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 (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.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2.70856708-1-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngDaveM2023-03-16 15:38:082023-03-16 15:38:08Galopin Des Champs carrying plenty of confidence in date with destiny
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 (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 (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 (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.”
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.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2.70855362-1-scaled.jpg12802560DaveMhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngDaveM2023-03-16 13:20:412023-03-16 13:20:41Gala Marceau bidding to settle any Triumph Hurdle argument
Energumene defended his Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase crown in imperious style at Cheltenham – routing the opposition to become the first back-to-back winner of the day two feature since Altior in 2018 and 2019.
Only third in the Clarence House Chase behind reopposing pair Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone, he arrived at the Festival with a point to prove.
Backed into 6-5 favourite as the rain continued to pour throughout the afternoon, his supporters would have had barely a moment of worry as he produced a performance of real dominance to light up a gloomy second day.
🟦⬜ Energumene leads them home in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
In a change of tactics, Energumene was ridden forwards by Paul Townend – keen to keep tabs on Niall Houlihan on the front-running Editeur Du Gite.
Travelling with real zest, Townend was an image of supreme confidence after four out at the same point Rachael Blackmore aboard Captain Guinness and Edwardstone were beginning to appear in Energumene’s wing mirrors.
However, the writing was on the wall for the nine-year-old’s rivals from the moment Energumene poked his nose in front at the third-last and with Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone soon beaten off, it was left to Captain Guinness to chase home Energumene in vain as Townend asked his mount to stretch clear.
Owned by Brighton & Hove Albion supremo Tony Bloom, Energumene returned a 10-length winning verdict back to Captain Guinness in second and having given Willie Mullins a first Champion Chase success 12 months ago, he took the master of Closutton’s overall Cheltenham tally to 92 Festival winners.
Mullins admitted there was plenty of confidence in the camp beforehand that his charge would reverse the Clarence House form.
Team Energumene celebrate in the winner’s enclosure (Mike Egerton/PA)
He said: “Paul had a very positive frame of mind going out. He said he was going to jump off up there, he thought everyone was going to be very tight and he wanted to be away fast. That’s the way the race worked out and he had it right.
“The horse just loved the ground and loved jumping. He was brilliant on the day and Paul was brilliant on him.
“I was way more confident this year than last year because we hadn’t Shishkin to take on and with any improvement from the Clarence House, it was hopefully a case of getting a clear round.
“Paul came home from the Clarence House and he said ‘they won’t beat us again’ and the horse’s work and jumping and everything for the last three weeks has been brilliant, so we just had our fingers crossed for a clear round.
“I was hoping to win, but the way he did it was something else. Hopefully he can hold that sort of form for next year.”
Following his Clarence House reverse, Mullins suggested Energumene was taken by surprise by the white boards on the fences – but he had no problem at the second attempt.
He added: “He just propped at the first fence in the Clarence House and it just upset him. We had to go to Plan B then, which didn’t work out.
“We’ve schooled him plenty over the white fences and they didn’t worry him today and I’d say he was way sharper coming here, too.
“In showjumping we have different colour poles and some horses don’t like this colour and that colour. Some horses go out and don’t care what colours they see, but some see a different colour from a mile away and it puts them off.”
Tony Bloom alongside the Queen Consort (Mike Egerton/PA)
Bloom felt the rain had worked in his horse’s favour.
He said: “We were really confident going in, he’s run a tremendous race. He looked the top horse all the way around so we were delighted, absolutely delighted.
“I had a few quid on, so we’re quids in. We were confident anyway but obviously the rain helps the horse – had it been good ground we would have been a lot less confident. The rain in the last couple of hours has been a big boon.
“He didn’t run to his best in the Clarence House Chase, but he has really shown his class today. I think maybe a bit of getting used to them (white fences) after one go over them and he was maybe not at his best a couple of months ago, but he was certainly at his best today.”
Bloom has a big date this weekend with Brighton in the FA Cup quarter finals.
He said: “That would be nice (if we could win the Champion Chase and FA Cup), but we will focus on Crystal Palace tonight and I will be there later on and after that we will concentrate on the Grimsby Town game, but the FA Cup is in sight and we are really looking forward to that. I did make it to the Brighton game after being here last year, but I missed the first 20 minutes!
“He is a brilliant horse. I didn’t have any pressure. It was all on Energumene and he takes all the pressure unbelievably well. Willie is an unbelievable trainer and we love having him as part of our team. He just gets the horses ready for the Cheltenham Festival like no other. There is no score prediction for tonight. I’m simply hoping for a home win.”
Henry de Bromhead was thrilled with the runner-up.
He said: “I’m delighted with him, he was really good. He jumped brilliant, we came here hoping we’d be placed and we were.
“I don’t think we’ll take him to Aintree, we tried that before and it didn’t work, so it will either be Punchestown or Sandown.”
Alan King was at a loss to explain Edwardstone’s lacklustre effort, with last year’s Arkle winner coming home last of five finishers.
He said: “I just don’t know what happened, I’ve never been happier with a horse going into a race but I was beaten after two fences.
“I can’t blame the ground because he’s gone on that before and his preparation has been perfect, I promise you I have not missed a beat the last month to six weeks. I just don’t know.
“He was just never going, jumping the third I was thinking ‘he’s not going to win anything’. If you think back to the Tingle Creek, he tanked the whole way through but he was never going today.
“He’s never had an off-day before – that’s his first one, but there we are.”
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Impaire Et Passe produced a devastating performance to lead home a Willie Mullins one-two-three in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Despite being the talking horse of the pre-Festival preview circuits he was usurped as favourite shortly before the tapes went up by Paul Nicholls’ Hermes Allen and allowed to go off at 5-2.
The winner, runner-up Gaelic Warrior and Barry Connell’s Good Land were all marking each other in mid-division for the most part as Champ Kiely gave Hermes Allen a lead at the front end.
🚀 Impaire Et Passe – oh he looks the real deal alright & leads home a Willie Mullins 1-2-3 in the Ballymore
But when Hermes Allen moved up to eyeball Champ Kiely and forced the pace to quicken four out, the pack were edging their way closer to the action and as the runners descended towards two out, it was clear Paul Townend had plenty of horse underneath him.
Taking the brave route up the inner, the five-year-old was soon in the clear and Townend simply had to keep his mount’s momentum moving forwards as he scooted up the hill to return a six-and-a-half-length verdict.
Gaelic Warrior and Champ Kiely filled the podium positions for the Closutton yard, as Mullins enhanced his fine record in the race, registering his sixth victory and following up Sir Gerhard’s triumph 12 months ago.
Impaire Et Passe was in a different league (Mike Egerton/PA)
Impaire Et Passe runs in the ‘double green’ colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede – who were on the mark on day one with El Fabiolo in the Arkle.
Munir said: “He’s been working very, very well and he won his races in Ireland well but he was going up in distance and the ground was another question mark. To win by six and a half lengths on his fourth run is breathtaking. It’s very exciting.
“It was quite a deep race, Champ Kiely, Gaelic Warrior, Hermes Allen from England – all horses with good form lines. It was competitive, Willie was right to go for the Ballymore and not the Supreme.
“He’s really a blank canvas, that was the fourth run of his life, he’s won by six and a half lengths and came over the last in the lead. The sky’s the limit at the moment – the dream is very much alive.”
Mullins said: “That was good, I was very impressed. When he got through, the change of pace coming down the last – wow.
“I think that was just his fourth run of his life so there’s improvement there.
Impaire Et Passe on the way to victory (Tim Goode/PA)
“I’m looking at him as a chaser, but you have to ask yourself would you stay hurdling? You have to look at Champion Hurdles and things.
“Yesterday I was telling Michael Buckley (owner of Constitution Hill) that we were going to have go off and shop again to buy one to beat him, but maybe we have one here. His jumping is great, so maybe we have one.”
He added: “Gaelic Warrior, we took out his ear plugs out on the way to the start and he didn’t settle as well as Patrick (Mullins) wanted him to. Patrick did say he could go up to three miles, so maybe he’s a chaser down the line.
“Champ Kiely surprised me by staying on so well. Danny (Mullins) said he hung terribly down the back, we’ll see if he had a problem, but he’s another who will make a nice chaser down the line.”
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Lossiemouth, Blood Destiny and Gala Marceau give Willie Mullins an extremely strong hand among a field of 15 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
As well as having the three market leaders, Mullins also fields Zenta, Je Garde, Cinsa and Gust Of Wind giving him seven chances in the Grade One affair.
Gala Marceau turned over odds-on favourite Lossiemouth at the Dublin Racing Festival when the grey met trouble in running, but the bookmakers have Lossiemouth favoured once more.
The only runners trained in the UK are Ben Pauling’s pair of Active Duty and Jipcot, plus Gary Moore’s Jupiter Du Gite.
Corbetts Cross gets the better of Found A Fifty to land the Grade 2 Johnstown Novice Hurdle at @NaasRacecourse for Donagh Meyler and Emmet Mullins 👏 pic.twitter.com/lwCJbI3ag1
A maximum field of 20 will go to post for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
They include the Mullins-trained Embassy Gardens, Emmet Mullins’ Corbetts Cross, Sandor Clegane for Paul Nolan and Gordon Elliott’s Favori de Champdou and Three Card Brag.
All nine have been declared in the Mrs Paddy Power Chase, in which Mullins fields three in Allegorie De Vassy, previous winner Elimay and Dolcita.
Colm Murphy’s Impervious, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Jeremys Flame and Henry de Bromhead’s Magic Daze are others with chances.
Sharjah lines up in the County Hurdle (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)
Sharjah, second in the Champion Hurdle in 2020 and 2021, will carry top weight in the McCoy Contractors County Hurdle
Elliott’s Imagine is among a maximum field in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle with Ben Harvey booked.
Last year’s winner Billaway is part of another maximum field of 24 in the St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
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Ante-post favourite Galopin Des Champs heads 13 declarations for Friday’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Willie Mullins’ charge famously came down at the final fence with the race at his mercy in last year’s Turners Novices’ Chase, but he has not looked back since, winning each of his three subsequent starts at Grade One level.
He has been skinny odds for the blue riband for much of the season and he will be joined by stablemate Stattler, who was eight lengths behind him in the Irish Gold Cup last time.
Bravemansgame landed the King George at Christmas (John Walton/PA)
Paul Nicholls’ Bravemansgame arrives unbeaten in two runs this term, following up an impressive Charlie Hall return with a 14-length verdict in the King George VI Chase and he is the next best in the market.
Last year’s victor A Plus Tard has had just one start since his history-making win under Rachael Blackmore, being pulled up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November.
He is one of two runners for Henry De Bromhead along with Minella Indo, winner of the race in 2021 but a distant second to his stablemate 12 months ago.
A Plus Tard won last year’s Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)
Ahoy Senor represents Lucinda Russell having bounced back from some early-season disappointments by winning the Cotswold Chase at Prestbury Park in January.
The Ruth Jefferson-trained Sounds Russian was second that day and he tries his luck again along with third-placed Noble Yeats, winner of the 2022 Grand National for Emmet Mullins, and Dan Skelton’s Betfair Chase hero Protektorat, who was fourth in the Cotswold.
Conflated represents Gordon Elliott having won the Savills Chase at Leopardstown in December while Hewick bids to complete a remarkable rise through the ranks for Shark Hanlon, having landed the bet365 Gold Cup, Galway Plate and American Grand National in the last year.
King George second Royal Pagaille lines up for Venetia Williams with Joe Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen completing the field.
The Real Whacker was the only horse not declared as he contests Wednesday’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase instead.
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Willie Mullins hailed Constitution Hill as “a proper champion hurdler” after watching Nicky Henderson’s charge take apart the field in the first day highlight at the Cheltenham Festival.
The perennial Irish champion trainer fielded second-favourite State Man in the Unibet Champion Hurdle, with the Irish raider sent off a 7-2 shot in comparison to Constitution Hill’s 4-11 favourite tag.
State Man tracked Constitution Hill and briefly looked set to make a race of it turning for home – but the instant reaction when Nico de Boinville pushed the button on the market leader left State Man and jockey Paul Townend trailing in his wake.
State Man, who came into the race on the back of four Grade One wins and six successive victories in total, went down by nine lengths to the Michael Buckley-owned Constitution Hill, who was having his first run since winning the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
Mullins said: “We ran very well, we just met a proper champion hurdler.
“We were happy, we’ve no excuses. Well done to Nicky and Michael and the team.
“Nico gave him a brave man’s ride. He set out and had the confidence he was on the best horse.
“I’m delighted for all the connections.”
Townend admitted he knew he was beaten some way out, lauding the winner as an “outstanding horse”.
He said: “We ran well. We were running for second I thought from a long way out.
“Nico was doing everything easily in front of me and all credit to the winner and his connections – they have an outstanding horse.
“From the back of the second-last, when Nico started to open up his lad, he was just getting further and further away from me.
“I have nothing but admiration for him (Constitution Hill).”
Constitution Hill (front right) had his Cheltenham rivals well beaten (David Davies/PA)
Gordon Elliott saddled 66-1 shot Zanahiyr to finish third and he was more than happy with the result.
He said: “It was a great run to finish third behind a horse like the winner. There is a good chance he could go to Aintree and step back up to two and a half miles next month.
“He was still in with a big chance at that meeting last year but unluckily fell at the last hurdle. It would be great to see him make amends.”
Rich Ricci, owner of fourth home Vauban, was similarly impressed with the unbeaten Constitution Hill.
He said: “I think we might have been third but we tried to win the race and in the end we had no chance against a freak of a horse, and I say that in the nicest way, as he (the winner) is very, very good.”
https://devplatform.ggzssd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2.71375403.jpg12722544DaveMhttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngDaveM2023-03-14 17:09:382023-03-14 17:09:38Mullins joins everyone else in being in awe of Constitution Hill
Energumene has something to prove when he returns to Cheltenham to defend his Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase crown on Wednesday.
The horse responsible for ensuring Willie Mullins has the full collection of championship events at the Festival looked set to become the dominant force in the two-mile chase division when following up his Champion Chase triumph in impressive style at the Punchestown Festival before then returning in rude health at Cork in December.
However, his momentum was checked on Trials day when Energumene could only finish third in the rearranged Clarence House Chase.
The master of Closutton identified a couple of reasons for the under-par performance in the aftermath of that contest and is hoping to see his charge correct the record in the day two feature.
“It was great to finally get a Champion Chase last year and I think in the Clarence House he just needed the run over those different style of fences,” said Mullins.
“Even though he’d schooled over them at home, sometimes a horse just needs to get out on the track and see the thing and I’m sure that experience will stand to him when it comes to jumping off in the Champion Chase.
“There’s no such thing as a slowly-run Champion Chase and I think that’s going to suit us.
“The Clarence House was a very tactical race and I think a few jockeys might change tactics the next day.
“We learnt a lot I think and I’m happy and Paul (Townend) is happy he’ll improve a lot from that day.”
Energumene had to settle for third in the Clarence House with the Gary Moore-trained Editeur Du Gite making most before holding off the fast-finishing Edwardstone in a thrilling finish.
It was Alan King’s Arkle hero who went into most notebooks on that occasion and the Barbury Castle handler is happy with where he has the favourite ahead of the main event.
“I would obviously have preferred to have won (on Trials day), but it wasn’t to be and Gary’s horse battled back well,” said King.
“I’m very happy where I have the horse and we can’t do any more our end.
“We’re in very good shape for Wednesday, we just hope to get a nice, clean run now and see what happens.”
Editeur Du Gite (right) ridden by Niall Houlihan clears a fence before going on to win the Albert Bartlett Clarence House Chase during Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)
Editeur Du Gite’s victory was the second time this season he has caused an upset in a key Champion Chase trial, having also won the Desert Orchid Chase, and Moore sees no reason why the nine-year-old cannot play a leading role once again.
He said: “As long as he is as good as he was last time, that’s what he needs to be really.
“I see no reason why he can’t run like that again. I’m very happy with him, his preparation has gone well and it’s all systems go.”
Editeur Du Gite wears the colours carried to Champion Chase success by the stable’s Sire De Grugy in 2014 and Moore admits the improvement his contender has shown this season has caught him by surprise.
“Hopefully he can do the same as Sire De Grugy,” he continued.
“It would be nice and also a bit unbelievable – something I never thought he would be doing anyway. But it just shows you never know in this game!
“It’s surprised me how much he has improved but time is an amazing thing in racing and he has improved a massive amount and probably needs to improve a bit more now as well.”
The race will also be a big occasion for Niall Houlihan, who has struck up a fine relationship with Editeur Du Gite and will be riding in the Champion Chase for the first time.
“It’s a massive day for him and there’s a lot of responsibility on his head, but he’s a pretty cool guy and I don’t think it will be a problem to him,” added Moore.
“Everyone knows how Editeur Du Gite races and will be well aware of it and I hope Niall is as well – I’m sure he will be. If the others want to go fast with him, then so be it.”
Nube Negra won the Shloer Chase over course and distance in November, but was somewhat disappointing when second to Editeur Du Gite at Kempton in the Desert Orchid.
Dan Skelton alongside Nube Negra, during a visit to Dan Skelton’s stables at Lodge Hill, Alcester (Jacob King?PA)
He has been freshened up by Dan Skelton ahead of another crack at the Champion Chase – attempting to go one better than his second to Put The Kettle On in 2021.
“Nube Negra goes very well fresh and is very good around the course,” said Skelton.
“Any dry days or hours would be appreciated. The day he beat Altior at Kempton it was officially described as soft, but we do know the better the ground, the more suitable it is for him.
“He’s very good at home and I couldn’t have him any better to be honest.”
Greaneteen was only a length and a half further back in fourth on that occasion and has since won the Tingle Creek twice.
He suffered a surprise defeat in the Game Spirit at Newbury, but trainer Paul Nicholls felt his charge really needed the outing that day.
Greaneteen disappointed at Newbury last month (Nigel French/PA)
He told Betfair: “I couldn’t be happier with Greaneteen who is much sharper now after a below-0par run at Newbury a month ago when I left him under cooked. I think you can put a line through that run when he was too fresh and the ground was quicker than he likes.
“Greaneteen pleased me in an away day at Lambourn recently, is much fitter going to Cheltenham and will appreciate some ease in the ground. He ran very well when finishing a close fourth in the race two years ago and I can see him being placed again.”
Venetia Williams’ Funambule Sivola won the Game Spirit and was also runner-up in this last year, while Captain Guinness completes the line-up attempting to provide Henry de Bromhead with a fourth Champion Chase trophy.
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Corach Rambler enhanced his claims for the Randox Grand National when becoming the fourth back-to-back winner of the Ultima Handicap Chase.
Lucinda Russell’s 6-1 favourite pounced late to land the Cheltenham Festival spoils 12 months ago and was ridden cold once again by Derek Fox.
Always travelling easily for the National-winning pilot, the enigmatic nine-year-old was coaxed into contention as the race began to unfold and was then asked to join the party jumping the last – from where he knuckled down gamely to stay on to the line, holding off Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow to extend the dominance of British-trained horses in this race.
He will now head to Aintree on April 15 and was made the 7-1 joint-favourite for the Merseyside marathon by Betfair, while William Hill go further with Corach Rambler their 6-1 favourite, cut from 10s.
Russell’s partner and assistant Peter Scudamore said: “It’s a great thrill. I do appreciate how incredibly fortunate I am and if a bolt of lightning hits me on the way out, I’d die a happy man.
“The funny thing is that his jumping is getting better and he was closer than last year.
“All Derek wants to do is go out there and ride and that is the mark of the man.”
Russell added: “It’s such a special pleasure to be here and to watch the horse enjoying himself.
“The track is so stiff but he picked up speed round the corner. It was phenomenal.
“When he hits the front he pulls himself up a bit – it’s just magic that you can have a runner here, let alone a winner.
“He will now go the Aintree for the National. He deserves to have a crack and that’s the next step.”
Michael O’Sullivan struck aboard Jazzy Matty in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle to cap a fine opening day for the young rider who earlier took the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Marine Nationale.
Jazzy Matty ridden by Michael O’Sullivan on their way to winning the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival (Mike Egerton/PA)
The 18-1 scorer led home an all-Irish one-two-three-four to get Gordon Elliott off the mark for the week.
Elliott said: “I’m absolutely delighted. The horse is a brother to Delta Work, who is obviously a very good chaser for us.
“We knew he had a good enough mark coming over, but we thought he might just lack the experience.
“It is great to get a winner – I thought I might struggle to get a winner today to be honest. We had a few each-way chances, but to pull something out on the first day is unbelievable.”
The Cullentra House handler was also full of praise for the winning rider.
He added: “He doesn’t get that many rides for us, but he comes into the yard every Monday, never says anything, if I give him a ride, I give him a ride.
“I actually thought he claimed five (pounds). I put him down on the horse and I didn’t realise he claimed three (in England). I think he was lucky that if I’d copped it, it might not have happened, but in fairness he gave the horse a brilliant ride. He was slow at the last but didn’t panic. I’m delighted for him.”
O’Sullivan added: “It is unbelievable. Thanks very much to Gordon and the Browns for putting me up on him.
“I suppose I’m claiming 5lb in Ireland but only claiming 3lb here, so I probably lost a couple of rides in handicaps because of that, but in fairness to Gordon, he kept me on him.
“He got a bit of a fright at the first hurdle and was very careful after that. I thought we went very slow and he’s a big horse, so I gave him plenty of room and he travelled everywhere for me. I knew coming to the last I was wrong, but I didn’t want to be confusing him, because he was being careful up until then.
“I was confident enough I had plenty of horse left and I’d say he won with a bit in hand,. He is a nice horse going forward.”
Patrick Mullins won the WellChild National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase for the second year in a row aboard his father’s Gaillard Du Mesnil.
Gaillard Du Mesnil ridden by Patrick Mullins wins the WellChild National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase on day one of the Cheltenham Festival (David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA)
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old has placed in Grade One company at the last two Festivals, but it looked as if the 10-11 favourite had his work cut out to reel in the forward-going Mahler Mission.
However, John McConnell’s charge tipped up at the second-last to allow Gaillard Du Mesnil to put his stamina to good use and stay on past Chemical Energy in the closing stages.
He was shortened into 12-1 from 16s by Coral for the Grand National, but his handler indicated that race may come too soon in the aftermath.
“I think we were a bit fortunate to be honest with John McConnell’s horse falling, but that’s racing,” said Mullins.
“It was a tough three miles and six furlongs and while we were behind, Patrick thought they’d gone fast enough. I’m very happy.
“I don’t know about Aintree, I don’t know if it will come too soon for him so we’ll see.
“I’m thrilled for the owners, Joe and Marie (Donnelly), they were second in the Champion Hurdle, too.”
Patrick Mullins said: “He jumped a bit high. I think it was the white fences. We had the put in at home and he jumped them high there, too.
“Over that distance you just want them to pop, not expand energy, but after the first circuit he was better.”
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El Fabiolo got the better of Jonbon in the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy, to get Willie Mullins and Paul Townend off the mark at the Cheltenham Festival.
The duo fought out a titanic battle over hurdles at Aintree last season and the rematch was just as entertaining, with the main protagonists coming to the fore in the closing stages.
Dysart Dynamo took up his customary position setting the pace at the head of proceedings, with both Aidan Coleman aboard Jonbon and Townend on El Fabiolo content to stalk the front-runner as Danny Mullins led the field along with his usual zest.
Jonbon crept on Dysart Dynamo’s tail heading down country to three out and was soon angled out to press the Closutton second string. But Townend bided his time aboard the 11-10 favourite, only moving El Fabiolo into contention rounding the home bend.
From then the powerhouse clash all at Prestbury Park had been waiting for ensued as the big three matched strides from two out to the last and when Dysart Dynamo fell at the final fence, El Fabiolo was still full of running and confirmed the promise of his hugely impressive performance from the Dublin Racing Festival.
He was five and a half lengths clear of Nicky Henderson’s 2-1 second-favourite at the line, with Closutton stablemate Saint Roi staying on to pick up third at 11-1.
El Fabiolo and jockey Paul Townend return to the winner’s enclosure (Tim Goode/PA)
Mullins said: “He travelled as well as I was hoping the whole way. Paul said he hit a flat spot down the back but then when he picked him up, he came alive under him.
“I didn’t watch the finish as I was trying to watch our other horse who had fallen, but thankfully he’s OK.
“It’s good to get on the board early in the day. It was a bit of a worry at the last but I thought, all being well, it looked like he had enough in reserve at that stage.
“He has a habit of brushing through the top of his fences but it is not something we are practicing! Like a lot of French horses, he can find a fifth leg due to all the schooling they do early in their careers.
“I’m not looking to up him in trip yet, I always think if a horse is comfortable at two miles they are easier to train and keep sound, so I’m hoping he’s a Champion Chase horse for next year.”
Townend added: “I was half afraid Danny (Mullins, on Dysart Dynamo) was getting a bit of a freebie at one stage and Danny is very dangerous from the front. At the same time Dysart likes to get on with it and wasn’t giving Danny an easy time.
“The ground is testing and it’s taking a bit of getting. When I was left on my own I got a little idle down the back, but when I wanted him to race he came alive for me.
“He’s not the most natural of jumpers at every fence, but he knows where his feet are and he gets away with it.
“He was brave to go down the inner at two out and there wasn’t a whole lot there at the last, but again he found his feet at the back of it and he galloped to the top of that hill on the ground, which is a good sign.”
Jonbon in Arkle action (Tim Goode/PA)
Henderson felt the Cheltenham ground had slightly gone against Jonbon.
He said: “I’ve always said and felt he’d be better on better ground – he gallops like that.
“He’s done nothing wrong. He came to have a crack at it. We were tracking Dysart Dynamo and I’m glad to see he’s OK, which is important. We got him, but the other fellow was doing the same to us.”
When asked whether Jonbon is now likely to step up in trip, the trainer added: “Definitely. I think he’d go as far as you like on good ground.
“We’ll definitely look at Aintree. I don’t think you’d go to three miles, but you’d certainly go two and a half. Aintree is the one place you want to step them all up half a mile.
“All being well, the others will stay in Ireland and we’ll go to Aintree.”
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