the two horses fell at the top of the hill) and he always just found a leg, and you need that luck in racing.

“He missed one of the fences coming down the hill, and I thought that was going to put me on the back foot a bit again, but no, straight back on the bridle for me. I don’t think the horse understands how good he is, to be honest.”

He went on: “The Gold Cup brings winning to a different level. Cheltenham is very important, but the Gold Cup just has that little bit more spice to it.”

Stay Away Fay powers to Albert Bartlett victory

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Paul Nicholls earned his second Grade One victory of the week at the Cheltenham Festival when Stay Away Fay was given a masterful ride by Harry Cobden to take the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

The 18-1 chance travelled well throughout and was always up with the pace in the three-mile test, which provided its usual searching test of stamina.

It was not without incident, either, as favourite Corbetts Cross ran out at the final flight, sending jockey Mark Walsh crashing to the turf.

Though challenging at the time, the winner seemed to have his measure having led at the second-last where plenty were still in with a chance.

Cobden put the six-year-old’s stamina to good use and gradually wore down his rivals to give the champion trainer his first success in the race.

Noel Meade’s Affordale Fury (150-1) relished the step up in trip and got within a length of the winner, just holding second from the Paul Nolan-trained Sandor Clegane.

Nicholls said: “I thought he’d run well as he should have won the last day and he’s taken a step forward since then and he looked fantastic.

“We were very positive on him today, he jumped really well and it’s only the third run of his life, there’s loads of improvement to come.

“We’ll probably go to Aintree with him if he’s all right, otherwise it will be chasing next year.

“He’s been quite backward, that’s the best he’s jumped today, he’s just a young, improving horse.”

He added: “At home he does all his work with Hermes Allen as they are both a bit one-paced and he has taken a big step forward.

“He probably should have won at Doncaster, he’s improved since and it’s just fantastic.

“I think Hermes Allen will probably have a wind op but he’ll go chasing too, they are two really nice horses to go chasing with.”

A jubilant Harry Cobden
A jubilant Harry Cobden (Tim Goode/PA)

Cobden added: “I thought they’d have gone faster but we only went an even gallop. He travelled very well, jumped great and when we turned in, I thought he had a nice bit left because I knew he’d stay right to the line, he’s obviously very good.

“I could feel them all stacking up behind me and from a jockey’s point of view, it is a long way to be in front turning in before the last, especially on an inexperienced horse. He was pulling up a little in front so he did well to keep going.

“I really fancied him, I thought he had a massive chance because I’ve won it before on Kilbricken Storm and I knew he was better than him.

“First time out he was green, Lorcan (Williams) was a bit unlucky on him at Doncaster but he has been trained for one day.”

Noel Meade trains the runner up
Noel Meade trains the runner up (Donall Farmer/PA)

Meade said of the runner-up: “He was only 150-1 because he virtually pulled up the last day and there were reasons for that.

“He got a fall when they went too quick in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan in November – they went a mad gallop and he ended up on the floor.

“He probably would have won that day had he stood up and then we ran him back within four weeks in the Grade One at Naas and it was too soon – he just bombed out.

“We freshened him up and he is a very, very good horse. I think he’ll be a right good chaser as he’s a good jumper and a good stayer and he got the most brilliant ride today from a young fella (Sam Ewing).”

Nolan was slightly left wondering what might have been with Sandor Clegane.

He said: “It was a big run. We knew he was better than his run in Leopardstown and he had to go to the line better than he did that day.

“He probably didn’t get the run of the race today. He got hampered at the very first and then he was shuffled back to last and pushed out wide. I’d like to look at the race again, but I think maybe he might have been the unlucky one.

“You’re always happy when you get a cheer at some stage. He ran well and he stays well and he remains an exciting prospect.

“I just thought the way he closed to the line after the distance he had to make up and being wide, we were unlucky, but it is what it is.”

Faivoir gets the nod to give Skelton another County Hurdle

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Dan Skelton annexed the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle for a fourth time in eight years as 33-1 shot Faivoir downed Pied Piper in a thrilling finish.

Both horses came from out of the pack after Highway One O Two had kicked clear turning for home and there were plenty in with chances approaching the last.

However, Bridget Andrews’ mount, who had been pulled up on quicker ground in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on his previous start, kept responding in these easier conditions and got the verdict in a head-bobber.

Pied Piper, who had finished third in the Triumph Hurdle last year, was making his handicap debut mark off a mark of 154 and only just failed to reel in the winner, having nodded slightly on landing at the last.

The well-supported Filey Bay held every chance but could only finish third, while Sharjah stuck on for fourth, followed by Ballyadam.

Andrews after her winning ride
Andrews after her winning ride (David Davies/PA)

Skelton, who won this race previously with Superb Story (2016), Mohaayed (2018) and Ch’tibello (2019), also saddled the favourite, but Pembroke, who had finished runner-up on Trials day in January, was well held after making a couple of minor jumping errors.

“Last time at Newbury he absolutely winged the first but after the second he had no chance,” said Skelton, who was on the mark with Langer Dan on Wednesday.

“Today Bridget gave him a great ride – when you have one of the biggest teams as we do there’s a responsibility that goes with it and you feel you have get big winners.

“To have one (at the Festival) is good, but to have two shows you are doing it right.”

Iroko landed the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle for Aidan Kelly and co-trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

The JP McManus-owned gelding was a 6-1 chance and reeled in the leader, Paul John Gilligan’s Buddy One, to prevail by a length and a half from No Ordinary Joe – also owned by McManus.

“I can’t describe it really – amazing,” said Greenall.

“We always knew the horse was nice but we just thought we’d be tapped for toe a little bit here.

“He managed to hold his position, he came off the bridle early enough and just jumped so well even when he was off the bridle.

“He’s so easy, so straightforward. He’s tough, honest, he shows nothing at home.

“He’s not a good work horse but he’s so straightforward, he doesn’t take much work. He’s a dream.”

Lossiemouth puts the record straight in Triumph Hurdle

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St Patrick’s Day got off to a raucous start for the legions of Irish racing fans at Cheltenham as Lossiemouth easily justified favouritism in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Trainer Willie Mullins saddled no less than seven of the 15 runners and he had the first four home, with the grey becoming just the fifth filly in history to take the prize.

Though Gala Marceau – conqueror of Lossiemouth at the Dublin Racing Festival – stayed on well to take second spot from Zenta, the race was over once the 11-8 market leader cruised up on the bridle to take it up after jumping the penultimate flight and she was eased to a two-and-a-quarter-length success at the line.

Gust Of Wind completed the Mullins quartet, with jockey Paul Townend recording his fourth winner of the week.

It was the Closutton handler’s third win in the race in four years, having previously struck with Burning Victory in 2020 and Vauban last year.

Mullins said: “She travelled into the race at maybe the five-furlong marker and rather than fighting her Paul just let her gallop and held onto her as much as he could for a long as he could.

“He thought she was actually idling come up the straight and thinks there is a little bit more in the tank – she looks a star mare.

“But for the traffic problems in Leopardstown she’d be unbeaten for us. I’m very happy with how they all ran, bar Blood Destiny (finished ninth) who was disappointing. I don’t know what happened to him, but all the rest ran their race.

“It’s a nice start to the day.”

Asked whether Lossiemouth could be a candidate for next year’s Champion Hurdle, Mullins added: “She’s a possibility the way she came up that hill there anyway. There’s every possibility that she’ll go down that route.”

Delighted owner Rich Ricci, celebrating his 20th Festival winner, said: “I felt unlucky on the day after her last run and I’m delighted the one who beat us that day was second as it franks the form. She’s a lovely filly with a lot of scope, she’s National Hunt bred and is very nice.

“Paul said coming down the hill she wanted to crack on, he held on to her just enough, she filled up and she responded to him which is great as it shows maturity. He said when he let him go she was great.

Paul Townend celebrates
Paul Townend celebrates (Tim Goode/PA)

“I glad for Paul as Willie hammered him the last day. For the record I didn’t think it was Paul’s fault I thought the tactics were wrong so it’s Willie’s fault actually! Willie had his best Jose Mourinho moment and found someone else to blame, but on the day Paul was gutted. Sport is about redemption, I always say that.

“It’s great to be a part of this, Tuesday was such a special day with Honeysuckle and Constitution Hill Hill, then yesterday with Henry (de Bromhead) winning on the day there was a race named after Jack (de Bromhead), it’s a very special week.

“To have a winner is special, it’s our 20th winner but you never take it for granted, we’ve had enough losers.”

Of Gala Marceau, owner Kenny Alexander said: “She has run an absolute blinder. We beat the winner last time at Leopardstown, so there will have to be a rematch.

“I will definitely not be scared to take her on again and that will probably be at Punchestown, all being well, at the end of next month.”

Longsdon hoping for the best with ‘improving’ Guetapan Collonges

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Guetapan Collonges may be one of the favourites for for Saturday’s Boulton Group Midlands Grand National – but trainer Charlie Longsdon is worried that the race may come too early in his career.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has won four of his eight starts over fences and will be reunited with Jonjo O’Neill Jr, who steered him to victory at Warwick in November.

Subsequently a fine fourth to Iwilldoit in the Classic Chase at that same track over a testing three miles and five furlongs, he bounced back to winning ways under Brian Hughes at Uttoxeter last month.

Four and a quarter miles in likely soft ground will be a step into the unknown for both himself and many of his rivals, but Longsdon feels he should cope.

“He is still an improving horse and you’d think this type of race would suit him,” said the Oxfordshire-based handler.

“It is in the back of my mind that in a year’s time he might be better, because he would be a bigger, stronger horse. He is still quite a weak horse.

“I know he is at the top of the market, but he has still got to reverse form with the likes of Iwilldoit.”

Having already won a Welsh Grand National and a Classic Chase, the Sam Thomas-trained Iwilldoit must carry the burden of 12st, whereas Guetapan Collonges has a more attractive weight of 10st 5lb.

Longsdon added: “He has a nice weight and he is certainly the type who will do well in races in the future.

“He ran lovely and learned a lot at Warwick. This is another step up and it will be soft ground, which he will like.

“He has still got to stay four miles and two (furlongs), which will be tough for anyone.

“The horse is improving and he will be a nicer horse next year. I hope he could be a Grand National horse in the future – he certainly looks that kind of horse.”

The Two Amigos bids to back up his Coral Welsh National success
The Two Amigos bids to back up his Coral Welsh National success (David Davies/PA)

The Two Amigos gave Nicky Martin the biggest success of her training career when lifting the Welsh National at Chepstow over Christmas following a string of consistent performances in staying handicaps.

Although only eighth in this contest in 2021, Martin feels the 11-year-old’s chance are improving with every drop of rain that falls.

She said: “Fingers crossed, I hope it keeps raining. He’s in good form and as long as it keeps raining, he’ll be fine. He loves these sort of races.

“He is in good order and he’s quite big odds for what I’d thought he’d be.”

French Paradoxe could have won his last five chases, according to his traine
French Paradoxe could have won his last five chases, according to his trainer (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

French Paradoxe hopes to give the Mick Fitzgerald Racing Club syndicate owners another day to remember.

The eight-year-old is three from six over the larger obstacles and scored with some ease at Newcastle on is last run in January for trainer Oliver Signy.

“Now the rain has come, we are looking forward to it,” said the Upper Lambourn handler.

“We think it is a big advantage. It is going to be a gruelling test, but at Newcastle he was easing down after they had gone a strong gallop to start with. Hopefully, he will be there or thereabouts.

“He should have won his last five chases but obviously he fell twice at Ffos Las and it didn’t go according to plan.

“Otherwise, he has worked very well. Gavin (Sheehan) has been very pleased with his schooling and while he hasn’t been over this trip before, with everything he has done, you’d hopefully expect him to get the trip.”

Secret Reprieve looks to regain the form that saw him win the Welsh National
Secret Reprieve looks to regain the form that saw him win the Welsh National (David Davies/PA)

Secret Reprieve seeks a first success since winning the delayed Welsh National of 2020 for trainer Evan Williams and owner William Rucker in January of 2021.

The lightly-raced nine-year-old has shown more like his old form in a couple of races this term, finishing well when second to Farinet at Chepstow in early December and latterly when a staying-on third to Rapper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Williams says he still needs to see more to become the horse he thought he always promised to be, however.

“He hasn’t shown any form like when he won the Welsh National. We are just hoping he can recapture that form,” he admitted.

“He looked to be showing more of his spark last time, but we just need to be moving on a bit from there, don’t we?

“Fingers crossed we can. I have no reason why he hasn’t done what we had hoped. We can only think he put a lot into that Welsh National win.

“We have 100 per cent always thought he was a Grand National horse, but you’d have to say that we are long way from where we thought we’d be – there’s no doubt in that.

“I thought we could have sprung forward, but we haven’t. There we are, we’ll have a go on Saturday and see where we are.”

You Wear It Well makes class count for Snowden

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Gavin Sheehan gave You Wear It Well a fine front-running ride to claim the Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Despite having a strong book of form to her name – including a second in the Challow Hurdle and a victory in the Grade Two Jayne Seymour last time out – she was sent off an easy to back 16-1, with 5-4 favourite Luccia was the only horse punters wanted to be on.

Keen to put her proven stamina to good use Sheehan went straight to the front aboard the Jamie Snowden-trained six-year-old and never saw another rival as she showed a tremendous attitude to keep galloping and responding to her rider’s urgings when the pack began to bare down on her in the closing stages.

Henry de Bromhead’s Magical Zoe performed with great credit to take the runner-up spot in the race named in memory of the trainer’s late son, who tragically lost his life in a pony racing accident in September.

An error at the last cost Tony Mullins’ Group One-winning Princess Zoe finishing any closer than fifth.

The winner follows in the footsteps of Love Envoi who triumphed at Sandown before scoring at Prestbury Park, while for Snowden it was somewhat fitting that his second Festival success came in the same colours of Sir Chips Keswick as his maiden winner at the big meeting Present View, ending a long nine-year wait between drinks.

Snowden said: “She’s following the Love Envoi route and is a very talented individual and also a strong stayer at that trip.

“With Honeysuckle retired who knows where she will end up?”

Sheehan added: “I love her, she is a diamond. She tanked the first furlong and a half and she did prick her ears the last time I rode her, but it was honestly poetry in motion today. I just filled her up and when something came on her outside her ears went back.

“We owe a lot to Jamie’s head girl who rides her all the time.

“She’s not easy at home and she will tear up, but once jumping she’s on her game and Jamie is the nicest man.”

Scott left deflated after Dashel Drasher demoted from second in Stayers’ Hurdle

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Jeremy Scott felt the decision of the Cheltenham stewards to demote Dashel Drasher to third from second in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle had “pricked his bubble a bit”.

Sent off at 40-1, only the French challenger Henri Le Farceur went off a bigger price but Dashel Drasher massively outran market expectations and looked to have everything beaten when jumping the last flight in front.

He drifted slightly to his left on jumping it, and also caused marginal interference after the hurdle to Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo, the 9-4 favourite.

Only a nose separated them at the line, with Sire Du Berlais a three-quarters of a length winner, but the stewards felt there was enough interference to reverse the order of the second and third.

“To me it’s very harsh. I’ve just spoken to the stewards and I’ve watched it through,” said Scott.

“The trouble is they set the precedent in the four-year-old hurdle at Aintree last year when (Knight Salute and Pied Piper dead-heated but Pied Piper was demoted). To me I felt if it had happened at any meeting midweek it wouldn’t have been picked up on.

“We drifted left going into the hurdle and that is what they are concerned about and they felt the momentum he lost made the difference between the nose he missed out on second.

“For me the eventual second wasn’t quick enough to go for the gap he wanted, then he was pulled out to go around and have another go. I think we’ve been harshly done to, but rules are rules.

“I’ll speak to the owners about an appeal, but it’s a long process and I don’t think we’ll derive any pleasure about doing it – it did prick our bubble a bit and the £30,000 would have been nice.”

Shishkin looked like he wanted Gold Cup trip, says Henderson

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Nicky Henderson was left mulling over whether he made the right decision to run Shishkin in the Ryanair Chase rather than the Cheltenham Gold Cup after he stayed on to finish second to Envoi Allen.

Bidding for a third Festival success, the former Supreme and Arkle winner was odds-on for last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase but never travelled on soft ground and was pulled up early by Nico de Boinville.

Subsequently diagnosed with a rare bone condition, he was brought back slowly and after finishing 15 lengths second to Edwardstone in the Tingle Creek at Sandown, he was stepped up in trip and duly took the Ascot Chase by 16 lengths.

However, over the same two miles and five furlongs of the Ryanair, he did not quite look himself, jumping left on occasions and making an error at a crucial stage which briefly halted momentum.

Though staying on well after the last, he was never catching Envoi Allen, whose two-and three-quarter-length success was a third at the Festival after victories in the 2019 Champion Bumper and in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle a year later.

Henderson said: “He wasn’t really travelling like we hoped he would. Early on, he wasn’t looking that happy about it, but he’s done bloody well to finish where he has.

“Maybe I should have listened to those people who said we should have gone three and a quarter (mile, in the Gold Cup) – it looked as if that’s what he wanted.”

Asked to put his finger on why Shishkin ran so inconsistently, Henderson added: “I don’t know, it’s unlike him to go left like that – and he was going markedly left.

“He ran at Ascot last time and if you go left round Ascot, you finish up in Windsor Castle and that’s that!

“He schooled on Monday and you’ve never seen a horse jump five fences straighter and quicker, so we’ll have to take him apart and tighten a few nuts and bolts.

“He made one bad mistake coming down the hill, but look at how well he’s finished. I was a bit worried over the first two fences because he looked outpaced again, but he got back there – he’s determined if nothing else.

“Envoi Allen was going to be the next coming when he was young and they’ve done very well, they’ve got him back to his very best.

“You could say it came too soon after Ascot for us, it was a bit of a rush but I certainly want to run him in four weeks’ time over three miles at Aintree – that’s the obvious thing to do.”

De Boinville said Shishkin never gave him the same encouragement as he had felt when scoring so impressively at Ascot.

“It never really went right from when the tapes went up. Even down at the start he was curling up on me a bit and sitting back on his haunches a bit,” said the jockey.

“Over the first two fences he wasn’t taking me anywhere, whereas at Ascot I was able to travel and jump and dictate where I wanted to be. This time I was pushed here there and everywhere.

Nico de Boinville (left) and Nicky Henderson set to run Shishkin over three miles at Aintree
Nico de Boinville (left) and Nicky Henderson set to run Shishkin over three miles at Aintree (Steven Paston/PA)

“He was hanging a bit left and wasn’t the same horse that we saw at Ascot, but we know what he can do, so we’ll get him home and get him absolutely spot-on, and I’m sure he’ll be going three miles at Aintree.

“Over the first two fences it did feel a bit like last year and I was thinking, ‘Oh God’, but all credit to the horse – he’s very genuine, he made an error down the hill and has managed to get back for second when he had every right to be pulled up or tailed off.

“We know what he can do on his good days and there’ll be plenty more good days to come.”

Sire Du Berlais is a Festival hero once again

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Sire Du Berlais ground down Dashel Drasher late on in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle as the big-race outsiders fought out a thrilling finish to the Cheltenham Festival’s day three feature.

At one stage it looked as if Flooring Porter was about to join the Festival immortals and secure his third straight victory in the race, but his tank emptied quicker than in the previous two years and he was passed heading to the last by Dashel Drasher who set sail for home in the hands of Rex Dingle.

A length to the good jumping the final flight, Jeremy Scott’s admirable 10-year-old stuck his head down as the Gordon Elliott-trained pair of Sire Du Berlais and Teahupoo were breathing down his neck.

But while the 5-2 favourite could not get by in the hands of Davy Russell, Dashel Drasher had no answer to the late thrust of the JP McManus-owned 33-1 shot who edged his way to a three-quarters of a length verdict.

Dashel Drasher was a brave second at 40-1 and Teahupoo a further neck back in third – but there was a change to the placings in the stewards’ room as it was deemed Dashel Drasher had caused interference at the last that was sufficient to deny Teahupoo second spot.

A runner-up behind Flooring Porter in this in 2021 and also a dual winner of the Pertemps in both 2019 and 2020, the 11-year-old Sire Du Berlais was somewhat the forgotten horse of the race and handed Cullentra House handler Elliott his first victory in this premier staying hurdling contest.

Elliott said: “After a hurdle or two I knew he was in a good rhythm. Of course it’s a surprise, but Sire Du Berlais can do that – he’s either first or last.

“He stayed on well up the hill in fairness to him and Mark (Walsh) gave him a brilliant ride.

Connections with Sire Du Berlais
Connections with Sire Du Berlais (Mike Egerton/PA)

“It’s great to win the race. We were beaten a short head in a Grade One yesterday (with Gerri Colombe), but it’s a great game and it’s great to be here.

“We couldn’t get him qualified for the Pertemps Final. It just didn’t work out for us with ground one day and he probably didn’t look that well handicapped.

“He doesn’t do anything too exciting as he minds himself, but that’s why he’s still going at his age.

“I thought Teahupoo would win. He travelled into it and ran well.”

Walsh has had a bad run of luck with injuries but made it back in time for Cheltenham.

“It was a bit of a rush to get back, but thankfully I got back with the help of all the surgeons and doctors,” he said. “I fractured vertebrae in my neck at the Dublin Racing Festival, but it healed quick so I’m back.

“He is brilliant and he loves this place. He never knows when he is beaten. A good gallop suited and he travelled great for him, as usually he can be on and off the bridle but he travelled great and jumped great.

“Gordon had him spot on today so all credit to him. He loves it around here and he is a joy to ride so it is brilliant to win on him.

“They always say horses for courses and he loves it here and it is great to get a big one on him today. I’m delighted he was able to be here and take part in this and win it. It is great to get another big one at the Festival.”

McManus said: “I thought he ran well in Navan the last day as he was giving a lot of weight away and was running on well at the end. I thought he deserved to take his chance.

JP McManus and Gordon Elliott
JP McManus and Gordon Elliott (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’ve not had too many 33-1 winners here. Creon won at a big price, as did Kadoun (both 50-1 in the Pertemps Final). This fellow I’m afraid went unbacked! We’ll enjoy it just the same.

“Gordon has done some job on the horse. We were kind of training him for the Pertemps, but he didn’t get qualified and as a result he was in the Stayers’.

“I must say I thought he had a little chance and after the last I felt he would run up the hill well and give it his lot.”

Scott, speaking before Dashel Drasher was placed third, said: “We came here but we weren’t necessarily thinking we belonged here as we hadn’t had the easiest lead into the race, but he just started bouncing again so we came.

“I’m delighted. Obviously I would have loved to have finished in the other spot, but I’m very proud of him.

“It’s the first time my wife has come to watch him and she bred him and quite frankly does most of the training so it was lovely to have her here.”

Russell said of Teahupoo: “He jumped great, he missed the second-last but I didn’t need it as I wasn’t under pressure.

“I just couldn’t get upsides Dashel Drasher in the straight, he kept going left then right and if I’d got upsides him I might have been all right.

“Off the back of the last he just kept going the same pace but he’s run a lovely race, he’s only six. I’d say Gordon’s a lot happier with this result than I am!”

Gavin Cromwell said of the defending champion Flooring Porter: “He looked his old self, he went a right good gallop, Danny (Mullins) just felt he couldn’t get a breather into him but he ran a good, solid race.

“He ran a gallant race, five or six weeks ago it wasn’t looking like we’d be here but the last three weeks I was confident he’d run a solid race.”

A Plus Tard camp feeling increasingly upbeat, as Gold Cup defence looms

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A Plus Tard was nothing short of sensational in winning last year’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup – but returns with a point to prove.

Runner-up to stablemate Minella Indo two years ago, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding turned the tables with a stunning 15-length success under the history-making Rachael Blackmore 12 months ago.

Few would have believed then A Plus Tard would be a relatively big price to successfully defend his crown, but that is the case following a disappointing season thus far.

The nine-year-old stopped to a walk when pulled up in his bid for back-to-back Betfair Chase wins at Haydock in November – and with a minor knock ruling him out of an intended outing at Leopardstown over Christmas, he has not been seen since that listless display.

However, trainer Henry de Bromhead has been making positive noises regarding A Plus Tard’s well-being in recent weeks and Cheveley Park director Richard Thompson is hopeful he can bounce back to his brilliant best.

“I saw Henry on Wednesday morning and all is in good shape. His horses have been running well this week, which is a good sign, and we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

“We know the prep has been difficult with him – he hasn’t finished a race since the Gold Cup last year.

“It could go either way, couldn’t it? He’s either going to be bang there in the mix or he’s not.

Richard Thompson (right) with A Plus Tard at Haydock
Richard Thompson (right) with A Plus Tard at Haydock (Simon Marper/PA)

“I think last year one was really hopeful. He was 100-30 and there wasn’t really a doubt that he wouldn’t run a big race, particularly after being second the year before.

“This year there is that doubt, so it’s a different feeling going into it this year, but it’s fantastic to be lining up in a great field with a previous winner of the race.

“Winning the Gold Cup is always the pinnacle and whatever happens this week we’re already in bonus territory.”

With his horses performing tremendously well this week, De Bromhead is excited to send both A Plus Tard and Minella Indo into battle once more.

“They are in good form so we’ll just see how it goes,” said the Knockeen-based trainer.

“Who knows what the ground will be we’ll just have to see what happens on Friday. It should be fresher ground on the New course.

“It’s incredible to be going into a Gold Cup with two horses who have already won it.

“They arrived at the track on Monday so they’ve nicely settled in so we’ll just have to see how they get on now.”

A formidable Irish challenge also includes Emmet Mullins-trained Grand National hero Noble Yeats, Gordon Elliott’s Conflated and Shark Hanlon’s stable star Hewick, plus the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs and Stattler.

Noble Yeats winning the Grand National under the now-retired Sam Waley-Cohen
Noble Yeats winning the Grand National under the now-retired Sam Waley-Cohen (David Davies/PA)

Noble Yeats was a staying-on third in the Cotswold Chase on Cheltenham Trials day in January and owner Robert Waley-Cohen, who won the 2011 Gold Cup with Long Run, is optimistic of a bold showing.

He said: “We’re ready to rock and roll and we’re looking forward to it.

“We know he stays and the acceleration he showed when winning the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree earlier in the season was very good.

“The ground is what it is – whatever it is it won’t inconvenience him. I suppose if it’s softer it will inconvenience some others, but we’re not too worried about it.

“After seeing Honeysuckle win on Tuesday for Henry de Bromhead, the one we have to beat, in my opinion, is A Plus Tard. I know it will be almost his first run of the season, but the way he powered up the hill last year was so impressive.”

Conflated won last season’s Irish Gold Cup before falling in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Having won the Savills Chase at Leopardstown this term, Elliott feels he more than merits his place in the Gold Cup field.

“He is in good form. I think I went for the wrong race last year as all he does is gallop. We’re looking forward to running him in the Gold Cup,” said the Cullentra handler.

“I think he’ll love the trip. As a young horse he was a lunatic, but he’s settling better every year. He’s relaxed a lot more now and you can ride a race on him.

“I’ve only ever had one good enough to win a Gold Cup. Don Cossack was very good, but Conflated is a good horse.

“I think it’s an open Gold Cup and I think he’s got a chance. I think the trip will suit him, if I’m being honest – he looks made for it.”

Hewick has enjoyed a fairytale rise in the past year, winning the bet365 Gold Cup, the Galway Plate and the American Grand National.

But Hanlon is praying conditions do not deteriorate too much ahead of the blue riband.

John ‘Shark’ Hanlon with Hewick on his gallops
John ‘Shark’ Hanlon with Hewick on his gallops (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

He said: “The horse is in great shape. He arrived late on Wednesday night, we rode him out this (Thursday) morning and we’ll ride him out again tomorrow morning.

“He travelled very well and we couldn’t be happier with him, but we don’t want any more rain.

“We want to run the horse as there’s only one Gold Cup, but if the ground goes too soft we’ll have to think about it as Aintree (Grand National) is only four weeks away.”

The leading hope for the home team is Bravemansgame, who provided trainer Paul Nicholls with a 13th win in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day and now looks to give him a fifth Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls with Bravemansgame
Paul Nicholls with Bravemansgame (Adam Davy/PA)

“He had one or two issues last year and is twice the horse now, so much bigger and stronger and bounds up our hill gallop three times in the morning,” the Ditcheat handler told Betfair.

“He had a brilliant first half of the season, winning the King George in great style and the challenge has been to have him in the same form in the spring which hasn’t always been the case.

“It helps that he is much more mature now and he looks fabulous at the moment. The key is whether he stays three and quarter miles. Who knows? I didn’t know if Kauto Star would get the trip before he won his first Gold Cup and I’m not sure about Bravemansgame, but I suspect he will stay because he was keeping on strongly in the King George.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had him in better shape and Harry Cobden is very confident.”

The Dan Skelton-trained Protektorat was best of the British when third in last year’s Gold Cup and was thoroughly impressive in winning the Betfair Chase in the autumn.

He could finish only fourth when hot favourite for the Cotswold Chase on his latest outing, but Skelton is adamant he is in better shape now than he was then.

Scottish hopes are carried by Ahoy Senor, who bids to provide Lucinda Russell with a second win at this year’s Festival following Corach Rambler’s Ultima Handicap Chase success on Tuesday.

He bounced back from an underwhelming start to his season by winning the Cotswold Chase and Russell’s string could hardly be in better form.

Sounds Russian (Ruth Jefferson) was best of the rest in the Cotswold Chase and renews rivalry, with Royale Pagaille (Venetia Williams) and Eldorado Allen (Joe Tizzard) completing the line-up.