Lessons for us all in those magical Cheltenham feats
OUR eyes were meant to be fixed on the epic battle between Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, but for four days this last week as Ireland had a landslide 19-9 triumph over England at Cheltenham, there were so many more distractions and amazing delights.
Mullins and Elliott ended the festival with six wins apiece, with the latter getting the nod for the leading trainer’s title after edging the number of second placed horses, by three to two. Both men were worthy of a bow for their gutsy, determined achievements.
We had Jessica Harrington becoming the festival’s most successful woman trainer ever by surpassing Supasundae’s Coral Cup win with a glorious double on the final day − and claiming the Gold Cup with Sizing John. We had Jack Kennedy’s exploits, and Jamie Codd. We had the more-seasoned Noel Fehily becoming the first jockey to win the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase, the irrepressible Davy Russell once more winning on the Gloucestershire turf as he has every year since 2006, and Paul Townend finishing up with a sizzling double on Friday. On top of all that, we had Ruby Walsh. Ruby (below) took home with him the leading jockey title for the tenth time as he brought his Cheltenham tally to 56 wins. All of this in addition to the heavyweight battle of Mullins v Elliott. Irish sportsmen and women in every other arena can only look on at what happened over the four days and wonder how on earth Irish horseracing has reached a point of such neartotal domination. To outclass England’s finest by a margin of ten winners? And to do so without the ill-fated Vautour, the retired Don Cossack, the injured duo of Faugheen and Annie Power? One of the most remarkable weeks in our sporting history has closed. But there are lessons there for everyone who is not part of the front line of Irish racing. A will to win, and a confidence to burn, and there is nothing for this country to fear on the world stage. It is a time to congratulate the men and women who make up our horse racing industry. Thank them, and learn from them.