This year’s Cheltenham Festival has come and gone, presenting the UK with what is bound to be an emotional release considering the difficult times we still have in the year. The multi-day event, at all times probably the most anticipated races in the country, proved to be an enormous success, with Irish ace Minella Indo winning the Gold Cup to give Henry De Bromhead a hat-trick win.
De Bromhead also won the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase, taking the Gold Cup on the final day despite jockey Rachel Blackmore leading the charge over A Plus Tarde. The 31-year-old failed to become the first woman to win a Gold Cup but did capture the Outstanding Jackets Trophy with six wins.
Blackmore started the day with his sixth win, taking the JCB Triumph Hurdle with Quilixios. Kevin Sexton won his first Cheltenham Festival race, defeating all pursuers to claim the County Handicap Hurdle sitting in the Belfast Banter. Mark Walsh emerged victorious over Vanillier, having contested the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle.
Walsh replaced Jonathan Moore, who declared himself injured and withdrew to miss two major races.
Porlock Bay surprisingly won the Hunter’s Chase under the guidance of Lorcan Williams, Paul Townend won the first ever Mrs Paddy power Mares’ Chase aboard the Colreevy while the last race of the day went to Galopin Des Champs. Sean O’Keefe rode the latter victory in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.
“Sean just bided his time and gave him a really good ride,” said trainer Willie Mullins. “I put this horse in multiple handicaps and we divided it as best we could. We have two jockeys on the horse that we think have an opportunity. Gentleman De Mee was too interested, but he was certainly a fine horse.
Blackmore, meantime, earned acclaim from around the globe after pulling off six trophies during the Festival. While he was no stranger to racing fans before the recent event, he is likely to gain even more admirers after his performance, which nearly won him the Gold Cup.
The 31-year-old steered Honeysuckle to a big win in the Champion Hurdle before beating Bob Olinger en route to victory in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle. Blackmore also captured Sir Gerhard’s Champion Bumper, in addition to a win at Ryanair.
“I’ve been really overwhelmed with the last few days,” he said after winning his sixth trophy. “It’s all about the horse you ride, and that I feel so lucky to ride the people I ride. “I can not understand that I’m the front rider – it is a bit unreal.
“Getting credit from AP McCoy in the form of Ruby Walsh is crazy.”
“It was incredible what he did, tactically all week he was in the right place with so many horses,” said Ruby Walsh after the show. “The wider world will see him now to be what he wants to be, and that’s just a jockey.”
‘She’s class’ – AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh praise Rachael Blackmore after becoming the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle https://t.co/EkfbJ5DVfV pic.twitter.com/udc64ZpPVy
— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) March 17, 2021
As for Gold Cup winner De Bromhead, he could not believe he did it.
“I look back at the Gold Cup in disbelief, to be honest. I watched it back this morning and said ‘this is not happening,’” he said via Racing TV on Sunday.
“Minella Indo is holding on and I’m unsure we have seen half of her – she’s so tough.
“I haven’t really spoken to Barry (Maloney, owner) about plans, but Punchestown would be good if he looks good – I think we should consider Punchestown strongly.”
Minella and A Plus Tarde were able to run at Punchestown and the Grand National at Aintree, respectively. The Grand National, which comes first, is another famous race and betting sites throughout offer odds at the April event.
Cloth Cap is the current bookies favourite at 9/2. Any Second Now is 10/1 while Burrows Saint is 14/1.
“One question about A Plus Tard going into Cheltenham is he’s got a lot of class, is he going to get the last two furlongs? But he really did, to be honest – and wouldn’t he be a very impressive winner if ‘Indo’ wasn’t there?” Said De Bromhead in reference to Aintree’s running potential.
“Tard’s A Plus form is much better on left-handed tracks, so if he’s OK, we’re considering Aintree for him.”
The race calendar is for certain to heat up again on the back of a really worrying period. Horse racing fans can enjoy events remotely, with a number of sportsbooks offering free race streaming to people who have placed bets through their platforms. The Grand National, set for April 10, will be broadcast live on ITV.
