The Festival™ presented by Bulmers 2020
Racenews Racecourse Service
Fourth Day, Cheltenham, Friday, 13 March
Willie Mullins lands Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award
Willie Mullins was crowned the Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award for the seventh time at The Festival™ presented by Bulmers.
Mullins saddled seven winners in total, four seconds and six thirds, thereby winning the award on countback. Gordon Elliott had seven winners, four seconds, but only four thirds.
Mullins enjoyed a phenomenal day four at The Festival with a 2,196/1 four-timer following the victories of Burning Victory (12/1, G1 JCB Triumph Hurdle), Saint Roi (11/2 favourite, G3 Randox Health County Hurdle), Monkfish (5/1, G1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle) and Al Boum Photo (100/30 favourite) in the G1 Bulmers Cheltenham Gold Cup.
His other winners this week were Ferny Hollow (G1 Weatherbys Champion Bumper), Min (G1 Ryanair Chase) and Concertista (G2 Daylesford Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle).
Mullins ends the meeting as the leading trainer of all time at The Festival with 72 winners.
Reflecting on winning the Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award for the seventh time in 10 years, he said: “Gordon Elliott said to me before the last that ‘I hope you don’t beat me with a third’.
“I couldn’t have dreamt of winning the award on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday evening – it’s just been a huge day today.
“It’s been a tremendous week and obviously was a huge day.”
Paul Townend ended the week as the Holland Cooper Leading Jockey Award for the Ruby Walsh Trophy with five successes and two seconds, taking his overall victories at The Festival™ presented by Bulmers to 15 wins.
Mullins continued: “This was a huge week for Paul Townend. Coming here as the first jockey and not the understudy for the first year.
“It was a fair bit of pressure, but he has stamped his authority on Cheltenham and I am really happy for him.
“He has showed that he looks like the man for the job. Paul was able to handle the pressure.”
Mullins takes home the Paddy Power Prestbury Cup for Ireland
Trainer Willie Mullins accepted the Paddy Power Prestbury Cup, the annual trophy for the winning most country, between Britain and Ireland at The Festival™ presented by Bulmers, after the running of the fifth race, the St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase.
Mullins commented: “Well it had to won by someone, it couldn’t be a draw with the French winning on Wednesday. I am very happy and delighted to bring it back to Ireland in a year when we have had so many winners.”
Final tally
Ireland 16 – Great Britain 11 (France 1)
The Festival™ presented by Bulmers – Winners
First Day, Tuesday, 10 March
1.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Shishkin (Marie Donnelly) Nicky Henderson 6-11-07 Nico de Boinville 6/1
2.10pm Racing Post Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Put The Kettle On (One For Luck Racing Syndicate) Henry de Bromhead IRE 6-10-11 Aidan Coleman 16/1
2.50pm Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
The Conditional (Peter Cave) David Bridgwater 8-10-06 Brendan Powell 15/2
3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
Epatante (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 6-11-03 Barry Geraghty 2/1f
4.10pm Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Honeysuckle (Kenny Alexander) Henry de Bromhead IRE 6-11-05 Rachael Blackmore 9/4
4.50pm Northern Trust Company Novices’ Handicap Chase (Listed)
Imperial Aura (Imperial Racing Partnership) Kim Bailey 7-11-05 David Bass 4/1jf
5.30pm National Hunt Chase (Amateur riders) (Grade 2)
Ravenhill (Try Ravenhill Syndicate) Gordon Elliott IRE 10-11-06 Mr Jamie Codd 12/1
Second Day, Wednesday, 11 March
1.30pm Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Envoi Allen (Cheveley Park Stud) Gordon Elliott IRE 6-11-07 Davy Russell 4/7f
2.10pm RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Champ (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 8-11-04 Barry Geraghty 4/1
2.50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
Dame de Compagnie (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 7-10-12 Barry Geraghty 5/1f
3.30pm Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
Politologue (John Hales) Paul Nicholls 9-11-10 Harry Skelton 6/1
4.10pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase
Easysland (J P McManus) David Cottin FR 6-11-04 Jonathan Plouganou 3/1
4.50pm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
Aramax (J P McManus) Gordon Elliott IRE 4-11-08 Mark Walsh 15/2
5.30pm Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1)
Ferny Hollow (Cheveley Park Stud) Willie Mullins IRE 5-11-05 Paul Townend 11/1
Third Day, Thursday, 12 March
1.30pm Marsh Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)
Samcro (Gigginstown House Stud) Gordon Elliott IRE 8-11-04 Davy Russell 4/1
2.10pm Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
Sire du Berlais (J P McManus) Gordon Elliott IRE 8-11-12 Barry Geraghty 10/1
2.50pm Ryanair Chase (Grade 1)
Min (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins IRE 9-11-10 Paul Townend 2/1
3.30pm Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Lisnagar Oscar (Racing For Fun) Rebecca Curtis 7-11-10 Adam Wedge 50/1
4.10pm Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Simply The Betts (Kate & Andrew Brooks) Harry Whittington 7-11-04 Gavin Sheehan 100/30f
4.50pm Daylesford Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Concertista (Simon Munir & Isaac Souede) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-02 Daryl Jacob 9/2
5.30pm Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase
Milan Native (Gigginstown House Stud) Gordon Elliott IRE 7-11-08 Mr Robert James (7) 9/1
Fourth Day, Friday, 13 March
1.30pm JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
Burning Victory (Audrey Turley) Willie Mullins IRE 4-10-07 Paul Townend 12/1
2.10pm Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
Saint Roi (J P McManus) Willie Mullins IRE 5-10-13 Barry Geraghty 11/2f
2.50pm Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
Monkfish (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-05 Paul Townend 5/1
3.30pm Bulmers Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1)
Al Boum Photo (Marie Donnelly) Willie Mullins IRE 8-11-10 Paul Townend 100/30f
4.10pm St James’s Place Foxhunter Chase (Amateur riders)
It Came To Pass (Alurie O’Sullivan) Eugene O’Sullivan IRE 10-12-00 Miss Maxine O’Sullivan 66/1
4.50pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Chosen Mate (The Northern Four Racing Partnership) Gordon Elliott IRE 7-11-04 Davy Russell 7/2f
5.30pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
Indefatigable (Philip Rocher) Paul Webber 7-11-09 Rex Dingle 25/
Holland Cooper Leading Jockey Award for the Ruby Walsh Trophy –
FINAL STANDINGS
Jockey
PAUL TOWNEND
Barry Geraghty
Davy Russell
Rachael Blackmore
Daryl Jacob
Gavin Sheehan
Nico de Boinville
Mark Walsh
Mr Jamie Codd
Harry Skelton
David Bass
Aidan Coleman
Rex Dingle
Mr Robert James
Miss Maxine O’Sullivan
Jonathan Ploganou
Brendan Powell
Adam Wedge
Mr Patrick Mullins
Bryan Cooper
Robbie Power
Harry Cobden
Keith Donoghue
Mr Alex Edwards
Ben Jones
Sean O’Keeffe
Richard Patrick
Tom Scudamore
Mr Sam Waley-Cohen
Jonathan Burke
J J Slevin
Mr Will Biddick
Kevin Brouder
Thomas Dowson
Adrian Heskin
Donal McInerney
Mr Noel McParlan
Mr David Maxwell
Jonathan Moore
Danny Mullins
Eoin Walsh
The Irish Independent Leading Trainer Award –
FINAL STANDINGS
Trainer
WILLIE MULLINS IRE 7 7 6
Gordon Elliott IRE
Nicky Henderson 4 1 1
Henry de Bromhead IRE 2 2 1
Harry Whittington 1 1 1
Paul Nicholls 1 1 –
Kim Bailey
David Bridgwater 1 – –
David Cottin FR
Rebecca Curtis
Eugene O’Sullivan IRE 1 – –
Paul Webber
Joseph O’Brien IRE – 1 2
Paul Nolan IRE
Philip Hobbs
Richard Hobson
Kerry Lee
Henry Oliver
Ben Pauling
David Pipe
Matthew Smith IRE – 1 –
Mick Channon
Colin Tizzard
Charles Byrnes IRE
Gavin Cromwell IRE – – 1
Tom George
Warren Greatrex
Phil Kirby
Rose Loxton
Noel Meade IRE
Dan Skelton
PADDY POWER PRESTBURY CUP – FINAL STANDINGS
IRELAND 16; GREAT BRITAIN 11; 1 WIN FOR FRANCE
Bentley Leading Owner Award – FINAL STANDINGS
Owner
J P MCMANUS
Gigginstown House Stud 2 4 3
Susannah Ricci 2 2 1
Cheveley Park Stud 2 – 2
Marie Donnelly 2 – 1
Kenny Alexander 1 1 1
Simon Munir & Isaac Souede 1 1 1
Kate & Andrew Brooks 1 – –
Peter Cave
John Hales
Imperial Racing Partnership 2016 1 – –
The Northern Four Racing Partnership 1 – –
One Lucky Racing Syndicate 1 – –
Alurie O’Sullivan 1 – –
Racing For Fun
Try Ravenhill Syndicate 1 – –
Philip Rocher
Audrey Turley
Kate & Andrew Brooks – 1 1
Aramon Syndicate
Ronnie Bartlett
Andy Bell & Fergus Lyons – 1 –
Michael Geoghegan
Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes – 1 –
Laois Limerick Syndicate – 1 –
Brendan McNeil/Jonathan Maloney – 1 –
Barry Maloney
Miss M A Masterson
Stuart & Simon Mercer, John Gent – 1 –
Paul Potter, Mike & Mandy Smith – 1 –
Will Roseff
Pat Sloan
Sullivan Bloodstock Limited – 1 –
Tim Syder & Martin St Quinton – 1 –
Toberona Partnership
J Turner
Tim Radford
Ace Bloodstock & Rayna Fitzgerlad – – 1
Bolingbroke, Bunch, Howard & Sutton – – 1
Burnham P & D Ltd – – 1
Byrnes Bloodstock Ltd – – 1
D Charlesworth
Dr Donna Christensen
Crossed Fingers Partnership – – 1
Malcolm Denmark
Andrew Gemmell/Thomas Friel – – 1
Bill & Tim Gredley
David Maxwell
Noel & Valerie Moran – – 1
Shanakiel Racing Syndicate – – 1
SSP Number Twenty Two Syndicate – – 1
Taylor & O’Dwyer – – 1
