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

/by

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.

Galopin Des Champs carrying plenty of confidence in date with destiny

/by

Willie Mullins is confident Galopin Des Champs is becoming “the complete package” ahead of his bid for glory in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

The most successful trainer in Festival history finally ended his long wait for a first victory in the blue riband with Al Boum Photo in 2019 – a success he repeated 12 months later.

Bar his final fence exit in the Turners’ Novices’ Chase at last year’s Festival, Galopin Des Champs has been foot-perfect over fences so far – winning each of his five starts, including a dominant first chasing success over three miles in last month’s Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown.

The seven-year-old will take a step into the unknown over an extended three and a quarter miles in the Cotswolds, but Mullins does not expect him to be beaten for a lack of stamina.

“He did everything right at Leopardstown. I was very happy with what he did and Paul (Townend) was very happy that he jumped and came through when he wanted him to,” said Mullins.

“He felt he had plenty of horse under him passing through the line and that’s important because there’s another two furlongs in Cheltenham.

“When he won over three miles as a novice over hurdles, I was never worried about his stamina after that. It’s just all about temperament that the horse learns to settle during a race and he’s done that in his last two runs.

“Paul is much happier with him and has got confidence now that he can use him in a race when he wants to use him.

“The horse is becoming the complete package.”

Stattler winning the National Hunt Chase
Stattler winning the National Hunt Chase (David Davies/PA)

Mullins has a second contender in the form of Stattler, a horse who has no stamina questions having won the three-mile-six-furlong National Hunt Chase 12 months ago but who was eight lengths behind Galopin Des Champs when filling the runner-up spot in the Irish Gold Cup.

The trainer’s son Patrick is once again on board Stattler, with stable jockey Paul Townend keen to attend to what he says is “unfinished business” aboard the hot favourite.

“Galopin Des Champs been excellent this year and has really grown up,” he told Ladbrokes.

“I just can’t wait to ride him. Bar the hiccup we had at Cheltenham last year at the last fence, he has been foot-perfect and seems to have learned from that. We have unfinished business here and he is a deserved favourite.

“I think he will stay the trip, but we won’t know until we try. The way he went through the line in the Irish Gold Cup suggests it won’t be a problem.”

Envoi Allen flies high again in Ryanair Chase

/by

There was Cheltenham redemption for Envoi Allen who made a triumphant return to the Festival winner’s enclosure by winning the Ryanair Chase.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned nine-year-old is a winner of both the Champion Bumper (2019) and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (2020), but suffered an agonising reversal when sent off favourite for the Prestbury Park hat-trick in 2021, unseating his rider early into the Turners Novices’ Chase.

He had to settle for a creditable third in last year’s Champion Chase but back to an intermediate trip for his latest trip to the four-day showpiece, Henry de Bromhead’s charge bounced back to his very best to leave a disappointing showing in the King George at Kempton well in the past.

A big smile from Rachael Blackmore
A big smile from Rachael Blackmore (Mike Egerton/PA)

Always travelling menacingly in the hands of Racheal Blackmore, fortune shone on the Irish raider who was almost down on his nose at the third-last – the same fence evens-money favourite Shishkin made a momentum-stopping blunder.

However, whereas Shishkin was immediately under pressure to hold his position, Envoi Allen was gathered up by Blackmore and soon in the perfect spot to pounce in the home straight.

Eager not to head for home prematurely, the button was pressed approaching the last and the 13-2 winner showed his engine still purrs loudly to stride out to a two-and-three-quarter-length success – with Shishkin bravely rallying for second in the closing stages ahead of Hitman in third.

De Bromhead said: “It’s great for the Thompsons (Cheveley Park Stud) as they are great supporters of ours and the industry. It’s just brilliant.

“I kept saying to Richard (Thompson) that he is as good as he was before he went to Kempton, I was so happy with him before the King George, we really fancied him, but like a few of ours who went to England in the first half of the season, he just never showed up. A Plus Tard (Betfair Chase) and Arctic Bresil (Ladbrokes Trophy) just never ran their races.

“Nothing came to light, A Plus Tard had obvious reasons but not the other two. They were all beaten after four fences. I thought it might have been water and various other bits but anyway we left no stone and whatever we did seems to be working again.

“I was really happy the whole race, but there was a chance he was doing too much. He was jumping so well. Rachael felt early on he might have been doing too much, but then he settled. He’s a class horse. Everyone was delighted with him and I was hoping he would put his best foot forward and he did.”

A Plus Tard defends his Gold Cup crown on Friday in the same colours, and De Bromhead added: “You’d have to be a little more confident after that, but they are all individuals.

“The amount of people, our friends and family who have travelled over, and Michael O’Leary and Ryanair naming the race (Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle) in honour of Jack (de Bromhead), makes this week very special.”

Blackmore said: “He travelled and jumped really well today. I thought early on he was in my hands for quite a while – it just took me a while to settle him – but then he switched off going past the stands and he was lovely then, he was lobbing away and I was able to fill him up three out.

“He put in a phenomenal performance, but I don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone – he’s a supremely talented horse and it’s fantastic that Henry got the day out of him today.

Jubilation for Henry de Bromhead
Jubilation for Henry de Bromhead (Tim Goode/PA)

“Ryanair are so kind to name their mares’ novices’ hurdle after Jack (who tragically died in a pony racing accident), such a kind gesture by them, so it is great to be able to win their race today.

“I actually got a nice clear passage – I didn’t find problems anywhere.”

She went on: “He was so disappointing the last day – going to Kempton we were really happy with him, and he was equally as good coming here today, so we were hoping the last day, whatever was wrong, he just didn’t perform, but we’ve been really happy with him all season.

“It’s a great team effort down there in Knockeen and it’s been a tough year for everyone, but everyone in the yard is a properly good grafter and it’s great to be associated with them.

“A Plus Tard hasn’t had the greatest preparation coming into the Gold Cup, but he’s in great form and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Good Time again for Tony Martin at Cheltenham

/by

It was a case of mission complete in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle as Good Time Jonny stormed to Cheltenham Festival success.

Trained to perfection by Tony Martin, he qualified for the big race by finishing third to Maxxum at Leopardstown over Christmas, before tuning-up for his Prestbury Park assignment over an inadequate two miles at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The money had been coming for the eight-year-old building up to the meeting and he was sent off at 9-1 as the tapes went up.

Given a brave steer by Liam McKenna up the inner, Good Time Jonny was out the back as the field headed for home. But his young rider held his nerve to pounce late and deliver his mount with precision, returning a three-and-a-quarter-length winning verdict.

It was a fitting reappearance in the Festival winner’s enclosure for Martin, who has proved synonymous with handicap success in the past and was securing his seventh success at the four-day showpiece.

Martin was full of praise for his rider, saying: “He was last at the top of the hill but had the patience to wait, and it worked out well.

“The horse had been coming on real well since Leopardstown and this is great for Liam.

“When they turned in and started to pick up I knew he would win. Liam never chased him.

“This man has shown when he gets the rub of the green he’s as good as anyone. He hasn’t always enjoyed the breaks you hope for, but when I want to claim I wouldn’t look past him.”

McKenna said: “It’s great for the boys that own him, there’ll be plenty of celebrations from them. They’re great men. It’s great to get these opportunities on a big day like this.

“I got there late enough but that wasn’t my plan, Tony said to get there late and about 10 strides from the line I knew I had it. Just to hear that crowd is different.”

There was further success for the Irish raiders when Seddon gave John McConnell his first Festival winner in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase.

Seddon and Ben Harvey on the way to victory
Seddon and Ben Harvey on the way to victory (Tim Goode/PA)

It was also a first winner at the big meeting for Ben Harvey, who never missed a beat aboard the 10-year-old – bringing him home ahead of Richard Hobson’s Fugitif to strike at 20-1.

McConnell said: “I don’t know what to say. He’s the horse of a lifetime. Top jockey, top worker rider, I don’t do anything. I’m just a chancer, that’s all I am. He’s some horse, and the most beautiful, kindest horse you can ever imagine as well.

“He’s just a happy horse. He loves being a racehorse, people talk about welfare and this is a horse that just loves being a racehorse. He would lay down for you, he’s an amazing horse. With Ben on board it was like robbing 5lb, it’s unbelievable.”

Sam Curling’s Angels Dawn ensured a clean sweep of the St Patrick’s Thursday handicaps went to Ireland when holding off Stumptown to claim the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase by a neck.

Angels Dawn and P A King coming home to win the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase on day three of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse
Angels Dawn and P A King coming home to win the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase on day three of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)

The eight-year-old unseated her rider when sent off favourite for Punchestown’s Grand National Trial last month, but bounced back in style here, travelling with real menace in the hands of Patrick King and showing plenty of guts when challenged by Gavin Cromwell’s 7-2 favourite in the closing stages.

Curling said: “That was brilliant – I’m delighted.

“She was unlucky the last day in Punchestown and she’s always promised a lot. 

“We’re only a small team and only have about six horses for the track. We have maybe 70 point-to-pointers and mainly buy and sell horses. We sold Marine Nationale, so it was special to see him here earlier in the week. That’s our game. 

“This mare jumps well and loves the bit of extra distance and Pat gave her a very cool ride. 

“When the rain came I was very hopeful. If she’d won the last day she would have gone up in the weights, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise. 

“She’s in the Irish National, but she probably wouldn’t get into that. I hadn’t really looked beyond today, to be honest.”

King said: “It’s unbelievable, I didn’t think I’d ever have this feeling, it’s surreal, it’s my first ride at the Festival. I’ve had a winner at the October meeting but to ride this for Sam, who has been a big part of my career, I’m delighted.

“I was nearly at the end of riding as things had gone very quiet for me but I joined Sam and since then I’m back, he’s been a big part.

“I’ve known Sam a long time and he told me if I joined him there’d be chances for him and I’ve never looked back.

“I was in front far too soon, I wasn’t supposed to be in front before the last but I thought from a long way out I was going very well and thankfully it worked out.”

Stage Star strikes from the front for Nicholls and Cobden

/by

Stage Star jumped his rivals into submission in the Turners Novices’ Chase to end Paul Nicholls’ three-year drought at the Cheltenham Festival.

The champion trainer had drawn a blank at the big meeting since Politologue won the Champion Chase in 2020, but it proved well worth the wait as Stage Star backed up his smart form this season to produce an excellent round of jumping and galloping.

An all-the-way winner in handicap company on Festival Trials day and a Grade One winner as a novice hurdler, he repeated the dose when it really mattered, moving back into top company with aplomb.

Sent immediately to the front by Harry Cobden, the 15-2 shot traded blows with Laura Morgan’s Notlongtilmay throughout, with the duo the only ones left in the mix after the last and the Ditcheat inmate pulling out more for a three-and-a-quarter-length success.

Odds-on favourite Mighty Potter travelled well for the majority, as did Willie Mullins’ Appreciate It, but both failed to pick up sufficiently at the business end, with the celebrations belonging to Nicholls, who took his Cheltenham tally to 47, and his jockey Cobden – himself ending a long four-year stay on the Festival cold list.

“It’s been a tough week so far, but it’s a tough place,” said Nicholls.

“We were a little bit unlucky yesterday with a couple, but that was brilliant. Different track, slightly better ground, it was always going to suit us. I said to Harry today ‘be positive, bowl along in front and ride him like the best horse in the race’. He gave him a peach of a ride there.”

Yes! Paul Nicholls celebrates
Yes! Paul Nicholls celebrates (Tim Goode/PA)

He added: “He travelled and jumped well and quickened up like he did the last day. I told Harry go out, go a nice gallop and be positive and dictate it from the front – he’s so good at doing that.

“I think if we went back and rode that race yesterday (Ballymore, with Hermes Allen) again we might have done things differently, but we’re not going to look back, we’re going to look forward.

“This is a young horse who is improving and we’re thrilled. I’m thrilled he’s come back from last year’s disaster and gone really forward. It gives me more hope for Bravemansgame in the Gold Cup tomorrow, who did exactly the same thing last spring.

“I think that is his trip and he’ll be aimed for the Ryanair next year. He probably would get three miles, but he has plenty of boot and he jumps well.”

Reflecting further, Nicholls said: “That was good for Harry today. He needed a bit of a confidence booster before tomorrow because he was bit down last night. That’s a massive plus.

“It’s hard to win here here. We’ve only got 15 or 16 runners here all week and you’ve got to make every one count.

“We’ve had a great time here over the years. It’s hard to get those horses back, but we’re building up again and I think the next few years will be positive.

“It’s not easy taking on the Irish battalions, but there are some very good trainers here and it was nice to see Dan (Skelton) have a winner yesterday, too.

“We haven’t got the numbers some of the Irish trainers have and we’re up against it all the time, but we can only do our best.”

Notlongtillmay (left) ran a huge race
Notlongtillmay (left) ran a huge race (David Davies for The Jockey Club)

Morgan was understandably delighted with her runner and said: “I thought he was going to win. He’s run a screamer, he’s still only a novice, obviously, but he’s just a baby and he was a bit bold at a few which frightened me. I’m absolutely delighted with him.

“This is my dream to be around trainers like Paul Nicholls and Willie Mullins, it’s just incredible.”

Gordon Elliott was philosophical after the defeat of the favourite, seen by many as one of the bankers of the week.

He said: “He didn’t have a nice experience here last year, but he’s run better than then at least. It’s always disappointing when you don’t win, but that is the game we are in.

“He never got into a decent rhythm like he did the last day. At Leopardstown he would jump and Davy (Russell) would take him back, but today he was stretching for them. We’ll get him home and see where we are.”

Russell could offer no excuses and said: “It’s very disappointing but I can’t put my finger on anything, he didn’t miss a beat the whole way. The winner is a good horse and the second isn’t bad with a string of ones next to his name. I’ve no real excuses.

“I was worried about him hanging as he was still running, I didn’t lose much ground. I’ve won plenty of races here by drifting right. He just might not have been good enough.”

‘All systems go’ – Three Card Brag an ace to play for Elliott in Albert Bartlett

/by

Gordon Elliott’s Three Card Brag is expected to relish a step up in trip in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday.

The six-year-old has had a productive season so far, winning on debut at Galway and then coming home third in a Grade Three novice hurdle at Navan in November – beaten just a length and a quarter.

Up in trip at Naas he then missed out by a neck in the Grade Two Navan Novice Hurdle, a race won by subsequent Supreme Novices’ Hurdle fourth Inthepocket.

Three Card Brag then headed to Fairyhouse to score a 12-length success in a January novice event, running like a horse that will thrive when asked to take on a longer distance.

“We’ve very happy with him, we’ve always thought the step up in trip would suit him,” said Iain Turner, racing manager to co-owners the McNeill family.

“We’ve not wanted to go there over three miles too early but we’ve always thought he’ll stay, his pedigree suggests he’ll stay and how he hits the line in his races suggests he’ll stay.

“It’s been the plan for a long time, he’s a chaser for next season but we think he’ll go very well – it’s all systems go.

“Early in the season at Navan, the ground was quicker than ideal and the trip was certainly shorter than ideal, but he still had the ability to finish third in a Graded race and he stepped up to finish second at Naas behind Inthepocket.

“While not winning, I still think Inthepocket performed with credit in the Supreme.

“We’re happy with how he’s gone, Gordon’s horses are looking and running well. He’s looked like our best chance of the week and he remains that way.”

Corbetts Cross holds a live chance for Grand National-winning trainer Emmet Mullins.

The six-year-old has run once for Mullins, winning the Johnstown Novice Hurdle by a head after changing hands having previously been successfully campaigned by Eugene O’Sullivan.

That race was a Grade Two event over nearly two miles at Naas and he will now step up to both Grade One level and a distance of three miles at Prestbury Park.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: “Emmet seems very happy with him and we’re hoping for a bit of luck with him. It will be nice to see him and seeing how he gets on.

“We don’t know an awful lot and haven’t owned him that long, but Emmet seems to be really happy and he said he came out of the Naas race well and we’ve left it all up to Emmet.

“We’re looking forward to him and hope he runs well.”

Joseph O’Brien’s Dawn Rising runs in the same McManus silks, a six-year-old seen twice this season in two-and-a-half-mile novice hurdles.

The gelding was a winner in the Monksfield Novice Hurdle, a Grade Three at Navan, and then came home third in the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle in early January.

Berry said: “It looks like he is going to love the trip and the ground and has done very little wrong.

“Joseph is very happy with him and we hope for a good run.”

Willie Mullins’ Embassy Gardens was most recently seen routing the field in a Thurles Novice in January, claiming a 35-length victory after prior placed runs in shorter-distances races.

Jockey Paul Townend said on his Ladbrokes blog: “He is an improving horse as he’s moved up in trip.

“The form of his win at Thurles isn’t the best form in the race but he was so impressive winning by 35 lengths that day.

“He seems to be going the right way and three miles around Cheltenham should be right up his street.

“I think he will give a good account of himself.”

Of stablemate Shanbally Kid, the rider added: “Shanbally Kid is one I tipped up as an each-way shot in the preview night.

“He has been getting his act together and the trip will suit him as will the New course.”

Gala Marceau bidding to settle any Triumph Hurdle argument

/by

Gala Marceau looks to confirm Dublin Racing Festival Form over Lossiemouth as Willie Mullins holds an enviable hand in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

She finished seven and a half lengths adrift of her stablemate Lossiemouth when they met over the Christmas period, but turned the tables in style to scoop Grade One honours at Leopardstown last month.

Many felt Lossiemouth was an unlucky loser on that occasion. Although Peter Molony, racing manager for owner Kenny Alexander of Honeysuckle fame, somewhat agrees, he believes Gala Marceau will be right in the mix once again if curbing her tendency to pull hard during her races.

He said: “Although Lossiemouth was unlucky on the day, Danny (Mullins, jockey) felt his lady wasn’t stopping and actually felt he was running away from her again at the end.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a horse pull so hard in a Grade One and win, so we’re hoping with the stronger pace on Friday she will settle a bit better.

“If she settles she could be hard to beat – she will be there or thereabouts anyway.”

Gala Marceau will once again be partnered by Danny Mullins and connections are delighted to have retained his services.

Danny Mullins after winning aboard Gala Marceau in the Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown last month
Danny Mullins after winning aboard Gala Marceau in the Marquees Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown last month (Donall Farmer/PA)

“We were a small bit worried he might have to ride one of the other two, but he said a couple of weeks ago he wasn’t getting off this lady,” continued Molony.

“She has won him a Grade One and he wasn’t going to jump off her. We are very happy about that.”

Paul Townend will continue his association with Lossiemouth, who attempts to give owner Rich Ricci back to back victories in the race.

“I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which one I would ride,” the leading jockey told Ladbrokes.

“I am happy to be on Lossiemouth but whether I am on the right one remains to be seen.

Lossiemouth ridden by jockey Paul Townend wins the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle during the Leopardstown Christmas Festival
Lossiemouth ridden by jockey Paul Townend wins the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle during the Leopardstown Christmas Festival (Brian Lawless/PA)

“We were unlucky at the Dublin Racing Festival. She showed huge ability in her two wins before that and to get as close as she did to Gala Marceau after suffering so much interference that day was impressive.

“My horse has the form in the book so I sided with her.” 

The respective choices of Mullins and Townend allows Patrick Mullins to come in for the plum ride aboard Blood Destiny, who has disposed his stablemate Lossiemouth at the top of the market in recent weeks.

Second to Bo Zenith in his sole start in France, he has done nothing wrong in two appearances for Mullins, beating a useful cast that included Tuesday’s Boodles winner Jazzy Matty by 18 lengths at Fairyhouse in January.

The Dublin Racing Festival came too soon for him to test his mettle against his esteemed colleagues, but he is rated highly by the master of Closutton.

Blood Destiny was an easy winner at Fairyhouse
Blood Destiny was an easy winner at Fairyhouse (Gary Carson/PA)

He said: “Blood Destiny is very good and I just felt it was only three weeks since his last run, he’s only four and it was going to be a hard race if he ran in it.

“He’ll go there a bit fresher and he’s a fair sort.”

The Mullins hand is strengthened by Zenta, who created a taking impression at Fairyhouse last month when winning a Grade Three with ease.

“Apart from a few mistakes she won really nicely at Fairyhouse,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus.

“It looks a very hot race and she has it all to do, but it looks a nice race to run her in.”

Je Garde, Cinsa and Gust Of Wind are the others representing Mullins, with the latter backed to build on her debut for the yard at Leopardstown last month.

“He is quite unique in terms of his appearance – he looks like a Dalmatian,” said Craig Kieswetter of Barnane Stud, who own in the gelding in partnership with the Heffer family at Hollywood Bets.

“Ross Doyle (bloodstock agent) rang me up after he ran in France and said to me, ‘you have to buy this horse, he looks to have tremendous potential’. We have full trust in Ross and Peter and Anna (the Doyles) and, when they come to us so adamant and so confident in a horse, most of the time our arm gets twisted.

“He’s trending in the right direction and he’s obviously raced in Graded company before, but he is still inexperienced for his age.

“We are excited by him, but we’re not going there expecting overly much. We’re hoping for a decent run and he’s one we have highlighted as with a bit more experience and time to strengthen up, could be a proper Graded-race horse at all future festivals.”

Newbury Races – Saturday December 31st
Jupiter Du Gite ridden by Niall Houlihan wins the Coral Racing Club Join For Free ‘Introductory’ Hurdle at Newbury (Nigel French)

The late defection of Scriptwriter has left the home challenge looking extremely weak, with Ben Pauling leading the charge with his new recruit from France, Jipcot – who was supplemented into the race at the six-day stage.

The Naunton Downs handler is also represented by Active Duty, while Gary Moore is hoping to see the Jupiter Du Gite who bolted up on debut at Newbury rather than the version which bombed out at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day.

He said: “He’s a hard horse to gauge at home and the way he ran first time was probably the biggest surprise I’ve had all season to be honest with you. In contrast, the way he ran the second time was no surprise.

“That’s him, he’s obviously a very talented horse and he’s had a good break between races now. He goes there in very special order with himself – he’s in really great order.

“I think the thing with him is he has got to have really soft ground – that day at Newbury it was very soft and he enjoyed it.”

A Dream outcome to Champion Bumper is one to remember

/by

There was a very special conclusion to day two of the Cheltenham Festival when 18-year-old John Gleeson steered John Kiely’s A Dream To Share to a thrilling Weatherbys Champion Bumper success.

The 85-year-old Kiely has won many big races throughout a long and distinguished career in the training ranks, but one notable omission was a victory at the Festival.

He found the perfect ally to fill that void in the unbeaten five-year-old, who was bred and previously owned by ITV and RTE presenter Brian Gleeson and his wife Claire.

He headed to Prestbury Park on the back of a win at the Dublin Racing Festival last month, and with new owners, having been snapped up to run in the colours of JP McManus.

But the 7-2 chance remained the mount of the younger Gleeson who produced a ride befitting a man with much more experience than his tender years and someone experiencing the white-hot atmosphere of the Festival for the first time.

Rounding the home bend, he had Patrick Mullins and the 16-5 favourite Fact To File in his sights and it was not long before he was asking his mount for an effort – quickening smartly in the rain-sodden ground to breeze past his old rival and confirm Leopardstown form in a win to remember.

Kiely said: “I was always happy with the horse all the way through, he’s been a nice horse since day one but I was concerned about the ground today to be honest.

“I knew the horse was tip-top but I was worried about the ground so I’m delighted with the way it worked out.

“Just with the ground I worried that he’d get there too soon, but the young man was fantastic. He’s been coming in every morning to ride him. He’ll muck out and he’ll do everything, I just hope he keeps his feet on the ground now.

“I’ve been coming here since 1976 and we had the winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle in 1993 with Shuil Ar Aghaidh (trained by his brother, Paddy).

John Gleeson celebrates
John Gleeson celebrates (David Davies for the Jockey Club)

“I’m 86 in May, I gave up riding three years ago with Covid. I’ve spent my life in racing, you never think as a youngster you’d get to be in this hallowed spot.

“This horse is named well isn’t he, they named him on Christmas day as a family, A Dream To Share, it’s lovely.”

The winning rider said: “I can’t believe how smoothly it went, to be honest. Did that just happen? I can’t believe it.

“We kind of set out to keep it simple. The ground was a bit poached everywhere, but we thought on the outside it was a bit better.

“The ground is quite holding, so we decided to take our time and he did it so well. I followed Patrick and it worked out so perfectly.

“Just to be here at the Festival, it’s unreal. To have a winner for John Kiely at the Cheltenham Festival – that man is so good to me and I can’t thank him enough. To Mr McManus as well, for letting me keep the ride, I’m very grateful.

A proud Brian Gleeson watches on
A proud Brian Gleeson watches on (David Davies for the Jockey Club)

“It’s very special. We’re a small team at home, but we try our best to get to the big stage and to win is unbelievable.

“I’ve known John for as long as I can remember and I ride this horse every day before going into school. I’ve had to park the books for a week, but it was definitely worth it!

“My mum named the horse on Christmas Day a couple of years back and my dad gets a great kick out of it.”

Gleeson senior said: “It’s tremendous. Cheltenham Festival, with your son riding, in those colours and trained by a maestro in John Kiely – it’s nearly a book!

“The horse was named by my wife Claire. We always say everything good in life is worth sharing and this horse we always thought was good.

“The dream was to have a winner at the Cheltenham Festival trained by John Kiely. He’s 86 in May and now he’s had his first Festival winner – it’s fairytale stuff.”

Constitution Hill happy in his box with ‘do not disturb’ sign

/by

Nicky Henderson reported Constitution Hill to be fine shape after his stunning Unibet Champion Hurdle victory at Cheltenham on Tuesday.

The superstar six-year-old remained unbeaten under rules after cantering up the hill to prevail by an easy nine lengths from Willie Mullins’ State Man.

Aintree is being discussed for his next outing, with stablemate Epatante, unplaced in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, a possible for Punchestown.

Henderson said of Constitution Hill: “He’s fine. He went for a walk and we trotted him up.

“He is sound and we put him back in his box with a ‘do not disturb’ sign on it.

Nico de Boinville celebrates winning the Champion Hurdle
Nico de Boinville celebrates winning the Champion Hurdle (David Davies/PA)

“He’s not sore or tired, he’s just done some eating and sleeping.

“Tomorrow we will put a saddle on him. He’s just a very uncomplicated horse that we are very lucky to have.”

Of potential plans for both Constitution Hill and Epatante, he added: “The pair of them finished first and second up at Newcastle (Fighting Fifth Hurdle) and then because of the ground they ran against each other again at Kempton in the Christmas Hurdle.

“I would think it’s more than likely that he will go to Aintree and then that would leave the way clear for Epatante to go to Punchestown, but I haven’t discussed it with JP (McManus, owner of Epatante) yet – I would have thought that would be the plan.”

Delta Work edges Galvin in Elliott cross-country domination

/by

Delta Work defended his Glenfarclas Chase title as Gordon Elliott won the Cheltenham Festival cross-country feature for the fifth time in seven years.

Last year Delta Work had to play the role of pantomime villain as he spoiled the retirement party of Tiger Roll by edging out the dual Grand National winner in a thriller.

But this time around he was the people’s favourite, with the 10-year-old was sent off the heavily-backed 11-10 market leader.

Kept in the perfect place throughout by Keith Donoghue, he edged his way to the lead shortly after jumping the Aintree fence for the final time.

Delta Work was soon joined at the head of proceedings by stablemate and 11-4 second-favourite Galvin and it was soon obvious the classy Elliott duo were the only ones with a real chance of taking home the first prize.

Matching strides approaching the last, Donoghue always looked to be holding on to that little bit more than Davy Russell aboard Galvin and so it proved in the closing stages as Delta Work came home with a two-and-a-half-length advantage.

Donoghue was picking up his fourth victory in the race having steered Tiger Roll to success in 2018, 19 and 21, while both the winner and runner-up will now head to Aintree for the Randox Grand National.

Betfair make Delta Work 14-1 from 20-1, while Galvin is 16-1 from 25s for success in Liverpool on April 15.

Elliott said: “I love the cross-country race. It was great to have the one-two and see Galvin run a great race because he will come on for it.

Keith Donoghue returns in victory
Keith Donoghue returns in victory (Tim Goode/PA)

“I’m pleased for Keith who is having his best ever season, but Jack (Kennedy, injured stable jockey) is a team player and he’s here lending his support. Jack will be back on these horses when he’s passed fit to return.

“Both horses will now go for the Grand National.”

He added: “I hoped it would be Delta’s day, to be honest, but really I don’t care what wins as I just love having winners.”

Successful owner Michael O’Leary said: “He has been a great horse around Cheltenham. He won a Pertemps here one year and that is his second cross-country chase win and it is wonderful to have a winner around here. It is a great training performance by Gordon to win that race again.

“Every winner at the Festival is a big winner. It is so hard to win races here. Gordon and the team at Cullentra (House) are one of the top teams and we are privileged to have days like this and winners like Delta.

“I was devastated 12 months ago (after beating Tiger Roll) and I was like ‘kick him out’ (said tongue in cheek), but now I’m very grateful. I thought Galvin was going easier and Davy was tracking us the whole way. Galvin is a very good horse and he is owned by Ronnie Bartlett, who is a very good friend of mine, and if it wasn’t going to be won by us I would have liked to have seen Ronnie win it as at least it was going to stay at Gordon’s.

“I used to be the most critical of this cros-country race and why do we bother. When you are struggling for a winner at Cheltenham I will take the cross-country, the Martin Pipe, anything at all. It is not everyone’s cup of tea, but a winner at the Festival is a winner.

“Some horses take to it and some don’t. Tiger took to it and Delta has taken to it well again. It (the National) will be on the agenda, but I have won the Grand National three times already and no owner I think has won it more than three times so I’ve had my fill.

“He will go to Aintree, but will he win, no he won’t.”