Updated 18.00
IT’S BEEN A stunning St Patrick’s Day for the Irish at Cheltenham with six wins from seven, including three for the incredible partnership of Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh.
The only race which escaped the Irish grasp was the World Hurdle, won in commanding style by Thistlecrack, Colin Tizzard’s even-money favourite.
Vautour, who was controversially pulled out of the Gold Cup earlier this week due to some sloppy work at home, showed no signs of rust in a commanding Ryanair Chase performance.
It was a fourth win of the week for owner Rich Ricci after opening-day victories on Douvan, Annie Power and Vroom Vroom Mag.
It was an Irish 1,2,3 in the Ryanair Chase with Vautour’s stablemate Valseur Lido six lengths behind, a half-length ahead of Noel Meade’s Road to Riches.
Mullins and Walsh again teamed up to win the Mares Novices’ Hurdle, with Limini (8/11f) an impressive victor. It brought Mullins and Walsh to seven wins each this week, the trainer now just one shy of his festival record set last year.
Limini powered home in an entertaining race and had four and a half lengths to spare on Dusky Legend (50/1), with Bloody Mary (7/1) back in third.
A great day for the punters as Thistlecrack storms home in the World Hurdle
Earlier, there was a good start to the day of Ireland’s patron saint for Walsh as he rode Black Hercules to victory in the opening race of the festival’s third day.
Walsh was victorious at 4/1 in the JLT Novices’ Chase, with Bristol De Mai (4/1) in second and L’Ami Serge (8/1) third.
It was a fifth winner of this year’s festival for Mullins, but there was some controversy early on as Zabana jinked and unseated a furious Davy Russell as the tapes went up, with some bookmakers refunding bets on the horse to limited stakes.
In the day’s second race, the Pertemps Final Hurdle, Mall Dini (14/1) claimed another St Patrick’s Day win for Ireland, this time for trainer Patrick Kelly, under the stewardship of Russell who was understandably delighted after his misfortune in the opener.
He was followed home, after a messy finish that led to a stewards’ inquiry, by Arpege D’alaene (14/1) in second and If in Doubt (10/1) in third.
Sixteen-year-old Dingle jockey Jack Kennedy scored himself a fourth-place finish in his first Cheltenham outing on Gordon Elliott’s Taglietelle (14/1).
Bryan Cooper claimed his first win of the festival on Empire of Dirt (16/1) in the Brown Advisory Plate for trainer Colm Murphy.
He came home ahead of Tango De Juilley (33/1), Kings Palace (11/1) and Full Shift (7/1).
And in the day’s final race, the Kim Muir Handicap Chase, Elliott’s Cause of Causes (9/2) came from the back of the field late on to claim a thrilling win under Jamie Codd.
He romped home, by 12 lengths in the end, from A Good Skin (14/1), with Silvergrove (16/1) and Knock House filling the minor placings.
Results:
1.30 — JLT Novices’ Chase
1. Black Hercules (4/1)
2. Bristol De Mai (4/1)
3. L’Ami Serge (8/1)
2.10 — Pertemps Final Hurdle
1. Mall Dini (14/1)
2. Arpege D’alene (14/1)
3. If In Doubt (10/1)
4. Taglietelle (14/1)
2.50 — Ryanair Chase
1. Vautour (Evens)
2. Valseur Lido (11/1)
3. Road To Riches (7/1)
3.30 — World Hurdle
1. Thistlecrack (Evens)
2. Alpha Des Obeaux (8/1)
3. Bobs Worth (33/1)
4.10 — Brown Advisory Plate
1. Empire of Dirt (16/1)
2. Tandgo De Juilley (33/1)
3. Kings Palace (11/1)
4. Full Shift (7/1)
4.50 – Mares Novices’ Hurdle
1. Limini (8/11)
2. Dusky Legend (50/1)
3. Bloody Mary (7/1)
5.20 – Kim Muir Handicap Chase
1. Cause of Causes (9/2)
2. A Good Skin (14/1)
3. Silvergrove (16/1)
4. Knock House (16/1)
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Well seeing as they last won the english leauge some 28 years ago and have a tendency to sell there best strikers, why wouldn’t I think that,
@Jonathan Byrne:
I have never seen so much hype about a team who have won nothing ,are 20 points off winning their league, have again sold their best player mid season , and who all other teams in the last 4 of a cup competition wanted desperately to draw. No league title for nearly 30 years and just one 1 trophy in ten years same as the likes of Wigan. Am i missing something ??
@Joe O’riordan: missing nothing absolutely spot on
@Joe O’riordan: Missing something? Don’t think so, unless its your MU jersey and scarf.
@Joe O’riordan: Coutinho their best player? Liverpool are better without him
@Joe O’riordan: Liverpool didn’t sell Salah mid season?
Who knows next year might be there year they win the premier league…….. Pfffft. Salah will playing for real Madrid next aswell.
@Jonathan Byrne: best of luck with that
@Jonathan Byrne: haha nice try, at least the pool have a player that Real or Barca would want!
@Jonathan Byrne: Jeez those grapes are very sour…
@Jonathan Byrne: “Somebody please give me attention” – The Comment
@seancreaven13: I’m just laying down some facts, fair play to getting to the semis of the champions leauge this year, but I don’t think its sour grapes if what I say is true.
But but but didn’t they win the finishing above Utd trophy last year !!!
@powerfix: doesn’t carry the same prestige anymore.
@Mick Power: ou snap!
@Mick Power: aah you know it does Mick
@Carl Johnson: ou Marcus!
Well what seems to be emerging now is defending is much better, there was no evidence until now. If they can keep best players, add GK/defensive cover and with Keita coming in they will make PL challenge. I was surprised MU slipped yesterday, it seems they struggle more than LFC in breaking defensives down. With JM near 3 years he has to challenge next year but somehow I don’t see it. Yes they defend well but have ordinary attack.
For me the top 3 teams next year will be MC, Tot & LFC. MU should be there but JM would need dynamic players and changes his approach. I don’t see that happening. If they back him in transfer market he’ll get a final go using his methods. While he maintains its not that long ago he won PL I think football is now being dominated by more attacking dynamic teams.
@Nick Leone: so coming to the end of your second season is near 3 years ???? Pass the dutchie round will ya