THE FESTIVAL-CHELTENHAM 2020 – DAY 2

Cheltenham Festival (Day 2)
Ferny finally justifies the hype
Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)

Ferny Hollow pulls clear

Willie Mullins and his Closutton team have long thought the world of Ferny Hollow and the 11/1 shot demonstrated just why with a smooth success in the £75,000 G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper. A £300,000 purchase from the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham February Sale in 2019, the five-year-old recorded a two and a half-length success, defeating stable companion Appreciate It, ridden by the trainer’s son Patrick and the 15/8 favourite. Ferny Hollow provided Mullins and Paul Townend with a first winner of The Festival™ presented by Magners 2020. Mullins was recording his 10th victory in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and a 66th victory at The Festival in total.

Ireland’s champion trainer was delighted to get on the scoresheet at this year’s meeting and said: “It’s a goal on the stroke of half-time! It’s nice to get on the board, anyhow. They are three nice horses – Five Bar Brian (11th) ran very well too. I thought Patrick had it won just after turning for home but could see Paul coming and he won quite easily in the end. He ran too freely on his first two runs and putting a hood on him has changed him, together with more drastic tactics – just holding him up and holding him up. He is lovely at home but gets a little bit upset in a race, so I think jumping will suit him a lot better. We will probably go for the Champion Bumper at Punchestown and maybe the same for Appreciate It. I think everyone was a little bit down as things weren’t going right but there you are. At least those three horses ran well and hopefully it is the turnaround.”