Key events
“All credit goes to the trainer [JJ O’Shea], and I’ve got a great horse here,” says Henry Crow, after finding out AP McCoy rated his effort the best winning ride of the entire festival. “He rode like God,” says AP. High praise indeed.
Cheltenham 4.40 result
1 Barton Snow (Mr H Crow) 9-2
2 Its On The Line (Mr D O’Connor) 7-2 Fav
3 Music Drive (Miss Ellie Callwood) 33-1
23 ran. Also: 16-1 Golden Son 4th
Non Runner: 24
Barton Snow wins the Hunters’ Chase
A nicely-timed run from jockey Henry Crow, keeping enough in the tank to outlast Its On The Line in a two-horse battle down the straight.
Hunters’ Chase: Its On The Line takes the lead from Barton Snow, with Panda Boy, Golden Son and Music Drive in contention. Barton Snow has the edge over the last …
Hunters’ Chase: Its On The Line is going well on the outside – apologies, not pulled up after all – although Stattler and Paul Marvel have been tailed off. Three to go …
Hunters’ Chase: The grey Panda Boy leads a group on the outside, with Gracchus De Balme still leading Barton Snow on the rail. Ten fences to jump …
Hunters’ Chase: Gracchus De Balme the early leader, the field fairly spread out early on. Barton Snow in behind, while Stattler has struggled to settle.
It’s time for the penultimate race of the week – the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase. Or Hunters’ Chase for short.
Harry Redknapp: “He [The Jukebox Man] was travelling well until the second last, [but] I think he’s got a little wind problem we need to sort out. No excuses though, the winner was fantastic. It’s been a great week, this would have been the icing on the cake, but I won the King George! Ben Jones and Ben Pauling have been terrific with him.”
Never mind Harry – it’ll all be forgotten on Monday when you’re back in the Spurs job.
The death of any horse after a race is tragic, and there were two fatalities earlier this week: HMS Seahorse and Hansard. It’s inevitable Envoi Allen will cast a greater shadow, as a three-time winner here and a Cheltenham great. The fact he was set for retirement makes it all the more cruel, and might raise questions over the decision for him to run.
Now we hear from some of the Gold Cup defeated jockeys, with Sean Bowen saying Haiti Couleurs “didn’t travel at all.” Nico de Boinville is content with second on Jango Baie after a brilliant ride from Townend, while France’s Clement Lefebvre had a “fantastic day” despite finishing seventh on Gold Tweet.
Envoi Allen has died after collapse following Gold Cup
Sadly, the worst news is confirmed: Envoi Allen has died, having collapsed after running in the Gold Cup.
4.40 Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase
Its On The Line – 4/1
Panda Boy – 4/1
Cons Roc – 6/1
Wonderwall – 15/2
Barton Snow – 8/1
Solitary Man – 14/1
Golden Son – 16/1
Stattler – 16/1
Willitgoahead – 18/1
Wrappedupinmay – 22/1
Bar 22/1
4.40 Market Movers
Odds from Oddschecker, Market Movers via Midnite.
Some troubling news to report: Envoi Allen collapsed on the way back to the paddock after that race, and is being treated behind green screens. More news when we get it, here’s hoping he is OK; this Gold Cup was supposed to be his final race before retirement.
Cheltenham 4.00 result
1 Gaelic Warrior (Paul Townend) 11-4 Jt Fav
2 Jango Baie (N de Boinville) 11-4 Jt Fav
3 Inothewayurthinkin (Mark Walsh) 11-1 10 ran
Also: 16-1 Grey Dawning 4th. Non Runner: 10
It’s also a Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup double for Paul Townend, and both on late replacements. It’s his fifth Gold Cup victory, and his 42nd career win at the festival. Few can have been more satisfying: he kept a keen horse in check and found his line at the perfect time to win by a huge distance.
A fifth Gold Cup win for Mullins, but a first for owner Rich Ricci, who also won the Champion Hurdle with Lossiemouth on Tuesday. “I’ve been trying to win this race for 21 years,” he says. “I was crying from the second last and I haven’t stopped. I love this sport, long may it last.”
The winning trainer, Willie Mullins: “Delighted for [owners] the Riccis, and for Paul … can you imagine what was going through my mind at the last fence? The way he did it, he got everything right and put in a tremendous round of jumping. Fantastic.”
Paul Townend: “I’m speechless … we were dealt a blow with Galopin Des Champs being out … Patrick put in a lot of work on this horse, I’m just fortunate to be on his back today. I got the position I wanted, and he just ran away with it. I just had to stay on him!”
Gaelic Warrior wins the Gold Cup!
It’s a dominant victory for Gaelic Warrior, ridden home by Paul Townend for Willie Mullins. Jango Bair holds off a late surge from Inothewayurthinkin, while The Jukebox Man fades on the final run in.
Gold Cup: Gaelic Warrior accelerates away, and only the last fence can stop him now … he’s over it safely, and romps even further clear down the home straight!
Gold Cup: Over the last ditch and the leaders stay in formation, but Jango Baie and Gaelic Warrior make moves to the outside and Haiti Couleurs stretches over a fence. Two to jump, and Gaelic Warrior is making a charge …
Gold Cup: With 10 to jump, Haiti Couleurs turns up the pace, but the other contenders behind are still moving along nicely. Grey Dawning makes a mistake but recovers to stay second …
Gold Cup: L’Homme Presse joins Inothewayurthinkin in dropping to the back, and the defending champion makes another error over a fence. Haiti Couleurs leads a group of five at the front, with The Jukebox Man, Grey Dawning, Gaelic Warrior and Jango Baie close behind.
Gold Cup: Grey Dawning moves into second, with The Jukebox Man in third on the outside. Jango Baie is ticking along behind Gaelic Warrior …
Gold Cup: Gaelic Warrior edges in front early, but as the pace slows, Haiti Couleurs takes up the running. Inothewayurthinkin is labouring slightly at the back …
Gold Cup: The sun comes out for the big race, and they get away first time, the starter letting them go from a long way back …
The Gold Cup is about to begin
Dark clouds, blue sky and even a rainbow over the hills as the 10 runners make their way to the start. Gaelic Warrior looked a little unsettled in the paddock; the tension is palpable, a packed grandstand hushed to a whisper.
Harry Redknapp: “This is just as nerve-wracking as football … at least there, you can change things at half-time! It’s all systems go, but it’s a tough race, anyone has a chance. Every jump, I’ll jump with him.”
Would he take over at Spurs? “I would, but I doubt it’ll happen! I’d go in and have a crack, it’s a big challenge. Do I need the pressure at my age? I’m not too old, I feel fit as a fiddle. If they ask me, I could do a job. Kranjcar, Defoe and Crouchy are all coming back too!”
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The rain is falling now – possibly even some sleet – as the weather takes a further turn. How might that affect the big race?
Next up … it’s the Gold Cup. Will Inothewayurthinkin defy recent form and retain the trophy? Can Harry Redknapp’s The Jukebox Man get a result? Or is your money on Mullins’ Gaelic Warrior, or Henderson’s Jango Baie? Here are the latest odds:
4.00 Boodles Gold Cup
Gaelic Warrior – 3/1
Jango Baie – 3/1
The Jukebox Man – 7/2
Haiti Couleurs – 11/2
Inothewayurthinkin – 8/1
Grey Dawning – 16/1
Firefox – 22/1
Envoi Allen – 33/1
Lhomme Presse – 50/1
Gold Tweet – 100/1
NR – Spillanes Tower
Market Movers
Gaelic Warrior (10/3 into 11/4)
Jango Baie (5/1 into 10/3)
Inothewayurthinkin (9/1 into 7/1)
Odds from Oddschecker, Market Movers by Midnite.
Cheltenham 3.20 result
1 Johnny’s Jury (G Sheehan) 20-1
2 Fruit De Mer (Sean Flanagan) 28-1
3 The Passing Wife (Keith Donoghue) 11-1
22 ran. Also: 9-4 Fav Doctor Steinberg, 14-1 Mondoui’boy 4th
Jockey Gavin Sheehan gets thrown off his horse soon after the finish, and ITV leave him to help Johnny’s Jury settle down.
Johnny’s Jury wins the Albert Bartlett
The slowest away at the start, Johnny Jury powers down the inside to win! Mondoui’boy is left in a battle for second, and is overtaken by two other late chargers: The Passing Wife and Fruit De Mer.
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: Approaching the last, outsider Swindon Village and Doctor Steinberg drop back. Mondoui’boy takes the lead, but Johnny’s Jury is moving nicely through the field …
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: Kicour La has dropped to the back as Doctor Steinberg leads Swindon Village, with Mondoui’boy in third. Two to go …
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: Johnny’s Jury and The Price of Peace are at the back as rain begins to swirl over the course. Doctor Steinberg still leads at the halfway stage. King’s Bucks and Doctor Du Mesnil well placed …
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle: They get away at the second time of asking, with Doctor Steinberg leading early from Swindon Village and Kicour La.
It’s time for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, with some grey clouds building around Cheltenham. It’s a big field and the start goes awry – it’s a false start, and plenty of the jockeys are frustrated.
Ben Pauling, trainer of The Jukebox Man, says he’s “nervous because I know what a good chance he has – I just want to make it happen for Harry”. By the way, you can back Redknapp to win the Gold Cup and take the Spurs job next week for a cool 66-1.
Geri and Christian Horner are here – they have a runner, Lift Me Up, in the Hunters Chase later on.
3.20 Market Movers
Market Movers from Midnite
3.20 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle odds
Doctor Steinberg – 3/1
Thedeviluno – 6/1
The Passing Wife – 9/1
Moneygarrow – 14/1
Mondouiboy – 14/1
Spinningayarn – 16/1
Espresso Milan – 16/1
Kings Bucks – 16/1
Jalon Doudairies – 16/1
Kazansky – 18/1
Bar 18/1
Not long to wait until the week’s big event: the Gold Cup. Will it be Harry’s finest hour in racing?
Owner JP McManus is celebrating in the winners’ enclosure with his grandkids, who have flown in from Switzerland. “Do you follow racing as much as JP?” Rishi Persad asks one of them. I mean, does anyone? “Is Dinoblue your favourite?” he asks another. “I don’t know!” Look, that’s live TV.
Cheltenham 2.40 result
1 Dinoblue (Mark Walsh) 11-8 Fav
2 Only By Night (Keith Donoghue) 11-1
3 Panic Attack (Harry Skelton) 11-4
8 ran. NR: 6. Also: 13-2 Spindleberry 4th
Jockey Mark Walsh: “She never missed a beat, maybe jumped the last ditch a bit early but I didn’t want to disappoint her. She’s a fair mare now. She’s won on heavy ground but she loves good, fast ground. This was ideal for her.”
Dinoblue wins the Mares’ Chase
Dinoblue pulls clear with Panic Attack tiring. Only By Night tries to close the gap, but there’s too much to do. It’s another Mullins win, as Dinoblue retains her crown in this race. Panic Attack holds on to third, with Spindleberry in fourth.
Mares’ Chase: With four to go, Dinoblue gets in between the two leaders, with Only By Night now up to fourth and Spindleberry still travelling well. And Telephatique falls at the third last!
Mares’ Chase: Moving at a steady pace into the final circuit, with all safely over the water jump. Panic Attack closes on Telepathique, with Spindleberry switching to the outside.
Mares’ Chase: Piper Park and All The Glory are at the back of the field, with Panic Attack slightly too keen at first, but now moving up to second …
Mares’ Chase: Off and running, with Telepathique edging clear of three other front runners: Dinoblue, July Flower and Panic Attack.
Mares’ Chase: Piper Park unseats Stan Sheppard on the way out, and the jockey has to pick up the reins and walk his horse towards the start. There are some quick medical checks before they rejoin the pack.
The Mares’ Chase is coming up. Runners and riders head out next to a packed grandstand, numbers surely boosted by the improved weather today.
2.40 Market Movers
Market Movers from Midnite.
2.40 Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
Dinoblue – 11/8
Panic Attack – 3/1
Spindleberry – 5/1
July Flower – 6/1
Only By Knight – 9/1
Telepathique – 40/1
Piper Park – 80/1
All The Glory – 100/1
NR – Diva Luna
Cheltenham 2.00 result
1 Wilful (Jonjo O’Neill Jr.) 14-1
2 Sticktotheplan (S Bowen) 25-1
3 Joyeuse (N de Boinville) 12-1
4 Cracking Rhapsody (Craig Nichol) 50-1
23 ran. Also: 4-1 Fav Karbau Non Runner: 18
Jonjo O’Neill Jr: “I really fancied him, it’s great for the family and the yard. It’s so hard to win here, and when you haven’t got many bullets to fire, you have to take your chances. I’ve had quite a troubled year, and I’ve had a lot of support from my family,” he adds with a tear in the eye.
