Imperious display by Gaelic Warrior in the Gold Cup

Rich and Susannah Ricci became the first owners to win the Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup during the same week at the Festival. Seventy two hours after Lossiemouth routed the opposition in hurdling's blue riband, stablemate Gaelic Warrior produced a brilliant display in the Gold Cup on Friday under a superb ride by Paul Townend. The eight year old won the Arkle Trophy a couple of years ago and was gaining his sixth Grade 1 victory here, Positioned in behind the leaders, the ex-French gelding was always moving strongly, jumping soundly and once pulled off the rail after the fourth last, Willie Mullins' runner looked in control. Leading before the second last, he sauntered clear to win hard held by eight lengths, it was imperious performance. Jango Baie ran creditably in second but never looked like threatening the winner having come off the bridle at the top of the hill. Last year's victor Inothewayurthinkin had shown very little in three runs earlier in the season but made a step forward here in third. Detached early on, he looked like being tailed off at one stage before keeping on inside the final half a mile. The Jukebox Man finished a distant eighth having faded tamely after the hometurn. His owner Harry Redknapp reported afterwards that the King George winner may have an issue with his wind. It was a spectacular win by Gaelic Warrior but needless to say the left leaning BBC elected to concentrate on the post race death of Envoi Allen. The twelve year old sadly passed away soon after crossing the line - he has been a magnificent horse winning ten Grade 1s, three times winner Festival winner and he competed at the meeting eight times, which is a tremendous achievement.

Gaelic Warrior was advised at 7/2 in the OJA Cheltenham Festival Update, along with Joyeuse (advised @ 25/1) finishing third in the County Hurdle and Jump Allen (advised @ 20/1) was desperately unlucky not to win the concluding Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle. Willie Mullins' runner must have had around ten horses in front of him approaching the final flight before powering up the hill - according to Race Iq, the seven covered the last furlong in 14.76 seconds compared to the winner Air of Entitlement (15.35 seconds). Once again, it paid to race handily and he was simply to far back before mounting his belated challenge. It was a similar story with Karbau in the County Hurdle. Positioned in rear in a steadily run race, the ex-French gelding was set an impossible task, plus he was always going to need plenty of luck in running challenging along the stands rail. 

The biggest disappointment of the day was the Triumph Hurdle which proved an anti-climax. Ironically, the selection Proactif had beaten Apolon De Charnie by six lengths on their racecourse debuts at Auteuil in September last year and it was hard to believe the runner-up would turn the tables. However, J.P.McManus' owned runner failed to show up jumping poorly and never travelling according to Mark Walsh. The 50/1 winner got a mention in One Jump Ahead but I didn't know who had bought the gelding at the time of going to print.

It has been a mixed week as far as the selections are concerned - 3 winners from the 12 races - Jingko Blue (advised @ 14/1), Meetmebythesea (9/1) and Gaelic Warrior (advised @ 7/2), plus big price each-way selections Quebecois (3rd @ 10/1), Break My Soul (advised @ 25/1 - 3rd), Joyeuse (advised @ 25/1 - 3rd) and Jump Allen (advised @ 20/1 - 3rd). Kopek Des Bordes wouldn't have come off the bridle if he had jumped the last in the Arkle, Jagwar went close in the Ultima Handicap Chase, while Karbau should have given Wilful something to think about the County Hurdle. There is a fine line between a decent week and a very successful one. The biggest disappointments were in the Supreme and Triumph Hurdle, we never got a sniff. Once again, thank you very much to those clients who bought the Festival Update, I hope you found it value for money. 

In addition, the February Update nominated ante-post selections Saratoga (advised @ 12/1) and Meetmebythesea (advised @ 12/1).