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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
John Brewin, with Greg Wood and Barry Glendenning at Cheltenham

Cheltenham Festival: A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore win Gold Cup – as it happened

Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup
Rachael Blackmore celebrates victory on A Plus Tard in the Gold Cup.
Rachael Blackmore celebrates victory on A Plus Tard in the Gold Cup. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

That’s it for another year. That’s 28 races done, just about all high quality as the people came back to Cheltenham. Some big stories, some fantastic rides, some great weather, some very bad weather but, and like last year, and despite the dominance of Willie Mullins, it’s Rachael Blackmore who rules again. A perfect ride on A Plus Tard to take the Gold Cup and write herself further into history.

Updated

All Friday's winners

  • 1.30pm - Triumph Hurdle Vauban (Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
  • 2:10pm - County Hurdle State Man (Paul Townend/Willie Mullins)
  • 2:50pm - Novices’ Hurdle The Nice Guy (Sean O’Keefe/Willie Mullins)
  • 3.30pm - Gold Cup Chase A Plus Tard (Rachael Blackmore/Henry de Bromhead)
  • 4.10pm - Hunters’ Chase Billaway (PW Mullins/Willie Mullins)
  • 4.50pm - Mares’ Chase Elimay (Mark Walsh/Willie Mullins)
  • 5.30pm - Conditional Handicap Hurdle Banbridge (Martin McDonagh/Joseph O’Brien)

The stats that matter from this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

5.30 Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle - result

  • 1. Banbridge (Martin McDonagh) 12/1
  • 2. Cobblers Dream (Jack Andrews) 12/1
  • 3. Hollow Games (Jordan Gainford) 9/2
  • 4. Freedom To Dream (Liam Harrison) 20/1
  • 23 ran

The good news is that the two young jockeys who went down are both OK, and there was a fall amid a large field. The winning jockey on Banbridge was Martin McDonagh, who carries seven pounds. Cobblers Dream got there but ran out of petrol at the last. “It’s fantastic to win here, it’s been a long week,” says a bespectacled Joseph O’Brien.

Updated

5.30pm Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle

So then, the lucky last, the get out of jail stakes, though if you are relying on a conditional jockeys’ race to bail yourself out it’s not been a good festival. Off we go for the final time, after a slight delay in which the rowdy crowd as singing “please don’t take me home”. Shades of darts at Ally Pally. Cheltenham town centre will be absolute carnage tonight, that’s for sure. Another delay, as “shall we sing a song for you” is heard, and a huge roar goes up. Two fall at the second, including Langer Dan with Grand Jury gone too, that’s the favourite gone. Bigz Belief, the outsider, is an early leader, while Banbridge is handy. Decimation goes down, and takes down Lucky Max and it looked very nasty just ahead of the stands and into the back straight. Bigz Belief running a big race up ahead, as they head up the hill. Loose horses aplenty. Bambridge in second place, as Hollow Games goes wide. Adamantly Chosen goes round the outside. Banbridge and Cobblers’ Dream go for it. And Banbridge takes it for Ireland, a clean sweep on the day. All seven. Ireland 18-10 Team GB. That was a winner for Joseph O’Brien, with Hollow Games in third.

Banbridge wins the Conditional Jockeys Hurdle.
Banbridge wins the Conditional Jockeys Hurdle. Photograph: Steven Cargill/racingfotos.com/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

The jockey, Sam Coltherd, took a heavy fall in that mares’ chase and has been taken to the medical room, after Maid O’Malley came down. Fingers crossed for him.

5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle odds

  • Hollow Games – 11/2
  • Langer Dan – 6/1
  • Adamantly Chosen – 6/1
  • Five O’Clock – 17/2
  • Chemical Energy – 14/1
  • Banbridge – 14/1
  • The Goffer – 14/1
  • Cobblers Dream – 14/1
  • Freedom to Dream – 16/1
  • He’s a Hardy Bloke – 22/1
  • A Connect – 33/1
  • Ilikedwayurthinkin – 33/1
  • Grand Jury – 25/1
  • Decimation – 33/1
  • Au Fleuron – 33/1
  • BAR – 40/1
  • Latest odds at Oddschecker

5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle preview

What now seems firmly established as the Festival’s “getting out” race has most seen the punters digging themselves an even deeper hole in recent years, with no winning favourite since Sir Des Champs, who turned out to be a multiple Grade One winner over fences, back in 2011. That’s what you get for chasing your losses – something that no responsible journalist could ever advocate – but it’s 362 days until our next chance to back a winner at the Festival and so a small each-way interest on something at a big price is probably in order. The one that caught my eye yesterday in the search for a likely outsider was Noel Meade’s Hes A Hardy Bloke, who ran an eyecatching race at the Dublin Racing Festival and is trying this trip for the first time. He was priced up at 33-1 yesterday afternoon and has since been backed down to 16-1, which is encouraging but also makes me feel like the boat may have been missed. Among the favourites, Langer Dan will be popular as his close second behind Galopin Des Champs 12 months ago has been franked in no uncertain terms by the winner’s subsequent exploits. Hollow Games is also a springer in the market for Gordon Elliott, but wherever your money ends up in – if, indeed, it ends up anywhere at all – I hope you’ll be ending the week in high spirits, and if you’re not actually in front then you’re not too far behind either.

Mark Walsh, the winning jockey on Elimay in that mares’ race, says to Racing TV: “I had to give a squeeze and got us to the line. She stuck her head and took it to the line. There’s a lot of lads inside with two winners. Everything’s run well.

4.50pm Mares' Chase result

  • 1. Elimay (Mark Walsh 9/4
  • 2. Pink Legend (Charlie Deutsch) 33/1
  • 3. Scarlet And Dove ( (Bryan Cooper) 28/1
  • 8 ran

Updated

That was a tenth Mullins win, a fifth of the day, and in the last, the assistant trainer, David Casey, once a good rider himself, suggests Adamantly Chosen can win the last. Some of the bookmakers must have headed for the hills by now. Mark Walsh, a rider with a big reputation in Ireland, adds to his reputation as an expert negotiator of the Cheltenham pitfalls.

Updated

4.50pm Mares Chase

Elimay starts off strongly but drops back as Zambella looks keen in front, and Elimay is slow to jump. Mount Ida is the back marker as they pass the stands. Zamella leads Maid O’Malley with Elimay sat in third. Paul Townend sits quiet on Concertista only for her to make a mistake, but keeps her place. As the field climbs, it’s still Zambella but Maid O’Malley joins them. Vienna Court creeps up. Concertista makes a mistake three from home as Townend has to set to work. Maid O’malley goes down to stop Vienna Court’s progress, and Elimay, who came second last year, wins and that makes it ten for Willie Mullins, as Mark Walsh plugs her home ahead of Venetia Williams’ Pink Legend. A thrilling finish but it ends in the usual way, a win for Willie Mullins and Elimay.

Elimay wins the Mares Chase.
Elimay wins the Mares Chase. Photograph: Steven Cargill/racingfotos.com/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

4.50pm Mares Chase odds

  • Elimay – 9/4
  • Mount Ida – 5/2
  • Concertista – 5/2
  • Zambella – 11/1
  • Vienna Court – 16/1
  • Scarlet and Dove – 33/1
  • Pink Legend – 33/1
  • Maid O’Malley – 150/1
  • Latest odds at Oddschecker

Willie Mullins celebrated his latest, ninth success of the 2022 festival in the Hunters’ Chase, ridden by his son, Patrick, and he spoke to the BBC.

The horse is just so lazy but Patrick obviously had faith in him. We’ve been waiting for this day for three years - it is terrific. Patrick never gave up. He has confidence in him, but maybe he was a little bit over confident today. It is Rachael’s afternoon today, but we’re delighted too. We had a fair bit of luck there!

Patrick Mullins, speaking to Racing TV. “Halfway up the line I could see Barry’s horse wasn’t going forward again. I’ve been on the wrong side of photo finishes the last couple of years so it’s so good to be on the right side of one.”

4.50pm Mares’ Chase preview

The second running of this Grade Two contest, which produced a thrilling finish 12 months ago as Colreevy got up in the final 50 yards to beat Elimay, the likely favourite today. She is one of just three runners at single-figure odds and with Concertista giving weight to the other two, Elimay and Mount Ida, who took the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir here last year, are probably the ones to focus on. Mount Ida actually gave Elimay 3lb and a half-length beating at Fairyhouse earlier this season, but she has a well-known tendency to jump to her right, which can be a big issue around a left-handed track like Cheltenham. She got away with it 12 months ago but this is a different test and Elimay is probably the way to go.

4.10pm Hunters’ Chase result

  • 1 Billaway (Mr P W Mullins) 13-8 Fav
  • 2 Winged Leader (Mr B O’Neill) 9-2
  • 3 Mighty Stowaway (Mr J J Codd) 33-1
  • 19 ran

Updated

That’s nine for Willie Mullins, just look at that roll of honour.

On ITV, an Irish bookmaker has just said, “We’re gone.” He then waved a white flag of surrender, saying he will never be back to Cheltenham. Poor Winged Leader, he just couldn’t get there. Barry O’Neill, his rider, looked distraught.

Updated

4.10pm Hunters Chase

The Foxhunters in old money gets underway, the amateur jockeys getting their turn. There is a slight delay, as there is a straggler who makes his way to the back of the field, Don Bersy. There are 21 jumps in this one and Don Bersy takes to the front, and goes five lengths clear as they go past the stands. Billaway, for whom a win would be very bad news for the bookies, is ahead of mid-division. Winged Leader is up there, too with still 14 to jump. Bob And Co goes, shipping off David Maxwell as Don Bersy continues to lead. Premier Magic is pulled up at the back of the field. Billaway up in sixth as they again go past the stands, and the coach parks. Don Bersy loses the lead to Winged Leader with a missed jump, and then another before being pulled up. Winged Leader is clear of Dubai Quest. Billaway is well off the pace and the bookies can breathe easy. Winged Leader and Mighty Stowaway go at it, Billaway closes, six lengths back. Winged Leader keeps going up ahead, Billaway storms home and takes it....that’s the bookies beaten, what a surge, Winged Leader just ran out of puff, oh so tired. Another Mullins win! They are unstoppable.

Patrick Mullins celebrates on Billaway after winning the Hunters’ Chase.
Patrick Mullins celebrates on Billaway after winning the Hunters’ Chase. Photograph: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile/Getty Images

Updated

An update from the Albert Bartlett Hurdle and desperate news.

4.10pm – St James’ Place Festival Challenge Cup Hunters Chase odds

  • Billaway – 13/8
  • Winged Leader – 5/1
  • Bob and Co – 6/1
  • Dubai Quest – 7/1
  • Cousin Pascal – 12/1
  • Pont Aven – 16/1
  • Premier Magic – 28/1
  • Lord Schnitzel – 35/1
  • Fumet D’Oudaries – 35/1
  • Mighty Stowaway – 35/1
  • It Came To Pass – 35/1
  • BAR – 40/1
  • Latest odds at Oddschecker

4.10 pm Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase preview

What is still known to most of us as the Fox Hunters’, despite the decision to remove Reynard from the title last year, is one of the Festival’s oldest events, and pretty much the only one these days that is ever likely to be won by a tiny yard from the back of beyond. Porlock Bay, last year’s 80-1 winner, was a prime example, but even here, the big operations are slowly moving in and Willie Mullins’s Billaway is expected to head the market for the third year running, having found one opponent too good in both 2020 and 2021. The eight-year-old looks to be in his prime this time around, bolted up in his trial at Naas in February and has Patrick Mullins is back in his saddle after amateurs were banned from taking part last year. He will take all the beating, but Winged Leader’s connections will hope for a repeat of their horse’s 12-length defeat of Billaway in January, when Mullins’s runner was coming back from a nine-month break and probably needed the race much more than the winner. Bob And Co, whose trainer Paul Nicholls has won this four times since 2004, also has live claims for the Corinthian owner/rider David Maxwell.

Updated

Here’s our snap report, with more to follow.

Henry de Bromhead, the winning trainer, and last year’s winning trainer, having done a 1-2 two years in succession, spoke to the BBC.

It was incredible. I’m delighted - Rachael was brilliant on him. I’m delighted with Minella Indo too - he ran an absolute blinder as well. Rachael was so brave with the way she went about it. She was just amazing on him. It does feel different this year. It’s the crowd. It’s incredible. It was amazing to win it last year but it’s triple amazing this year.

To quote a friend who knows more than I do: “[Rachael] kept [A Plus Tard] covered up so brilliantly and then used his pace to perfection. When she was on the [ITV] Opening Show this morning AP [McCoy] was quizzing her on tactics and she has delivered her plan superbly.”

Updated

More from Rachael Blackmore, speaking to ITV.

I can’t believe it. I am so lucky to get to ride all these horses. You can’t do it without these horses. Being attached to Henry’s yard is unbelievable. I don’t know what to say. I wouldn’t swap the Grand National for anything but this is the Gold Cup. I wish I had something better to say but I just can’t! I can’t explain how lucky I feel.

Updated

3.30pm Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase result

  • 1. A Plus Tard (Rachael Blackmore) 3/1 fav
  • 2. Minella Indo (Robbie Power) 7/1
  • 3. Protektorat (Harry Skelton) 10/1
  • 4. Galvin (Davy Russell) 3/1
  • 11 ran
A Plus Tard wins by 15 lengths.
A Plus Tard wins by 15 lengths. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

A patient ride, so cool considering what happened last year when A Plus Tard lost out to Minella Indo. They won by 15 lengths or so. Each-way money if you backed Protektorat who picked up the pieces of the rest of the race that was blown open by Minella Indo, before Rachael Blackmore guided A Plus Tard home.

Updated

Henry de Bromhead has done it again, Rachael Blackmore has now won the Gold Cup, to follow up the Champion Hurdle and Grand National last year. She’s one of the greats now, many great jockeys have never won all three of those races. “I can’t believe it, I am so lucky, you can’t do this without the horses,” she says, paying tribute to Henry de Bromhead. “I wish I had something better to say. I can’t explain how fecking lucky I feel.” She’s the first woman jockey to ride a Gold Cup winner. She continues to make history and break all the taboos.

A perfect race and perfect day for Rachael Blackmore.
A perfect race and perfect day for Rachael Blackmore. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore win the Cheltenham Gold Cup!

Al Boum Photo is being worked on as Chantry House is pulled up. Asterion Forlonge goes off the front. Minella Indo gives chase, A Plus Tard behind them. Off the final bend, Minella Indo goes and has gone well clear, and A Plus Tard is after him, and jumps to the lead and Rachael Blackmore has done it, Minella Indo second, a reverse of last year!

Rachael Blackmore celebrates on ‘A Plus Tard’ after streaking clear to win the Gold Cup.
Rachael Blackmore celebrates on ‘A Plus Tard’ after streaking clear to win the Gold Cup. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Updated

3.30pm Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase

Chantry House is an early struggler, as Aye Right, the outsider, leads the field. Royal Pagaille looks keen as they go to 13 out, but it’s a tight bunch as they go past the main stand to quite a noise. Asterion Forlonge’s jumping is still not straight but all are up and doing with eight fences to jump. Minella Indo prepares to move. This could be a tactical one. Plenty of chances to go with six to jump.

3.30pm Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase

The starter, Robbie Supple, sends them away and Tornado Flyer is one of the first to show but then makes a mistake at the first. Santini sits in second over the second. Tornado Flyer drops to the back. Asterion Forlonge jumps left, causing a traffic problem and Protektorat struggles at the next. A Plus Tard is next to not look so good over a fence.

Lat year’s winner Minella Indo, ridden by jockey Robbie Power, takes a fence on.
Lat year’s winner Minella Indo, ridden by jockey Robbie Power, takes a fence on. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Updated

The parade completed, the horses set off for the start. Davy Russell removes the hood of Galvin, who is a soft ground horse, though the ground is now more sticky than soft, so is the geology of the Cheltenham Old Course. A Plus Tard goes off favourite at 11/4, with Galvin at 10/3.

The jockeys are in the parade ring of what looks such an open race, with so many ways and narratives. Even Santini at 66/1, the slow himself, might have a chance. Jack Kennedy, who rode Minella Indo last year to win the Gold Cup, has no ride. Instead, the defending champion is ridden by Robbie “Robert” Power. On the TV, AP McCoy thinks Galvin is the one, as does Mick Fitzgerald. Dan Skelton does not seem too confident about Protektorat. “There’s nothing I can do now,” he says.

3.30pm Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase odds

  • A Plus Tard – 11/4
  • Galvin – 4/1
  • Al Boum Photo – 7/1
  • Minella Indo – 7/1
  • Tornado Flyer – 10/1
  • Protektorat – 11/1
  • Chantry House – 16/1
  • Royale Pagaile – 20/1
  • Asterion Forlonge – 25/1
  • Santini – 66/1
  • Aye Right – 100/1
  • Latest odds at Oddschecker

Sir Alex Ferguson is circling in the parade ring, as a part-owner of Protektorat, trained by Harry Skelton and ridden by Harry Skelton.

Horse racing...bloody hell.
Horse racing...bloody hell. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

Updated

3.30 Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase preview

Some Gold Cups revolve around a hot favourite, a horse like Kauto Star or Best Mate who ranks among the all-time greats, while others – like this year’s renewal – are wide-open and could conceivably be won by eight or nine of the runners. Some might argue that a superstar like Best Mate is the best possible advert for jump racing, but from a punter’s point of view, getting four or five times your money back for finding the winner is great PR too and personally, I’ll take an open Gold Cup every time. Galvin has been eased out of top spot in the betting this morning by A Plus Tard, no doubt because Rachael Blackmore will be trying to go one better than last year on Henry de Bromhead’s gelding. He needs to find one-and-a-quarter lengths to get the better of his stable companion and last year’s winner, Minella Indo, and looked like an improved performer when running away with the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in October. He has since been narrowly beaten by Galvin in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting, but the stable’s form was in a trough at the time and Blackmore, feels she went for home a little too soon, allowing Galvin’s deep reserves of stamina to come into play as he stayed on strongly to edge them out on the line. There has also been some money for Al Boum Photo, third last year and the winner for the two preceding renewals, and Tornado Flyer, another Willie Mullins-trained runner who sprang a surprise in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, while Protektorat, the leading British-trained contender for a race that has gone Ireland’s way in five of the last six seasons, is on the slide. He put up a mighty effort under top weight in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in November and seemed to improve for the step up in trip when successful on heavy ground over three miles at Aintree in December. He is no forlorn each-way hope, but for win purposes, Minella Indo’s course form and habit of blossoming in the spring makes him the pick of the prices for me at around 6-1 and I’ll be hoping to see him give Robbie Power a second win in this race after Sizing John’s triumph in 2016.

Updated

That Willie Mullins win for The Nice Guy confirms his status as top trainer with eight wins, and four more races to come. Nobody does it better, quite frankly. And very few ever have. That’s equalling his best ever tally of eight and he will win a record-breaking ninth top trainer award.

Sean O’Keeffe celebrate winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on The Nice Guy.
Sean O’Keeffe celebrate winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on The Nice Guy. Photograph: Tim Goode/PA

Updated

2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle result

  • 1 The Nice Guy (Sean O’Keeffe) 18/1
  • 2 Minella Cocooner (Paul Townend) 9/2
  • 3 Bardenstown Lad (Sean Bowen) 20/1
  • 4 Ballygriffincottage (Harry Skelton) 28/1
  • 16 ran

Sadly, that race is overshadowed by what happened to Ginto, who is being attended to in front of the stands. That was not good to see. Sean O’Keefe the rider of The Nice Guy says “he jumped great, a great performance on the horse” as he rode his first ever Cheltenham race and it seems his first ever grade one, too. It’s all Mullins, but all thoughts with Ginto. Urgh, that’s so hard to watch.

Updated

2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

Over this long trip they go, the last race before the big one. It’s very loud out on the course, says ITV’s Luke Harvey. It really is a big crowd today. El banter will be flowing aplenty. They go off with Ginto and Hillcrest as joint favs but there’s a false start after a very long prelim. They go off with something of a jolt and set off at one hell of a rate. Classic Getaway lives up to his name by going to the front of the field. Hill Crest doesn’t jump too well over the third, and he’s labouring a tad. Minella Cocooner is pushing them on, and the two Mullins horses in the pack are caught a little off guard. Stag Horn and Classic Getaway still lead. Cheers as they go past the stands, Ginto in fifth and sitting relatively pretty. Minella Cocooner takes it right up, speeding along in his classic style and he nearly comes a cropper. Hill Crest still slow in the pack with three to jump. Hill Crest is pulled up and so is Classic Getaway. The pace has been heavy. Down the hill they go to the second last with Minella Cocooner leading. Ballygriffin Cottage coming from deep. Ginto...oh no, he’s gone wrong. Minella Cocooner and the Nice Guy going to the last and the Nice Guy who will win from Minella Cocooner. It’s a Mullins 1-2, but maybe not the Mullins we expected.

The Nice Guy ridden by Sean O’Keeffe (left) on their way to winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
The Nice Guy ridden by Sean O’Keeffe (left) on their way to winning the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Updated

Hillcrest will be a big part of those fav backers who like a double, a treble, a quadpot, a Yankee. He and Ginto are flip-flopping as favourites. Hillcrest goes in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings, and would bring many a tear should he win. The rain has softened the ground for him, and trainer Henry Daly appears just happy for the horse to come home safely.

2.50pm - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle odds

  • Hillcrest – 9/4
  • Ginto – 11/4
  • Minella Cocooner – 13/2
  • Shantreusse – 14/1
  • Good Time Jonny – 18/1
  • The Nice Guy – 20/1
  • Bardenstown Lad – 20/1
  • Stag Horn – 20/1
  • Classic Getaway – 25/1
  • Ballygrifincottage – 28/1
  • Ramillies – 33/1
  • Eric Bloodaxe – 33/1
  • Mahler Mission - 70/1
  • Broson - 125/1
  • Where It All Began - 150/1
  • Latest odds at Oddschecker

2.50pm - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle preview

Two of the outsiders – Falcon Eight and The Real Whacker – are non-runners but there is still a big field of 17 runners for the Festival’s three-mile novice hurdle, a race that includes the future Gold Cup winners Minella Indo and Bobs Worth on its roll of honour. It has also seen several shocks over the years – only one of the last eight winners has started at a single-figure price – probably because it is a very different test to anything the runners have faced before, not just in terms of the trip but also, crucially, the unrelenting pace from the off. Hillcrest, who might well have a flawless 5-5 record had he not unseated his rider when a rival fell in front of him at Cheltenham in January, has replaced Ginto as favourite this morning, with punters perhaps feeling that Ginto would have been Gordon Elliott’s second-string had the ante-post favourite, Minella Crooner, not been scratched due to injury last week. That was a big disappointment, but it did at least avoid any watch-your-bets confusion with Minella Cocooner, a Grade One winner last time for Willie Mullins. Looking beyond the market leaders, John McConnell’s Bardenstown Lad looks the type to outrun his price of around 16-1. He was sent over for a three-mile novice on the Old course at the October meeting here, then put away until his Festival prep at Musselburgh in early February. He has bags of stamina, seems certain to relish this test and looks a fair each-way bet with many bookies offering five places.

2.10pm County Hurdle result

  • 1 State Man (Paul Townend) 11-4 Fav
  • 2 First Street (Nico de Boinville) 16-1
  • 3 Colonel Mustard (C J Orr) 13-2
  • 4 West Cork (Harry Skelton) 13-2
  • 26 ran
Stateman jumps the last and goes on to win the County Hurdle.
Stateman jumps the last and goes on to win the County Hurdle. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

Winning jockey Paul Townend says the ride he gave State Man was “all over the place, I got there too soon.” And Townend speaks up for Al Boum Photo in the Gold Cup. “Please God I’ll be talking to you again,” he tells Alice Plunkett. By the way, Ballyadam took fifth in that race.

Updated

2.10pm County Hurdle

The horses take a slow walk to the line as State Man goes to 11/4 as they get underway over the eight hurdles. State Man looks keen on the outside inthe early stages, Stepney Causeway in the lead almost goes over but rights himself as they surge past the Best Mate stand and the coach park. Tritonic is up there. Stepney Causeway leads as they go past halfway. State Man still making no significant move from midfield where he is with West Cork. Two to clear but a long way to go, and Cask Mate goes over. Surprise Package and State Man go as they go to the last. State Man goes to the front at the last and speeds to the line. Another win for Mullins and Townend, First Street in second, Colonel Mustard in third, West Cork in fourth. Two Mullins favourites go in in the first two races.

State Man ridden by Paul Townend in action on their way to winning the County Hurdle.
State Man ridden by Paul Townend in action on their way to winning the County Hurdle. Photograph: Matthew Childs/Reuters

Updated

The odds on State Man are tumbling, it’s one of those talking horses of the festival where it’s a good thing that everyone is on. The County Hurdle has often featured such horses, and usually goes the way of Ireland and often Willie Mullins, too.

2.10pm County Hurdle preview

The image of Suprise Package cantering all over his rivals in last Saturday’s Imperial Cup is fresh in the memory here, and any one of the 18 – yes, 18 – Irish-trained runners in the 26-strong field could easily find a stone or more and do something similar here. In fact, a dozen of them probably could and still not finish in the frame, such is the nature of this race now with potentially high-class novices replacing the hardened two-mile handicap hurdlers of yesteryear in the field. Suprise Package will pick up a £50,000 bonus if he follows up here, while Cormier, a winner at Musselburgh’s valuable recent meeting, is chasing a £100,000 bonus for a win. State Man, the likely favourite, is one of the most unexposed runners in the field, fell two out when odds-on – and looking the likely winner – for his Irish debut in December and then hosed up in a maiden hurdle at Limerick. He could prove to be 20lb well in, but he has a similar profile to Gaelic Warrior, who was beaten at very short odds in Tuesday’s Fred Winter, and there are each-way alternatives aplenty. West Cork, whose trainer, Dan Skelton, has won this three times since 2016, won the Greatwood Hurdle over the Old course here in November and has been put away since a good run at Ascot in December, but the less-exposed I Like To Move It, touched off in the ultra-competitive Betfair Hurdle last time, makes slightly more appeal for me as his recent form is stronger and he has only just five runs over hurdles behind him.

Updated

2:10 – County Handicap Hurdle odds

  • State Man – 7/2
  • Colonel Mustard – 7/1
  • West Cork – 17/2
  • Surprise Package – 10/1
  • I Like To Move It – 10/1
  • Top Bandit – 16/1
  • Broomfield Burg – 16/1
  • First Street – 20/1
  • My Mate Mozzie – 22/1
  • Jesse Evans – 25/1
  • Tax For Max – 25/1
  • Bar – 33/1
  • Latest odds at Oddschecker

Vauban already being talked of as a potential Champion Hurdler, while Fil Dor looked far more suited to chasing. “He has a lot of ability,” says Willie Mullins of the winner. “He’s got so much speed. I wanted to keep him for a novice next season but Rich (Ricci) wanted to use him.” Some talk Vauban may one day go back on the flat and be targeted at the Melbourne Cup. The speed is certainly there.”

Rich Ricci, the owner of Vauban, told the BBC: ““He is a proper little taxi. He is a lovely horse. He’s got some engine and I am delighted with that.”

Updated

1.30 Triumph Hurdle result

  • 1. Vauban (Paul Townend) 6-4 Fav
  • 2. Fil Dor (Davy Russell) 11-2
  • 3. Pied Piper (Jack Kennedy) 7-2
  • 12 ran
Paul Townend celebrates on Vauban after winning the Triumph Hurdle.
Paul Townend celebrates on Vauban after winning the Triumph Hurdle. Photograph: Molly Darlington/Reuters

Updated

1.30 Triumph Hurdle

The roar goes up from that huge crowd and they set off with Porticello under Jamie Moore takes the early lead. Fil Dor is up there with Vauban stalking them, who puts in a rather unceremonious jump as they go past the stands. With four to jump but a long way to go, Porticello and Fil Dor stay well in front. The hill serves to bunch them back up again as they head to the second-last. Porticello and Fil Dor go to the last. Vauban makes his move as he goes to the last and misses it, only to recover his step, beating Fil Dor and Pied Piper. Vauban, ridden by Paul Townend, trained by Willie Mullins, has quite the engine and won with plenty in hand.

Vauban leads the way and wins easily.
Vauban leads the way and wins easily. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Updated

The horses are walking round a very packed out parade ring, and it looks very busy at trackside, too. Willie Mullins trains the favourite for the first race of the day, some things never change. ITV’s coverage suggests some very silly money has gone on Vauban, and Fil Dor, who will be ridden by Davy Russell. Plenty of chances here, though, and with that go plenty of chances to lose money.

1.30pm - JCB Triumph Hurdle odds

  • Vauban – 15/8
  • Pied Piper – 7/2
  • Fil Dor – 13/2
  • Il Etait Temps – 12/1
  • Porticello – 14/1
  • Icare Allen – 16/1
  • Knight Salute – 18/1
  • Doctor Parnassus – 22/1
  • Teddy Blue – 33/1
  • Lunar Power – 66/1
  • Ages of Man – 250/1
  • Koi Dodville – 250/1
  • Latest odds at Oddschecker

Someone, a female singer, is strangling You’ll Never Walk Alone over the tannoy system as the concourses begin to fill up. It looks a very sunny and bright day out there. From experience, Gold Cup day is when the trackside debauchery really goes into overdrive, not that the rest of the days are shy of that. The horizon will be filled with Peaky Blinders caps, and the no-socks brigade are out in force. A fair few pairs of mocassins perished in the mud on Wednesday.

Today’s full schedule of the fourth and final day at Cheltenham.

  • 1.30pm - JCB Triumph Hurdle 2m 179y
  • 2:10pm - McCoy Contractors County Hurdle 2m 179y
  • 2:50pm - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle - 2m 7f 213y
  • 3.30pm - Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase 3m 2f 70y
  • 4.10pm - St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase 3m 2f 70y
  • 4.50pm - Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase 2m 4f 127y
  • 5.30pm - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 56y

1.30 Triumph Hurdle preview

The Triumph Hurdle is a much classier race now that the Fred Winter has arrived as an alternative attraction for the juveniles. Whether it is a better race is a matter of opinion, as there was something about the sight of 28 hurdlers careering around the New course at the top of the Gold Cup card which made finding the winner a particular pleasure. Anyway, those days are gone, but there have still been a few double-figure winners in recent years and while the ones at the top of the market have all put up solid trials, a horse like Il Etait Temps, who was pitched straight into Grade One company for his hurdling debut at the Dublin Racing Festival, could easily improve past them. He was just six lengths behind Vauban, today’s favourite, there, although Paul Townend has opted for Vauban and that must count for something. Pied Piper, who was sent over to Cheltenham by Gordon Elliott for the Triumph Trial over course and distance in January, is also a live contender and his form there was backed up by a good time, even though he crossed the line on a tight rein. At the prices, though, I’ll take a chance on the leading British juvenile, Knight Salute, who has done nothing but improve since being switched to hurdling from the Flat this season. He remains unbeaten after five starts, put up his best performance yet to win the Adonis at Kempton in a strong time and has perhaps been slightly overlooked in the market as Milton Harris, his trainer, is hardly a household name.

Knight Salute winning at Kempton in February.
Knight Salute winning at Kempton in February. Photograph: Steve Davies/racingfotos.com/REX/Shutterstock

Updated

The Guardian Sport photographer, Tom Jenkins, has been at the festival and here’s some of his best pics.

More memory lane and some real greats here.

Five years ago, Sizing John was the winner under Robbie Power, trained by Jessica Harrington.

Ten years ago, Synchronised was the winner, ridden by AP McCoy and trained by Jonjo O’Neill.

Fifteen years ago, Kauto Star won the first of his two Gold Cups, ridden by Ruby Walsh and trained by Paul Nicholls.

Twenty years ago, it was Best Mate who won the first of his three Gold Cups, ridden by Jim Culloty and trained by Henrietta Knight.

Twenty-five years ago, it was Mr Mulligan, ridden by AP McCoy and trained by Noel Chance.

Time for memory lane, starting with last year’s race.

A fine jump two out tightened Minella Indo’s grip on the prize and Al Boum Photo was already booked for third as De Bromhead’s two runners arrived at the final fence. A Plus Tard was a fraction slow, leaving him with two lengths to find up the hill. He narrowed the gap to one‑and‑a‑quarter at the line but Minello Indo stayed on too strongly to give Blackmore any real hope of nosing in front.

Here’s the leading trainers’ standings (1st, 2nd, 3rd)

  • Willie Mullins IRE 5 2 7
  • Gordon Elliott IRE 2 6 1
  • Nicky Henderson 2 4 1
  • Venetia Williams 2 1 2
  • Henry de Bromhead IRE 2 - 2
  • Gavin Cromwell IRE 1 1 1
  • Lucinda Russell 1 1 -
  • Harry Fry 1 - -
  • Alan King 1 - -
  • Hughie Morrison 1 - -
  • Ben Pauling 1 - -
  • Padraig Roche IRE 1 - -
  • Evan Williams 1 - -
Willie Mullins (centre) leads the trainers’ standings going into the final day of the festival.
Willie Mullins (centre) leads the trainers’ standings going into the final day of the festival. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Updated

Here’s the leading jockeys’ standings (1st, 2nd, 3rd).

  • Paul Townend 3 1 3
  • Nico de Boinville 2 1 1
  • Mr Patrick Mullins 2 - 2
  • Rachael Blackmore 2 - 1
  • Mark Walsh 1 2 -
  • Charlie Deutsch 1 1 1
  • Jack Kennedy 1 1 1
  • Tom O’Brien 1 1 -
  • Derek Fox 1 1
  • Danny Mullins 1 - 1
  • Johnny Burke 1 - -
  • Tom Cannon 1 - -
  • Shane Fitzgerald 1 - -
  • Lucy Turner 1 - -
  • Adam Wedge 1 - -
  • Kielan Woods 1 - -

This Britain v Ireland thing is closer than expected, though the Irish have to be favoured to take the spoils by the end of the day.

Greg Wood has previewed the big one and all eyes are on Rachael Blackmore again.

She failed 12 months ago, finishing one-and-a-quarter lengths behind Minella Indo after deciding to ride his stable companion, A Plus Tard, instead. It was one of those choices that come with the territory for an elite jockey attached to a major stable. Blackmore had ridden Minella Indo in his previous 10 races and A Plus Tard in 10 of his last 11 but still managed to pick the wrong one. At the end of an otherwise triumphant meeting, when her six winners made her the first female to finish the week as leading rider, the biggest prize of all was the one that got away.

Barry Glendenning, an Irishman no less, sampled the good stuff on St Patrick’s Day at Prestbury Park.

Any prospective Irish St Patrick’s Day clean sweep came quickly unstuck, when Third Wind, out of Hughie Morrison’s decidedly English East Ilsley yard, led home a British one-two-three in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle. An unfancied 25-1 shot, his victory prompted polite but unenthusiastic applause from the grandstand and a deluge of discarded betting slips but little or nothing in the way of bombastic Last Night At The Proms’s style patriotic fervour. As if to confirm the hoary old saw that nobody anywhere knows anything, he was the first of four British winners on the day.

And good morning from the bunker where I am taking over after Niall’s two excellent days in the saddle. I have barely dried up since attending Champion Chase day (see photo) and being able to see only a couple of races because of the rain and all the umbrellas in the way. It was brutal, it was attritional, it was good to be back.

It’s been a great three days’ racing with yesterday no exception with that Stayers’ Hurdle win for Flooring Porter, and the brilliance of Allaho in the Ryanair Chase. Perhaps though Thursday will be best recalled for Galopin Des Champs’s fall in the novice chase at the start of the day. He’ll be back, hopefully, and perhaps in next year’s Gold Cup. This year’s looks a highly open race, with defending champion Minella Indo standing his ground, A Plus Tard trying to go one better than last year, Al Boum Photo trying to win a third Gold Cup. and Galvin carrying the hopes of many a shrewdie from Ireland. There’s also a classic Venetia Williams plot in Royale Pagaille, who ran in last year’s race as a novice and suffered some poor luck in running.

And before and after that, too, more top-level National Hunt racing, and here to guide you through them.

Updated

Preamble

Good morning from Cheltenham, where the sun is starting to break through after a misty start to the day and the course looks magnificent ahead of one of the great days in this, or any other, sport. It is like racing’s final round at Augusta National, the culmination of a week that has been circled on many fans’ calendars since they fell through their front door after the last one, and the Gold Cup (3.30pm) itself looks sure to be the perfect centrepiece for the final-day card.

Jon Pullin, the clerk of the course reported this morning that the going has improved to good-to-soft, soft in places, which is just about perfect jump racing ground but could mean that Galvin’s bottomless stamina is not quite as significant as it might have been. “We had a dry day yesterday so the ground’s dried up a bit,” Pullin said. “We’ve got a dry day ahead with bright sunshine and temperatures around 14 or 15C.”

Galvin was the narrow favourite for the Gold Cup yesterday evening but as expected, the money has started to arrive for Rachael Blackmore’s mount, A Plus Tard, and he now heads the market at 11-4 with Galvin, a proven stayer who won the three-and-three-quarter mile National Hunt Chase here last season, out to 4-1 and Minella Indo - last year’s Gold Cup winner and the horse that Blackmore rejected – on offer at around 6-1.

That’s the pick of the prices for me, given Minella Indo’s exceptional record at this track, with two Festival wins already, and I’m willing to overlook his patchy record since last year’s victory as his win 12 months ago remains the best piece of form on offer and he seems to come alive in the spring. Protektorat is the shortest-priced runner from a British yard and a win for Dan Skelton’s runner would round off a much better week than anticipated for the home team.

The card is under way at 1.30pm with the Triumph Hurdle, while Paul Townend goes into the final afternoon with a one-win lead in the race to be leading rider. He has three winners this week, while Blackmore, Nico de Boinville and Patrick Mullins all have two.

Willie Mullins, meanwhile, looks home and hosed in the trainers’ race with five wins, three more than Gordon Elliott, Nicky Henderson, Henry de Bromhead and Venetia Williams, but Elliott in particular has several well-fancied runners today and could yet make a race of it should either Pied Piper or Fil Dor land the opener.

The last of the mist has just left the top of Cleeve Hill, and a wonderful afternoon of racing awaits. Good luck to all!

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