Cheltenham Festival

2023 Cheltenham Festival roundup

1 year ago

| BY News Team

Racing fans up and down the nation might have a few post-Cheltenham Festival blues, but in order to keep the embers burning a little longer, here’s a look back on the main talking points and results from last week’s meeting.

Tuesday: Constitution storms up the hill, while Honeysuckle caps fairytale career

Day One of the Festival will certainly go down in racing history as champions were crowned and fairytales were told.

Marine Nationale – the charge of small trainer Barry Connell – warmed hearts in the Supreme Novices’ when he beat hot-favourite Facile Vega by three-and-a-quarter lengths, returning the 9/2 winner. Far less exposed than the Willie Mullins-trained favourite, Marine Nationale was a fancied but less likely winner, whose impressive triumph was met with high-praise for his trainer.

The feature race of the day, the Champion Hurdle, was as captivating as expected with Constitution Hill proving his brilliance once again. The second-favourite and runner-up, State Man, had been anticipated to give Nicky Henderson’s stable star a proper race (to which he is not much accustomed, trouncing his rivals each and every time he runs), but failed to present much of a challenge to Constitution Hill. A slick round of jumping and his trade-mark turbo boost in the final furlongs saw the favourite win, on the bridle, by nine lengths.

Perhaps pipping this to the post in terms of best winners’ enclosure reception, however, was the crowd’s response to Honeysuckle’s win in the Mares’ Hurdle towards the end of the day. The two-time Champion Hurdler, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, seemed to really read the script, showing-up those who doubted her and beating Love Envoi home to win on what was her last racecourse appearance. The Cheltenham Roar was especially loud for Honeysuckle, Blackmore and the de Bromhead family as she passed the winning post.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Marine Nationale 9/2

Facile Vega 9/4f

Diverge 25/1

Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

El Fabiolo 11/10f

Jonbon 2/1

Saint Roi 11/1

Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Corach Rambler 6/1jf

Fastorslow 7/1

Monbeg Genius 6/1jf

The Goffer 7/1

Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Constitution Hill 4/11f

State Man 7/2

Zanahiyr 66/1

Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Honeysuckle 9/4jf

Love Envoi 11/1

Queens Brook 16/1

Boodles Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3)

Jazzy Matty 18/1

Byker 6/1

Risk Belle 10/1

Sundial 18/1

National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)

Gaillard Du Mesnil 10/11f

Chemical Energy 8/1

Mister Coffey 11/1

Wednesday: Energumene retains Champion Chase crown

Day Two brought a few surprises and saw more champions defend their titles.

Like they had on Day One, Irish trainers dominated the first race of the day, sending out the first four horses home in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. In total, five of the seven races that day were won by Ireland-based trainers and jockeys.

Despite the Irish dominance, The Real Whacker defied his odds of 8/1 to win the Brown Advisory for now British-based Patrick Neville and Sam Twiston-Davies, followed by a Skelton victory in the Coral Cup with Langer Dan at 9/1.

The Queen Mother Champion Chase, however, brought Willie Mullins’ 2022 Champion Chaser, Energumene, to the fore once again. The nine-year-old justified his favouritism by jumping well and powering home for a decisive win by 10 lengths. Punters had been expecting a dual to the finish-line between the winner and the equally talented Edwardstone, who – surprisingly and most disappointingly – travelled with no fluency and eventually finished 29 lengths behind Energumene.

Spirits were further lifted by 10/11 favourite Delta Work’s assertive win in his second consecutive Cross-Country Chase. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding made light work of the three miles and six furlongs, and was followed closely home by stable-mate Galvin.

Snow Leopardess also is worthy of a mention as for a circuit and a half in the Cross Country, she lead her rivals a merry dance. It was a real pleasure to watch as she jumped with vivacity and showed how much she loved her job.

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Impaire Et Passe 5/2

Gaelic Warrior 9/2

Champ Kiely 13/2

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

The Real Whacker 8/1

Gerri Colombe 9/2

Bronn 50/1

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Langer Dan 9/1

An Epic Song 16/1

Camprond 20/1

Scaramanga 50/1

Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

Energumene 6/5f

Captain Guinness 12/1

Greaneteen 25/1

Glenfarclas Chase (A Cross Country Chase)

Delta Work 11/10f

Galvin 11/4

Franco De Port 9/2

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Maskada 22/1

Dinoblue 7/2f

Global Citizen 12/1

Third Time Lucki 8/1

Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

A Dream To Share 7/2

Fact To File 16/5f

Captain Teague 40/1

Thursday: Sire Du Berlais roars up the hill to claim the Stayers’

Even more surprises were in store on Day Three of the Cheltenham Festival as not a single favourite came home in front and the shortest-priced winner of the day was 13/2.

Paul Nicholls broke the trend of Irish success in the first race of the day with a win from Stage Star, followed by Laura Morgan’s Notlongtillmay ahead of the favourite, Mighty Potter.

The favourite at even-money for the Ryanair Chase was Shishkin, who had dominated the field in his latest appearance at Ascot, bouncing back from a disappointing Festival run in 2022. As highly-anticipated as it had been, the race was not to be Shishkin’s, and he was beaten by Henry de Bromhead’s Envoi Allen, a previous winner of the Ballymore (2020) and the Champion Bumper (2019).

The biggest curveball of the day, however, was Sire Du Berlais’ astonishing win in the Stayers’ Hurdle at lengthy odds of 33/1. The Gordon Elliott-trained 11-year-old had been in fair but far from confidence-giving form through the season, and hadn’t won a race at Cheltenham since 2020. It had looked like his best days were behind him, but he kept on impressively up the hill to out-stay his rivals. Stablemate Teahupoo, favourite at 9/4f, finished three-quarters of a length behind him.

Turners Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

Stage Star 15/2

Notlongtillmay 40/1

Mighty Potter 4/6f

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Good Time Jonny 9/1

Salvador Ziggy 10/1

Mill Green 22/1

Green Book 40/1

Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)

Envoi Allen 13/2

Shishkin EVNS f

Hitman 22/1

Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Sire Du Berlais 33/1

Teahupoo 9/4f

Dashel Drasher 40/1

Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Seddon 20/1

Fugitif 11/1

Shakem Up’Arry 16/1

Gevrey 125/1

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)

You Wear It Well 16/1

Magical Zoe 15/2

Halka Du Tabert 12/1

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase

Angels Dawn 10/1

Stumptown 7/2F

Mr Incredible 4/1

Dunboyne 8/1

Friday: Galopin the real deal in memorable Gold Cup

Gold Cup Day was off to a promising start for Willie Mullins as his charge Lossiemouth won the Triumph Hurdle. In fact, the trainer was responsible for the first four horses home in the race, which boded well for his well-fancied runner in the Gold Cup later that afternoon.

With her husband Harry Skelton having won in the saddle of Langer Dan on Wednesday, Bridget Andrews brought home even more family success by riding 33/1 shot Faivoir to win the County Handicap Hurdle for brother-in-law Dan Skelton. Things continued to look up for the Brits when Stay Away Fay stayed on well to win the Albert Barlett for Paul Nicholls, but – of course – Mr. Mullins brought them back down to earth with a bang come the feature race of the day.

Galopin Des Champs, an unusual seven-year-old runner in the Gold Cup, was electric. Despite not jumping with that much fluency early on, he travelled far better on the second circuit of the three miles and two furlongs. In the closing stages, he was expertly produced by jockey Paul Townend, before bounding up the hill to win in great style by seven lengths. He was chased home nobly by Nicholls’ Bravemansgame, who gave the winner plenty to think about on the approach to the final few furlongs but, in the end, could never have outrun Mullins’ favourite. Starting at a price of 7/5f, Galopin Des Champs more than justified his price and defied his age showing pure talent. This win was the sixth of the Festival for his stable. The gelding was met in the winners’ enclosure by his delighted owners, who seemed quite in awe of their horse’s brilliance. It was certainly a captivating performance that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)

Lossiemouth 11/8f

Gala Marceau 100/30

Zenta 12/1

County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

Faivoir 33/1

Pied Piper 12/1

Filey Bay 6/1

Sharjah 10/1

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

Stay Away Fay 18/1

Affordale Fury 150/1