CHELTENHAM REVIEW
Eight pages reflecting the thrilling action from the Festival
DAY 1 CHAMPION HURDLE
Rachael Blackmore made history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle – then said she hoped it would inspire others to follow their dreams.
Blackmore partnered the 11/10 favourite Honeysuckle, who becomes the sixth mare to win the most prestigious prize over hurdles. The seven-year-old never looked likely to be beaten and came home the comfortable six and a half length winner over Sharjah, who was runner-up for the second year in succession.
Blackmore said: “Honeysuckle was just incredible. She’s done everything I’ve wanted her to do throughout the race. When Goshen headed off and came back in, I was just slightly worried there, but she’s done everything I wanted her to do. I really just can’t believe it.
“Henry produces her every day in that kind of form for me to steer around, and it’s unbelievable. This is such a special race and I am just so thankful to be a part of her - it’s all about her. She’s unbeaten, and she’s improving. Her last run was her career best until today; she’s getting better all the time. It’s just phenomenal.
“It’s just so far removed from anything I ever thought could be possible, so maybe there’s a lesson in that for everyone out there.
ARKLE TROPHY
Shishkin recorded his second Festival when taking the Arkle Novices’ Chase by 12 lengths.
The Marie Donnelly-owned sevenyear-old landed the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle 12 months ago and was too good for his four rivals.
Trainer Nicky Henderson, winning the contest for a record seventh time, said: “He has got a high cruising speed and he was always able to sit on their tails and he came wide but he had plenty of horse from two out so he let him make his way home but he was impressive the way he came up the hill.
“How lucky can you be? We came through the great days when Sprinter Sacre won it, he came through then Altior followed him, who sadly can’t be here this week but having said that, though Altior hasn’t gone and he will be back, it is extraordinary to think you can find another one.
“He did today look as good as either of the other two. He has got a long way to go before he comes into the same breath but you couldn’t have asked him to do any more than that today. We were schooling him on Thursday and AP was with us and he was nearly hurdling these fences. He is very, very quick from A to B - it frightens you a little bit.”
SUPREME NOVICES HURDLE
Willie Mullins celebrated what he described as “more than a perfect start” as Appreciate It (8-11 Fav) coasted to an impressive 24-length victory in the opening Grade One Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
The Closutton trainer said of the seven year old’s victory: “It was more than a perfect start. I couldn’t believe that he won so easily. I couldn’t believe he was going so well.
“Things looked a bit tough rounding the last bend at Leopardstown and we wondered had he done his best work for the year there so we just got him home, freshened him up and he seems to have worked anyhow as he was just awesome there. I’d not been thinking about that (how he compared to other winners) but the way he finished the race today he looks as good as any of them.
“You would have to think it was a Vautour like performance. I know Vautour made all the running but the way that fellow strode up the hill was fantastic. At the start of the season I had him as a Ballymore horse and Albert Bartlett if that failed so here I am after winning two Grade Ones over two miles I’m probably the last guy to ask where I should go.”
Henry de Bromhead was very satisfied with the performance of runner-up Ballyadam.
He said: “We were delighted with the run. A mistake at the second last cost him a bit of ground and momentum, but other than that he ran well. He finished well, and just that mistake
took a bit of momentum sadly.
A further half-length away in third was 40-1 chance For Pleasure.
ULTIMA CHASE
Ryan Mania described his first ever Cheltenham Festival winner as “an unbelievable thrill” after partnering Vintage Clouds to victory in the Grade Three Ultima Handicap Chase at 28-1.
The Grand National-winning jockey retired from race riding in 2014 at the age of 25 but returned to the saddle in October 2019.
He and the 11 year old grey Vintage Clouds were always in a prominent position and at the finish had five and a half lengths to spare over 100-30 favourite Happygolucky. It was a 12th Festival success for owner Trevor Hemmings and second for trainer Sue Smith.
Mania: “It’s an unbelievable thrill. It’s a shame that my first Festival winner comes under these circumstances, but it truly doesn’t matter. It will be a very memorable day.
“I rode Vintage Clouds in this race last year and he made a fair bit of a noise coming down the hill. I said then he maybe needs a wind op, and he had a couple of runs this year and it became clear that he did need one.
“They sent him away for it, and, with the application of cheekpieces, it has just helped sharpen up his jumping. He used to spend quite a bit of time in the air, whereas today he was really slick over his fences, so they have really helped, the wind has helped, and luckily he has got his day today.”
CLOSE BROTHERS MARES’ HURDLE
A thrilling finish to the Grade One Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle saw 11-1 chance Black Tears snatch victory to deny 10-11 favourite Concertista by a head.
It was a first Cheltenham success for trainer Denise Foster, who was watching back in Ireland after taking over the Cullentra House stables only last week.
Lisa O’Neill, representing the yard, said: “Denise was the first one on the phone and she was absolutely over the moon as it was her first Cheltenham winner and hopefully it won’t be her last.
“Black Tears is a very genuine and consistent mare and this result is great for her owners Aidan and Caren Walsh and John Lightfoot as they have been brilliant supporters of Cullentra House. It is fantastic for them and the whole team here.
“I think Jack Kennedy gave her a great ride. He took the paint off the rail and rode her for a bit of luck. She was beaten just over two lengths in the Coral Cup last year so to get her head in front this is great.”
BOODLES FRED WINTER HURDLE
Jeff Kidder caused the biggest shock at The Festival since 100-1 chance Norton’s Coin landed the 1990 Cheltenham Gold Cup when he came home in front at 80-1 in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Despite a series of jumping errors he produced a strong finish to defeat 9-2 favourite Saint Sam.
Trainer Noel Meade said: “He is a stayer on the Flat and that’s what you need around Cheltenham. That is what he ended up doing, just outstaying them. I think the better ground helped as well.
“He won at Fairyhouse then we put in him a Grade Two at Leopard
stown over Christmas which was a very good race. He had been running on the Flat and he was a winner on the Flat so he was use to the hustle and bustle.
“He will run on the Flat again but we will look at another race over hurdles and we might go to Punchestown with him.”
DAY 2 CHAMPION CHASE
Put The Kettle On created history when becoming the first mare to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Racing prominently throughout with Aidan Coleman, she was headed approaching the second last but rallied gamely in the last 50 yards to take the honours.
The daughter of Stowaway won the Grade One Arkle Novices’ Chase in 2020 and becomes the 13th horse to win both races.
Trainer Henry de Bromhead said:
“She’s an incredible mare. I’m delighted for the Dermodys and the syndicate. Mary Dermody is the matriarch of it and it’s just brilliant. Stuff you dream about! She’s so tough and Aidan was just brilliant on her. He really asked at the last three fences, and it was probably the winning of the race.
“A couple of weeks ago she was a bit quiet and we freshened her up as much as we could, and she seemed much better, but she arrived here and was back to what we expected her to be doing; just crazy. She’s mad. I have to say, everyone at home but especially Andrea, who looks after her and puts up with her antics every day – it will be very special for her.
“Did we feel it, I don’t know, but mid-February I was probably leaning towards the mares’ chase, and then I spoke to the owners and we looked at the stats of the Arkle winners, which seemed ridiculous, and it’s her trip and she loves the Old Course, so we thought we’d give it a lash and see.
“It’s stuff you dream about doing – it’s crazy. We get such great support from our clients and have a great team at home; everyone has worked really hard, and it’s amazing to get rewarded like we are.”
Willie Mullins, trainer of third-placed 8-13 favourite Chacun Pour Soi, said: “I’m a little disappointed, I just thought he ran a little bit flat. It’s as simple as that.”
BALLYMORE NOVICES HURDLE
Henry de Bromhead hailed the “very exciting” Bob Olinger after watching him win the Ballymore Novices Hurdle with Rachael Blackmore and insisted: “He couldn’t have done it any better.”
The six-year-old justified 6-4 favouritism in the opening contest.
He travelled well throughout and never faced a serious threat as he came home seven and a half lengths
clear of the Willie Mullins-trained Gaillard du Mesnil.
De Bromhead said: “I’m delighted with him. Rachael was brilliant on him again, and he couldn't have done it any better. We were really happy with him; he’s a horse we’ve always liked, and he’s done very little wrong. He’s very exciting.
“I started the season aiming at the Supreme, but everyone persuaded me, quite rightly, to step up in trip. I was very hopeful beforehand, as ever, but it was a very good race and you never know on the day. He has so much pace, but seems to be able to quicken as well of any kind of pace, so I’m not sure what distance he will be best at in the end; you could go either way with him, and at least he saw that out well.
“We’ll get through his novice season this year before we think too much about the future. He’s built like a chaser and jumps like one, so we’d normally love going that way, but we’ll speak to the owners and see what they think, but we’ll enjoy today.”
BROWN ADVISORY CHASE
Willie Mullins described Monkfish’s victory in the Grade One Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase as “the most nerve-wracking race I’ve ever watched”.
The seven-year-old has earned himself quotes of 9-2 for next year’s Gold Cup after winning at the Festival for a second successive year, following his victory in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ hurdle 12 months ago.
But Mullins, who was winning the race for a record fifth time, admitted it was a far from comfortable watch and attributed a small field to the lack of concentration his 1-4 favourite showed as the race unfolded.
Despite a mistake at the last, Monkfish came home a comfortable six and a half lengths clear of Fiddlerintheroof. And Mullins said: “I think it’s the most nerve-wracking race I’ve ever watched – 1-4 on in a three mile chase around Cheltenham is not great for the ticker, especially the way he jumped the last as he did.
“Chatting to (jockey) Paul Townend he said he was idling on the first circuit as he was watching the Jeep with the camera and the men at the hurdles and the fences, anything bar concentrate on his jumping. He was just idling and not concentrating.”
CORAL CUP
Trainer Paul Hennessy and jockey Richard Condon were given a guard of honour by their Irish peers after Heaven Help Us gave them both their first ever winner at the Festival when taking the Grade Three Coral Cup.
Hennessy is a greyhound trainer by trade with 40 dogs and has just three horses in training, while Condon is a
7lb claimer who was having his first ever ride at Cheltenham.
Irish colleagues emerged from the weighing room to give the popular duo a guard of honour as they returned from the track to the winner’s enclosure to ensure them a moment they will never forget.
Heaven Help Us was returned at
33-1, the joint longest-priced winner in the history of the 2m 5f contest, but there was no fluke about the victory as the Yeats mare scored by nine lengths.
Hennessy described her as “my Enable”. He said: “We took a chance, and wasn’t Richie brilliant? He’s never ridden round here before and he just took the race by the scruff of the neck. I said to him, ‘Richie, jump around and stay out of trouble – she will either stay or she won’t, and we think she’ll stay it’. She’s just amazing, I can’t describe her.
“We bred her, she was born at home and I’ve raised her. The places she’s brought us are just ridiculous. It’s amazing. There she goes, she’s my Enable.”
CROSS COUNTRY CHASE
Tiger Roll etched his name in the record books by becoming only the third horse in history to win five or more races at the Festival.
The 11-year-old ran out a convincing winner of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, having previously won the same contest in 2018 and 2019 as well as the National Hunt Chase in 2017 and the JCB Triumph Hurdle in 2014.
He sauntered to an 18-length victory over his conqueror 12 months ago and evens favourite Easysland.
The only other horses to win five or more Festival races are Golden Miller, successful in five Cheltenham Gold Cups between 1932 and 1936, and Quevega, who won the Mares’ Hurdle six times between 2009 and 2014.
Lisa O’Neill, representing winning trainer Denise Foster said: “He is a sensation and words cannot describe what he is. He means so much to the team back home. I think some people may have lost a bit of faith in his last few runs during this season but we retained all the faith in him as we knew he still had plenty of fire in his belly and he showed that today.”
It’s just a shame that we won’t see him in the Grand National and he may run on the Mildmay course instead at Aintree this month.
GRAND ANNUAL CHASE
Trainer Jonjo O’Neill was vindicated in his decision to swerve the Arkle with Sky Pirate as the eight-year-old landed the Grand Annual Handicap Chase.
The 14-1 chance held on from the fast-finishing Entoucas to score by a short-head and O’Neill, who was celebrating his 27th Festival winner, was quick to praise jockey Nick Scholfield.
He said: “It was great and Nick gave him a fantastic ride really. He jumped really quick and slick and everything went right. He likes it here. He stays further but he is much better in a fast gallop over two miles.”
CHAMPION BUMPER
Sir Gerhard gave trainer Willie Mullins an 11th victory in the Champion Bumper.
The six-year-old denied stablemate and 10-11 favourite Kilcruit by half a length as Rachael Blackmore struck again.
It was also the third winner of the 2021 Festival for Willie Mullins and he headed the standings for Leading Trainer on account of having more placed horses than Henry de Bromhead.
The Cheveley Park Stud-owned Sir Gerhard joined the Mullins team only earlier this month and the Closutton trainer said: “He looks to be a natural. He has a huge long stride.
“Rachael let him enjoy himself. He
was lugging about and he was still a bit green but he has a huge amount of natural ability. He is a fine, big, rangy individual that should be made for jumping fences at some stage.”
DAY 3 STAYERS’ HURDLE
Jockey Danny Mullins proved to be a last minute super-sub as Flooring Porter won the Grade One Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle by an impressive three and a quarter lengths.
It was a second Festival winner for trainer Gavin Cromwell following Espoir d’Allen in the 2019 Unibet Champion Hurdle and a first for jockey Mullins, who only came in for the ride following Jonathan Moore’s decision to stand himself down.
Cromwell said: “It’s all down to Johnny’s instructions – he’s a quirky ride and Johnny gave Danny plenty of instructions. Hats off to him; so unselfish. I’m very grateful to him.”
“He is owned by a syndicate from Galway. Ned Hogarty fronts it up and they’re a great bunch of lads. It’s an awful pity they can’t be here. Ned owns a carpet shop and one of the other guys owns a pub, hence the name Flooring Porter.”
Emma Lavelle, trainer of thirdplaced Paisley Park, the 9-4 favourite and winner of this race in 2019 said: “I’m really pleased with him although I can’t say I’m not disappointed as well because at the end of the day we didn’t win.”
RYANAIR CHASE
Willie Mullins admitted he was “gobsmacked” by the front-running performance of Allaho as he cruised to a 12-length victory in the Ryanair Chase, giving jockey Rachael Blackmore her fourth Grade One success of the week.
Fakir D’Oudairies was second with Tornado Flyer in third.
Blackmore said: “It’s incredible! I’m very grateful to be getting these opportunities. He put in a fair performance; he jumped and galloped everywhere. I never felt like I was out of my comfort zone anywhere. It was fantastic.
“I was happy to let my lad gallop and jump and it worked today. He was happy travelling underneath me and comfortable in front. When they aren’t comfortable and you are forcing them, that’s when you are maybe going too quick.
“When you are riding for two powerful stables it makes a jockey’s job a lot easier, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am to be in this position and be getting these types of chances. You have to have the engine underneath you – it’s very hard to do it up that hill without the engine.
“How would I describe this week? Out of this world.”
MARSH CHASE
Nico de Boinville insisted “never discount Nicky Henderson” after helping to deliver the trainer’s 70th career victory at the Festival as Chantry House won the Marsh Novices’ Chase.
Much of the build-up to the Grade One race had been devoted to the 4-9 favourite, Envoi Allen, but after he and jockey Jack Kennedy parted company at the fourth fence it was left to Dan Skelton’s Shan Blue to press on.
However, it was 9-1 chance Chantry House with De Boinville on board who quickened in the closing stages, jumping the last ahead of stablemate Fusil Raffles before securing a three-length victory. Henderson said: “He was very good, although last year in the Supreme we knew he really wanted another another half a mile, today when he got the extra half it looked as though he wanted another half.
“You’d have to think he might be going over three miles sooner rather than later. I don’t see why not – it depends on how quickly they recover from these races as to whether he can go on to Aintree – but it looks as though he will be looking for three miles. He was about in top gear all the way, but when he got there he did it well and he quickened up well. We’ve got a lot of debriefing to do, but it looks as though three miles would help him.”
PERTEMPS FINAL
Mrs Milner continued the tremendous week for mares at this year’s Festival as she took the Grade Three Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle by five lengths. The Bosses Oscar was second with Come On Teddy third.
Trainer Paul Nolan was enjoying a third Festival victory and his first for a decade, while jockey Bryan Cooper was celebrating a ninth Festival success and his first since 2017.
Cooper said: “It’s great. I can tell you it’s been a lonely couple of years walking out of this place without any winners when you get used to riding them.
“I had her grand early doors and she was jumping well, but I missed the third last and it just got a bit crowded and I just had to sit and suffer. I knew I had a bit of pace, so if I did get knocked back a pace or two, I would get there easy enough.”
PADDY POWER PLATE
Trainer Emmet Mullins praised The Shunter after he claimed his second major handicap at Cheltenham this season when landing the Grade Three Paddy Power Plate Handicap Chase.
The eight-year-old had previously landed the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle and hands connections a
£100,000 bonus, having taken the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on his last run.
It was a first Festival victory for both trainer Emmet Mullins and jockey Jordan Gainford .
Mullins said: “He was very good today. He’s tough and durable; there doesn’t seem to be anything fazing him. It’s probably no great reflection on me, but at the time I thought he had to go for a beginners’ chase at Punchestown for horses rated 116 or less over hurdles.
“I wasn’t sure he’d be able to manage a normal beginners’ chase at that time of year, and to have come from there to here is an unbelievable journey.
“Jordan is catching everyone in Ireland’s eye at the moment. He’s very talented and the owner, Paul, was fairly insistent on claiming 7lb, and at that Jordan was the only option. He’s very good and he showed that here today.”
MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE
Rachael Blackmore admitted she was “overwhelmed” after claiming another winner aboard Telmesomethinggirl in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
The daughter of Stowaway came home five and a half lengths clear of stable companion Magic Daze to give owner Kenny Alexander a second win in three days, after Honeysuckle’s victory in Tuesday’s Unibet Champion Hurdle.
Blackmore said: “This is overwhelming to be honest. Henry De Bromhead has done an unbelievable job with her, he always thought a lot of her and she showed it today. She’s got speed as well as anything else, jumped brilliant everywhere and settled better than she has done before, so incredible.”
KIM MUIR CHASE
Jockey Jack Kennedy admitted he thought his chances of victory on Mount Ida had “gone out of the window” after just four fences of the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase before the 3-1 favourite eased to a six and a half length victory.
Taking the lead two from home, the seven-year-old mare stayed on resolutely to score comfortably, but Kennedy was not always so confident. He explained: “She wasn’t jumping or travelling early on but she warmed into it lovely and she was doing her best work at the finish.
“I had planned for it to go a bit smoother during the early part of the race but I was left in the position I was left in and I just had to make my way through what I could from there. Luckily I had a willing partner.”
DAY 4 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
Minello Indo’s victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup etched Henry de Bromhead’s name into the history books, as the trainer became the first ever to win the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same year.
Afterwards he admitted his celebrations would be restricted, with a ferry journey and five days in quarantine ahead of him.
De Bromhead said he felt like he was still dreaming and explained: “I think I’m still in the hotel - it’s Monday night and it is the start of the week and nothing has happened as of yet, it's mad!
“I keep saying it’s amazing but it genuinely is. I was looking at him (Al Boum Photo) thinking he is going to stay on. Jack was brilliant on Indo. He is just such a tough horse. To see him pricking his ears after the second
last was great, but it is all down to the crew at home and here.
“We had the mishap at Christmas and then he wasn’t as good in the Irish Gold Cup but we wanted to get a clear round that day and Rachael rode him brilliantly but it has all come together here it’s fantastic.”
Jack Kennedy wept tears of joy after winning and admitted: “This is the best day of my life.”
The 21 year old, who has broken his leg four times , landed the most prestigious prize in Jump Racing as Minella Indo fought off stablemate A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore to win by one and a quarter lengths.
And he said: “You dream about winning those sorts of races when you’re a child. I had gone down to school Minella Indo at Henry’s, and a few of the lads in the yard were keen on him, so I was fairly confident going out on him. I suppose the fact that Rachael picked A Plus Tard probably took the pressure off, as well.
“I had to switch in and out a couple of times during the race because I wanted to get my lad a clear view of his fences without going too wide at the same time. It went very smoothly; he travelled and jumped great and there wasn’t really any point in the race that I wasn’t happy.
“I was left in front very soon though and he pricked his ears after the last, but when A Plus Tard came to him he went on again. I suppose turning into the straight I knew it was going to take something fairly good to beat him, and although I was there too soon I didn’t want to disappoint him by taking him back and waiting a bit longer with him. I was very confident the whole way.
“This is massive - I can’t believe it’s after happening, to be honest, and I was emotional about it. It means the world to me.
TRIUMPH HURDLE
Quilixios handed Rachael Blackmore her sixth victory of the week in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, which immediately prompted quotes of 12-1 for next year’s Champion Hurdle.
Blackmore said: “Henry has only had this horse a very short space of time, so all the work was done for him by everyone at Cullentra Stables, so it’s all thanks to their work really. Henry just had to get him here on the boat, so big thanks to all of them.
“My parents are getting a great kick out of it, so it’s brilliant. They would have loved to have been here today, like a lot of people, but I’m just happy I’m here and that these horses are here.
“The race was straightforward, he knows his job. We got a nice tow into it and I was able to pick it up then after the second last. From watching him and talking to Jack Kennedy, I knew he would stay very well and he did that up the hill.
“I didn’t think we went a mad gallop, but I was comfortable enough where I was. I could kind of feel where people were. When we turned to go down the hill he ran in my hands a little bit, he got a little bit lit up there, but he came back then on the climb again. I would say he’s a very nice horse for the future.”
COUNTY HURDLE
Jockey Kevin Sexton landed his first ever victory at the Festival with 33-1 chance Belfast Banter – then thanked his girlfriend for persuading him to return to racing two years ago.
Speaking after victory in the County Handicap Hurdle, Sexton revealed he quit race riding and had planned to live in the USA until being talked out of it. He said: “I am in shock. I couldn’t believe it when I pulled up. I finished second here a couple of years ago, beaten by one of my best friends in a photo-finish, and I never thought I’d get a chance like that again.
“I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with this horse. He tends to finish second a lot, and he’s obviously been minding his mark for today! He had a light weight and we gave him a big chance first time in a handicap with a light weight, and I thought if he finished in the middle of them or in the first five I’d be delighted, and that’s kind of the way Peter Fahey told me to ride him.
“But he did everything I asked of him and I got a nice run through for a County Hurdle - I’ve never ridden in one before, but from what I’ve heard they are very messy - and he just jumped and travelled, and kind of took me everywhere.”
ALBERT BARTLETT
Vanillier handed trainer Gavin Cromwell his second victory at this year’s Festival, taking the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
The six-year-old was partnered by Mark Walsh, deputising for the injured Jonathan Moore who also missed Flooring Porter’s victory in the Stayers’ Hurdle. Cromwell said: “I wasn’t sure how he was going to act on that better ground; he’s been running on heavy ground in Ireland all year, and he’s quite a slow horse, but Mark [Walsh] said he travelled with loads of enthusiasm today. He lined him up good and handy, because we thought he might struggle to travel early, but he showed an extra gear there that he hasn’t shown before, and we know he stays really well.
“He’s more than likely going to go straight to chasing next year. He’s a proper staying chaser.”
CHALLENGE CUP HUNTER CHASE
Porlock Bay scored by a short head in the St James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase. It was a first Festival success for jockey Lorcan Williams and trainer Will Biddick, although the latter did partner Something Wells to victory in 2009 in what is now the Paddy Power Plate. Biddick would ordinarily have been in the saddle today but is unable to ride due to COVID-19 regulations.
Biddick said: “I just can’t tell you what’s gone through my body in the last five minutes. I was in bits watching that. I was running up the side of the course with Lorcan, just screaming and I was in tears, I was a right softy.
“I’m so glad for Lorcan and John Studd the owner. It’s not just me, it’s a big team in the yard and a lot of boxes to be ticked to get here today. I’m in pieces right now!”
MARES CHASE
Willie Mullins watched Colreevy and stablemate Elimay secure a one-two in the inaugural staging of the Grade Two Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase before admitting he was relieved after some disappointing performances from his horses on the final day.
The contest, staged over an extended two and a half miles, saw Colreevy hold off the strong challenge of the JP McManus-owned Elimay by half a length.
And Mullins said: “A good few of mine disappointed today and we were just getting a little worried, so at least these two showed their form. Colreevy was very brave, they are two brave mares to do what they did.
“They ran their hearts out. Two really good jumpers and both jockeys wanted to make use of that and did.”
MARTIN PIPE HURDLE
The Festival concluded with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, which saw Galopin des Champs hold off the challenge of Langer Dan by two and a quarter lengths.
It was a sixth win of the week for trainer Willie Mullins, enough to secure the Leading Trainer Award for an eighth time, narrowly defeating Henry de Bromhead who also trained six winners but had fewer placed horses.
It was a first Festival winner for jockey Sean O’Keeffe and Willie
Mullins said: “He got away early, saw that our other horse was in front and slotted Gallopin Des Champs in about fourth place and he bided his time to hope that it would open up for him. He waited and waited which is a real sign of a good pilot in the making.
“Gentleman De Mee just ran too free but he is a good horse. Gallopin Des Champs looks a real chaser in the making.”
TOP TRAINER
Willie Mullins claimed the Leading Trainer Award for an eighth time with victory in the very last of the 28 races.
He finished the meeting on six winners, the same as Henry de Bromhead, but took the Award on placed horses.
He said: “We had a lot of placed horses, seven seconds and five thirds and one or two fell that were going to be second as well. We’ve not had anything I felt should have won - I think the results were the results and that is where we are.”
Trainer 1st 2nd 3rd Willie Mullins IRE 6 7 5 Henry de Bromhead IRE 6 3 1 Denise Foster IRE 3 4 2 Nicky Henderson 2 2 2 Gavin Cromwell IRE 2 - -
TOP JOCKEY
Rachael Blackmore named her Champion Hurdle victory on Honeysuckle as her highlight of the week after becoming the first female rider to win the Leading Jockey award. The 31 year old rode six winners over the four days, including five Grade Ones.
Jockey 1st 2nd 3rd Rachael Blackmore 6 1 1 Jack Kennedy 4 2 1 Paul Townend 3 6 4 Nico de Boinville 2 - Mark Walsh 1 4 1