Cheltenham Festival: Irish reign on St. Patrick’s Day but bookies real winners
As per Festival tradition, Thursday was St. Patrick’s Day at Cheltenham.
While the rest of the world waited another 24 hours, Irish trainers took five of the day’s seven races but not necessarily in the races or fashion expected.
While the bookies had taken a bit of a battering over the first two days with several short-odds winner, Thursday was a different story.
The day kicked off with the Turners Novices’ Chase over two-and-a-half miles and few expecting anything short of a walkover by Gordon Elliott’s Mighty Potter who went off an 8/11 favourite. He seemed to be outpaced on the home turn and a bad error two fences out left him with no chance of catching surprise winner Stage Star who provided a nice return for brave punters at 15/2.
Astonishingly, this was Nicholls’ first Festival win since 2020 and it looked at this stage like the Irish might be in trouble on this Cheltenham St. Patrick’s Day.
In the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at 14:10 the roles were reversed and David Pipe’s Thanksforthehelp was turned over by no less than 11 other runners and riders including Tony Martin’s Good Time Jonny, who was ridden expertly home by 5lb claimer Liam McKenna. 1-1.
The British’s day was rather perfectly surmised by proceedings in the 14:50 which saw Shishkin surprisingly overturned in the Ryanair Chase. It’s a race that has seen popular winners such as Allaho, Min, Frodon and Cue Card and few would have been more popular than Nicky Henderson’s horse. We went off at even-money after trading as short as 4/5 last week and many punters were surprised to see Nico De Boinville’s mount failing to settle early on in the race.
He never seemed particularly game and gave himself a mountain to climb after clattering the third last, almost unseating De Boinville in the process. The jockey did superbly well to stay on his mount and then muster something of a charge for home. He finished two-and-three-quarter lengths behind Envoi Allen who went off at 17/2 after some warm money throughout the day.
Envoi Allen and Rachael Blackmore made for an interesting partnership. It was Blackmore’s second victory this week and her horse’s third Festival gong. The horse has seldom looked the same since falling in the Novices’ Chase in 2021 but jumped serenely throughout the race. Blackmore was very smart throughout and never allowed Shishkin once he threatened to find a rhythm. She made sure to keep the favourite guessing by never being far away from his wing mirrors. 2-1.
Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle came next and favourite Teahupoo was awarded a silver medal after Dashel Drasher’s veering off course was deemed unfair by the stewards. Most surprisingly though was victory for Sire Du Berlais, Gordon Elliott’s second of the day. J P McManus’ 11-year-old went off at 33/1 but an expert ride by Mark Walsh guided him to a shock win to keep the bookies happy. 3-1.
Another 5lb claiming jockey won the 16:10. The Magners Plate Handicap Chase was won by Seddon who had Ben Harvey aboard. Stamullen-based trainer John McConnell had a winner in Dundalk on the all-weather barely an hour later to top a fine day. His starting price of 20/1 did punters no favours. 4-1.
The penultimate race of the day saw British trainers back in business. Sadly it wasn’t to be for punters as 6/4 favourite Luccia finished fourth. Victory instead went to Berkshire-based Jamie Snowden whose You Wear It Well made all to win the Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at 16/1, saddled by Gavin Sheehan. There were barely six lengths separating the top six in this race making it a fitting tribute to the late son of trainer Henry De Bromhead who tragically died in September in an accident at a pony racing event. 4-2.
The last race of the day saw favourite Stumptown go down by a neck to Angels Dawn out of Sam Curling’s yard in Tipperary. Stumptown looked to have got on top with 20 yards to go but Patrick King rallied his charge and got back up to win the Kim Muir Challenge Cup. 5-2.
