IN an era where double figure tallies for Irish-trained horses at Cheltenham have become frequent things, it moved on to a new high last March as the raiders enjoyed a meeting like no other at Prestbury Park.
A final haul of 19 winners from this side of the Irish Sea was quite extraordinary. At times during the week it seemed as though Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott had merely transferred their domestic rivalry to the UK for four days and the pair both notched up six victories apiece.
Elliott shaded the champion trainer title at the meeting by virtue of a superior number of second place finishers.
The meeting began with something of a surprise in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. Labaik’s ability was never in doubt but his willingness to start was quite a concern as he had refused to jump off in his three previous outings. He was perhaps the most enigmatic horse on show all week but when he put it all together he showed just what he was capable of.
Later in the day the grey’s stablemate and brilliant mare Apple’s Jade shaded a titanic for the Mares’ Hurdle and former Triumph Hurdle hero Tiger Roll then landed the National Hunt Chase under Lisa O’Neill to make it a treble for Elliott.
It was more of the same the following afternoon as Festival regular Cause Of Causes landed the cross country chase while the sadly ill-fated Fayonagh then produced that amazing last to first charge to claim the bumper.
MULLINS ON THE BOARD
After two days Willie Mullins had still to record a winner and had seen the brilliant Douvan come home injured after meeting with defeat in the Champion Chase.
What a difference a day makes though and the Thursday of the meeting yielded a memorable four-timer for Mullins.
A clinical Yorkhill answered his doubters in the JLT Novices Chase, Un De Sceaux was his usual flamboyant self in the Ryanair and a resurgent Nichols Canyon emerged from left field to bag the Stayers’ Hurdle.
The day was rounded off by Let’s Dance who justified her position as a long term banker for the meeting by securing the second running of the mares’ novice hurdle.
A further two winners for Mullins followed on Friday as the former Champion Hurdle second Arctic Fire returned from 418 days off the track to produce the County Hurdle’s best weight carrying performance in 57 years.
Penhill, whose career began in the relatively modest surroundings of a Tramore maiden hurdle, rounded off a fine week for his trainer in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle.
Later in the day a victory for Champagne Classic in the Martin Pipe sealed the leading trainer’s award for Elliott.
SPECCIAL TIARA
Elsewhere, the admirable Special Tiara provided Henry de Bromhead with the crowning moment of an exceptional season as he finally claimed the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the fourth attempt.
The wily Pat Kelly made it two wins in as many years at the meeting as the high-class Presenting Percy ran riot in the Pertemps Final.
Meanwhile, Alan Fleming and leading owner Barry Connell combined with Tully East to land the novices’ handicap chase on the opening day of the meeting.
Appropriately, Noel Meade’s best season for some time yielded another Festival triumph as Road To Respect became the first runner from these shores to win the Festival Plate since 1982.