NATIONAL HUNT BREEDERS SUPPORTED BY TATTERSALLS MARES’ NOVICES’ HURDLE (GRADE 2)

SOME things are a little more predictable than others and seldom has that rung truer than after the outcome of this race where Eglantine Du Seuil sprang a 50/1 shock for Willie Mullins and Noel Fehily after which the winning rider announced that he was to retire in the coming weeks.

The first three runnings of this race were won by Mullins with favourites returned at 8/11, 11/8 and 4/7. Thus there was always a strong possibility that the trainer could make it four wins on the spin as he fielded seven runners for this year’s renewal but the Sligo maiden hurdle winner Eglantine Du Seuil was utterly unconsidered at 50/1 on her first start since finishing third in a Listowel novice hurdle in September.

It’s not too often that a Mullins runner goes off at such a price at Cheltenham and for good measure he supplied the runner-up Concertista who was returned at 66/1 for her hurdling debut and her first start since July 2017.

In one of the most unlikely outcomes of the week the Mullins pair were followed home by a duo of Gordon Elliott runners in Tintangle (40/1) and Black Tears (25/1).

This was a staggering outcome and it came on the back of a frantic conclusion where the winner came from out of the clouds to nail her stablemate on the line, with just two lengths covering the first four home.

Upon his return to the enclosure an emotional Fehily revealed he was to call time on his career in the near future.

“I’m not getting any younger and this is a young man’s game. I’ve been thinking about this for the last few weeks and I think I’ll let the younger lads get on with things,” remarked the rider.

“I haven’t spoken to the trainers I ride for but it will be in the next few weeks. I’ve enjoyed every minute of things and I suppose I will have to start working now! I’m just delighted to have ridden a winner this week for Jared Sullivan (owner) who has been such a greater supporter of mine.”

The winning trainer reflected: “I was watching Danny (Mullins) and Concertista the whole time and then I saw something coming on the inside. I was hoping it was one of my own as I had so many runners in the race.

“I told Noel going out that she’s not the fastest in the world so get her jumping and try to have her coming home well. We ran Concertista as she is such a good jumper and she has run a great race.”

Super Sire lands Pertemps under inspired Geraghty

PERTEMPS NETWORK FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE (GRADE 3)

BARRY Geraghty produced a truly inspired effort, a compelling candidate for ride of the week, on long term fancy Sire Du Berlais who hit the front where it mattered most in a typically gripping finish to the Pertemps Final.

Twelve months ago the Geraghty-ridden Glenloe was only just denied by Delta Work in a titanic finish to this race and another enthralling finale ensued this time but the J.P. McManus-owned gelding was not to be denied. In truth this was a success that owed much to Geraghty as things did not look that promising at various points in this race.

Indeed this race made the jockey’s success on Defi Du Seuil in the opener look positively leisurely. Sire Du Berlais didn’t travel all that well early, he made a mistake at a vital stage on the final circuit and he continually had to fight for his position on the inner over the last mile or so.

As they turned for home, there were many chances, fanned out across the track. Sire Du Berlais, a strongly supported 4/1 favourite, got room to challenge on the long run to the last but even so he had work to do.

Tobefair and Not Many Left did battle up front at the last but the market leader was poised in third and then finished out strongly to score by neck from the first-named, who was a 40/1 outsider.

In a race that wasn’t all that kind to the raiders for a number of years it has suddenly become a preserve of Irish-trained horses who have now won the last four renewals. Furthermore, this was a third victory in the space of five races at the Festival for Gordon Elliott.

“He got a bit tight for room at one stage but it wasn’t the plan to strike the front until late on so it may actually have suited the horse,” remarked Elliott.

“He’s a grand horse who stays very well and that’s probably what won it for him. I knew he had every chance when he did get into the clear and I thought that he got a super ride from Barry.”

Helen Walsh, Ted Walsh and Derek O'Connor with Any Second Now in the winners' enclosure after the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Photo: carolinenorris.ie

Walsh continues affinity with Kim Muir

FULKE WALWYN KIM MUIR CHALLENGE CUP

SOME 22 years after Commanche Court won the Triumph Hurdle, Ted Walsh struck Cheltenham Festival gold once more as Any Second Now picked the most opportune of moments to bag his first triumph over fences.

In a race that his trainer won twice as a jockey in 1970s, Any Second Now lined up as a nine-race maiden over fences, but among those efforts were two Grade 1 placings and several other noteworthy runs in defeat.

That calibre of form was always likely to make this gelding a contender and he also had the notable assistance of Derek O’Connor to draw on which saw him returned the 6/1 second favourite.

As he looked to make it three wins on the day for J.P. McManus, Any Second Now was delivered with his challenge in the straight and he revelled in his first try beyond three miles. He finished strongly from the last to account for the well-supported Kilfilum Cross by a three and three-quarter lengths.

“He got a great ride and it’s lovely to have a winner here again. He has run over shorter but I’d say he probably just found things easier at this sort of trip,” remarked Walsh.

“Derek was very good on him. The likes of him, Jamie (Codd) and Patrick (Mullins) are worth 7lbs and hopefully we might get another good day out of this horse, maybe in a National.

“This place is great. I’ve enjoyed each and every one of Ruby and Katie’s winners as much as Commanche Court.

I’ve been racing all over the world but there’s nowhere like Cheltenham, t’s on a planet of it’s own.”

Ladies day as Kelly and Siruh bravely last out

BROWN ADVISORY & MERRIEBELLE STABLE PLATE (GRADE 3)

NOT to be outdone by her colleagues Bryony Frost and Rachael Blackmore, Lizzie Kelly got her name on the meeting’s roll of honour courtesy of the ultra-progressive Siruh Du Lac.

A relentless improver who came into this race having won five of his last six outings Siruh Du Lac turned in a typically brave effort. Over this course and distance he recorded a thrilling head success over Janika and this pair dominated once again. In truth it would have been a pity had Lizzie Kelly’s mount been collared late on.

In a similar vein to Frodon earlier in the day, Siruh Du Lac (9/2), who is trained by the jockey’s stepfather Nick Williams, produced a series of dashing jumps to the acclaim of the crowd. One by one his rivals cracked, but in the straight both Eamon An Cnoic and old rival Janika threatened. The last-named was the 3/1 favourite despite conceding upwards of 6lbs to his 21 rivals and he tried his utmost to find his way past, but he was still three-parts of a length down at the line.

“I watched Bryony earlier in the day and thought that’s my game plan,” remarked Kelly, who won last year’s Ultima Handicap Chase on Coo Star Sivola.

“His jumping is so good that I could really let him roll. My concern was whether he had the stamina but down the back I wasn’t sure if he was really travelling so I wasn’t in a position to take him back and give him a breather but my god does he jump. We actually weren’t going to come here and we were thinking of going for an easier race and even last week it wasn’t certain that the horse was going to run this week.”