What a week and this week at Cheltenham, this year, belongs to Willie Mullins who finally, after being runner up six times, landed the Cheltenham Gold Cup. I’m sure he has very mixed emotions as he also lost Invitation Only in the race after losing Ballyward on the first day.
The final day got off to a very sad start as Sir Erec, the Irish banker of the week, also lost his life when he pulled up with a terrible looking leg injury in the Triumph Hurdle. The race had been delayed so he could be re-shoed down at the start and when it finally got going he seemed to be absolutely cruising before he came to a sudden stop. Pentland Hills went on to win for Nicky Henderson and Nico DeBoinville with Coeur Sublime a gallant second and the other O’Brien horse Gardens Of Babylon running on for third. The favourite not winning the first sort of set the tone for the day as only one of the favourites won. Whiskey Sour for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins went off favourites in the next but could only finish fourth to Dan Skeltons Ch’tibello, We Have A Dream ran a good race in second. Then it was Commander Of Fleet’s turn to let down the masses. He could only finish second to Rachael Blackmore on 50/1 Minella Indo. I don’t think Davy Russell or Jack Kennedy had a winner between them all week.
And so to the Gold Cup. It was definitely far busier at the course today. Whereas every other day you could get a spot in the stands two minutes before the race, today you couldn’t even get near the stands never mind in them. I ended up in the Head On Viewers Stand behind the finish line for the big one, not sure why it wasn’t full all day but punters were able to come and go from there and still have a seat for a race. There was plenty of rain in the morning so Native River was being touted to reclaim his crown. Presenting Percy went off the favourite with Clan Des Obeaux next and then Native River. My pick was Kemboy but his race was over almost immediately as he unseated David Mullins after the first. Last years favourite Might Bite led as another Mullins horse, Bellshill with Ruby Walsh onboard, was making all sorts of mistakes and had to be pulled up at the ninth then there was more drama at the tenth when Invitation Only fell and brought down Definitely Red. Native River moved alongside Might Bite and last years one and two renewed their battle out at the front with Clan Des Obeaux and Elegant Escape sitting quietly behind them. Presenting Percy was held at the rear of the field but started making a move. Elegant Escape started to fade early with Al Boum Photo replacing him in fourth. As they came down the hill, it was Al Boum Photo and Bristol De Mai, the horses that no one had spoken about in the build up to this Gold Cup, who were looming large behind Might Bite, Native River and Clan Des Obeaux but still no sign of Presenting Percy. Might Bite was bumped as they rounded the final bend and weakened quickly. Bristol De Mai came through and so did Anibale Fly. The favourite Presenting Percy tried to go on the outside, Elegant Escape rallied again and Shattered Love tried to get involved. Native River was still there but Al Boum Photo was catching him and breezed passed him before two out. Clan Des Obeaux tried to go but couldn’t. Bristol De Mai looked the only threat to a first Willie Mullins Gold Cup win. Al Boum Photo didn’t jump the second last that well but he kept going and Paul Townend took his time going over the last and then he just went away from Bristol De Mai as Anibale Fly came through like a train to take second but it was all about Al Boum Photo and Willie Mullins first ever Gold Cup after so many near things down the years. I have to say there was a stunned silence in the huge crowd when everyone realised it wasn’t gonna be one of the favourites winning this years Gold Cup but personally I’m delighted to have witnessed Willie Mullins win his first one.
The Foxhunters was my only win of the day. Hazel Hill ended up going off as favourite and he justified that by coming through and negotiating a loose horse when he took the lead before the last and then had to sidestep the loose horse again on landing. Great ride from Alex Edwards. Croco Bay won the Grand Annual Challenge at 66/1 and maybe poignantly after how the day began, Joseph O’Brien trained Early Doors beat another favourite Dallas Des Pictons in the Martin Pipe.
And so the flag goes down for the end of another Cheltenham Festival. This one was different because I was at this one. So many highlights including watching The King Of Cheltenham, Ruby Walsh win the first of the festival, Espoir D'Allen upsetting the apple cart, Benie des Dieux doing an Annie Power, Altior imperious, Tiger Roll relentless, City Island, Topofthegame, William Henry and Wicklow Brave, Band Of Outlaws, Envoi Allen, Defi Du Seuil, Frodon, Paisley Park, Sam Spinner and Faugheen, Siruh DuLac and Janika, Bryony, Rachael, Lizzie, Barry, Nico, Noel, Paul Townend, Willie Mullins and Al Boum Photo - to mention a few.
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