Look who landed 3 winners...
»»trainers and jockeys’ six wins in seven races »»Winners race ahead to nab prestbury Cup
IT was a dream St Patrick’s Thursday for the Irish at Cheltenham yesterday as our trainers and jockeys recorded six wins from seven races.
Owner Michael O’leary, jockey Davy Russell and trainer Gordon Elliott all recorded trebles at Prestbury Park.
But Willie Mullins made history with Penhill and Laurina winning to make him the most successful trainer in the meeting’s history on 61 wins – overtaking Nicky Henderson.
Unfortunately it was not a clean sweep of Irish winners as Missed Approach just held off Mall Dini in the final race.
Ireland’s Prestbury Cup captain Ken Doherty said: “The Irish winners have just been fantastic.” And referring to Ruby Walsh who was absent having aggravated a broken leg injury on Wednesday he added: “The only downside of Wednesday – six out of seven – was poor aul Ruby and hopefully he’s on the mend and [will] be back very, very quickly. He’s a hardy man, he’ll be back.
“As far as Irish winners are concerned poor aul [Phil] Tufnell will have to wait for another year.”
But despite all the Irish winners, it was the bookies who triumphed.
Ladbrokes’ Nicola Mcgeady said: “We needed a day of respite after yesterday’s nightmare. Un De Sceaux was our biggest saviour of the day while the feature race was also welcomed with open arms. “Friday’s Gold Cup looks like one of the best betting races we’ve seen and although Native River looks like he will go off favourite, we expect Our Duke to be popular also after the day the Irish had today.” Paddy Power added: “The Irish almost ripped through the entire racecard only to be robbed of making history in the last.
“But as a nation we can stick our chests out with pride after today’s epic performances.
“It might have hurt punters’ pockets a little, with the bookies shading it slightly, but after a roller coaster week we are all square going into Gold Cup day – and I’ve no doubt punters will be after us to fund their Paddy’s weekend.”
The incredible tally of Irish winners means they have already won the Betbright Prestbury Cup, leading Britain 15-6 going into the final day.
Ryanair boss Michael O’leary finally won the race he has been sponsoring and trying to win for 15 years when Balko Des Flos claimed the third contest of the day.
Davy Russell rode the 8-1 shot to success for Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead, with the Clare jockey also tasting success on Delta Work and The Storyteller for trainer Elliott.
And the Meath handler won the opening race with Shattered Love,
ridden by Jack Kennedy. O’leary said: “I thought our best chance today was the mare in the first and once we’d won the first two, I thought we were going out for lunch. It’s great. I think we’ll have to sponsor it again now.
“If you worry about putting up the money for jump racing, I’d have given up 15 years ago.
“You put the money into this for days like this. It’s wonderful and to be fair, we’ve had a lot of very good winners of the Ryanair
Chase so it’s generally been a good sponsor for the airline.
“It’s just I haven’t managed to win it.
“As JP [Mcmanus] says you throw enough bullets at it, eventually you’ll hit one.
We just need more bullets.”
Russell hailed
O’leary’s contribution to horse racing after the win.
He said: “It’s an awful shame that Michael doesn’t lose any money but I get some of it, which is great.
“He is a marvellous man for our sport and as much as we give out about him, he is a great man.”
It wouldn’t be Cheltenham without a Willie Mullins winner and the Carlow trainer tasted success with Penhill in the Stayers’ Hurdle and Laurina in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle to make him the most successful trainer in Festival history.
Paul Townend rode both winners after Walsh’s heartbreaking injury.
On breaking the record, Mullins said: “It’s unbelievable. When you start training you hope for one winner here – that is the greatest aspiration most Irish trainers have.
“This isn’t something we ever dreamt of because we thought we couldn’t do that with a base in Ireland.” Elliott’s wins yesterday means he now has six for the week.
He said: “I can’t believe it, six winners in Cheltenham.
“It just shows the horses we have in Ireland. If it was called off now, I would be having a good week.”
Meanwhile, plenty of celebs were spotted having the craic in the crowd yesterday including singer Rod Stewart, former Man United boss Alex Ferguson, Carol Vorderman and Katie Price.
And history was made off the track as Irish folk band The Fureys performed at the Festival for the first time.