Live news from Gold Cup Day

RACE 7 RESULTS

5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle 2m4½f
1. Iroko 6/1
2. No Ordinary Joe 14/1
3. Buddy One 28/1
4. Might I 6/1

 

21 ran
Distances: 1½, nse, 3¼
Time: 5m 2.50s

 

1st winner at The Festival for jockey Aidan Kelly
1st winner at The Festival for trainer Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
73rd winner at The Festival for owner JP McManus

 

ITV quotes

Josh Guerriero, joint-trainer, told Racing TV: “Unbelievable. What a tough horse. He didn’t look like he was going to win turning in. He’s just so, so tough, stays forever, and just galloped and galloped and galloped. He’ll be a lovely horse over three miles next year, over fences.”
Asked if he thought he was out of it when the two horses came up his outside, he said: “Yes, I did to be fair. From that position, it’s so hard to win, but they obviously spread out down to the last and he came between them, got a second wind and just flew up the hill.
“It means everything [to have a win at the Cheltenham Festival]. For everyone on the outside to see it as well, it gives all our other owners confidence that he [JP McManus] has a horse with us and to have a winner for him is just amazing.
“We just have our separate roles in the business and it works well that we do those roles and don’t interfere with each other’s roles. We are just at either side that we do, so it works well.
“He is the easiest horse in the world. So laid-back. He never leaves a nut, he eats, is relaxed, he’s a legend.”

 

Winning quotes

Aidan Kelly, the winning jockey of Iroko (6-1), said: “We went a good gallop throughout and my main instructions were to get a good break. We got a lovely breakaway and we were going a good gallop. Going down the back we were struggling a touch and I just had to nudge him along but he’s an out and out stayer. Thank god he handled that hill well. As soon as the gap came he quickened up well and just after jumping the last I thought maybe I will or maybe I won’t but when I got after him he put his head down and galloped really well to the line.

“This is my first time here and I was kind of taking it all in yesterday. To finish second (in yesterday’s Pertemps Final on Salvador Ziggy) was great and having a winner just tops it off. To ride a winner here is amazing and I still can’t believe it. The walk back was amazing, I saw so many people I knew and lots I didn’t and I appreciated them all as they were all cheering for me. It’s every jockey’s dream to ride a winner here. Even to ride a winner is great as it’s very hard to get going in Ireland, that was my 18th winner today and this is one I won’t forget.

“It’s just tough to get on horses who can actually win. This is my fifth or sixth season now and things have seemed to start going well from the start of the season. Hopefully I can top this next year!”

 

Oliver Greenall: “I can’t describe the feeling, really - amazing. We always knew the horse was nice, but we just felt maybe he’d be tapped for toe a little here. But he managed to hold his position - he came off the bridle early enough and jumped so well, even when off the bridle. He’s such an easy horse, so straightforward, just tough, honest. He shows nothing at home, he’s not a good work horse, but he’s so straightforward, doesn’t take much work - he’s a dream. He toughed it out and winged the last, and it’s just great.
“I rode the winner of the Foxhunters here in 2008 [on Amicelli], so to train one here is amazing. Josh mainly works on the horse side and is there every day, and I do more with the owners. We’ve got 70 in training, with 50 running at any one time, mainly over jumps but some on the Flat too.”

RACE 6 RESULTS

4.50pm Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4½f
1. Impervious 15/8
2. Allegorie De Vassy 13/8F
3. Pink Legend 33/1

 

9 ran
Distances: 2½, 5½
Time: 5m 18.67s

 

1st winner at The Festival for jockey Brian Hayes
5th winner at The Festival for trainer Colm Murphy
72nd winner at The Festival for owner JP McManus

 

Racing TV quotes 

Colm Murphy told Racing TV: “It feels fantastic. It’s nice she’s gone and done it. There were plenty of questions she had to answer and she’s done it. She’s a tough lady and keeps answering every question we ask her. I was happy most of the way. After the last she looked like she was going to go on and I was happy enough she had enough time to get back. Our lady… she’s tough and she stays at it well. She is always gutsy, same as the last couple of fences she’s had to put her head down and she does. She tries very hard for you. It’s just a case of how good Willie’s mare was. She’s definitely going the right way, she’s improved with every run, so she’s one to look forward to.
“This was the plan. We have all the other festivals coming up, so we will see how she is after. I would imagine she’ll get an entry in a few of them and we will see where we go with her. I would say she’s good over any trip. Stepping her back or equally you could go out in trip. At the same time 2 ½ is probably the trip for her at the moment.
“It’s a big team at home, there’s a lot of people involved in her. She’s a handful. Jimmy O’Rourke got this filly going. There’s a lot of people at home I’m very grateful to.
On this being his fifth Festival winner, he said: “You get a little taste of it here and you do want more. This is the big stage. We are just so fortunate to get nice horses. You can’t do it without a nice horse. If you have the goods, thank God we can deliver. She’s one of those who would go through a wall for you if you asked her. That’s half the battle, she has a great mind. It’s fantastic to have her.”

 

Brian Hayes told Racing TV: “She winged the first, winged the second and got lit up – she was always landing running. Thankfully Daryl Jacob was keeping them busy in the front and I just about had a lid on her. It might have looked better than it felt, I thought just had a lid on her. Any slower and we would have been going forward even more. She’s very quick. She has pace, but she stays very well as well. Usually they have one or the other, she seems to have both. She’s a brilliant [jumper] – testament to that would be the way she’s been winging [her fences] all along, but today she had to go right into the bottom of it [at the last] and be really clever, and she picked up with her two front feet. Pure guts.
“She puts her head down, her ears back and she just wants it. Colm Murphy… if there’s a man to get them ready for Cheltenham, it’s him. He has been here, he’s done it. I was down there last week and I saw him doing a piece of work on her. He rides her, Jimmy O’Rourke schools her, and they were doing a piece of work on the circle last week and Colm did an extra lap on her and couldn’t pull her up. I was looking on from the hill thinking, ‘she is flying’. I was smiling.
“She’s a class act. I think I’ve won five on her now and had a winner at Cheltenham on her, so she means a lot to me now!
“She has scope and power and she commits to it. Colm has done the world of schooling with her. He has proper National Hunt birch fences at home and he has painted them all white. Everything was done to perfection.
“This is different gravy [to the winner at Cheltenham in November]. It’s the Festival and everyone wants to get a winner here. A lot of lads inside are disappointed with their week, I got one so it’s amazing.”

 

Winning quotes

Colm Murphy, the winning trainer of Impervious (15-8), said: “It’s great and she’s done fantastically well. You do it for winning feelings like this. We’ve always hoped she would be a nice one. I would say she would get further if we wanted, we’ve got loads of options. I’m not sure about what we’ll do next, we’ll get her home and I’d imagine she’ll get a few entries and we’ll go from there. I had my lucky bit of shamrock on my coat and it’s done the trick!”

 

Tom O'Doherty, breeder of Impervious, told Racing TV: “I’m absolutely over the moon. I have the mare [Blodge] at home, she is the only mare I own. My sister bought Blodge at the Tattersalls sales in 2017. A lot of people won’t know, but Impervious’ grand-dam Bilboa was placed in the Champion Hurdle, so it came out somewhere! I’m absolutely delighted and I’m delighted for my sister, for Colm Murphy, I’m over the moon. She is one tough cookie. I would also like to thank Will Kinsey of Peel Bloodstock, who pinhooked [Impervious] as a foal for €4,000.
“I saw Blodge win a point-to-point in Ireland a long, long time ago and she came from a very good family. She came from a very good place, the Kenilworth House Stud in Clonmel and I love the pedigree. Bilboa was a feisty lady as well as she’s inherited all of it!
“It’s been wonderful [to watch her develop]. Little did I think when I sold my foal for €4,000 that JP McManus would end up buying her and would end up winning at Cheltenham.
“I saw two fences, I could not watch, my heart was in my mouth even though she is a fantastic jumper. I knew she wouldn’t let me down. Once she got into battle, I knew she’d out-battle the rest. She’s a terrier and the mare at home is a terrier as well – not the easiest to handle!”

 

Other quotes

Willie Mullins, trainer of the runner-up Allegorie De Vassy (13-8 Favourite), said: “I thought she jumped fantastically seeing as she was having only her third run over fences. I thought Paul had it up to the last and he was just outstayed by a very good mare. She’ll probably go up in trip whereas you’d think we might come back in trip. She’ll probably go for the Ryanair Chase at Fairyhouse, where I think she’ll probably take all the beating.”

 

Venetia Williams, trainer of the third-placed Pink Legend (33-1), said: “I’m delighted and I think it was a much stronger race this year. It wasn’t the plan to make the running but she really seems to come alive here. She loved being out in front. She’d made the running on her last start at Exeter, but this is a whole different ball game. I’m really thrilled, she jumped really well and I felt turning for home that they were queuing up to go past her as the pace hadn’t been that strong. She was tenacious and she kept galloping all the way to the line. It’s not always her day but she’s never run a bad race here.”

RACE 5 RESULTS

4.10pm St. James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase 3m2½f
1. Premier Magic 66-1
2. Its On The Line 28-1
21. Shantou Flyer 50-1

 

23 ran
Distances: 1¾, 1¼
Time: 7m 0.24s

1st winner at The Festival for jockey & trainer Bradley Gibbs

 

ITV quotes

Bradley Gibbs, winning jockey and winning trainer, told ITV Racing: “Unbelievable. The worst part about it is my partner and my son haven’t come today – she couldn’t get a babysitter for him – and my dad’s in hospital having an operation today, so it’s really special but I just wish they could have been here.

“It was unbelievable. My fiance’s father owns him. We came here last year thinking we had a chance and I rode him down the inside and everything just got a bit tight for him, he just got stage fright, really. I rode him wide today and he was a completely different horse. The way he has been winning his point-to-points we always thought he was good enough to win a big race like this. Thank God he’s paid us off today.”

 

Julian Sherriff, winning owner, told ITV Racing: “I’m lost for words. They used to train down in Wales with David Brace and always said they wanted to come up and live with me in the end. I said, ‘well I’ll build the stables, you get up here’ and that’s what happened. They have done it today. You can say it’s point-to-pointing, but in this place, it’s a little bit more!”

 

Winning quotes

Bradley Gibbs, aged 28: “This just doesn’t happen to people like me, you know? I’m from a small village in Wales [Ynysybwl] and probably used to train just four, five horses, and built it up and built it up, and thank God we landed on one like this. A good friend of mine from Ireland, Jimmy Kelly, buys all my horses for me and he bought this one four or five years ago and paid £5,000 for him. ‘This is a right one’, he said, and thank God he was right. He’s a very good judge and I’ve had plenty of nice horses off him.
“I brought him here last year off the back of two wins, and I couldn’t see him being out of the first four. I tried riding him down the inside and it just got tight and he got stagefright, really, and just backed out of it. He only did a circuit and I pulled him up. I was going to run another mare here - she didn’t make it, and entries were shutting, so I said to my fiancée Claire Sherriff - her and her father own him - that we were going to come once more, give it one more try, and if it didn’t work, we wouldn’t come back. We put the cheekpieces on today for the first time - Jimmy and I spoke a few days ago and he said to try them.
“He jumped and travelled everywhere today, and coming down the hill I was hoping to God I wouldn’t get caught, but I knew he would keep galloping to the line.
“I was having a good run on the first circuit round the outside, and the loose horses just came in and across me and it was just starting to get a bit messy. Down the back to four out one came across me again, and even halfway up the run-in my horse got to it and then stopped, and I thought, oh no, please don’t stop halfway up the run-in, but he got going again and thank God, he stayed there to the line. The run-in felt like about five miles long today!
“This is huge for British point-to-pointing. You’ve got all the top boys here, like Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins, running today, and for a Welshman to win it - that doesn’t happen very often. The bigger trainers normally rule races like these, and we are genuine point-to-point people. It’s good for us to come and be able to win one of these races.
“I’m in Hertfordshire now, training out of my fiancée’s father’s farm. We’ve got an eight-month old son [Hadley Oliver Gibbs] and we didn’t have anyone to babysit him today so she had to stay at home with him. My dad normally comes everywhere with me but he’s in hospital today having a heart operation. Dad asked if they could move it to next week or do it a week before but they said no, today is the day we’ve got to do it. I haven’t spoken to him yet, but fingers crossed everything will be fine.
“I’ve ridden 230-odd point-to-point winners. I had a big start off Dad - he just bought me what he could, went through the pony racing and showjumping, then Dad started buying a few pointers for me; we weren’t spending much money, but it got me going, thank God, and we had a good step up when we moved to Claire’s father’s farm in Hertfordshire near Lemsford. It’s our third season training out of there - we had 15 winners the first season and 21 the second season, and now we’ve had a Cheltenham Foxhunters winner!”

 

Other quotes

Olive Nicholls was over the moon when finishing third aboard Shantou Flyer. She said with a big smile:"That was absolutely brilliant as it was my first time around Cheltenham and the horse has done me proud. He jumped from fence to fence and we were always more or less where I needed to be and then we have stayed on really well

"It will be brilliant to come back here next year in the hope of going two better as the way I feel is hard to beat. It's a day I will always remember."

RACE 4 RESULTS

3.30pm Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2½f
1. Galopin Des Champs 7-5 Fav
2. Bravemansgame 6-1
3. Conflated 22-1

 

13 ran
Distances: 7, 6½
Time: 6m 45.46s

 

28th winner at The Festival for jockey Paul Townend
94th winner at The Festival for trainer Willie Mullins
3rd winner at The Festival for owner Audrey Turley

 

ITV quotes

Willie Mullins told ITV Racing: “I think we put ourselves under pressure by saying he has enough stamina to win a Gold Cup, but I thought he had enough class to win a Gold Cup. He won a three-mile hurdle as a novice. When Al Boum Photo won the Gold Cup there wasn't a huge weight of expectation behind him, but there was a huge weight of expectation behind this guy. So I didn’t realise how much pressure until about the third last, when I saw Paul but he flew through, and then he came back on the bridle and I thought, ‘it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen’.
“Through the race I was wondering, ‘is he too far back?’ but I’d asked Paul just to settle him and said that they would try and sap his stamina. I said, ‘you’ve got the best horse, you’ve got the fastest horse, you just ride it like you’re on the fastest horse from the second last home’, and that’s what he has done. Paul is so good under pressure, and I’ve been putting him under fair pressure this week.”
One whether he thought he was too far back around the mid stages of the race, he said: “Yep, and then a lot of the dead wood around him, I was thinking, ‘you need to get away from those horses’, and they fell away and he jumped his way back into the race then.
“We have [trained him differently]. Adam Connolly, who leads him up, [is] his groom who rides him all the time and just keeps a lid on him. We didn’t do as much fast work with him this year, it’s all about stamina and getting him to switch off. Paul has done that in the last few races as well. Before the race, I said, ‘I need him switched off, I don’t want him switched on going to the first and second’. "Remember last year he ballooned the first four fences, and I said I don’t want that to happen again. The horse has just relaxed and Paul gets him relaxed and puts him to sleep. I was wondering had we over-done it a bit at the half-way stage, but then I thought they were pouring it on at the front, it's 3 ¼ miles.”
Asked how good he thinks the horse is, Mullins said: “We won the Gold Cup this year and you would like to think we would come back next year and be maybe favourite again and hopefully win it, but you need a lot of luck. We have to ride him a bit cold, and when you ride horses cold, you’re always [dependent] on things going right. I’m just delighted that he did what he did. A huge ride from Paul. Ride of the week, if not the year.”

 

Audrey Turley, winning owner, told ITV Racing: “It’s like a dream come true. It’s like something I’ve never dreamt of. We never thought we would be here with such a wonderful horse as Galopin Des Champs, winning the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Really and truly myself, my daughter Sarah and my husband Greg, we are just so thrilled. We’ve huge support here, all our family are here so the excitement has been high all week, well actually much longer than that.

“I am [shaking] I don’t know what to say, what to think, what to say! It’s just so unbelievable and wonderful. And really we have to thank magnificent Willie Mullins and all the team in Closutton. We wouldn’t be here, having this wonderful day without them. They have just been fantastic. We are going to forget all of that [last year], these things happen and in racing anything can happen as we know. So here we are today, beautiful sunshine day, Galopin has won and we are thrilled.”

 

Groom Adam Connolly, leading up, told ITV Racing: “I am absolutely over the moon. Came here last year and thought he was going to absolutely sluice up and just came down. And I said all year he could make for the Gold Cup and I’m glad he’s done it now.”      

 

Sir AP McCoy on ITV Racing said: “As brilliant, as brilliant a ride as I’ve ever seen in any horse race. Talk about riding a horse with bottle. Oh my God. Talk about the pressure, the privilege and pressure – oh my God, he coped with it better than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

 

Ruby Walsh on ITV Racing said: “I’m delighted for him. I echo AP’s words completely. You come to Cheltenham with all the pressure, to drop him right in and ride him the way he rode him. He’s probably listening to people like me all week giving out week when he does something wrong, then to put it all away and do what he did there, I’m delighted for him. He’s champion jockey in Ireland I don’t know how many times, and he deserves every plaudit he gets.”

 

Paul Townend told ITV Racing: “It wasn’t clean sailing, that’s for sure. Everywhere I went I was going into a bit of trouble. His jumping just got a bit careful for the first circuit, but going out I had full faith in him that he was going to get me out of trouble and he did. He’s a proper, proper horse, because he’s run about three different races and still won a Gold Cup.

“I was delighted to see them all going at it in front of me as it allowed me a chance to fill up and be the last one on the scene. If they had sat in front of me and quickened, I would have had to chase him, but it just gave me a chance to fill him up after making up a lot of ground.

“This race, it’s just different. It brings winning to a different level.”

 

ITV quotes, other jockeys

Nico de Boinville: “Messy start.”

 

Jordan Gainford: “Unbelievable [spin]. He’s a tough, tough horse. Even when Derek fell, I was safe away. He was just unlucky on his landing at the second last, but absolutely ran a cracker. Delighted with him.”

 

Patrick Mullins: “Never going, very disappointing.”

 

Derek Fox: “He was travelling nicely until that happened, but hopefully he will be alright for another day.”

 

Sean Quinlan: “I was probably in top gear the whole way. His jumping was keeping him in it, but he was just probably getting a little bit tired when he got brought down.”

 

Harry Skelton: “He ran an absolute blinder, no excuses at all. He gave his all and ran very well.”

Rachael Blackmore: “He just got hampered by those two fallers and we were on the back foot then. He was fine [when I pulled up], he’s all good.”

 

Harry Cobden: “He ran a phenomenal race. Had a lovely run though. I thought it would take a good one to get by us turning in and along looms Galopin Des Champs. He’s run a hell of a race, very pleased. No-one remembers the seconds do they, but I’m so pleased for the horse, so pleased that he jumped round and happy for the connections. I’m just thinking how we are going to come back next year and beat him!”

 

Charlie Deutch: “Went a fierce gallop, I just had to sit where I was. He jumped brilliantly, no excuses, kept galloping, got a bit tired after the last, just they had a bit more pace on the last circuit.”

 

Sean Bowen: “It’s annoying because he sort of doesn’t travel and makes it harder work, but he kept going well and came up the hill well.”

 

Sam Ewing: “He did everything right and we had a lovely position from the get-go. He jumped very well, he settled very well. We got caught in a little bit of traffic turning in, but he ran a great race finishing third and I can’t thank Mr O’Leary and Gordon enough for putting me up. It was a great thrill and a great buzz to be able to ride in a race like that.”

 

Winning quotes

Winning jockey Townend will go from winning the Boodles Gold Cup in front of nearly 70,000 fans today to riding three horses at Thurles in Ireland tomorrow.

He said: “We have to do all those days at the smaller meetings to get these days. That is where these horses start and hopefully we might find another champion there tomorrow.

“It is easy to switch between racing here and somewhere like tomorrow when they are winning!”

 

More from Paul Townend: “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. 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. I think we didn’t get the rub of the green at the start and that put us on the back foot, but when you have that little bit of ground, no one wants to be out off it. 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.
“I was happy that when I grabbed hold of him he picked up for me again, got straight at the last and galloped all the way up the hill and through the line. There’s no doubting his stamina now, anyway.
“He’s matured, he’s grown up. He’s a bit older, a bit wiser [than last year]. I suppose he surprised me how well he settled the first day [his seasonal debut] at Punchestown, and then going to Leopardstown, I was half-afraid to light him up to see what would happen, but I did away from the stands that day and he came back underneath me after a big jump, so he’s just the full package now. He has to be to win from where I came from, I think!
“We’ve had a good week. But I like to take it race by race, win, lose or draw, and move on to the next one, so I haven’t been looking at the winners or the losers up to now, and we’re not finished yet.
“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.”

 

Willie Mullins: “I didn’t realise what pressure I was under. I’m absolutely delighted for Audrey and Greg Turley and for Paul (Townend), who was under huge pressure too, but he gave him a peach of a ride. He had the confidence to drop him in and come through. I just said to him I think you are on the best horse and the fastest horse so as long as he doesn’t get running with you. He said he will tuck him in somewhere and put him to sleep and he did. It just worked out and he give him a brilliant cool ride. We thought that (it was going to be a true test) as everyone was questioning his stamina. They were going to plenty fast enough so I didn’t want him up in there in the early stages. I thought if he has the class he will come through but if he hasn’t fair point. All thoughts were going through my head like are we too far back but they went such a gallop something had to give. One or two fell and we missed all that so we had a lot of luck as well. I think that man on board when the pressure comes on he is very good. I was surprised myself how I was over the last two fences. We elected him as our Gold Cup horse where as Al Boum Photo sort of happened and with this fellow we thought he was good enough and that puts you under pressure until the actual day when it has happened and now it has happened. He is brilliant under pressure and the more pressure the better he rides. I’m delighted for Paul because it is a tough job and he handles it well and I can be tough too. He stayed so well. The fact he won over three miles as a novice hurdler (gave us confidence he would stay) and every time we upped him in trip there was no problem. He has that little bit of class you could run him over two miles, two and a half miles. He has that little bit of speed when you want it. You just have to conserve it. Over those shorter trips he likes to get on with the job and that was to me the whole key today not to let him get running early on in the race. He would have got to free otherwise and it would have played into the others hands. There are certain ways you can train them to do that (get them to settle) and eventually they listen. He was not a runaway he was just keen.
“I wouldn’t say that (it ranks above other Gold Cup wins). There was just more pressure that was all. That was the most pressure I’ve felt. We felt we stuck our necks out and said he is a Gold Cup horse. Last year here he ballooned the first four fences and I said to Paul I don’t want you up there I want you to get over the first four fences and get him settled.”

 

Other quotes

Paul Nicholls, trainer of the runner-up Bravemansgame (6-1), said: “What can you say, I’m just super proud of him and everything went right. He jumped well and he travelled well and I could just see Galopin stalking him a little bit. We wouldn’t do any different.

“I hate coming second, you know me, but I can’t be anything but proud of the horse. He ran a blinding race and we’ll give it another go next year. We’ll see about Aintree, he had a hard race. The only places he’ll run are Punchestown and Aintree, but we’ll play it by ear and see how he is. If he didn’t run again this season it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but he’s only run once since Christmas so we could go to Aintree. We’ve got Clan Des Obeaux coming along nicely for that. He’s a young horse, so three or four runs a year is plenty and if we don’t run again we’ll go Charlie Hall, King George and again here next year.

“The winner is a very good horse and he looks a superstar. One of the best.”

 

Gordon Elliott, trainer of the third-placed Conflated (22-1), commented: “I thought he ran a great race and I thought Sam Ewing gave him a great ride. He got into a lovely rhythm and it looked a proper race, I’m looking forward to seeing it again. They went an end to end gallop and our horse ran his heart out, I was delighted by him.

“Davy was sore and to be honest I haven’t really spoken to him much but when I saw him he said he was sore so it looks like he was kicked. Sam gave the horse a brilliant ride. We can build for the future, I told the young lads I’d give them chances and if they keep riding like this we’ll be fine.”

 

Robert Waley-Cohen said of fourth home Noble Yeats: "If the ground had been softer I think he may have been closer at the finish as he was steaming up the hill finishing with a flourish when the race was more or less over. If he is in good heart after that all roads will lead to Aintree again where he will be trying to win the Grand National again."

 

Sam Ewing, jockey of the third-placed Conflated (22-1), said: “I’m absolutely delighted, he ran a blinder. He jumped and settled throughout and I couldn’t be happier with the run.”

 

Sean Bowen, jockey of the fourth-placed Noble Yeats (14-1), commented: “He ran well. It was hard old work throughout the race but he’s come home well.”

 

Nico de Boinville, jockey of Minella Indo (pulled-up, 20-1), commented: “He just ruined the start.”

 

Michael O’Leary, owned of the third-placed Conflated (22-1), said: “I think he ran a great race. It was a terrific ride. It was an excellent race and I think the best horse won and that’s how it was always going to be. It’s the Gold Cup and the best horse wins.

“We got involved in a bit of a scrimmage at the top of the hill but I don’t think it would have made any difference. The two horses on our outside were cruising so the writing was on the wall there. He’s the best horse and he’s been the best horse so it’s the right result.”

Sam Waley-Cohen, representing Noble Yeats’ owner Robert Waley-Cohen, said: “I actually wasn’t disappointed with that. I think he’s shown what he has shown in previous runs, that in the middle of a race he hasn’t always found it the easiest. He’s stayed on well and galloped all the way up the hill so in many ways it was a good Grand National trial. To finish fourth as a Grand National winner is no bad thing. It was a step up in terms of what he’s done and he probably has stepped up. The winner is a fabulous horse, he jumped the last like a buck and won incredibly so well done to them all. Paul is a class rider and class is permanent.”

RACE 3 RESULTS

2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
1. Stay Away Fay 18-1
2. Affordale Fury 150-1
3. Sandor Clegane 28-1

 

20 ran
Distances: 1, nk
Time: 5m 59.49s

 

4th winner at The Festival for jockey Harry Cobden
48th winner at The Festival for trainer Paul Nicholls
3rd winner at The Festival for owner Chris Giles

 

ITV quotes

Paul Nicholls told ITV Racing: “I thought he would run really well. He’s a smart young horse, he probably should have won the last day – he has taken a real step forward since then. He looks fantastic, to me he ran how he looked. We rode him a little bit differently today, very positive, he jumped very well. It was only his third run under Rules, so lots of improvement to come from him. He was really good then.”

On how he is feeling ahead of Bravemansgame in the Gold Cup, he added: “Having had two winners now, I’m dead relaxed – it makes such a difference. We can’t do any more with him, the ground is right for him, the sun is shining. I’ll leave [tactics] to Harry – he’s better riding them forward, there’s no point riding ours out the back door, so I guess he will be in the first four or five. I’ll just leave that to him.”

 

Harry Cobden told ITV Racing: “I could hear what happened behind me [with Corbetts Cross]. “My horse is very inexperienced. He has only run a couple of times. He was very, very green. He winged the last and just pulled up in front a bit, I thought I was there to be caught, but he put his head down and he stayed galloping. He stays forever. It’s great for the owner, Chris Giles, and it’s great for the boss. Nice to get one in before the big one anyway!”

 

Winning quotes

Harry Cobden: “They went a good even gallop but he is a horse that sits a little bit high in the bridle. Today he travelled very well and jumped great and turning in I thought I had a nice bit left and he was going to stay all the way to the line. He got a good jump at the last but he idled a bit in front. He is very tough and obviously a good horse. From a jockey’s point of view it is a long way to be in front from turning in to the last. For an inexperienced horse with the crowd and all the cheering he was pulling up a little bit in front so he did well to keep going. I really fancied him and I thought he had a massive chance coming into this race. First time out he was green and stayed going and he beat a nice horse of Dan Skelton’s. Lorcan (Williams) was a bit unlucky on him at Doncaster after that. Paul has put him away and trained him for one day. The only thing that made me fancy him even more was when Kilbricken Storm won the race I thought this horse was a lot better than he was which gave me more confidence on him. He (Thyme White) wouldn’t have won anyway. It is one of those times where there was loads of pressure going into day two when you haven’t got a winner and you want to get one. Visually he looked like he was going to win but from where I was sitting he didn’t look like he was going to get up the hill. It is great we have got some nice young horses but we have got to keep going to the sales.”

 

Chris Giles, joint owner: “That was fantastic. He jumped well, travelled well and was given a great ride by Harry Cobden. We thought we might get swamped and done for toe but he stays on. Maybe he liked the ground, but we didn’t know if he would. I just thought we want to see how travels and how he would stay against the Irish horses. We thought maybe a top five or six finish would be nice but he has exceeded all expectations. It is fantastic as he is a chaser for next season. It is going to head downhill at some point as it always does but that was wonderful.
“He had enough pace and maybe the ground helped as it was his first time on it. He is one to be excited about. You can’t beat it anytime here, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday they are all good. That is what Paul (Nichols) wants to do (go chasing) and he looks that kind of horse. He was revved up for it and he was nervous and you could see the adrenalin pumping in the pre-parade ring. It was a good experience for him today. He has got a bit of filling out today. Am I going to desert Paul Nicholls, no way never. We are looking for more. We tried to buy one last night but it is tough in the sales. Yesterday in the Turners that was a nice win (for Stage Star) and it proves Paul is still around and hopefully that maintained it.
“Don’t worry he will be selling me more. The prize money never stays in the account for long.
“I love the game so I keep investing for days like today. I did him in an each-way double with Greaneteen and he was third in the Champion Chase. Ladbrokes will be looking at my account asking why is this guy is not closed! All round it has been a good seven days.”

 

Paul Nicholls: “He’s a very smart young horse, and he’ll improve for the summer. I knew he would win turning in, because he’s a very, very strong stayer. Well, I hoped he’d win, because I knew he wouldn’t stop.
“I thought he would run really well. He’s a smart young horse who probably should have won the last day [at Doncaster in January], and has taken a real step forward since then. He looked fantastic and to me he ran how he looked. We rode him a little bit differently today - very positively - and he jumped very well. That was only his third race under Rules and there’s lots of improvement to come from him. He’s really good, though. Having had two winners, I’m now really relaxed [about the Gold Cup] - it makes such a difference.”

 

Other quotes

Noel Meade, trainer of the runner-up Affordable Fury (150-1), said: “He was only 150-1 because he was pulled-up the last day and what happened the last day was that he got a fall at Navan when they went too quick two starts ago. American Mike and himself went a mad gallop and he ended up on the ground. He probably would have won if he’d have stood up even as it was, but we ran him back within four weeks and I think it was just too soon as he bombed out.

“We’ve just left him fresh after that. He’s a very good horse and I think he’ll be a very good chaser. He’s a brilliant jumper and a good stayer. He got the most brilliant ride from the young fella (Sam Ewing), if you watch it again he was so cool and he was brilliant. When you come here you’re always hoping to run into the money. I think the third horse might have been a bit unlucky but we’ve had a good run and the kid gave him a great ride. We’ll see how he is now, but there’s a three mile novice at Punchestown so we might wait for that.”

 

Sam Ewing, rider of the runner-up Affordable Fury (150-1), said: “He’s a horse that likes to travel well and we thought that in this grade of race we’d have to drop him in and get him settled and he settled really well. His jumping down the back took him into it and unfortunately we’ve just bumped into one but he ran an absolute blinder and whatever he’s done today I’m sure he’ll be a lovely horse for next year.

“He was putting in a big run when he fell at Navan in the race with American Mike and I know he was only sixth in the Grade One at Naas last time but the trip probably didn’t suit as it was only two and a half miles. I think the step up to three miles really helped him today.

“I did think about it (that he might win). I thought jumping the last he had a good chance and he stuck his head out and tried his best, he’s just unfortunate.”

 

Paul Nolan, trainer of the third-placed Sandor Clegane (28-1), said: “That was a big run. We knew he was probably better than his Leopardstown run last time and he had to go to the line better than he did there. I need to watch it again but we probably didn’t get the run of the race. We got hampered at the very first and then he was shuffled back to last and pushed out wide, so I’d like to look at the race again but I think he may have been the unlucky one there.

 

“Sean (O’Keefee) just said that the jockey came across him and didn’t know where he was going or where he wanted to go and that sort of put him back and then he was on the back foot a bit. Then he got put out wide and was just closed off for a bit so when stuff like that happens you’re thinking things on the spur of the moment, but he ran a great race and he remains an exciting prospect.”

RACE 2 RESULTS

2.10pm McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)

2m 1f

1. Faivoir 33-1
2. Pied Piper 12-1
3. Filey Bay 6-1
4. Sharjah 10-1

 

24 ran

Distances: hd, 2½

Time: 4m 6.12s

 

2nd winner at The Festival for jockey Bridget Andrews

6th winner at The Festival for trainer Dan Skelton

 

ITV quotes

Harry Skelton (Pembroke) told ITV Racing: “He travelled through the race well, I made a bad mistake two out and that was it. The game was over. Davy was just on my inside, he finished second, from then on I couldn’t pick back up.
“It’s brilliant for Bridget. Turning in I was upsides Stan Sheppard and I said, ‘Bridget’s going to win, Stan. Bridget’s going to win!’. It’s absolutely brilliant, she’s a hard worker in her own right, a good jockey and deserves it.”

 

Ian Lawrence, husband of owner Suzanne Lawrence, told ITV Racing: “My stomach is killing me from the shouting! She is a brilliant rider, absolutely brilliant. We knew he was well, you can see he is well. He was in the Betfair, jarred up, didn’t run, so we aimed him for this one – or rather Dan did. Brilliant job. My wife is at home with the painter, we are having the kitchen painted! She should have been here really, it’s been great, it’s been lovely.”

Winning quotes

Bridget Skelton: “Dan’s horses generally go for a bit of room and try to get a clear run round, but I actually had a really rough run round. But every time I thought I could switch out, I kind of felt like he was enjoying it - he’s that kind of character; stay in, stay brave, although I wasn’t feeling that brave at the time. He jumped great, and downhill I could just sit for a minute. Turning in it all opened up and I knew he would see it out well, although he can be a bit of a character. Dan would say don’t get there too soon, and I probably did get there too soon, but I was getting plenty of weight, so he could see it through.
“I know the horse is a monkey but I always felt like he was just keeping his nose in front and giving me everything. He’d never be a horse who would go on and go clear, but I always felt like I was just holding. He’s probably not the most natural jumper, but he keeps his head up and is very, very good with his feet. Even when he doesn’t see a lot he can kind of get his way out of trouble. He gave me his all today.
“Dan seems to be mastering them [big handicaps at Cheltenham]. I always felt so lucky that I had one winner here; there are far, far superior jockeys who have had no winners here, so to get a second one is pretty special.”

 

Dan Skelton: “I was watching Pembroke the whole way around and for a novice in a field like that when he made the mistake two out that was it. He will have his day as he is a very good horse. Trusting a novice in a big field like this is hard but all power to Bridget. Once he went down to the last like that I just felt it was possible. It is pretty good. That was absolutely brilliant Bridget. I was watching Pembroke the whole way round and old Favoir nips in up the straight and pulls out one of them. It was a great bit of riding from Bridget. She doesn’t get many dances on the big stage because obviously Harry takes precedence but as you can see she is more than capable and I’m very proud of her. I said on television before he went out there we thought he would win one of those big handicaps this season and he went to Newbury the other day and he said no way not on that ground. She has won a Grade Two on him and she has done plenty on him. He is just a good horse on his day and understands the big fields and that is the one thing I had in the back of my mind about Pembroke, but he is a very good horse and I’ve not lost faith in him.”

 

Bridget Andrews told ITV Racing: “I just can’t believe it. Coming here just with a ride is a dream come true. When I started out I never thought I would be in this position. I’ve always counted myself so lucky that I’ve had one Festival winner. There are many jockeys that are far superior than I am, and they’ve had none. So to get a second is a dream come true for the best team I could ever work for.

“As a number two jockey, there aren’t many big days. Look, I’m married to Harry, I’m in the family, I don’t care who wins on them, but sometimes it is just nice to do it for yourself.”

 

Other quotes

Frank Berry, racing manager to J P McManus, owner of third placed Filey Bay: "We are pleased with the performance as he jumped well. If he remains in good form there is no reason why he will not go to Punchestown next month"

 

Willie Mullins, trainer of fourth placed Sharjah: "He ran a cracker with his big weight and ground that may have been a bit to tacky for him. If he comes out of this race in good form I think he will have a crack at the Aintree Hurdle which will be his first attempt at two-and-a-half miles and that step up in distance for the first time might well suit him these days."

 

Gordon Elliott, trainer of the runner-up Pied Piper (12-1), said: “He ran well and I’d say a nod at the last cost him but he ran his heart out and we’ve no excuses – just a little nod at the last. We can mix him between jumping and the flat so he’s plenty of options moving forward and we’re very happy with him.”

RACE 1 RESULTS

1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 1f

1. Lossiemouth 11/8F
2. Gala Marceau 10/3
3. Zenta 12/1

 

15 ran

Time: 4m 6.94s

Distances: 2¼, nk

 

27^th winner at The Festival for jockey Paul Townend

93^rd winner at The Festival for trainer Willie Mullins

20^th winner at The Festival for owner Susannah Ricci

 

ITV quotes

Rich Ricci told ITV Racing: “Great win. She’s a lovely mare. She was expensive, we bought her last year on a punt out of the three-year-old never raced before race at Auteuil in April. She’s lovely. She has been great all year. It’s been such a great week for racing. It’s lovely to be a part of it.

“It’s just lovely, it’s great to be a part of the game.”

 

Paul Townend told ITV Racing: “It wasn’t ideal at that stage in the race to be honest [that she was pulling my arms out at the top of the hill], but I wasn’t going to fight her too much, she was throwing her head about a bit, she just wanted to get on with it. I didn’t question her stamina, so I just wanted to keep at an even gallop. She actually, I thought, was having a little look around up the straight.

“I think she is very good. She is very professional, even though she hasn’t had a whole lot of racing. Thankfully we were able to make up for the mishap at Dublin for Rich and Susannah.”

 

Winning quotes

Rich Ricci: “I was saying it afterwards that I just felt unlucky on the day. I’m delighted that the one that beat us (at the Dublin Racing Festival) Gala Marceau was second. She is a lovely filly and she has got a lot of scope. She is National Hunt bred and is a very nice mare. Paul (Townend) said coming down the hill ‘Wow, she just wants to crack on’ but he held on to her just enough and he kind of filled her up and she responded that pulling back as it shows maturity and professionalism. When he let her go it was just brilliant up the hill. I’m glad for him (Paul). I think on the day (at Leopardstown) Paul was gutted. Sport is about redemption and I’ve said that before. She is National Hunt bred so I’m not sure (about switching codes). She was one from one at Auteuil. I think she has got enough boot to go on the flat but my view would be to go to Punchestown and put her away for next season. She is only four so maybe in two years time she will go for the Champion Hurdle depending on Constitution Hill and the rest of the field. You are asking me the same question that Willie asked me about going to the flat with her and I’m not sure we have to. Vauban is a better question to go on the flat with him because he has some scope on the flat and has a good rating on the flat. For the time being Punchestown is the next thing for Lossiemouth and we will take it from there.
“I just think it is great to part of this. Tuesday was such a special day and it has been an emotional week. Even yesterday with Henry winning and the Jack de Bromhead race. It was very emotional and it is an emotional week and it is great to be part of it. To have a winner on a week like this is special. It is our 20th winner here which is special and you don’t take it for granted. When you win one you appreciate it as we have had enough losers.”

 

Willie Mullins: “Rather than fighting Lossiemouth, Paul let her gallop, and he just held on to her for as long as he could. Once she jumped the last it was just a matter of hanging on, and he actually thinks there’s more in the tank. She’s a star mare. But for the traffic problems she encountered at Leopardstown [in a G1 on 4 February], she’d be unbeaten - for us, anyway.
“I’m very happy with how they all they ran, apart from Blood Destiny, who was disappointing - I don’t know what happened, I’ll have to talk to Patrick [Mullins, jockey]. This was a nice start to the day.”

 

Other quotes

Mark Walsh: “Delighted with her, finished third. I went with Paul into the straight and he quickened better than me, but she stayed galloping all the way to the line.”

 

Sean O’Keeffe: “He’s run a good race. Followed Paul into the straight, where they just quickened away on him, but I was happy with him. It was a good run.”

 

Patrick Mullins: “I was beaten at half-way, once Lossiemouth joined me at the top of the hill I was going nowhere. Something amiss.”

 

Danny Mullins: “Solid run. Even though the way the race panned out at Leopardstown we were adamant there would be very little between them. That’s how it worked out today. Go again at Punchestown!”

 

Kenny Alexander, owner of runner-up Gala Marceau: "She has run an absolute blinder. We beat the winner last time at Leopardstown, so there will have to be a rematch as 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."

 

Frank Berry, racing manager to J P McManus, owner of third placed Zenta: "She has jumped well and run a great race. We just bumped into a couple too good on the day. we will see how she comes out of this race before thinking ant plans for the rest of the season."

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL NEWS: COMMENTATING JOCKEY JOHNNY BURKE REVEALS IT WOULD BE A DREAM TO ONE DAY CALL A RACE AT THE FESTIVAL

 

Friday 17^th March

 

By Nick Seddon

 

Not many racing commentators earn their stripes on the racecourse first, but jockey Johnny Burke has revealed that he would love to call a race at The Cheltenham Festival once he retires.

 

It certainly won’t be anytime soon for the 27 year old, who had his first Cheltenham Festival winner with Love Envoi in last year’s Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

 

However, commentating is something which Burke has turned his hand to in his spare time, calling several races at Cork and the Punchestown Festival over in Ireland. And while he has yet to call a professional race in the UK, he revealed that he would love to commentate at The Cheltenham Festival one day. 

 

He said: “I did it from a young age really. My dad actually trained a lot of horses for Paul Barber and Harry Findlay, so I grew up watching their colours get carried to victory in the big races on Channel 4.

 

“We had a mechanical horse so I’d put the colours on and re-enact the race, so that was probably where I go the bug for race calling. I then started calling races in my head while I was riding out and did a few pony races and a couple of point to points after that. It’s a niche that I’ve found I can do, so it’s my retirement plan after riding hopefully!

 

“I’m yet to call a race in the UK just yet, I’ve only done a few pony races, but I called a race at the Punchestown Festival and I’ve done a few at Cork so hopefully I can kick on. I lived with Paul Townend when I was at home and I commentated on him to win his fourth winner at Cork one day – when he’d already won on Douvan on the card – so that was a nice moment.

 

“It’s been fun and it’s just something I enjoy doing and find quite easy. If you hand me a race card five minutes before a race I can memorise everything – which is strange because I was never too good at school! When it comes to commentating I seem to just be able to do it.

 

“I suppose the closest thing to riding here (at the Cheltenham Festival) would be calling a race! It’s a funny kind of buzz that you get, especially when you get it right.

 

“It’s all come from point to points, as there’s no screen at those meetings. The crowd is relying on you to get it right as a commentator, so I’m painting the picture for people who can’t watch it, so I try to keep it as simple as I can. To commentate on a race here one day would be special.”

 

Burke has just one ride on today’s card but it is a plum one, on the well-fancied Gin Coco in the second race, the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle at 2.10pm. The seven year old hasn’t been seen since finishing a fine second in the ultra-competitive Unibet Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November and Burke is relishing the ride. Like Love Envoi, Gin Coco is trained by Harry Fry.

 

He said: “I’m looking forward to riding him. He’s nicely weighted and still a progressive and improving horse. It’s a tough old race but we go there with a good chance. He’s got experience in handicap company too which should stand him in good stead.

 

“He’s won off a big break before so going there fresh won’t be a problem. He went to Kempton for a gallop with Love Envoi the other week and that has worked out quite well as she was second behind Honeysuckle!

 

“I’d be a touch worried about the ground as his best form has been on a quicker surface, though it was on the soft side in the Greatwood.”