AS the Cheltenham Festival loomed, so too did the spread of Covid-19 in Britain, and the Mecca of jump racing found itself in the eye of the storm, attempting to stage a major international sporting event with 250,000 spectators at just the point scientists were telling governments they should be instigating a national lockdown.
Measures were taken to increase hygiene and protection for racegoers, but it was hard to escape the feeling that the event should not be taking place at all.
PR backlash
In terms of its impact as an outdoor gathering, its effect could not be compared to that of an entire nation continuing to go to work, travel internationally, commute on packed trains and socialise without restriction at this time, but many feared the PR backlash that the sport would face in subsequent weeks and months for the festival going ahead.
The festival did take place, and, from a purely sporting perspective, it was as exciting, thrilling, and competitive as in any year. Day one saw the crowning of a new Champion Hurdler, as Epatante took full advantage of both her mares’ allowance and her sharp turn of foot to beat Sharjah.
Henry de Bromhead scored a famous double as Put The Kettle On outjumped her rivals in the Arkle, before Honeysuckle got the better of a stirring battle with Benie Des Dieux in the Mares’ Hurdle under an inspired Rachael Blackmore.
Politologue’s day
Wednesday’s Champion Chase had looked like being a vintage renewal but first Altior and then Chacun Pour Soi succumbed to minor setbacks, seemingly leaving it at the mercy of Defi De Seuil, but he failed to fire.
It was the popular grey Politologue who had his day in the sun, having played a supporting role in the race in recent seasons. Champ came from the clouds to snatch the RSA Chase from under the very nose of Minella Indo and provide Barry Geraghty with one of five winners at what was to prove his final Cheltenham Festival.
Meanwhile Envoi Allen gave a star performance in the Ballymore Hurdle that promised much more to come.
Min magic
We were reminded that there are no certainties in racing by the outcome of the Stayers’ Hurdle which fell to 50/1 outsider Lisnagar Oscar as hot favourite Paisley Park faltered with a fibrillating heart.
Earlier on day three, Min had finally gained a deserved festival victory when gritting it out up the hill to deny Saint Calvados in the Ryanair.
Al Boum Photo again
Gold Cup day began in the most dramatic style when Goshen, who had taken the Triumph Hurdle field apart and was still well clear, blundered and unseated his rider in bizarre circumstances, leaving Jamie Moore desolate on the Prestbury turf, and Burning Victory to score a fortunate win for Willie Mullins.
Monkfish nosed out his rivals in a frenetic Albert Bartlett Hurdle finish, but all this served as mere appetisers for the week’s – indeed the season’s – centrepiece, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
In an absorbing race, run more sedately than usual, many horses appeared to hold a chance in the straight, but it was 2019 winner s Al Boum Photo who wrote his name in the annals of history as a repeat winner of jump racing’s blue riband, as he held off the fast-finishing Santini by a neck, with Lostintranslation and Monalee close behind.
It was a rousing finale to a dramatic and remarkable day’s racing.