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Cheltenham 2021 - Review

The week belongs to Henry De Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore and Jack Kennedy. Minella Indo won the Gold Cup having lost the RSA on the line this time last year. Everyone loves a comeback story and this is one because following that defeat there was a fall at Leopardstown at Christmas and a very ordinary run in February. I thought he was very overrated and even though he fit the age range  (the last 3 winners of the race were 7 or 8 years old), I over looked him for Al Boum Photo. Funnily enough it had the feel of when Al Boum Photo won in 2019 because there wasn't a lot of talk about him. I still expected him to be beaten even when he flew the last but A Plus Tard couldn't run him down. He proved me and the doubters wrong today by adding the top prize in National Hunt racing to that narrow second last year and the Albert Bartlett two years ago. What a Cheltenham record! Fantastic for Jack Kennedy as well. He's had some week too - Black Tears beating the hot favourite Concertis
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Smiling Eliza in the places again at Leopardstown

Smiling Eliza was having her third run of the year already and was looking to continue her improvement following a third place finish (relegated to fourth) at Thurles last time. This was a step up in trip to 2m 2f in yet another highly competitive race. Mark Enright, again, had the ride and their relationship is starting to bloom going into the Spring. Again, Fish had her just off the front, where she likes to be, with only Sapphire Lady ahead of them. Eliza was a bit awkward over the first fence but she sorted that out and took the second beautifully. As they passed the stands, Augusta Gold joined her to dispute second and they started to stretch out as they turned onto the back straight. Eliza looked like she was starting to go backwards on the inside but it was just the head on camera angle and as they went over the last one on the back straight, Augusta Gold challenged for the lead from Sapphire Lady while Eliza held third on the inside. Soon, One First Cut moved alongside Eliza but Ruby Walsh on Cut The Mustard went past them both over the second last. As they went round the final bend, it was Augusta Gold and Cut The Mustard in the lead with last years winner Alletrix chasing them down until Sassy Diva, who had been patiently ridden by Donagh Meyler along the rail behind Eliza, was produced at just the right time. She flew the last and went past them all to win by two lengths. This is a horse who was only 3 lengths behind Honeysuckle and a short head behind Tintangle. Eliza was in a race for the final place with One First Cut who was ahead approaching the last but Eliza got back on terms as they went over it in the air together but Eliza ran on and saw off both One First Cut and the late finish of Hidden Dilemma.

The extra 2 furlongs seemed to suit her and looking at this run and the last one, she seems to be getting back into form. Hopefully there's another win in her. Everything is still crossed that she will get into Cheltenham but she owes us absolutely nothing and you wouldn't rule out seeing her out again before the Fred Winter Entries close at the end of the month.








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