Irish troops emerge with overall spoils
‘It’s a golden era in Irish racing, but it will turn’
AT 3.30pm yesterday, all was silent by the third fence at Cheltenham. The ground staff were munching on fruit after checking the key props were in place, including the wooden mallet to tap down birch, and the dark green screens should anything distressing arise.
Soon, the sound of hooves signalled the imminent arrival of the Gold Cup field.
At the front — bright red cap evident in grey skies —was Native River. On his shoulder, marking him tight was Might Bite in check colours. The race was barely a minute old and the storyline was already in place.
When the runners returned to the same fence on the second circuit, which all again cleared safely, the order hadn’t changed.
But those in pursuit were starting to burn oil, unable to stick with the gruelling pace of the front two.
By the end of a gruelling seven minutes, there were no Irish hard luck stories. Tony Martin’s Anibale Fly (33/1) ran a cracker for third; Road To Respect (9/1) was a commendable fourth on ground he disliked, while the Gold Cup record of Djakadam (25/1) now reads: 2-2-4-5. As for Our Duke, he never landed a blow and was pulled up.
If the Gold Cup battle stayed in British hands, along with the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase too, the week-long war was a resounding victory for Irish trainers and jockeys.
Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins won 15 races of the 28 between them and Irish-trained horses won 17 with Henry De Bromhead and the reclusive Pat Kelly chipping in with one apiece — big ones too, the Ryanair Chase and RSA Chase.
In terms of prize money, Mullins scooped almost €1m, while Elliott also delivered for his owners with booty of a little over €700,000.
The title for leading trainer went to the wire for the second year running and was decided when Elliott’s Blow By Blow claimed the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Hurdle — in a twist, the seven-year-old was formerly trained by Mullins
That gave Elliott eight wins to equal the record set by Mullins in 2015. ‘It’s amazing to have eight. We’ll enjoy this,’ said the Meath handler who also nosed out Mullins for the trainers’ award last year.
Elliott is firmly established as a serious player at this level and he matched the Mullins’ Tuesday treble with two of his own on Wednesday and Thursday.
He also ticked off the Triumph Hurdle yesterday with Farclas, a maiden, to further enhance his reputation.
In the unbeaten Samcro, Elliott has a potential Gold Cup contender, possibly for 2020.
Mullins had a roller-coaster week, as he had to make do without his top jockey Ruby Walsh for two thirds of the meeting.
On the plus side, there was the satisfaction of over-hauling Nicky Henderson as the most successful trainer in the history of the Cheltenham — 61 to 60.
While there was also much to excite through the five-star efforts of Footpad (Arkle Chase), Benie Des Dieux (Mares’ Hurdle), Penhill (Stayers’ Hurdle) and Laurina (Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle).
Not everything went to plan, nor could it. Faugheen is light of other days over two miles while the loss of Walsh on Wednesday was followed soon after by the fall of Douvan, who was motoring like his old self in the Champion Chase.
If the Gold Cup remains elusive, Mullins will continue to search for the golden arrow and may aim Footpad in that direction next year.
The top jockeys’ title was another nail-biting affair. When Jack Kennedy won the Triumph Hurdle yesterday, he drew level with Davy Russell on four winners apiece, but was behind on a second placed count-back.
The withdrawal of Kennedy’s ride in the last, The Game Changer was, in effect, a game changer as it meant he couldn’t overhaul Russell, who claimed his first jockey’s title at Cheltenham.
At 38, Russell richly deserved the honour, especially after his thrilling Thursday treble where he drew on all his experience.
Michael O’Leary, whose Gigginstown House operation ran away with the owners’ award with seven wins, salutes the jockeys he leans on most.
‘There is so much talent in Ireland. Davy Russell demonstrated on Thursday at 38 what he can do and Jack [Kennedy] is clearly one of a group of new young jockeys coming through in Ireland.
‘It’s a golden era in Irish racing that we have most of the best horses with very good jockeys and very good trainers but sadly this will turn. I remember when we could only get one winner here.’
This week, there were 17 winners. The times they have changed.