CHELTENHAM 2021 brought unprecedented Irish success and one of the highlights was that some new names got on the Festival roll of honour.

None more so than jockey Kevin Sexton, who teamed up with the Peter Fahey-trained Belfast Banter, in the colours of Fergal O’Neill’s Direct Bloodstock, to win Friday’s County Hurdle.

Sexton and Fahey had travelled in hope of success with Royal Kahala, who went off favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. After she disappointed they thought their best chance was gone.

But 33/1 shot Belfast Banter soon put a smile back on their faces and Sexton gave one of the best post-race interviews of the week, explaining the importance of the win to him.

Still on a high this week, he told The Irish Field: “It was unbelievable, it still hasn’t really sunk in what happened. I was just trying to thank everyone.

“I’m still going through messages on my phone since Friday – it’s hard to keep up with everything. I’ll milk it as long as I can!”

Dark days

After a six-month suspension back in 2017, the former champion conditional rider had doubts if he wanted to return to the sport.

“I didn’t ride for probably a year and a half. The plan was to go to America and I rang Peter just a few weeks before I was due to go, just to ride out.”

The support of the Fahey team and his association with their popular chaser Peregrine Run got him back on the road.

“Peregrine Run was my first ride back. He went on and won a Grade 3. I still wasn’t sure I was doing the right thing coming back but being involved with him, he put me back in love with racing. It’s down to the likes of him and all those owners and I haven’t stopped since. There’s nothing else I know or nothing else I’m any good at.”

Recalling last week’s great win he said: “I had more hopes for the mare but she came home with a couple of little problems – I didn’t think it was going to happen after she got ‘bet’. I’d hoped Belfast Banter would run well but I could never picture him winning.”

Cool ride

Sexton rode the coolest of races, with still half the field in front of him after the second last.

“He’s just a horse that you can’t go for him until the very last second and when you do you have to make sure you are after timing it properly.

“It went wrong a few times but it was great to get it right on the big day. To be fair to him everything I asked, he put his head out, even when I jumped the last and I gave him a belt, he put his head out again.

“It’s such a long run-in on that course, listening to Ruby and Barry all week talking about how they used to ride it, it gave me good confidence to never be in a panic.

“I’ve been associated with Peter for a long time, I think I had my second ever ride on the track for Peter when I was an apprentice. I’ve been associated with the Faheys since before I could ride, I actually learned to ride with Peter’s brother, Seamus.

“I’ve always been around and they have always stuck by me. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am. The winner was a way of saying thanks to him for everything he’s done.

Great effort

Along with the rest of the Irish riders and staff who travelled to the Cotswolds, he pays gratitude to the team in the IHRB and HRI.

“Jennifer Pugh was on WhatsApp nearly every day reminding us to do the right things. It was great effort by her and her team. A lot of credit goes to them and they don’t get enough credit. I’m just back from doing my five-day Covid test over in the Curragh and they are still working.”

The future looks rosy in the wake of last week’s big win. Royal Kahala came back with a few small issues “but we’ll get her sorted”, while Peregrine Run is being prepared for a summer campaign.

“We’ll aim him at the summer festivals. He looks unbelievable though I haven’t sat on him yet. He’s starting to do a bit of work. I have nice horses to look forward to for the winter and the summer.”

But having his name on the Festival roll of honour is going to take some topping.

“I can’t complain, I’ve ridden my 16th winner this season. It goes quiet at times but it picks up, I’m happy enough with it. If I rode 16 winners every year and a Cheltenham winner, I’d be happy!”