Live news from Festival Wednesday

RACE 7 RESULTS

5.30pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m½f
1  A Dream To Share 7-2
2  Fact To File 16-5F 
3  Captain Teague 40-1 

21 ran
Distances: 1¼, 1¼, 3
Time: 3m 59.83s

1st winner at The Festival for jockey John Gleeson
1st winner at The Festival for trainer John Kiely

70th winner at The Festival for owner JP McManus

John Kiely is believed to be the oldest trainer to win at a race at The Cheltenham Festival at the age of 85. He turns 86 in May.

Racing TV quotes

John Gleeson told Racing TV: “Did that just happen, I can’t believe it! We set out to keep it simple. We thought the ground was a bit poached everywhere, but that maybe the outside was slightly better. We decided to take our time on the ground, it’s quite holding. We did that, and it was so smooth, he did it so well. I didn’t see any [of the roughness], I was smooth sailing the whole way. I followed Patrick and got a lovely tow into it, it just worked out so perfectly. I just cannot believe it. Just to be here, at the Festival, I can’t believe it. It’s unreal.
He added the preparation was the same as for Leopardstown: “To have a winner for John Kiely at the Cheltenham Festival… that man is so good to me, he just keeps me so cool. And to Mr McManus as well, for giving me the opportunity to keep the ride, I’m very grateful. Mr McManus was very generous, he said I’d definitely keep the ride here today. It was great, there was no pressure from him. It’s brilliant. It’s very special. We are a small team at home, but we do very well and try our best to get to the big stage, and to win – I can’t believe it.”

Winning quotes

Brian Gleeson added: “It’s tremendous and it means so much. It’s the Cheltenham Festival, my son is riding and he’s in those colours and the horse is trained by a maestro in John Kiely. It’s nearly a book.

“The horse was named by my wife Claire. Everything in life is worth sharing and we always thought that this horse was good, on Christmas Day Claire said she would call this horse A Dream To Share, trained by John Kiely. The dream was to win at the Cheltenham Festival.

“Everyone loves John Kiely. If you speak to Alastair Down or Brough Scott they’ll say it. This man is 86 in May and he’s had second and third placed finishes at Cheltenham and now he’s had a winner with JP McManus. It’s JP’s 70th Festival winner and John Gleeson’s first – it’s fairy tale stuff.

“The ride John gave the horse is down to John Kiely. He’s taught him patience and patience and the old owner was pretty wise too!”

John Gleeson, the winning jockey of A Dream To Share, said: “I can’t believe how smoothly it went to be honest! That just happened - I can’t believe it! I kind of set out to keep it simple, the ground has been poached everywhere but we thought that perhaps the outside was slightly better and we decided to take our time as the ground was slightly holding. I can’t believe he did that, he did it so smooth and so well.

“To be honest I didn’t see (any of the interference), as I was just smooth sailing the whole way. I followed Patrick (Mullins, riding the 16-5 Favourite Fact To File) and it just worked out so perfectly. It’s like a dream and I can’t believe it. Even being at the Festival is just unreal.

“We just approached it the same as Leopardstown really. John Kiely has been so good to me and at his age he just keeps me so cool and there was no pressure. I have to thank Mr McManus as well for letting me keep the ride and giving me the opportunity, I’m so grateful. Mr McManus was very generous and said I’d definitely keep the ride today and he was great, there was no pressure from him.

“It’s very special as we’re a small team at home, but we try our best to get to the next stage and to win. I can’t believe it. I’ve been going to John’s with dad for as long as I can remember really, he’s 10 minutes up the road from us and I ride out this horse every day before going to school. He’s very special.

“My mum named the horse on Christmas Day a couple of years ago. It’s very special as they’re all here today and it’s great to be here. I’d say my dad will be one proud dad, he gets a real kick out of it all and he’s very good to me and gives me plenty of sport – so I’m thrilled for me. I’d say I’ve been a bit calmer than dad! He’s been very excited to come here with a horse, let alone a chance, so it’s great it has come off.

“We thought the horse would improve from the last day and we’ve always thought a lot of him, but you never know until you come here on the big stage. He did what we thought he might do. It’s a privilege to ride in these colours and I’m very grateful to Mr McManus for the opportunity.

“I’ve never had to take so many selfies! I’ll have to put my head down next week now though (at school) and carry on like normal, but we’ll enjoy this first. It’s special and great to get a winner here. I’m back at school on Monday – as it’s St Patrick’s Day on Friday. The school were really supportive and they were happy for me to take a couple of days off.

“I’m not too sure what I’ll do, though I’ve got the racing bug for sure! I need to get my Leavers exams out of the way and we’ll go from there. My sisters and a couple of cousins and friends have come over – so I’m not the only one to take some time off school!

“It’s all surreal and it hasn’t sunk in.”

John Kiely: “I was always happy with the horse and he looked to be a nice horse from day one. I was concerned about the ground today to be honest but the horse came here tip top and I’m delighted with how it worked out. The ground was not his ideal and I was worried he got there too soon but it was great. He is fantastic (John Gleeson). He has come in every morning since I started with the horse to ride him. He will muck out and do everything. I hope he keeps his feet on the ground. I was here first in 1976 and we (me and my brother Paddy) had the winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle in 1993 (Shuil Ar Aghaidh). I’m 86 in May and I only gave up riding three years ago. It is brilliant to achieve this in the hallowed spot. The horse is named well and they named him on Christmas Day as a family and they named him A Dream To Share. It is lovely as they are a united family. We take every horse the same until they prove themselves. He seemed to do things easy. I think there is more to come and he seems a nice horse.”

Other quotes

Paul Nicholls, trainer of third placed Captain Teague: "Obviously that was a very pleasing performance to finish third and he is potentially a very smart horse for the future. But that's it for this season as he will be turned away before going novice hurdling in the autumn."       

RACE 6 RESULTS

4.50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase 2m
1  Maskada 22/1
2  Dinoblue 7/2F
3  Global Citizen 12/1
4  Third Time Lucki 8/1

19 ran
Distances: 6½, 3, 1½
Time: 4m 3.00s

1st winner at The Festival for jockey Darragh O’Keeffe
19th winner at The Festival for trainer Henry de Bromhead

Racing TV quotes

Henry de Bromhead told Racing TV: “I’m delighted for everybody. The Marigas are great supporters of ours. They have a fantastic broodmare band, so I’m delighted for them, they put a lot into the game, and for Darragh O’Keefe with his first winner at Cheltenham. That’s brilliant for him. She’s a lovely mare and loves soft ground. Paul Roche, who suggested we buy her, is back at home as well. There’s a lot of people involved and I’m delighted.
“We were hoping the ground would suit her and Darragh said that she absolutely loved it. She won at Limerick at Christmas, the horse she beat has done very well since, so the form was strong. She was a bit disappointing at Leopardstown, we felt the ground might have just been a bit too nice for her there.
“She’s a really good mare. I’m delighted to have her and delighted for everybody.”

Robbie Power, representing the Henry de Bromhead yard, told Racing TV: “[The horses are running] fantastic. Captain Guiness ran a blinder in the Champion Chase as well, and Honey was brilliant yesterday. It’s brilliant.
“Maskada was brilliant and Darragh was brilliant on her, he gave her a great ride. He gets on very well with her and in fairness, the more the rain was falling, the more confident we were getting about her chances. She loves soft ground. Last week on good ground, we weren’t that confident. But the more the rain was falling, the more her chances increased. Henry is a genius at getting horses ready for this week.”

Winning quotes

Darragh O’Keeffe: “It’s an amazing place, and to come over with a few rides is a great privilege. I was just touched off last year in the Coral Cup, and then I was touched off here in the Paddy Power as well - I was starting to get nightmares about this place! I’m just grateful to Maskada’s owners for putting me up. I was going to win a mares’ handicap chase on her at Fairyhouse and she tipped over at the second-last, and then she won at Limerick next time out, but in fairness to the owners, they put me back on her. She loved the conditions out there today and jumped super all the way round. It’s brilliant.
“I had a lovely spin round. She can be a bit keen, but I suppose, going that gallop, she’s run over further in the past. I was just about hanging in there, but she was jumping great and I had a nice position. I winged the fourth-last and was just able to follow down to the third-last. I switched in round the home bend because I knew the ground wasn’t going to be great; she pinged the last two fences and kept on up the hill. Her jumping was very good - it has let her down a couple of times in the past. I’m just delighted to ride a winner for Henry [de Bromhead] - it is a testament to him and he had a great day yesterday, so I’m delighted to be able to add another one to the board. He’s a fantastic trainer and he’s been brilliant to me. He gave me my first Grade One winner as well, and he’s given me plenty of other high-profile rides as well, and I’m very appreciative of it.”

Henry de Bromhead, the winning trainer of Maskada (22-1), said: “She was really good and Darragh (O'Keeffe) gave her a super ride. I’m delighted for him as it’s his first winner here, which is brilliant. I’m delighted for the Mariga family as they’re great supporters of ours, we had a lovely winner for them on Saturday (with Lantry Lady at Gowran Park) and now another today so it’s great.

“We bought her some way through the season last year, just before Punchestown. She had a nice run at Punchestown and she looked ideal for the owners as they have some very good brood mares. She had really good form and I don’t think we’ve done a whole lot more with her, she’s great and I’m delighted.”

Other quotes

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of runner up Dinoblue: "She has run very well considering she has not got the experience of the others as this was only her fourth run over fences. We are very pleased with the run."

Ben Pauling, trainer of third home Global Citizen: "He won the race last year but they gave him a bit too much rope out in front on that occasion. This time they have more or less kept tabs on him but he has still run a blinder in the circumstances as he is 11 years old now."

RACE 5 RESULTS

4.10pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase 3m 6f
1  Delta Work 11/10F
2  Galvin 11/4
3  Franco De Port 9/2

16 ran
Distances: 2½, 26, 7½

4th winner at The Festival for jockey Keith Donoghue
36th winner at The Festival for trainer Gordon Elliott
33rd winner at The Festival for owner Gigginstown House Stud

ITV quotes

Gordon Elliott told ITV Racing: “I love the cross-country race. It was great to have the one-two. Galvin ran a great race. Davy said there were a couple of soft spots that didn’t suit him that well. The O’Learys are brilliant to me. To train a winner at Cheltenham for them is unbelievable, they are massive supporters of Cullentra, so that was special. And for Keith Donoghue to ride a winner for me. He started off when he was 14, he is having his best ever season. He went freelance so when Jack wasn’t riding, I said ‘there’s no better man’, so I gave him a call. Both horses will go for the Grand National now.”

Michael O’Leary told ITV Racing: “He has been a great horse around Cheltenham. He won the Pertemps here one year and that’s his second [cross-country chase win]. We’ll forgive him for last year, beating Tiger Roll, but it’s wonderful to have a winner here and I think it’s a great training performance by Gordon to bring him back again at 10 and to win that race again.

“Every winner at the Festival is a big winner. It’s so hard to win races here. Gordon and the team at Cullentra… we are with one of the top teams. We are very privileged to have days like this and winners like Delta.”

Keith Donoghue told ITV Racing: “He’s very tough. I knew the ground would suit me, I knew he would stay well. I felt him (Galvin) coming to me after the second last, I had a little look, saw it was Galvin and I did get a little worried, I was hoping it would be something else. But this lad is tough and he battled well. The minute I went a length clear, his ears were pricked. He’s a brilliant spin and he’s brilliant to jump. Gordon is an unbelievable trainer and it’s easy when you’re riding for him.”

Winning quotes

Jack Kennedy (jockey, Delta Work 2022): “Obviously that was tough to watch, but I’m delighted for the horse, and for Michael and Anita, Eddie and Wendy, Gordon, Keith, everyone. I’m delighted for them. I would have loved to have been on him, but obviously there’s nothing I can do. Hopefully on to Aintree now.”

Michael O’Leary: “He has been a great horse around Cheltenham. He won a Pertemps here one year and that is his second Cross Country Chase winner and it is wonderful to have a winner around here. It is a great training performance by Gordon to win that race again. Every winner at the Festival is a big winner. It is so hard to win races here. With Gordon and the team at Cullentra (House) are one of the top teams and we are privileged to have days like this and winners like Delta.
“I was devastated 12 months ago (after beating Tiger Roll) and I was like kick him out (tongue in cheek) but now I’m very grateful. I thought Galvin was going easier and Davy (Russell) was tracking us the whole way. Galvin is a very good horse and he is owned by Ronnie Bartlett, who is a very good friend of mine, and if it wasn’t going to be won by us I would have liked to have seen Ronnie win it as at least it was going to stay at Gordon’s.
“I used to be the most critical of this Cross Country race and why do we bother. When you are struggling for a winner at Cheltenham I will take the Cross Country, the Martin Pipe, anything at all.
“It is a different test and it is very good for these older horses that are not quite Grade One level anymore. It is almost a bit like a veterans race. Galvin and Delta Work were two very good horses taking each other on. It is not everyone’s cup of tea but a winner at the Festival is a winner.
“Some horses do take to it and some don’t. Tiger took to it and Delta has taken to it well again. It (the Grand National) will be on the agenda but I have won the Grand National three times already and no owner I think has won it more than three times so I’ve had my fill.
“He will go to Aintree, but will he win, no he won’t.”

Keith Donoghue: “It was very straightforward. He went a good gallop on the ground; I just asked him to travel and he went on the ground, he jumped brilliantly and it couldn't have gone any easier for me.
“Looking on ratings and betting, Galvin was my main danger, and I could see something coming to me at the second-last and I looked over, and as I looked over I was a little bit worried that it was him coming - I was hoping it would be something else, but when I asked my lad to go down to the last I felt he was quickening, and I knew he would stay well. Obviously that ground was going to disadvantage Galvin. I was a little bit slow at the last but when he was coming up the hill his ears were pricked and he was just doing enough.
“He’s very good at this race; he’s so quick. For a horse who probably wasn’t a great jumper over a normal fence, he’s brilliant over these and I have to thank Gordon for putting me on him. It’s just great to have a winner at Cheltenham.
“He’s probably a bit scopier over these obstacles than Tiger Roll was; he probably jumps them a bit more, whereas Tiger was probably quicker and went through them a bit more, but Tiger just did enough over them - that was his way of doing it and he was very good, whereas this lad can actually lose a little bit of time in the air, but he’s still very good.
“I think he has to go to the Grand National now. He bolted up here and didn’t have a hard race. He was third last year so he probably has to improve a little bit, but he has every right to go for it.”

Gordon Elliott commented on the runner-up Galvin (11-4): “Delta had the experience but Galvin was brilliant. He ran his heart out and they’re two nice horses to come back for this race with for the next couple of years and both now head for the English National.

“I think better ground would have inconvenienced Delta more and given Galvin a better chance today but to be fair to Delta he stays very well. It’s great to have a winner as we’ve hit the frame a few times, but we’ve two on the board now and we’re very happy.”

Other quotes

Willie Mullins:"We are very happy with that as it was his first run over the cross country fences and he has run very well. He has time on his side as he is only eight years old and will be back for this race in 12 months time.

"He has an entry in the Aintree Grand National and we will look at that closer to the time but I am keen on aiming him at the Grand Steeplechase de Paris at Auteuil in the middle of May as i think the race will suit him."

RACE 4 RESULTS

3.30pm Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 2m

1  Energumene 6/5F
2  Captain Guinness 12/1
3  Greaneteen 25/1

7 ran
Distances: 10, 24, ¾
Time: 3m 57.25s

26th winner at The Festival for jockey Paul Townend
92nd winner at The Festival for trainer Willie Mullins
4th winner at The Festival for owner Tony Bloom

ITV quotes

Winning owner Tony Bloom told ITV Racing: “We were really confident going in. He’s run a tremendous race. He just looked the top horse all the way round, so we are delighted. Absolutely delighted. I had a few quid on, so I think we are quids in. We were confident anyway, but obviously the rain helps the horse. If it had been good ground, we would have been a lot less confident. But I think we were reasonably confident anyway and the rain certainly helped in the last few days – and certainly the rain in the last couple of hours has been a big boon.”

Willie Mullins told ITV Racing: “We got the ground, he’s had a spin over the track with the white boards on and I think it made a big difference. We’ve put up white fences at home since. Some horses it affects. Today he was just spot on. Hopefully we might be back next year for another one (Champion Chase win)!”

Paul Townend told ITV Racing: “He was foot perfect everywhere. I just got in a rhythm on him and he jumped brilliant. I was able to get so far up the straight without letting go of him.

“You don’t win championship races like that normally! I was able to take it all in from the back of the last. He is a pleasure to ride and to do anything with him. A lot of credit goes to the man who rides him every day and looks after him like one of his children.”

Harry Cobden (Jockey, Greaneteen): “Ran a lovely race, bad mistake at the ditch, which sort of cost us any chance of running any sort of a race, but he’s plugged on well to finish third.”

Rachael Blackmore (Jockey, Captain Guinness): “He ran a super race, delighted. He is a great horse. He’s hitting the crossbar, but that’s a great result for him today.”

Harry Skelton (Jockey, Nube Negra): “He just struggled on the ground today, but there we go. The winner was very good.”

Tom Cannon (Edwardstone): “It wasn’t his day. Maybe the ground was a bit soft for him, but he just didn’t really fire at them today. He seems ok, but maybe just back to the drawing board and see where we go from there. He can always be a bit cold over his first couple of fences, so I wasn’t too worried early on, but he normally warms into the race well. When we jumped the ditches down the back I had to give him a squeeze at one and he made a real effort for me to get there, that’s a bit unlike him. I was holding on to nothing at the top of the hill and all credit to the horse that he actually took me into contention three out, as I was holding on to nothing.”

Niall Houlihan (Jockey, Editeur Du Gite): “He ran very well to a point. The ground has probably gone a bit soft today with the rain, that’s taking nothing away from the winner – we went a good gallop and he didn’t stop.”

Winning quotes

Willie Mullins: “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 and that is the way the race worked out. He had it right and the horse loved the ground and jumping. He was just brilliant on the day and Paul was just brilliant on him. I was way more confident coming into this year’s race as we hadn’t got Shishkin to take on and we thought if there was any improvement from the Clarence House that with hopefully with a clear round he would win. Paul came home from the Clarence House and said they won’t beat us again. The horse’s work and jumping and everything has been brilliant. We were just fingers crossed for a clear round. It did (exceed my expectations how he did it). I was hoping to win but the way he did it was something else. It (did help coming here last time) as he just propped at the first one and that just upset him. This time around we schooled him hugely over white fences and it didn’t worry him today.
“We tried to make him a two and a half mile chaser but his jumping was so slick we decided to come back to two miles with him. It looks like he has improved from last year. What can I say, hopefully he will hold that form until next year. I’ll be praying for this sort of weather this time next year. The whole game plan will be to work back from this next year.”

Tony Bloom, owner: “He absolutely has done us proud again. He ran a magnificent race and he totally deserved to win. We are so fortunate to have such an amazing horse. He certainly liked a bit of rain today and last year but he is just an unbelievable horse. 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. 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!
“We were confident going in. He is a great horse. He just underperformed in the Clarence House but showed his class today. My heart rate didn’t go above 80! He looked the winner the whole way through. We were delighted with how he ran today. Last year was the first Cheltenham Festival race he won and that was huge and things fell into place for his last year but today they were all on their feet and he just bolted home. 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.”

Paul Townend: “That was easy, to be honest. I got in a lovely rhythm on him, after the first two fences he was taking them on, he was quick at them, and it was simple - it was just a matter of keeping him in a rhythm after that.
“He allowed me to ride him more forward [than in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot] because he took on his fences better today. Looser ground probably helped as well and played a factor in it, but he was just more forward. He felt a different horse today.
“He had a little reach at the fence three out, I think it was - those championship two-milers, they are supposed to be running like that, though. It was a dream ride and I was able to take it all in coming up the straight, which doesn’t usually happen in those championship races.”
Asked to compare yesterday’s Arkle Chase winner El Fabiolo and Energumene, Townend replied with a smile: “I’m not going to. I’m just going to enjoy the Champion Chase at this moment in time.”

Other quotes

Alan King said of Edwardstone, who disappointed behind Energumene:" I have never been happier with him and he has never missed a day at home, but he was beaten after two fences and just never going at any stage of the race.

"I cannot blame the ground as he has won on it before - I just don't know what it is, I am at a total loss. But something must be amiss and hopefully something will come to light."

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Captain Guinness (12-1), said: “I’m absolutely delighted. We came here hoping we’d hit the frame and we have. It was a brilliant run and he jumped great and the winner was just too good for us. The winner was so impressive but I’m delighted for the Landy family (Declan Landy, owner), they’re all here so they’ve had a great day out. Rachael just said he was deadly and did everything right for her. We were hoping to get place and we’ve done that. We’re really happy.”

Paul Nicholls, trainer of the third-placed Greaneteen (25-1), said: “I’m thrilled with him. He was travelling beautifully until he made that mistake and I thought that was the end then, but Harry (Cobden) has just let him coast home. We’ve picked up 30 odd grand for our troubles and who knows we might’ve finished second if we hadn’t have had that error – though we wouldn’t have beaten the winner. He’s run very well today and we thought he might run a bit better than Newbury and now all roads will lead to Sandown now for him. That will be his race.”

Greaneteen’s jockey Harry Cobden said: “He was very lucky to get away with that error. It was a fair mistake at the ditch at the top of the hill so I just thought we’d regather and try and fill him back up and see if we can get some place money. He’s done very well to get back into the race – I know the winner has absolutely scooted up – but he’s pinched £35,000 for finishing third and that’s much better than a P/U next to his name!

“I was going nicely (when he made the error), I definitely wasn’t going as well as Energumene. I think I might have troubled Rachael (Blackmore, on Captain Guinness) for second, but no complaints and we’ll go to Sandown now for the Celebration Chase. He loves that race and that will be his Champion Chase.”

Sean Houlihan, jockey of the fourth-placed Editeur Du Gite (13-2), said: “He ran his heart out, that ground probably wasn’t his best. The drizzle all day has just made it a bit soft and he was starting to feel it down the back straight. All credit to the horse.”

RACE 3 RESULTS

2.50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 5f
1  Langer Dan 9/1
2  An Epic Song 16/1
3  Camprond 20/1
4  Scaramanga 50/1

26 ran
Distances: hd, nk, 9½l
Time: 5m 14.46s

5th winner at The Festival for jockey Harry Skelton
5th winner at The Festival for trainer Dan Skelton

THE CRAFT IRISH WHISKEY CO. PRESTBURY CUP STANDINGS

Ireland 6

Great Britain 4

ITV quotes

Harry Skelton told ITV Racing: “He loves a race like this, big field, and Dan has trained him to perfection. We were discussing which race we were to go for with him. He’s been a bit unlucky in the conditionals’ race and I said, ‘Dan, I want my go on him at the Festival’. Thankfully we are in the right race. He loves a race like that with loads of hustle and bustle. He is a proper little horse. I’m delighted for Colm Donlon, who has been a big supporter and put so much in. Amber [Blythe], who looks after our yard, has done an unbelievable job to keep him right. You can see what it means. There’s so much that goes into this, this means the world to these guys. Amber has done a fantastic job with him. The last few weeks hasn’t been easy, but he comes right at this time of the year and it’s down to people like Amber, and Steve who looks after him, and everyone. The little horse deserves it.”

Amber Blythe told ITV Racing: “It’s just how much work we’ve put into him, and he’s so small, he’s so mighty, he has the heart of a lion. I’m really emotional. You can’t dream of things like this, it’s just amazing.”

Winning quotes

Dan Skelton: “He is a little pocket rocket. In these handicap hurdles he can skip around and nip into gaps. I would think he is a lot of fun to ride. It is an amazing story Colm bought four foals and he was trotting around one day as a three year old and I rang Colm up saying we will have to get your money back as this horse is tiny and he will never be a racehorse. To be fair to Colm he said they all deserve a chance so let's see how he gets on and he has just been mega. It is brilliant seeing him get his head in front here as he is a proper tough little nut. We have had him since a foal and he is by Ocovango who is growing in importance now as we have him at the stud. He has been an amazing little horse and he has now got his day in the sun. I tried to make him into a graded horse this season and I couldn’t so we came back to handicaps and he does it for you then. I hoped he would be a Stayers’ Hurdle type horse but he just won’t go in the autumn. It is not me being clever he just won’t go. It is important we have now got one on the board.
“We have been lucky the last three years we have come here that he has been on the podium of chances that we have run here. We are lucky we have got a good more few chances to come yet. He is a great horse to train as he puts it all in when it matters. Harry (Skelton) said I want a go on him this year as his last two runs had been in the Martin Pipe. The best thing that happened today was that they shut the door on him over two out as it meant the battle was renewed. The more hassle he gets he loves it. You don’t relax as you have to keep your head down and keep doing it. You look where Willie is at the top of that mountain. We are in the foothills yet we still have a team stacked full of talent. It is so hard but you have to keep aspiring to hit those heights and to get a winner is brilliant. Colm (Donlon) has been with me from the very start and it is great to give huge supporters a day like this.”

Harry Skelton: “He’s been a bit unlucky - he was brought down last year [in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle], and bumped into Galopin Des Champs in the same race the year before. To be honest, Dan was thinking about going for it again, but I said I’ve got to have my go on him! Luckily it was the right race; what you need in that race is a bit of experience for it; he’s got that, he’s a good horse on his day and Dan has trained him to perfection. Amber Blyth, our head girl, has been fantastic with this horse. The last month hasn’t really been that smooth, but it’s credit to the team. You need people around you, you need to be able to trust people, and that’s exactly what Dan does. Colm [Donlon, owner] has been a great supporter, but that horse deserves that.
“I really thought the one to beat was JJ [Slevin, on An Epic Song], those colours have got a great record round here, so I thought that would be the one to follow. But everything just went well, and you need the horse to get you there - luckily I did.”

Other quotes

Philip Hobbs, joint trainer of Camprond: "He has run a cracking race as he probably could have done without the rain that has fallen. He won at Punchestown last year and we may well consider going back there later next month."

Willie Mullins, trainer of fourth home Scaramanga:" Very pleased with that effort on his first run over hurdles for the yard and the two options he has next are either going to Punchestown or travelling to America for Nashville's Iroquois National at Percy warner Park in early May. 

"After that there is a chance he could switch back to the flat for Ascot Stakes at Ascot's Royal meeting in the middle of June."

Martin Brassil, trainer of the runner-up An Epic Song (16-1), said: “I’m not feeling that bad to be honest, I’ve brought two horses here and to have both hit the frame is not easy. There’s lots of runners, it’s a fierce race meeting. They ran as I expected them to run, they just didn’t get the run of the green on the day.

“I was very happy with him on the way round and he came alive after jumping three. He left his hind legs behind him at the back of the third last and that might just have cost him a bit of momentum and that might’ve made the difference at the end, but overall he’s a lightly-raced horse and more rain would’ve been a help. I’d think we’ll probably run him at Punchestown now and then we’ll go chasing.

“That’s me for the week now, we’ll go back and regroup. I’ve brought two very good horses over and they’ve both run great.”

RACE 2 RESULTS

2.10pm Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m½f
1  The Real Whacker 8-1
2  Gerri Colombe 5/4F
3  Bronn 50-1

10 ran
Distances: shd, 4¼
Time: 6m 18.47s

8th winner at The Festival for jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
1st winner at The Festival for trainer Paddy Neville

ITV quotes

Trainer Paddy Neville told ITV Racing: “His jumping is unbelievable. I had him in the Gold Cup and they said I was mad.”

On his move to England, he said: “I couldn’t get owners in Ireland, it was more or less either give up or stay going. It worked out great. These days are brilliant.

On the team behind him and the owners that have come with him, he said: "They are unreal, English, Irish, everyone."

“[My nephew] came from Australia to lead up the horse, so it’s great that he came, it was a big surprise – I might keep him here!”

On whether this race was the right decision, not the Gold Cup, he added, with a laugh: “It is now. Next year!”

Sam Twiston-Davies told ITV Racing: “He races in a great manner in that although he is in front and he is doing all the hard work, you are able to get the breathers in everywhere you want and with his jumping, he is always filling himself up. My God that feels like a long way up the run-in!

“He’s a fantastic racehorse. It’s always a privilege to be asked to ride in these races and I was very lucky to ride him in the Dipper, let alone as well as today. That’s Paddy Neville all the way through, great support in him. He said he was in wicked good nick and fair play he was absolutely spot on. 

“All the lads were saying ‘well done’, I was thinking, ‘I’d rather know for definite just in case something has gone wrong!’ I did one of these interviews at Sandown one day when they put the cameras in the wrong place in the EBF Final, so you never know until it’s done. I’m delighted and thanks to everyone at home. Some buzz that’s for sure.”

On the congratulations he received from his fellow jockeys, he continued: “It doesn’t always go right for the English lads. With Willie and Gordon bringing over such big teams, it’s always hard to get rides, let alone winners, so when you do get one, it shows how much it means, not just to yourself, but to everyone else as well, which is great. I can’t say thank you enough.”

Winning quotes

Sam Twiston-Davies: “It was unreal. I just got in a really nice rhythm as he did here on New Year’s Day. I got breathers in everywhere but he is very honest and it was a great training performance. He is just a pleasure to ride. He was waiting for something and he was wandering on his way up to the line but then he is obviously very tough with it all as well but he was in front where it mattered. I kind of hoped he had won but until they actually say it you never want to believe it as I’ve been chinned here plenty as well. My last win here was years ago aboard Solar Impulse in the Grand Annual for Paul (Nicholls) in 2016 when it was the the last race on the card. It is crazy. I ride with fantastic jockeys in England but there are so many good lads who haven’t got rides here this week so just getting rides is hard so when you have one with a winning chance you have to be incredibly grateful and appreciate the moments.
“Gavin (Sheehan) went elsewhere when he won the Dipper and I thought it was a one off but they said in the week I was going to ride him and I hadn’t sat on him since. Paddy said he was on great form and that was all I needed to know. It is only the second time I’ve sat on him in my life so we have great chemistry. It is a great training performance and they are a lovely group of owners. I’ll be totally honest I went into the first race with a nice English horse yesterday, Rare Edition, and he was quite disappointing and then we ran I Like To Move It and he was pushed aside quite easily so you start to think we have strong quality of horse over here but when we run against Irish horses it becomes harder. Everyone always believed in this fella so it worked out well.

David Mann, joint owner: “I’m totally stuck for words. My heart is pounding and my stomach is all over the place. I can’t believe we have had this winner. It is the best day of my life. I’m so happy for myself and Paddy Neville and Alan Duffus and Bex (Dennis, other owner). I’m so excited. This is unreal. I said to Alan a while back can you come in doing a bit of chatting but he said no I will leave that all to you Davey! It is a dream come true. To come here in November and have a winner was so unreal, to come here New Year’s Day and do it was great. Everybody knows I suppose the king of the crop is the big festival meeting which is today. Sam Twiston-Davies gave him such a great ride. We are so proud of the team especially Paddy Neville who came over from Ireland two years ago. He is one of my best friends that I grew up with in the same village in Ireland. Paddy has done so much and brought this horse on.
“I’ve been coming over here for 20 years and I never thought we were going to have a day like this. It is unreal. He jumped from fence to fence. Even though everyone says he is a brilliant jumper my heart was in my mouth at every fence. I’ve made it at last as my dream has come true.
“I thought he was beaten until Matt Chapman came up and said you have got it. I saw Bex running and she said I know we have won it. I thought we were caught on the line generally. He was there he came up the hill and done everything right and I just thought we were caught on the line but my God Sam stuck his head out there and we just got there.
“We had him in the Gold Cup but the decision was Paddy’s not mine, but I think Paddy kept it open for a while. We always thought it would be the Brown Advisory but Paddy kept it open but he made the decision and I think it showed it was the right one. Who can say in the last five months they have had three winners at Cheltenham.
“This (suit) hasn’t been worn since New Year’s Day. In case you think I wear this every day I don’t. I got this in Chicago for a wedding a year ago and I kept it for the first time we were here at Cheltenham. Paddy said after we were here on New Year’s Day keep that suit for March. I went home and said to one of my girls take it to the cleaners with the plastic on it and leave it for March.”

Paddy Neville: “He toughed it out, in fairness. He’s a lovely horse and got in a lovely rhythm. The ground was a little bit soft for him - we were dreading that - but it worked out. Brilliant. I was happy all the way round with his rhythm and the way he was jumping, and Sam [Twiston-Davies] kept him out of it a little bit for the better ground; we made that plan earlier in the day, and it worked.
“He’s won three times here now. I don’t think I’ll run him anywhere else!
“This is my first season with a licence in Britain; I was assistant to Ann Duffield [from whom Neville now rents a barn] while my licence was coming through, in charge of her jumpers, and we had a few nice winners. It’s working out great. I trained in Ireland for 15 years, and had good winners there as well, but the last couple of years were getting tough. I made the move because I couldn’t get any owners in Ireland, just couldn’t get them. Hopefully it will work away here.
“We’ll mind him for next year and come back for the Gold Cup, hopefully. We were thinking about it this year, but we’ve probably made the right decision for the horse - he’d only run six times before today, so we’ve given him that bit of experience and we’ll come back next year. We’ll give him a good summer - he’d have done enough now for this year, maybe; he might go to Punchestown but we’ll see how he comes out of this. He’ll probably go to Listowel in the autumn because it’s one of my favourite tracks.
“We’ve got great support from everyone and it’s been brilliant.”

Other quotes

Gordon Elliott said of runner-up Gerri Colombe: "He has been beaten a short head in a Grade 1 and a stride over the line he is a neck in front, so of course I retain faith in him - he's top class

"However, whether he has another run this season is something that will have to be discussed with the owners as he has definitely had a race there."

Daryl Jacob, rider of the third-placed Bronn (50-1), said: “I’m delighted with him. He’s jumped and travelled great. The ground seemed to suit, the slower the ground the better for him.”

RACE 1 RESULTS

1.30pm Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m5f

1. Impaire Et Passe 5-2
2. Gaelic Warrior 9-2
3. Champ Kiely 13-2

10 ran

Distances: 6½, 1

Time: 5m 10.74s

25^th winner at The Festival for jockey Paul Townend

91^st winner at The Festival for trainer Willie Mullins

6^th winner at The Festival for owner Simon Munir/Isaac Souede

ITV quotes

Amy Morrissey, leading up, told ITV: “I actually didn’t watch him jump the last at all, I was terrified! When I saw him turning in and he was swinging, I was like, ‘Oh my God, he is that good!’. He doesn’t do anything at home, he does whatever he has to – and he can keep doing that if he does this every day at the races.”

Paul Townend told ITV: “He’s a dream ride. I was hoping coming here that he would be that ride. He’s shown me that in the couple of races he’s ran. It worked out brilliantly.

Winning quotes

Willie Mullins: “I was very impressed with that. I was looking at him coming to the last going, ‘No, Danny [Mullins, on Champ Kiely], don’t pull in’, but Danny’s horse was hanging right the whole way down the back and Paul just said to himself that he could get through, and he did, but what happened when he got through was what blew me away. The change of pace down to the last and up the hill - wow. I think that was the horse’s fourth run in his life, so there’s huge improvement there. I’m looking at him as a chaser; you have to ask yourself now, do you stay hurdling? What would you do?
“You have to look at everything, including the Champion Hurdle. Yesterday I was telling Michael Buckley, we’ll have to go shopping again to find one to beat you [Constitution Hill], but maybe we haven’t yet!
“He’s in the same sort of mould with his speed, jumping and the way he came up the hill, so maybe we have one.
“Gaelic Warrior - he took out his earplugs on the way to the start and he didn’t settle as well as we’d want him to, but Patrick said he could go up to three miles - he’ll be a big, strong chaser down the line. And Champ Kiely surprised me by staying on so well. Danny said he hung terribly down the back - I don’t know why he did that, Danny doesn’t know either, we’ll see if there’s some problem - but he’s another one who will make a nice chaser.”

Paul Townend: “It is a special position to be in but it brings a pressure with it. It is nice to ride a well fancied one here. It was like he was nearly doing the talking himself before the race!”

Isaac Souede: “That was an amazing race. We had high expectations and he met them and superseded them. He was very impressive... It did exceed our expectations as after two races you don’t know how good they truly are. We knew the competition coming here was going to be strong, and it was, especially from the other Mullins horses. I would have been happy today if he run well and was first, second, third or fourth but he exceeded our expectations especially with the ease of it. Once he decided to go it was race over. We felt this race was about discovering how good he is so we weren’t feeling pressure. The expectations weren’t the same for us as El Fabiolo. El Fabiolo losing would have been disappointing and there would have been no hiding it. In this case we were going to learn. We know how hard it is to do this so we are not complaining.”

Simon Munir: “I’m in shock, really. He’s been working very very well and he won his races in Ireland well but he was going up in distance, the ground was another question mark, so to win by six and a half lengths on his fourth run is breath-taking. Very exciting.
“The vibes have been strong about this horse, but it was quite a deep race - there was Champ Kiely, Gaelic Warrior, lots of horses with great 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 was extended today but he won by six and a half lengths, came over the last in the lead and so really the sky is the limit at the moment. The dream is very much alive.”

Other quotes

Harry Cobden (Jockey, Hermes Allen): “He ran well, it was a bit of a stop and start race. Good tactics from Willie Mullins.”

Michael O’Sullivan (Jockey, Good Land): “I was very happy with the position I was, but the horse was never travelling. He was a bit flat. Maybe to do with the ground, it’s a lot softer today, a lot more testing. Look I was travelling away, but I was never really happy with him, but he ran a good race.”

Patrick Mullins (Jockey, Gaelic Warrior): “Myself and Paul wanted the same position. My earplugs came out on the way down to the start, so I had to get them removed, then Paul got the possy I wanted. I was following him down the back when Danny’s jumped right, I jumped into Paul’s position and I just pulled back behind him then. I think my fellow would be better over further, definitely better going the other direction. A great run.”

Barry Connell, trainer of Good Land: "That was a good run in a really competitive race where the first four horses came well clear.

"Michael (O'Sullivan, jockey) said the horse felt a bit flat out there and spent a bit too long in the air at some of his hurdles so we will have his blood and everything else checked out.

"He is a chaser in the making so that will probably be it for this season and he will be turned out in the paddocks before going chasing next Autumn."

Michael O'Sullivan on the ground: " It's a lot more testing than yesterday and very tough out there as it's quite tacky."

Patrick Mullins, jockey of the runner-up Gaelic Warrior (9-2), said: “I wanted to take a position behind Danny (Mullins, on Champ Kiely) but he shook his ear plugs out going down to the start and I had to have them taken off when I got down there. It meant that Paul (Townend, on Impaire Et Passe) got that position and I had to follow him. It wasn’t the difference between winning and losing or anything but it was a bit annoying.

“He settled great and jumped great, he only hung under pressure in the straight and was beaten by a better horse going left-handed. Perhaps the other way round we might be able to narrow the deficit. From the minute we landed down the back of the second last and Paul’s given him a squeeze, we weren’t catching the winner. I’d like to think my lad would go up in trip, he’ll get three miles.”

Danny Mullins, jockey of the third-placed Champ Kiely (13-2), commented: “It was a solid run in a very competitive race.”

Michael O'Sullivan

Jockey Michael O’Sullivan celebrated his best ever day in the saddle by going back to his Festival week accommodation and watching re-runs of his two winners.

The 23 year old had never even ridden at the Cheltenham Festival until yesterday (Tuesday) but finished the day as leading jockey after victories on Marine National in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Jazzy Matty in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

However, he will wait until the biggest week of the Jump racing calendar is completely over before celebrating properly and allowing the magnitude of his success to sink in.

He said: “It was brilliant and it couldn’t have been much better. We didn’t do much celebrating - there were a few other lads I’m staying with and we just watched the racing and had a bit to eat and went to bed early.

“I’ve got three rides today so I can’t go out celebrating yet. We have three more important days’ racing and hopefully I will get another winner and maybe at the weekend I can let my hair down.

“We are racing Saturday and Monday in Ireland so it is all go but hopefully I will get a moment to take it all in. It was a feeling of relief when I won on Marine National. He is just a very good horse and I’m lucky to be involved in him.

“My dad was over here, as was my aunt. It was great for them to be over here. It is brilliant and special that both me and my dad (William, who rode 1991 Foxhunters winner Lovely Citizen) have now ridden a winner at The Festival.

“I met him just as I was walked back into the parade ring so it was great that he was there. I’ve been riding since I was kid and race riding since I was 16 so I was bred into it and being a jockey has always been the plan.”

O’Sullivan finished a degree in Agricultural Science in May at University College Dublin and he added: “It is great to have a degree behind me and I would rather have it as a back-up as racing is only a short career. I’ve no idea what I would do after racing but it is handy to have a degree.”