TrustATrader Plate Handicap

HARRY Redknapp has competed at the highest level as both a footballer and coach, was crowned King of the Jungle on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, and now is a Cheltenham Festival-winning over through Shakem Up’Arry (8/1), who took the TrustATrader Plate for trainer Ben Pauling and rider Ben Jones.

The 10-year-old won over this course and distance on New Year’s Day and off just a 3lb rise for that effort, he was delivered in top shape to repeat the feat. He jumped well from a prominent position and the winning of the race was his rider’s decision to really kick on in front between the final two fences, a pre-race instruction from Pauling.

Jones and Shakem Up’Arry had a three-length lead at the last and hard as both Crebilly and Straw Fan Jack tried to close him down on the far side, he still had a length and three quarters to spare at the line.

A delighted Redknapp said: “This is an incredible day and Ben gave him a fantastic ride. He travelled so well and I thought, ‘Please don’t stop now’. People behind me were going, ‘Go on Harry, he’s won!’ and I thought, ‘No he ain’t until he has passed the line’.

“To have a winner at the Cheltenham Festival has been my dream. I wouldn’t like to find out how my heart rate is. I’m so pleased that I’m lost for words.”

It was a fourth Festival success for Pauling, who cut a relieved figure afterwards. He said: “I campaigned this horse very badly in the early part of his career and put him against horses like Shishkin, so he’s deserved his big day and that’s that.

“The past two days have been really tough and there’s been a lot of talk about the Irish and the English, but to say that we don’t have the hunger for the game is so wrong. We have as much hunger as anyone, and Dan (Skelton) has proved that.

“It was a change of tactics as I told Ben [Jones] to go for it early as he always comes there travelling, looking like the winner, but doesn’t always go through with it. So I said, ‘If you turn for home going well, put some distance between yourself and then see if you can hang on.’ It’s great for Ben and it’s great for the team.”

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle

PAUL Nicholls went so close to a first 2024 Festival success with the brave Ginny’s Destiny in the opening race on Thursday but he didn’t have to wait long to get off the mark when Monmiral (25/1), once touted as a Champion Hurdle hope, came home best to take the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

Much like the opener, the Irish challenge failed to catch fire at all here, and this was a fourth handicap win from five at the Festival for the home team. It looked like Kyntara was going to provide Shropshire trainer Mel Rowley with a first Festival success only for Harry Cobden to time his challenge to perfection on the winner.

The pair were no better than eighth turning for home but motored down the stands’ side to just pip the long-time front runner.

Owned by Ged Mason, John Hales and Sir Alex Fersuon, the seven-year-old was a Grade 1-winning juvenile hurdler but failed to make the grade in open company over hurdles and then struggled to make progress as a novice chaser. Returning to hurdles here, he was a late qualifier for this contest, just about scraping fourth at Chepstow, but the application of blinkers for the first time seemed to do the trick here.

“This horse has loads of ability,” said the winning trainer. “We have been trying to make a chaser out of a hurdler, but he didn’t like it. I thought I would qualify him at Chepstow two weeks ago, and he actually needed the run that day as he hadn’t really finished a race for a long time.

“Freddie (Gingell) said to try him in blinkers and I listened to what he said. Whether they have made a difference I don’t know, but he has obviously come back to himself a little bit. I said to Harry, ‘Give him plenty of daylight as he doesn’t need to be boxed in’, and he gave him a beautiful ride.”

Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

THE Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle was pitted as a match between two well-touted mares from the two biggest yards in Ireland, but continuing the theme of this St Patrick’s Thursday, it was home team to the fore, with Jeremy Scott’s Golden Ace (10/1) fending off all challengers on the run-in.

As Jack Kennedy pulled his goggles down while moving Brighterdaysahead up alongside Birdie Or Bust and Rachael Blackmore in the straight, the pair looked in the driving seat, but it was soon apparent the danger was to his right and not left, where Jade De Grugy was, with Lorcan Williams still content to sit still on Golden Ace.

The daughter of Golden Horn duly picked up to put the race to bed, too quick for Gordon Elliott’s mare on the run in.

It was a first Festival success for Scott, who reflected afterwards: “It’s an emotional moment. I thought last year coming second with dear old Dashel Drasher (in Stayers’ Hurdle) was something, but this is very, very, very special.

“She was travelling so well. Her jumping wasn’t great – she jumped the last one probably the best of the lot. She just travelled well and always looked to have them covered.

“Lorcan is such a talent. He has a really cool head on him, he is a natural horseman and a cracking bloke on top of a horse. I’m really glad he has had the opportunity to shine and, hopefully, other trainers will use him as well.”

Brighterdaysahead, though beaten, remains a fine prospect having put up a solid effort in second, while Birdie Or Bust outran her market expectation with a game effort in third, just getting the better of Jade De Grugy on what was a rare blank day for Willie Mullins.