Cheltenham Festival: Al Boum Photo wins Gold Cup – as it happened

That’s it for this year’s Festival. I’ll leave you with Greg Wood’s Gold Cup report:

Willie Mullins ends the week as champion trainer with four wins, pipping Nicky Henderson on second-placed finishes.

We end the week with success for the next generation – Jonjo O’Neill Jr gets his first Cheltenham win, trained by Aidan O’Brien’s son Joseph.

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1 Early Doors (Jonjo O’Neill Jr.) 5-1
2 Dallas Des Pictons (D Meyler) 7-2 Fav
3 Defi Bleu (C Brassil) 14-1
4 Champagne Court (Rex Dingle) 14-1
24 ran

Here’s Joseph O’Brien: “We’re devastated about Sir Erec. Mark just said he jumped awkwardly, landed extremely awkwardly and got injured. When you see what’s happened in New Zealand, though, it puts it all into perspective.

“Jonjo gave Early Doors a great ride. We heard we could get him for this race, rather than race in the Coral Cup, so we went for it. He didn’t get the break we were looking for, but he went to Plan B.”

That win is something of a ray of light for trainer Joseph O’Brien, whose Sir Erec was euthanised after the day’s opening race. Dallas Des Pictons was second, Defi Bleu third and Champagne Court fourth.

Jonjo O’Neill Jr wins it with the 5-1 shot, Early Doors!

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Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30): It’ll be between Early Doors and Dallas Des Pictons as they head over the final fence...

Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30): The field fans out as they approach the penultimate fence, with Defi Bleu and Cartwright moving up as Dallas Dec Pictons takes the lead...

Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30): Kapgarry up to third, Dallas Des Pictons still tucked in behind the leading pair, and Early Doors moving through the field...

Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30): Acapella Bourgeois leads Getareason with a circuit to go, with Dallas Des Pictons well placed...

Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30): They’re finally off! Mount Mews turned a couple of times and doesn’t fancy it when the tape goes down. Acapella Bourgeois, a tough name to type at speed, leads them over the early hurdles...

Here we go, then. The last race! Although it’ll be a standing start with a few horses not settling...

A few words from Nico de Boinville: “I’ve had good rides here this week, but you’ve got to get the job done. I’m riding for a genius of a trainer. We haven’t had an easy build-up, with the snow and the flu jabs. But it’s been a great week.”

Here are the latest odds for the Martin Pipe Hurdle:

Dallas Des Pictons 7-2, Early Doors 5-1, Getareason 9-1, Cartwright 11-1, Pym 12-1, Defi Bleu 14-1, Champagne Court 14-1, Daybreak Boy 16-1, 20-1 bar.

Nico de Boinville is the Festival’s top jockey! He’s delivered three wins for Nicky Henderson this week on William Henry, Pentland Hills and of course Altior.

Henderson and Willie Mullins are still battling for the top trainer prize – both have four wins. Mullins leads on second place finishes, so Henderson needs a win here. Acapella Bourgeois and Getareason go for Mullins; Style De Garde and Pym for Henderson.

Last year’s champion trainer, Gordon Elliott, can catch Mullins and Henderson on four wins, but can’t win the title. He has three horses in this race: Defi Bleu, Cartwright and Dallas Des Pictons.

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15 Mar 201913.14 EDT

Chris Cook

Martin Pipe Hurdle (5.30) preview

The last race of the Cheltenham Festival is a handicap hurdle for conditional (inexperienced) jockeys. It has been won for the past two years by Gordon Elliott, who worked for Pipe and has said he makes a target of the race. His Dallas Des Pictons, a winner at the Dublin Racing Festival, looks the right favourite, though he has gone up 10lb. Third in this last year, Early Doors might last home a bit better on this drier surface. Representing the Nicholls / Frost team, If You Say Run will find this a lot
harder than the mares’ handicap she won in the autumn. Doctor Dex has been progressing at a low level and this is a tough place to start in handicaps. Daybreak Boy is interesting, as a useful Flat racer turned exciting hurdler, who ran away with a Clonmel race in January.

One more race to go before the Festival comes to a close – the Martin Pipe Hurdle, in 15 minutes’ time.

1 Croco Bay (Kielan Woods) 66-1
2 Bun Doran (P J Brennan) 11-1
3 Brelan D’As (Bryony Frost) 8-1
4 Forest Bihan (Danny Cook) 33-1
19 ran
Also: 9-2 Fav Magic Saint
Non Runner: 6

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Here’s jockey Kielan Woods: “I’m so shell-shocked. I’ve been dreaming of this ever since I sat on a horse. As the years go by, you think it’ll never happen. I couldn’t believe how well he was jumping, and he kicked on down the hill. I thought ‘they’re gonna come by in a minute’. What a little horse. He’s fragile, but what a training performance. I don’t know what to say, really.”

That’s a first ever Cheltenham winner for trainer Ben Case – and what a performance from the veteran, and jockey Kielan Woods, cruising over the jumps as many of the favourites floundered. Brelan D’As was third, Forest Bihan fourth.

The 66-1 shot looked to be tiring but Kielan Woods leads him home ahead of Bun Doran. The 12-year-old was a 66-1 shot!

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Grand Annual (4.50): Not Another Muddle moving up the field with Theo and last year’s winner, Le Prezien, also well placed. Croco Bay and Bun Doran lead at the last...

Grand Annual (4.50): Not Another Muddle and Marracudja have both struggled over a couple of jumps, while Mr Medic nearly unseats his rider. A decent pace, with Brelan D’As and Forest Bihan behind the front two...

They’re off and safely over the first, with Croco Bay and Gino Trail leading the way...

• Magic Saint – 5/1
• Not Another Muddle – 5/1
• Mind’s Eye – 13/2
• Brelan D’As – 17/2
• Whatswrongwithyou – 12/1
• Marracudja – 12/1
• Le Prezien – 12/1
• Bun Doran – 12/1
• Gino Trail – 20/1
• Top Gamble – 22/1
• Caid Du Lin – 25/1
• Mr Medic – 28/1
• Tree Of Liberty – 33/1
• Theo – 33/1
• Forest Bihan – 40/1
• Champagne At Tara – 50/1
• Croco Bay – 66/1
• Theflyingportrait – 80/1
• All Set To Go – 80/1
• Monitor the market moves on Oddschecker

Oddschecker is donating 5p for every Cheltenham bet to the Injured Jockeys Fund.

Grand Annual (4.50) preview

Paul Nicholls seeks back-to-back wins in this two-mile handicap chase, his main hopes seemingly with Magic Saint, the ex-French youngster who might be leniently treated after a cosy win last time. Nicholls also has last year’s winner, Le Prezien, who hasn’t had his ideal conditions so far this winter. Not Another Muddle is the winner of three of his last four and may have more to offer, though he’d prefer more cut.
Whatswrongwithyou is a novice going places, having won his last two, and his opening mark is not harsh. Brelan D’As has enough ability to win a race like this but has flopped in three starts at Cheltenham.

Here’s our Gold Cup report:

Thanks Barry. I’m afraid I have to start with bad news: Invitation Only, who fell during the Gold Cup, has been euthanised. Desperately sad news, and it will put safety in the spotlight after the death of Sir Erec in today’s first race.

Barry Glendenning signing out here, as my presence is required elsewhere. Niall McVeigh will take you through the final two races. Over to you, Niall.

1 Hazel Hill (Mr Alex Edwards) 7-2 Fav
2 Shantou Flyer (Mr D Maxwell) 7-1
3 Top Wood (Miss T Worsley) 33-1
24 ran
Also: 7-1 Road To Rome 4th

Foxhunters Chase (4.10): Hazel Hill wins the Foxhunters under Alex Edwards for trainer Philip Rowley.

Foxhunters Chase (4.10): It’s between Road To Rome, Shantou Flyer, Hazel Hill and Top Wood as they hit the second last. Road to Rome is passed by Hazel Hill. Hazel Hill is driven clear up the run-in. Hazel Hill wins the Foxhunters!!!!

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Foxhunters Chase (4.10): Road To Rome goes down on his nose 10 out, but stays upright. Some Are Lucky is decidedly unlucky and falls. There are eight to jump. Double Whammy, Haymount and One Connemara are all pulled up. Road To Rome continues to make the running under Sam Whaley Cohen.

Off they go in the Foxhunters, aka The Gold Cup for amateur riders. Road to Rome is the early leader from Asockastar, Southfield Theatre and Shantou Flyer. The field is strung out like Wednesday’s washing with 12 fences to jump ...

• Hazel Hill – 9/2
• Ucello Conti – 9/2
• Stand Up And Fight – 13/2
• Caid Du Berlais – 7/1
• Shantou Flyer – 17/2
• Road to Rome – 9/1
• Pacha Du Polder – 20/1
• Haymount – 22/1
• Cousin Pete – 33/1
• Top Wood – 40/1
• Coastal Tiep – 50/1
• Southfield Theatre – 50/1
• Timewaitsfornoone – 66/1
• Balnaslow – 66/1
• Chosen Dream – 66/1
• Double Whammy – 80/1
• Some Are Lucky – 100/1
• Asockstar – 100/1
• Samanntom – 125/1
• Just Cause – 200/1
• Don’t Do Mondays – 200/1
• Sybarite – 200/1
• Ardkilly Witness – 250/1
• One Conemara – 250/1
• Monitor the market moves on Oddschecker

Oddschecker is donating 5p for every Cheltenham bet to the Injured Jockeys Fund.

In about the same time as it took Al Boum Photo to cover the three miles and two furlongs of the Gold Cup course, Chris Cook tip-tapped this piping hot take on the race from Prestbury Park. Read on ...

Gallery: Our intrepid photographer, Tom “Pic: Tom Jenkins” Jenkins, has been wandering around Cheltenham for the past three days, pointing his camera at things and taking pictures of things. Check out his handiwork in the Gallery below, which wil;l be updated with pictures from the Gold Cup very shortly.

Gold Cup 3.30: Paul Townend finally gets to put to bed the weird incident at Punchestown last year when, with the Grade One Champion Novice Chase at his mercy, he looked around, veered off course and into the wing of a fence on Al Boum Photo, receiving a 21-day ban for his troubles in the process.

Gold Cup: “Willie Mullins finally secured Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup glory as Al Boum Photo galloped away in the hands of Paul Townend. Mullins had saddled the runner-up in the blue riband on multiple occasions and fielded four on this occasion, with 12-1 shot Al Boum Photo emerging best of all.

While two of Mullins’s horses were out of the race before halfway, Townend was still travelling brilliantly turning for home and his mount safely cleared the last two fences to win by two and a half lengths. Anibale Fly stayed on for second, with Bristol De Mai in third.

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Here comes the amateurs’ Gold Cup, in which the excellent twosome Derek O’Connor and Jamie Codd top the betting. O’Connor is on Stand Up And Fight, a promising youngster who was somehow beaten in a point at odds-on last time. Codd rides Ucello Conti, who has a stack of placed efforts in valuable handicaps but struggled to win until he was switched into hunter chases. This is his first spin around Cheltenham. Hazel Hill is 11, like Ucello Conti, and therefore a bit senior but in the form of his life, judging by an emphatic success at Warwick.

Caid Du Berlais seemed not to see out the trip last year but it’s drier ground this time. Road To Rome has won all four races since joining his current trainer and his latest effort puts him right in the argument, though he could do without any overnight rain. Pacha Du Polder tries for a third successive win but is 12 now and comes here off the back of a weaker effort than he has put up for years.

Gold Cup 3.30: Al Boum Photo and Paul Townend are led in to the winners enclosure and receive a rapturous welcome from the huge crowd. Townend dismounts and removes his saddle before receiving the congratulations of the owners.

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Gold Cup (3.30): After finishing second on six different occasions, Willie Mullins finally wins his first Gold Cup.

1 Al Boum Photo (P Townend) 12-1
2 Anibale Fly (B J Geraghty) 22-1
3 Bristol De Mai (D A Jacob) 18-1
16 ran
Also: 10-3 Fav Presenting Percy, 6-1 Native River 4th
CSF: 246.57
Tricast: 4681.17

Gold Cup (3.30) “I can’t believe it,” says winning jockey Paul Townend to ITV’s Oli Bell. “I want to thank the owner so much for sticking by me. And Willie. It’s a Gold Cup, there’s only one a year and I never dreamt I’d ever win it. It’s like any race - when it’s going well for you it looks so simple. It’s unbelievable. I’m privileged to be riding for Willie Mullins.”

Gold Cup (3.30) Native River pressed by Al Boum Photo ... Al Boum Photo leads over the last and heads up the hill. Al Boum Photo wins by three lengths for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins. Al Boum Photo wins the Gold Cup.

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