Cheltenham Day Four: Gaelic Warrior unstoppable in Cheltenham Gold Cup

By Molly Hunter, Press Association

Gaelic Warrior left the field toiling in his wake as he claimed an impressive victory in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

A sole runner for Willie Mullins in the most prestigious race on the National Hunt calendar, the 11-4 joint-favourite was ridden by Paul Towend and shared his position at the head of the market with Nicky Henderson’s Jango Baie.

Rebecca Curtis’ Haiti Couleurs took up the running for Wales but faded turning for home, while Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man travelled well for a long way and might have had his owner dreaming before he too faded, as Gaelic Warrior swept ahead to win by eight lengths from Jango Baie.

Inothewayurthinkin ran a big race in third in his attempt to defend this crown.

Envoi Allen collapsed and died after finishing ninth in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The 12-year-old was having the final start of his glittering career in the Cheltenham Festival highlight, with owners Cheveley Park Stud having confirmed he would retire following his run in the blue riband – his eighth appearance in all at the Festival.

Envoi Allen won 10 Grade Ones in total, having started with Gordon Elliott before moving to Henry de Bromhead.

Johnny’s Jury demonstrated plenty of tenacity to take the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

A 20-1 shot under Gavin Sheehan for trainer Jamie Snowden, the grey was left with plenty of work to do as he rounded the final bend with the majority of the field ahead of him.

Both horse and rider refused to accept defeat, however, and in the driving rain the pair picked off each rival one by one to rally up the hill and score by a length and a half from Fruit De Mer and The Passing Wife.

Race favourite Doctor Steinberg appear to do too much in front from an early stage, before dropping away.

Dinoblue again showed her toughness and reliability with a successful defence of her Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase crown at Cheltenham.

Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Marsh Walsh for owner JP McManus, the chestnut was sent off the 11-8 favourite in the same race she won by eight and a half lengths last year.

In the end victory was assured from some way out, with Dinoblue brushing aside the runner-up, Gavin Cromwell’s Only By Night, with ease up the hill to cross the line a length and a quarter ahead. Panic Attack was third for Dan Skelton.

A delighted McManus was flanked by his granddaughters as he said: “They travelled in from Switzerland today and they’re my lucky mascots. (They were here) this day last year, so the Gold Cup is their day – Gold Cup and Grand National.

“It was a competitive race and I think she got an excellent ride from Mark and what more can I say, I’m just very happy.”

British-trained runners filled the first five places as Wilful came come in front in the William Hill County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Trained by Jonjo and A J O’Neill and ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr, the 14-1 victory was therefore a real family affair with the father and two sons combining.

In a busy field of 23, the seven-year-old led home Sticktotheplan, Joyeuse, Cracking Rhapsody and Sinnatra – all of whom are trained in Britain – to give the Jackdaws Castle stable a second winner of the week, after Johnnywho in the Ultima Handicap on Tuesday.

For Jonjo O’Neill, it was a fitting success on the 40th anniversary of his historic Gold Cup triumph aboard Dawn Run and he said: “Cheltenham is Cheltenham and to have runners here is fantastic, but to have two winners this year is great.

“A J keeps telling me he has improved them all and we might have to believe him now!

“It’s fantastic and these are the days you dream about, it’s magic. You hope they happen and you build yourself up to it, but when they do they are very special with A J on board now.

“It’s a family operation now and Jackie also does a great job behind the scenes. It’s not always easy but when it comes off it’s great – I just do what I’m told these days rather than the other way round, but as long as we have winners here I don’t mind it!”

Apolon De Charnie shocked the Cheltenham crowd with a 50-1 victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick, the four-year-old was aiming to keep the trophy in the Closutton stable after Poniros struck at 100-1 on what was his hurdling debut 12 months ago.

Though not quite as overlooked in the betting, the Edward Ware-owned gelding was still a surprise first head across the line, with 5-1 chance Maestro Conti behind him and Minella Study (7-1) in third.

Patrick Mullins – who famously teamed up with his father to win last year’s Grand National with Nick Rockett – said: “He was fantastic. He’s not very big, but he just caught my eye. I don’t usually watch the juveniles at home, but he caught my eye and I got a dream run everywhere.

“I’m very proud of my father. I’ve never seen him doubt himself as much as he has this winter. You get a lot of advice from people about what you’re doing wrong, but he sticks to his guns and gets it right most of the time”

Willie Mullins added: “Only 50-1 this year and not 100-1 – I’m so disappointed! At least I could stand in the stand and shout ‘go on my son’, which was obviously the biggest thrill, to have Patrick riding it.

“I could see three or four of mine all in with chances and was trying to watch them all, but I’d be watching for Patrick one way or another – whether he had a chance or not – and every time I looked at him I was very happy.

“He came through to win the race at the last, then the other horse (Minella Study) kept going and I thought we were beat, but I loved the horse’s attitude – when he heard the Cheltenham roar, he put down his head and was very brave.”

Maestro Conti was tasting defeat for the first time, but trainer Dan Skelton was pleased with his performance in filling the runner-up spot.

He said: “He ran a very good race and I’m very proud of him.

“He travelled well and I could see Patrick (Mullins) travelling very well down to the last. My instinct was if our horse had produced a big jump at the last maybe he would have won, but the way Patrick was going I’m not convinced that was the truth.

“It was a great run, I’m very happy with him. I’d say he’ll make a fine horse going forward and I’ll probably run him at Aintree.”

Welcome to our coverage of day four of the Cheltenham Racing Festival.

The Harry Redknapp-owned 'The Jukebox Man' is the favourite for the Gold Cup, the feature on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The King George winner is part of a 10-horse field, including the Willie Mullins-trained Gaelic Warrior, and Inothewayyurthinkin, trained by Gordon Elliott.

The James Mangan-trained Spillane's Tower has been declared a non-runner due to ground conditions.

The seven-race card on the final day gets underway at 1:20pm. 

Siog Geal can strike at Chepstow to take the Georgebakerracing.com – Have Horse Will Travel Mares’ Handicap Hurdle for Fergal O’Brien.

The seven-year-old has never been far from the action in nine starts under rules, winning twice and never failing to finish in the money.

This season she has been placed in two competitive and valuable handicaps when third and then second at Carlisle and Cheltenham respectively.

Her most recent run involved a trip across the Irish Sea to Leopardstown in February, where she lined up as an 11-1 shot in the Paddy And Maureen Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle.

There she encountered heavy ground for the first time and still ran with credit, finishing fifth of 18 when close up in the chasing group behind the first two horses home.

She now returns to home turf and will be ridden by O’Brien’s daughter Fern, who claims a valuable 5lb, with better ground than she encountered in Ireland another plus.