Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle

RACHAEL Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead had already carved out their place in Cheltenham Festival folklore, through a host of big-race exploits over recent years, and that lasting impact on the meeting was cemented even further when Bob Olinger plundered the Stayers’ Hurdle to wrap up a full set of championship race wins at the meeting.

And what a manner the feat was achieved in too. Striking with Robcour’s veteran campaigner, who is now unbeaten in four visits to Cheltenham (including three at the Festival), Blackmore was at her very best to deny Jack Kennedy back-to-back wins in the race on 15/8 favourite Teahupoo, setting her sights on the reigning champion from off the pace and picking him off with immense precision on the run-in.

In a memorable 1-2 for Robcour, a length and three-quarters was the winning margin, with a further eight lengths back to The Wallpark in third.

Even with Home By The Lee being wiped out of the race at the sixth, when hampered by Crambo, it ended up being an Irish 1-2-3-4-5-6, with Rocky’s Diamond running a cracker at 28/1 for Declan Queally under Shane Fitzgerald in fourth. Paul and Jack Gilligan had Buddy One run with plenty of credit in fifth at 50/1, while Franciscan Rock claimed sixth for Mouse Morris and Gavin Brouder.

“Rachael was brilliant on him,” de Bromhead beamed after his first Stayers’ success, with a horse who had looked suspect over this trip several times in the past.

“We’d said if you’re going to get beaten, get beaten for coming too late. We were lucky, Home By The Lee was very unlucky, we got the right side of that. I’m delighted for the horse, he’s an incredible horse. He had such a reputation a few years ago, things didn’t work out as well as we thought, but to see him come back and do that is amazing. I’m delighted for everyone involved, especially David Roche, my assistant at home, who would take a bullet for this horse. He adores him.

“I remember I was at a preview a few weeks ago, and I wouldn’t look at the betting, but I was like ‘Oh my God, he is 66-1’ and I just couldn’t believe it.”

There were no such fancy prices available on the day. Bob Olinger was backed into 8/1, having been 20/1 in the morning.

Blackmore added: “He’s unbeaten here. One day it was a fortuitous win, but you need a bit of luck too - and he gets it here. I could have easily run into the faller [Crambo] - we got lucky there - but you need that. It was a great ride everywhere and I had plenty of horse.”

Jack Kennedy, rider of Teahupoo (second)

“No excuse, really. Maybe if the ground was a shade slower, it would have taken the sting out of the winner a little bit, but no excuse. I was probably left [in front] a little bit early, but he’s a genuine horse who would gallop away in front there. Bob Olinger is a horse with loads of ability and he’s put it all together today.”

Mark Walsh, rider of The Wallpark (third)

“They slowed it up at the third last hurdle and he wasn’t travelling with me, so I pulled him out wide and he came back to life. He’s run a cracker.”

Declan Queally Jr, assistant trainer of Rocky’s Diamond (fourth)

“I’m delighted with him. He stayed well and got the trip. He paid for his trip over, so I’m happy. He’s only five, so we’ll take him home and give him a chance; he could go to Punchestown. He’s done so well in a short space of time and that’s a hell of a run against older, more experienced horses. He’s so genuine. Shane [Fitzgerald] said he couldn’t believe how strongly he hit the line.”

Jack Gilligan, rider of Buddy One (fifth)

“He ran a blinder and loves it here. He just hit a flat spot at the wrong time and I had to sit and suffer on him. He rallied to the line.”