The final day of the festival started with quality coming to the fore. Despite all the positive noises about Charlie Parcs, Defi Du Seuil showed why he came into the Triumph Hurdle a top rated by extending his winning streak. Travelling comfortably throughout he quickened like a very good horse when in the straight to score a big win for Phillip Hobbs. The quality continued to shine in the County Hurdle as the first two in the weights, Arctic Fire and L'Ami Serge shared a photograph for first, with the Willie Mullins runner taking the spoils.
As expected, Death Duty was beaten before they got to the hill in the Albert Bartlett and it continues to be a race that eludes classy horses. Turning in Wholestone looked to have an excellent chance when switched to the rail and in the end was just outpaced by quicker horses. Both the winner and the second look excellent prospects for next year and are sure to feature on this card in the years to come.
In the main event, the clash between the two favourites seemed to be on as Djakadam laid down the challenge to long term leader Native River when turning for home, but in the end neither had the speed or staying ability to stop Sizing John who benefitted from a slow pace to claim victory which looked assured from the time he jumped the last in front. It was a great ride from Robbie Power conserving energy on the inside rail the whole way around. The fact that Minella Rocco stayed on so well makes me question if Native River quite has the speed on an undulating course as he does on the flat. I would be very interested to see the horse if he turns up at Aintree in a few weeks time. As for the winner, he remains unexposed over a long distance test and could well be back in good form to defend his crown next year. It will certainly be interesting to see what he delivers off of a stronger pace.
On the Fringe just never quite got going in the Foxhunters as Pacha Du Polder - famously the mount of Victoria Pendleton last year - was given a beautiful ride to put his nose out in front despite the late challenge from stablemate Wonderful Charm, giving Paul Nicholls some much needed prize money. It will be interesting to see whether he can maintain his place in the trainers championship running up to the season finale at Sandown in April. Champagne Classic was a worthy winner of the Martin Pipe before Rock the World went two better than last year to claim the grand annual on a great day for Jessica Harrington in a perfect end to the festival.
Favourite Moments of the Week
13. Willoughby Court downs the Wolf
Considered to be the banker for many, Neon Wolf rode like the good horse that he is and worked his way into the race, but the front-running Willoughby Court showed he's as gutsy as he is quick. Both are set to go chasing next year so hopefully this will be the first of several clashes between the pair.
12. Pacha wins for Pendo
One year on from coming a fast finishing fifth under Victoria Pendleton, Pacha Du Polder landed the Foxhunters to give Paul Nicholls his first winner of the week.
11. Sizing John remains unexposed
Jumping the last there was only one horse who was going to win the Gold Cup and that was Sizing John who completed an Anglo-Irish Gold Cup double. He has only run twice at trips over three miles and has won both. Some may argue that the slower pace helped him stay in the race, but by all accounts he was a worthy winner and heads to Punchestown with his distance record intact.
10. Willie's comeback kings
You can't beat Cheltenham Form and as Willie Mullins mounted a comeback of his own having had no winners for the first two days, it was several of his less renowned stable stars who got their days in the sun as Nichols Canyon won the Stayers having been placed in a Champion Hurdle, Arctic Fire won the county hurdle having been second in 2014 and second in the Champion Hurdle in 2015 and Un De Sceaux bounced back to win the Ryanair having been beaten by Sprinter Sacre last year.
9. Fehily's big race double
What a week for Noel Fehily - Being third in the stayers (albeit on the favourite) and second in the Gold Cup would've made it a good week in anyones books, but add a Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase win to the list then it has to be one of the best weeks a jockey (who isn't Ruby Walsh) has every enjoyed. Buveur D'Air and Special Tiara's wins were both memorable for different reasons - the former switching back to hurdles from fences and the latter taking advantage of a failing favourite but both were delivered with assured jockeyship to win when it mattered.
8. Defi Delivers
The pressure that was on Phillip Hobbs to deliver probably didn't show until after the Triumph hurdle. There was a rush of people (me included) willing to take on his hot favourite for the Triumph - who now looks one of the most exciting prospects for the Champion Hurdle or Arkle next year - but the favourite delivered in style to kick off the final day of the meeting and was truly class. The relief of the Hobbs team and delight of the horses groom made this a heart-warming win for a horse that is clearly riddled with talent but means a lot to them.
7. Un Temps Pour Tout wins off of top weight
It takes a very good horse to win a handicap off top weight but to win one as good as the Ultima after winning the race last year takes an exceptional one. Tom Scudamore delivered a foot perfect performance from Un Temps Pour Tout to see off Singlefarmpayment and Noble Endeavour (both surely future grade 1 horses) and land back to back victories in the race. Superb ride and a superb horse that will surely have to step up to the Gold Cup test next time he returns to Cheltenham.
6. Jade becomes new Queen of Cheltenham
Undoubtedly one of the most exciting finished of the festival was in the mares hurdle - a race that's usually dominated by one standout talent suddenly had three top quality animals and it was the Gigginstown mare moved from Willie Mullins yard to rival Gordon Elliott at the start of the year who stayed on gamely to split the pair in the end. Hopefully a sign of things to come as the race grows in stature.
5. Tiger Roll completes the Triumph/4 Mile double
Surely a unique statistic. He came into the race as top rated but no-one quite believed that little Tiger Roll - a horse off the flat could win over fences, let alone over 4 miles - but he did. In an exceptionally calm ride by Lisa O'Neill he was nursed around and his quality showed in the end when forging clear in the amateurs race.
4. Ruby Walsh produces a masterclass
Described as the single greatest display of jockeyship ever seen; beginning with calming the maniac Yorkhill, produced at just the right time to stop him idling too long in front; letting another maniac in Un De Sceaux bowl along in front in the Ryanair; giving a stalking energy conserving ride to Nichols Canyon, before admittedly a steering job on Let's Dance - sensational jockeyship from Cheltenham's number one.
3. Labaik wins the Supreme
A superb horse and a massive quirkbag - he refuses to race and he wins. What's not to like. From the moment the beautiful grey set off it was in the back of my mind to watch him and see how good he was. As it turned out he was very good. Ironically if he refuses again he could be banned from racing, or, he could win a Champion Hurdle!
2. Un De Sceaux beats O'Leary's in the Ryanair
The equine performance of the week was certainly Un De Sceaux. Deciding the pace wasn't quick enough, he tugged Ruby Walsh into the race with well over a mile to go and then just didn't stop. Inch perfect at all bar one of his fences, we then saw the perfect rhythm of horse and jockey as he pinged the last and stayed on up the hill. The best bit being that the two horses that followed him home were both owned by Gigginstown with the owner still not winning his own race.
1. Might Bite throws it away, then gets it back.
How talented is Might Bite? - This had everything we love about horse racing. Going from the front, nothing could stay with him after a circuit. He jumped majestically and ate up the ground in front of him and then - almost sensing it was the last fence suddenly looked in trouble, needing his jockey to pull him over it before wandering off up the run-in, pulling his way back to the stables, only to then be switched to follow a loose horse and get up to deny the fast finishing whisper by a nose in the dying strides. It was poetry - they doubted he'd get up the hill and they were right, but he won anyway. A serious serious talent.
Shrews Shrewdies - Winners and Placed Horses
Altior 1/4 (1st)
Singlefarmpayment 10/1 (2nd - by a nose)
Apples Jade 4/1 (1st)
Golden Present 12/1 (2nd)
Apples Jade, Vroum Vroum Mag, Limini Trifecta 21.78/1 (1st,2nd,3rd)
Willoughby Court 14/1 (1st)
Might Bite 4/1 (1st)
Divin Bere 6/1 (2nd)
Un De Sceaux 5/2 (1st)
Let's Dance 11/8 (1st)
Yorkhill, Un De Sceaux, Let's Dance Treble (all 1st)
Taquin Du Seuil 20/1 (2nd)
Barney Dwan 33/1 (2nd)
Wholestone 6/1 (3rd)
Runfordave 8/1 (3rd)
Coo De Sivola 16/1 (4th)
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