Cheltenham
LIZZIE KELLY, who sought help from a psychiatrist when struggling with self-doubt, showed that her mojo was back in steering Coo Star Sivola to victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase.
“I came here today and it was like I had grown up five years,” said Kelly, who was registering her first Festival winner.
“We all feel the pressure but 12 months ago – with Tea For Two falling in the Gold Cup and picking the wrong one in the Fred Winter – it was an educational year.”
Kelly had opted for Diable De Sivola, the fifth home, behind Flying Tiger who was also trained by her step-father Nick Williams, Coo Star Sivola’s trainer.
“After last year, I made my peace with never being a Cheltenham Festival winner and now I am,” she said. “I’m shocked and don’t really know what to say for the first time in my life!
“Coo Star Sivola has been crying out for three miles and fences, and he had it today.
“The people behind me are one in a million and I have several of them. My mum Jane has a hell of a part to play as one of the gang and so does Nick who, at 62, rides out this horse nearly every day.
“This time around, I was much more relaxed, and I had a dream ride. Coo Star Sivola travelled really well and jumped from fence to fence. He made a slight mistake coming down the hill and so he wasn’t travelling as well as he was before