Disappointing day for Royal raiders at Cheltenham
While Willie Mullins enjoyed a piece of history at Cheltenham today there was more disappointment of Meath connections as the wait for a first winner of the festival goes on.
Mullins bagged his second successive treble of the festival with Jasmin De Vaux holding off Gordon Elliott's pair Romeo Coolio and Jalon D'oudairies to mark the Carlow trainers 100th festival winner in the concluding bumper on Wednesday's card.
Bective Stud's wait for a first Cheltenham festival winner goes on as The Yellow Clay was sixth in the concluding bumper, and the famous green and white colours went close in a couple of other features.
With the Cross-Country race abandoned following heavy overnight rain, today's card was reduced to six races with Mullins getting off to a flying start with hot 1/2 favourite Ballyburn claiming the Novice Hurdle in a 1-2-3-4-5 for the Carlow trainer.
The second race of the day, the Novices Chase, saw the first local runner of the day, but again there was disappointment for Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud as American Mike had to settle for fifth behind hugely impressive winner Fact To File for the Mullins team.
Langer Dan retained the Coral Cup with Elliott's Beacon Edge in ninth, while Jigoro and Western Fold were both pulled up.
There was a huge upset in the Queen Mother Champion Chase when 2/9 favourite El Fabiolo fluffed his take off and landing at the fifth and pulled up which allowed Rachel Blackmore another huge race to her name on the Henry deBromhead trained Captain Guinness.
Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue got within six lengths of winner Unexpected Party as Path D'oroux was third in the Challenge Cup. Elliott's fancied Sa Fureur was a further seven lengths back in fourth. Cromwell's other charge in the race The King of Prs fell at the last when well off the pace.
Mullins notched his 100th festival winner in the concluding race as the wait for a first local winner goes on.
Maybe there will be better luck tomorrow for Eliiot pair Teahupoo and Brighterdaysahead.
Teahupoo, favourite for the Stayers’ Hurdle and a runner up last year has been minded since his superb Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace victory back in December and he arrives at Cheltenham a fresh horse.
Teahupoo will love the ground and is reportedly a stronger and improved horse this season. The change in tactics in the lead up to the race with this smart stayer may eke out the improvement required to land Thursday’s big prize.
2023 winner and stablemate, Sire Du Berlais, is back to defend his crown and he enjoys this time of year, however, no twelve-year-old has ever won this race.
The biggest danger to Teahupoo looks to be the improving Crambo. A progressive winner of the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December when he outbattled Paisley Park, he has plenty of potential to make a top class stayer.
Noble Yeats added to his glittering career when landing the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over course and distance at Prestbury Park on Cheltenham Trials day. Cheekpieces are back on. Former Stayers’ Hurdle winners Cromwell's Flooring Porter and Paisley Park shouldn’t be overlooked. (additional reporting irishracing.com)