IRELAND’S CONTINGENT VYING FOR A CLEAN SWEEP OF HONOURS

IRISH trainers, jockeys and owners are on track for a clean sweep of the honours board at the Cheltenham Festival. Gordon Elliott (six wins), Barry Geraghty (four) and JP McManus (six), who combined with Sire Du Berlais in the Pertemps Hurdle yesterday, are out in front ahead of today’s finale, which includes the Gold Cup. Elliott’s Cullentra House team are on fire after a 549/1 treble top yesterday thanks to Samcro (Marsh Chase), Sire Du Berlais and Milan Native (Kim Muir Chase).

But Willie Mullins wasn’t far behind with a timely double as Min took flight in the Ryanair Chase and Concertista claimed the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, a fifth straight win for Mullins in the race. ‘She hadn’t won a race since winning on the Flat in France in 2017 – I’m not sure who’s been training her. That’s a nice way to break the duck, anyway,’ said Mullins. Between them, Elliott and Mullins have chalked up nine wins, 11 seconds and eight thirds – and they’re not finished yet. Elliott, who now has 31 Festival winners, paid a heartfelt tribute to Apples Jade, who was retired after finishing eighth in the Stayers Hurdle behind 50/1 shock winner Lisnagar Oscar. Ridden by Richard Johnson, Apple’s Jade led the field a merry dance before tiring in the final stages. ‘She been the horse of a lifetime – she’s 11 Grade Ones won. She’s going to go to stud now. We’ve been lucky to train her,’ said Elliott. ‘She enjoyed herself today. The engine just isn’t as fast as it used to be. She owes us nothing.’ Eddie O’Leary of Gigginstown House saluted a marvellous

From Front of Pullout mare. ‘To beat the boys over two, two and a half and three miles is something very special – she was just fabulous,’ he said. Apple’s Jade won 15 of her 28 races in all, earning just under €1,000,000 in win and place prize-money. The attendance yesterday of 65,218 was over 2,500 down on 2019 and a bumper crowd is expected for Gold Cup today, despite the spread of the coronavirus. There were speculation that the final day of Cheltenham could be in doubt if the British government stepped up its attempt to delay the spread of the pandemic but it was announced before the last race there will be no ban on large public gatherings or sporting fixtures yet, so the meeting will be completed today. Elliott and Mullins go head to head in the Gold Cup as Delta Work attempts to de-throne the 2019 champion, Al Boum Photo. Mullins will need to win if he is to claw back the gap on Elliott and retain his leading trainers crown. Meanwhile, Tiger Roll was reported to be ‘a bit stiff’ but otherwise fine after his encouraging run to finish second in the Glenfarclas Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Gordon Elliott’s dual Grand National hero was a hot favourite on Wednesday to win the cross-country marathon for a third year in succession under Keith Donoghue – and claim a fifth Festival success overall. The 10-year-old proved no match for the hugely impressive French raider Easysland, and had to be dismounted shortly after the race – going straight back to the racecourse stables instead of heading for the winner’s enclosure. But speaking after Samcro’s thrilling success in yesterday’s Marsh Novices’ Chase, Elliott said: ‘Tiger Roll was grand this morning. He’s a bit stiff, but he’s okay. ‘He got very tired. Hopefully the next couple of weeks go well, and we get back to Aintree.’ Tiger Roll is a best priced 8-1 favourite to emulate the great Red Rum with a third Grand National success on April 4.