THE FESTIVAL-CHELTENHAM 2020 – DAY 4

Renton reflects on a memorable meeting

CHELTENHAM RACECOURSE

At the conclusion of another memorable week of racing at The Festival presented by Magners, the Regional Director, Cheltenham and the South West, Jockey Club Racecourses, Ian Renton, could look back with understandable pride. Renton said: “It has been the most unbelievable four days of racing and I think today we have seen one of the finest Magners Cheltenham Gold Cups of recent years. To see Al Boum Photo return and win the race for the second time in a row was fantastic, but the very first race of the meeting, the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle won by Shishkin, set the tone for some superb action. It was also lovely to see so many wonderful Cheltenham performers return and run so well again, none better than Samcro and Faugheen, who finished first and third in the Marsh Novices’ Chase. Min’s victory in yesterday’s Ryanair Chase was another example.”

Against the backdrop of the Coronavirus outbreak Cheltenham has followed Government advice throughout. Renton said: “The team here has done a highly-competent job in putting on the extra precautions and measures in line with the advice of the medical authorities, and the crowd has responded really responsibly. We advised people to follow Government health guidelines and stay away if they were in a vulnerable category, and a fair number opted to take that advice. We totally respected their decision and thank them for taking sensible precautions. For the large numbers who came here it has remained a wonderful four days of racing, the weather has been kind and they have witnessed some outstanding performances by horses and jockeys.”

“Following a very wet winter I would also like to mention the team of groundstaff under Head Groundsman Ben Hastie who have coped so well and done a brilliant job in preparing the course and the ground. We stayed on the soft side of good, but everyone has been highly complementary about the ground.”

More success for Mullins
G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle

Burning Victory

The filly Burning Victory was a lucky winner of the G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle, following Goshen’s mistake at the final flight of hurdles which unshipped jockey Jamie Moore. Burning Victory, a daughter of Nathaniel ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins – for whom it was a 69th victory at The Festival, and a fourth of the 2020 meeting – was a 12/1 chance and won by two and three-quarter lengths from Aspire Tower.

Mullins, who is now the leading trainer of all-time at The Festival, said: “I feel like a bit of an imposter in here [the winner’s enclosure]. I feel very sorry for Jamie and Gary [Moore, who trained Goshen]. It was their one shot of the meeting and they had all the work done. Jamie asked all the right questions coming to the last, asked him to take off and the horse just didn’t take off for him. These things happen unfortunately. I’m delighted to have a winner for my clients, but I feel hugely for Gary and Jamie, a father and son team. The whole year, and down it is.

“Burning Victory isn’t the best jumper in the world. She jumped the first two great and then missed the two down the back; Paul knew his race was over, but was riding maybe to get into the money if he could. But she has a huge engine – like yesterday’s filly Concertista [winner of the G2 Daylesford Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle], she’s by Nathaniel. A lovely, big filly, but needs to brush up her jumping. Hopefully she’ll do that. She’ll go back to Fairyhouse.

“It’s great for Greg [Turley, Burning Victory’s owner, along with his wife Audrey], because he hasn’t had too many horses with me but a few of them have been bad enough, so it’s nice that he’s got a nice one here.”

Monkfish is the catch of the day
G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

Monkfish and Paul Townend walking back in

Monkfish (5/1) landed a thrilling £130,630 G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle to provide Closutton maestro Willie Mullins with a 506/1 treble on day four of The Festival™ presented by Magners 2020.

Owned by Rich Ricci and ridden by Paul Townend, the six-year-old rallied gamely in the closing stages to deny the Paul Nolan-trained Latest Exhibition (9/2) by a neck, with Gordon Elliott’s Fury Road (5/1) a further nose behind in third.

Mullins had already hit the scoresheet this afternoon with Burning Victory (12/1, G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle) and Saint Roi (11/2 favourite, G3 Randox Health County Hurdle).

He is the leading trainer of all time at The Festival with this being his 71st winner in total.

He said: “Monkfish looks a real chaser. I don’t think the race went according to plan for Paul – he was just doing a little too much for him but he found himself there.

“I thought Paul gave him a fantastic ride to extract him out behind the two horses. I thought that we were settled for third when they passed him after jumping the last but Paul really drove him up the hill. I am delighted for Paul to get a winner in that fashion.

“The first time we ran him, we wondered if he would ever win a race. We were so disappointed – you would swear he was never on a racetrack, he was very green and immature.

“Monkfish is maturing all the time and Paul said that he felt there is still more to come – he said you could feel the power coming when he got after him. He is a huge, big horse but, if he has to come back and win a Stayers’ Hurdle, we won’t complain either.”

Photo has the Boum factor to create history for Mullins
G1 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup

Al Boum Photo

Al Boum Photo (100/30 favourite) became the first back-to-back winner of the £625,000 G1 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup since Best Mate (2002, 2003 & 2004) with an electric success in Jump Racing’s Blue Riband event.

Ridden by Paul Townend, Al Boum Photo produced a scintillating leap at the final fence and held on gamely in the closing stages to deny the gallant Santini (5/1) to register a neck success in the extended three and a quarter-mile event.

Al Boum Photo, an eight-year-old son of Buck’s Boum also became the first horse since Kauto Star (2007 & 2009) to win the race twice. He enjoyed the same preparation for this year’s race as when he captured the 2019 Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup having won his only other start this in the G3 Savills Chase at Tramore on New Year’s Day.

Mullins is enjoying a special day in the Cotswolds, with this being his fourth winner in succession following the victories of Burning Victory (12/1, G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle), Saint Roi (11/2 favourite, G3 Randox Health County Hurdle) and Monkfish (5/1, G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle). Al Boum Photo’s success allowed Mullins to complete a 2,196/1 four-timer.

The master of Closutton, registering his seventh victory of the week at The Festival™ presented by Magners 2020 and his 72nd victory overall at the meeting said: “We’re delighted to win the race for the second year running with Al Boum Photo.

“We just decided not to break winning formula and just take in the same preparation as he did last year. Don’t break a winning formula when it works and it’s paid off thankfully.

“I thought this year’s Gold Cup wasn’t anything like last year’s. I was just thinking if he had a clear round and a bit of luck then it was all to play for.

“I was happy throughout and Paul was brave on him at the last. Paul’s plan came together and I’m delighted for him as well as Marie and Joe Donnelly, so I am just delighted.

“It’s fantastic and an absolutely unbelievable day. Paul does his own thing and he probably rides better under a little bit of pressure.

“It’s really, really good for him. I am delighted for Paul. To take over from someone like Ruby Walsh – Paul has come and stamped his authority on his season in Ireland riding for our yard.

“It is a tough act to follow, but he is Paul Townend, stable jockey to Willie Mullins and he is top-class – I’m really pleased for him.

“I asked what Paul was going to do and he sort of said what he was going to do. I think the horse just ignored the actions of Paul and he didn’t disappoint the horse – he let the horse do it. That’s a rider riding with huge confidence. It worked out and I am really happy and delighted for Paul.”

Mullins is now heading the Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award with seven winners.