WHEN his horse came up the Cheltenham hill in front in one of the championship races to earn his place in the coveted number one spot in the winner’s enclosure, it was a dream come true for owner Declan Landy. “You don’t get much better than that,” he reflected this week, still on cloud nine. “I’m in outer space, never mind cloud nine!”

Yes, the winner was called Captain Guinness because the name Arthur Guinness wasn’t available – so there was only really one answer to the question. - “How did you celebrate?” “Plenty of Guinness!” was the quick answer.

Landy and a large group of family and friends made the traditional pilgrimage in hope for the fourth year in a row.

“Absolutely brilliant,” is the summary from the popular owner, well known at our racetracks. “It was looking a good race but the way the race unfolded it was looking better the whole time. I’m still hoarse from cheering. We had stayed there a few days and came back home Thursday night but I wasn’t so good Thursday morning!”

The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding was mirroring a former stablemate in Special Tiara in a case of, if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again, winning on his fourth attempt at the Festival and his second in the Champion Chase.

The gelding had been knocked out of the Supreme at the second last when travelling well in 2020, raced too freely in taking on Allmankind in the Arkle in 2021 and came up against a brilliant champion when finishing second to Energemene in last year’s Champion Chase.

“He was unfortunate the first year, and then you kept bumping into better opposition,” his owner said.

The win was even more rewarding as Landy bought the now nine-year-old as a two-year-old and the winning partnership with Blackmore goes back to his first run when winning his maiden hurdle at 20/1 Navan over four years ago.

Brilliant ride

“It was brilliant for the yard and for Henry, and Rachael gave him a brilliant ride. It was great for Rachael to win on him as well.”

Landy recounted the horse’s backstory in The Owner column in this paper a few years back. “We bought him out of Desmond Guinness’ Leixlip Castle, after Ollie (Harrington), recommended him to me. He was bred by Des’ friend, Arthur Fennelly, who was farm manager at the castle. There’s a famous hill in Leixlip called Captain’s Hill and that’s how the name Captain Guinness came together.”

The win was one of the most popular of the week and Landy acknowleged how much support and congratulations he received. “It was good of Willie Mullins and J.P.; they came over and they were delighted as well. Great sportsmanship on their behalf.”

Though his owner is a big fan of Aintree, plans are still fluid for the gelding with Sandown’s Celebration Chase more likely on the agenda. “I’ve not been talking to Henry but Sandown would give him a bit more time.”

Where ever he goes, his owner won’t be forgetting Cheltenham, March 2024 for a long time.