Western Daily Press (Saturday)
SOAKING UP A GOLDEN MOMENT
ASMILE, a glass in the air and a cheer – if ever the joy of Cheltenham Festival could be summed up in a picture, pop star Lilly Allen depicted it perfectly.
On a day the Irish reigned supreme, again, and the rain clouds opened, again, Gold Cup day at Prestbury Park more than lived up to expectations with the atmosphere and entertainment at a peak.
And while the Emerald Isle took first and second with 12/1-shot Al Boum Photo and Anibale Fly in the Gold Cup race, there was consolation for Gloucestershire-based trainer Nigel Twiston Davies with third-placed Bristol De Mai.
For winning Irish trainer Willie Mullins, from County Carlow, the race finally broke his long-time hoodoo.
Having won the Grand National and festival’s Champion Hurdle on several occasions, he believed he was never going to win the big race.
But following the race, holding back his joy, he said: “I’ve got used to the disappointment of finishing second. I sort of resigned myself to never winning a Gold Cup.
“Certain jockeys may never win the feature race of their lives, like the Grand National or the Champion Hurdle. I thought maybe I’m not going to be lucky.”
Mr Twiston-Davies had a word for those who might have written off Bristol De Mai.
He said: “The experts are the experts and I haven’t got a clue why they are experts. He was the joint top-rated in the race and he got beat, so maybe they are right He’s been very sound this year. When he ran in this two years ago he’d had problems, but he’s been fine this year.
“He’s just top class, not just at Haydock, anywhere – he’s just finished third in the Gold Cup.”
Watching on from the side lines was the usual array of celebrities and royals who braved the afternoon downpour to witness the festival’s spectacular grand finale. Zara and Mike Tindall made it four days in a row to join the crowds along with the Princess Anne, who presented winning jockey Pete Townsend with the Magners Chelten- ham Gold Cup Chase. Also there, trying to escape the rain, was former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond with his family. Carol Vorderman, former track cyclist Victoraia Pendleton and a triumphant Lilly Allen were also in attendance.
Worth mentioning too was 21-year-old Alec Davies. He was one of 12 students from the National Star college in Cheltenham to go to the races.
Due to struggling to cope with unfamiliar situations, he uses ‘now and next’ cards which include visual symbols to help him understand his daily routine. His tutors prepared a series of picture stories to help him
understand what it would be like at the races.
“Alec had prepared his bets in sessions by studying pictures of the horses from race cards and managed to win on his very first race a modest £7.50 from a £2 bet,” said his tutor Kayleigh Hunt.
“He cheered with the crowd and his peers as the horses ran passed the finishing post and circled at the end of the track. This was a major accomplishment for the 12 students, coping with the atmosphere, the amount of people and the change of routine.
“He has already asked to go next year.”