The Shunter bags £100k bonus after following up Morebattle win at Kelso
The Shunter won a £100,000 bonus for his connections when beating 20 rivals in the Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival yesterday.
The Emmet Mullinstrained eight-year-old scooped the windfall with a convincing display in the competitive two-and-a-halfmile affair.
Mullins selected this race from five engagements for The Shunter, who qualified for a crack at the money after landing the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso.
Thecountycarlowhandler put faith in 7lb claimer Jordan Gainford to do the steering and he showed no pressure as he guided the wellbacked 9-4 favourite to victory.
Gainford had The Shunter with the leaders throughout before he went for glory at the second-last fence. He kept on strongly up the hill to win by three lengths from Farclas. Top Notch was three and a quarter lengths back in third, with Coole Cody a head away in fourth.
Gainford said: "It's unbelievable, something you can't describe and it's a feeling I've never had before.
"Emmet said to jump off smart and if they weren't going hard enough to be positive but we shouldn't have that problem. He thought the step up in trip would suit. He tends to do his own little thing so going to the last I let him pop then he battled hard from the last.
"I spoke to Davy Russell through the week and he filled me with confidence and I must thank Barry O'neill (champion amateur jockey) and Colin Bowe (leading point-to-point trainer). I didn't know I'd got the ride until declaration time so I owe my agent Gary Cribbin a lot. I'm 20 and ride for Colin three days a week and at Cullentra House three times a week."
Mullins said: "It is probably nogreatreflectiononme,but at the time I thought he had to go for a beginners' chase at Punchestown in September. To go from there, via the Greatwood and Kelso, it's been an unbelievable journey.
"We booked Jordan because he's catching everyone's attention, the owner was fairly insistent on claiming 7lb and at that Jordan was the only option. He showed why today.
"We went to Kelso as I thought it would be easier on the horse than the County Hurdle here, and Kelso was a huge pot in its own right.
"We got that one right and it's just fallen into place since. You wouldn't know how far he could go, what we see on the track is as wise as I can be, he doesn't set the world alight at home but we don't ask him to do much, the less the better. I wouldn't know what's next, we haven't thought beyond this, but I'm sure his owner will pull another rabbit out of the hat."
Chantry House took the Marsh Novices' Chase after Envoi Allen's untimely and unexpected early exit in the opening race of the day.
All eyes had been on Envoi Allen and there was a real sense of anti-climax when the 4-9 favourite came down at the fourth fence, leaving his jockey Jack Kennedy disconsolate.
It was trainer Nicky Henderson who was the beneficiary, saddling the 9-1 winner Chantry House, ridden by Nico de Boinville, as well as the runner-up Fusil Raffles for good measure.