The clatter of hooves falls silent for another year on Friday as jump racing’s Blue Riband event The Cheltenham Festival came to an end.
What a tremendous four days of racing in the stunning Gloucestershire countryside and what a shame it was racegoers couldn’t be there to witness a truly historic few days of jump racing.
Champions Day on Tuesday started The Festival with a bang as the favourite Appreciate It got proceedings underway with a dominant win in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Perhaps the most thrilling ride of the afternoon came in the Champion Hurdle when the unbeaten Honeysuckle made it 11 wins from 11 starts. Onboard was Rachael Blackmore and in winning this race, she became the first woman ever to win the Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy at The Festival. For those of you that love an outsider, the massive 80-1 shot Jeff Kidder triumphed in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Ladies Day on Wednesday brought more drama as Put The Kettle On won the big race of the day, the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase. What else can you say about Tiger Roll? The double Grand National winner loves it at Cheltenham too and even though he might be 11 years old now, he still cantered to victory in the Cross Country Chase for his remarkable fifth Cheltenham Festival triumph. Two more victories also came for Rachael Blackmore in the Novices’ Hurdle and the Champion Bumper.
St.Patrick’s Day on Thursday is traditionally a day for real celebration and Rachael Blackmore had even more cause for jubilation. After already having ridden three winners she rode favourite Allaho to victory in the Ryanair Chase and then claimed her 5th Cheltenham win in the Mares’ Novices Hurdle aboard Telmesomethinggirl. The heavily fancied Paisley Park finished an agonising third in the feature race of the day the Stayers’ Hurdle.
Yet more magic awaited us on Gold Cup Day as Rachael Blackmore continued her astounding form at The Festival this year winning the first race of the day, the Triumph Hurdle on board Quilixios. Sadly for Blackmore, she could not claim a magnificent seventh win of The Festival in the Gold Cup, finishing an excruciating 2nd behind Jack Kennedy aboard Minella Indo. It was also not to be for the favourite Al Boum Photo who could not claim a third successive Gold Cup meaning only Arkle and Best Mate have achieved this feat since the 1960’s. The Festival ended on a true high note, capping a glorious week for Rachael Blackmore. She was awarded The Ruby Walsh Trophy as leading jockey at The Festival and was presented the trophy by none other than racing legend and our ambassador, 20-time champion jockey Sir AP McCoy.
Whilst there was some thrilling racing on show, we missed the Cheltenham Roar and the legendary atmosphere that only The Cheltenham Festival can generate. Roll on 2022 when The Festival will be bigger than ever before – we’ll be back in The Green Room and you can be there too! On sale already get yourself booked in now for what will be one of the most anticipated events of next year. Enquire here on 0844 247 8998 or email us here enquiries@hospitalityfinder.co.uk
