CHELTENHAM went ahead despite concerns about coronavirus and although crowds were down 5.5% over the four days, still a quarter of a million racegoers enjoyed another scinitillating Festival with thrilling top quality racing and tales of joy for some and heartache for others.
Last year, with a record attendance of 266,557 over the four days, the highlight of the week was what has become known as the “Golden Hour” in which Frodon under Bryony Frost, who became the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 at the Festival, landed the Ryanair and Paisley Park for blind owner, Andrew Gemmell, won the Stayers’ Hurdle.
It was always going to be a tall order for the Golden Hour to be repeated and alas for connections, both horses disappointed in their attempts to retain their crowns. Neither fired on the day although it transpired Paisley Park suffered a fibrillating heart during the race.
But there was still plenty to cheer about especially if your name was J P McManus who owned the winners of seven Festival races during the week, a quarter of all races won. None will surely have given him more pleasure than Epitante’s win in the Champion Hurdle which gave J P his ninth Champion Hurdle success on his 69th birthday and an eighth success in the race for trainer, Nicky Henderson.
Barry Geraghty, who was winning his fourth Champion Hurdle became the joint-winning most jockey in the race alongside Ruby Walsh and he and Paul Townend both ended up with five winners apiece. After winning the blue riband event for the second year running on Al Boum Photo, who became the first horse since Best Mate to win back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups, Townend became leading rider to secure the coveted Ruby Walsh Trophy, courtesy of more places.
Willie Mullins, who had to endure a winless first day bounced back with three winners during the next two days and a fabulous 2,196/1 four-timer on the final day which included the Gold Cup and this made him leading trainer for the week ahead of Gordon Elliott, courtesy of more third places!
Champ looked an unlikely winner going to the last in the RSA but the third favourite made up eight lengths to mow down Minella Indo in one of the races of the week. By contrast, 2/1 favourite, Goshen had the Triumph Hurdle at his mercy when some 10 lengths clear but he guessed at the obstacle and unseated the hapless and later inconsolable Jamie Moore. Who were the fortunate beneficiaries? Messrs Mullins and Townend!
There were of course the usual big-priced winners and two came on the final day. It Came To Pass won the Foxhunters at 66/1 while the final race of the week, the “Martin Pipe” for Conditional jockeys went the way of 25/1 winner, Indefatigable for trainer Paul Webber and jockey Rex Dingle. Both men were becoming first time Cheltenham Festival winners with the former declaring he “was the oldest Festival virgin.” Congratulations to the Master of Cropredy Lawn.
So, another gripping Festival comes and goes. Should it have gone ahead? Maybe…maybe not. But all who went to Prestbury Park and all who love the Festival are glad it did.
One thing’s for sure, given the Covid-19 pandemic. That will be the last major sporting spectacle in Britain and probably the world for some time. Racing may keep the show on the road but it faces several months of racing behind closed doors as the country battens down the hatches in conditions reminiscent of World War Two.
Thank you to all the participants, equine and human who put on a fabulous four-day show to give us plenty to cheer about before some very difficult and sombre times ahead…
