Boum and bust

breakthrough with Band Of Outlaws on Wednesday, were sickened, along with all racing enthusiasts by the fatal injury sustained by JCB triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Erec soon after the fourth flight in yesterday’s opener.

But Mcmanus and O’brien ended the week on a relative high, thanks to the victory of top-weight Early Doors, third in the race last year, and a first Festival winner for Jonjo O’neill Junior in the finale of the week, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle, in which he outpointed favourite Dallas Des Pictons.

Rachael Blackmore, who tasted Festival success for the first time on A Plus Tard on Tuesday, became only the third lady rider to win a Grade 1 race at the meeting when 50/1 shot Minella Indo, trained by Henry de Bromhead, broke his maiden over hurdles in the Albert Bartlett.

Blackmore’s mount proved too strong up the hill for favourite Commander Of Fleet, one of three seconds yesterday for Gordon Elliott, who ended the week with three winners.

Elliott’s Coeur Sublime came off second best to Nicky Henderson’s Pentland Hill in the Triumph a result which clinched the leading rider award for Nico De Boinville, with three winners.

And the battle for the Prestbury Cup between Britain and Ireland ended level, 14 each, on a day when 71,816 attended Gold Cup day at Prestbury Park