Four days of extraordinary racing, entertainment, and history being made at the Home of Jump racing.
The Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle set the scene at Cheltenham Festival 2020, with the Nicky Henderson-trained Shishkin landing the honours for Nico de Boinville in impressive style. The gelding got the week off to a flying start for owner, Mrs J Donnelly.
The Unibet Champion Hurdle saw Epatante extend trainer Nicky Henderson’s exceptional record to eight wins. Jockey Barry Geraghty was celebrating his fourth, and record-equalling, success in the race as the mare held off a strong challenge from Sharjah under Patrick Mullins for his father Willie.
The highly anticipated Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) lived up to the hype as two top mares, Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle battled up the Cheltenham hill in fine style with Honeysuckle coming out on top for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead, giving Rachael her third success at The Festival.
13:30 Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)
| 1st | 13 |
|
Shishkin | 6/1 | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson |
| 2nd | 1 | Abacadabras | 11/4 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott | |
| 3rd | 6 | Chantry House | 15/2 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
14:10 Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
| 1st | 11 | Put The Kettle On | 16/1 | Aidan Coleman | Henry de Bromhead | |
| 2nd | 5 |
|
Fakir D'oudairies | 3/1 | Mark Walsh | Joesph O'Brien |
| 3rd | 9 |
|
Rouge Vif | 9/1 | Gavin Sheehan | Harry Whittington |
14:50 Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
| 1st | 17 | The Conditional | 15/2 | Brendan Powell | David Bridgwater | |
| 2nd | 6 |
|
Kildisart | 10/1 | Daryl Jacob | Ben Pauling |
| 3rd | 7 | Discorama | 11/2 | B. J. Cooper | Paul Nolan |
15:30 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1)
| 1st | 17 | Epatante | 2/1 F | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson | |
| 2nd | 14 | Sharjah | 16/1 | P. W. Mullins | W. P. Mullins | |
| 3rd | 7 |
|
Darver Star | 17/2 | Jonathan Moore | Gavin Cromwell |
16:10 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) (ed As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle)
| 1st | 6 |
|
Honeysuckle | 9/4 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2nd | 1 |
|
Benie Des Dieux | 4/6 F | P. Townend | W. P. Mullins |
| 3rd | 5 |
|
Elfile | 16/1 | Daniel Mullins | W. P. Mullins |
16:50 Northern Trust Novices' Handicap Chase (Listed)
| 1st | 8 | Imperial Aura | 4/1 J | David Bass | Kim Bailey | |
| 2nd | 10 |
|
Galvin | 4/1 J | Davy Russell |
Gordon Elliott |
| 3rd | 2 |
|
Hold The Note |
10/1 | Jonathan Burke | Mick Channon |
17:30 National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Novices' Chase (Grade 2)
| 1st | 9 |
|
Ravenhill | 12/1 | Mr J. J. Codd | Gordon Elliott |
| 2nd | 6 |
|
Lord Du Mesnil | 11/2 | Mr Sam Waley-Cohen | Richard Hobson |
| 3rd | 5 |
|
Lamanver Pippin | 33/1 | Mr William Biddick | Colin Tizzard |
Day Two of The Cheltenham Festival 2020 was Ladies’ Day, held on Wednesday 11 March, the popular grey star of Paul Nicholls’s yard, Politologue finally came home in front in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at his fifth appearance at the Cheltenham Festival.
The JP McManus’ horse Champ provided the most thrilling finish of the week, coming with a late surge up the Cheltenham hill under Barry Geraghty to take the spoils in the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase.
Tiger Roll was back by popular demand as the people’s horse was roared around the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase under Keith Donoghue, only to be denied by the French-raider, Easysland who finished clear of the field.
13:30 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (ed as The Baring Bingham)
| 1st | 3 |
|
Enovi Allen | 4/7 F | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 2nd | 2 |
|
Easywork | 12/1 | Rachael Blackmore | Gordon Elliott |
| 3rd | 12 |
|
The Big Getaway | 9/1 | P. Townend | W. P. Mullins |
14:10 RSA Insurance Novices' Chase (Grade 1)
| 1st | 5 |
|
Champ | 4/1 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2nd | 8 | Minella Indo | 3/1 | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead | |
| 3rd | 1 |
|
Allaho | 15/2 F | P. Townend | W. P. Mullins |
14:50 Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
| 1st | 21 |
|
Dame de Compagnie | 5/1 F | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
| 2nd | 15 |
|
Black Tears | 12/1 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 3rd | 23 |
|
Thosedaysaregone | 10/1 | Kevin Brouder | Charles Byrnes |
15:30 Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)
| 1st | 6 |
|
Politologue | 6/1 | Harry Skelton | Paul Nicholls |
| 2nd | 5 |
|
Dynamite Dollars | 7/1 | Harry Cobdon | Paul Nicholls |
| 3rd | 2 | Bun Doran | 33/1 | Jonathan Burke | Tom George |
16:10 Glenfarclas Chase (Cross Country Chase)
| 1st | 4 |
|
Easysland | 3/1 | Jonathan Plouganou | D. Cottin |
| 2nd | 13 |
|
Tiger Roll | 8/11 F | Keith Donoghue | Gordon Elliott |
| 3rd | 11 |
|
Out Sam | 33/1 | Mr J. J. Codd | Gordon Elliott |
16:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (ed as The Fred Winter)
| 1st | 2 |
|
Aramax | 15/2 | Mark Walsh | Gordon Elliott |
| 2nd | 11 |
|
Night Edition | 16/1 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
| 3rd | 9 |
|
Saint D'Oroux | 14/1 | Daryl Jacob | Gordon Elliott |
17:30 Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Grade 1)
| 1st | 7 |
|
Ferny Hollow | 11/1 | P. Townend | W. P. Mullins |
| 2nd | 2 |
|
Appreciate It | 15/8 F | Mr P. W. Mullins | W. P. Mullins |
| 3rd | 18 | Queens Brook | 6/1 | Mr J. J. Codd | Gordon Elliott |
Thursday 12 March saw over 65,000 racegoers celebrate in style with our friends from the Emerald Isle. Min took the top spot in the Ryanair Chase under Gold Cup-winning jockey Paul Townend and Irish Champion trainer, Willie Mullins.
The opening race of the day saw three of the top names in the game, Samcro, Faugheen and Melon all battle it out up the Cheltenham hill in the Marsh Novices’ Chase. Samcro and Melon could only be split by the judge, with Faugheen finishing back in third under Paul Townend. Samcro and Davy Russell took the honours by a nose.
It was a surprise winner in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle, as last year’s winner Paisley Park couldn’t put up a repeat performance to compete with 50/1 winner, Lisnagar Oscar under first time Cheltenham Festival winning jockey, Adam Wedge for trainer Rebecca Curtis.
13:30 Marsh Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (ed As The Golden Miller)
| 1st | 9 |
|
Samcro | 4/1 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 2nd | 4 |
|
Melon | 14/1 | Mr P. W. Mullins | W. P. Mullins |
| 3rd | 2 |
|
Faugheen | 3/1 F | P. Townend | W. P. Mullins |
14:10 Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
| 1st | 1 |
|
Sire Du Berlais | 10/1 | Barry Geraghty | Gordon Elliott |
| 2nd | 3 |
|
The Storyteller | 11/2 J | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 3rd | 17 | Tout Est Permis | 12/1 | E. Walsh | Noel Meade |
14:50 Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) (ed As The Festival Trophy)
| 1st | 5 | Min | 2/1 | Paul Townend | W. P. Mullins | |
| 2nd | 7 |
|
Saint Calvados | 16/1 | Gavin Sheehan | Harry Whittington |
| 3rd | 1 |
|
A Plus Tard | 7/4 F | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead |
15:30 Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1)
| 1st | 7 |
|
Lisnagar Oscar | 50/1 | Adam Wedge | Rebecca Curtis |
| 2nd | 10 |
|
Ronald Pump | 20/1 | B. J. Cooper | Matthew J. Smith |
| 3rd | 2 |
|
Bacardys | 33/1 | Mr P. W. Mullins | W P Mullins |
16:10 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
| 1st | 12 |
|
Simply The Betts | 100/30 F | Bridget Andrews | Harry Whittington |
| 2nd | 1 |
|
Happy Diva | 20/1 | Richard Patrick | Kerry Lee |
| 3rd | 2 | Mister Whitaker | 22/1 | A. P. Heskin | Mick Channon |
16:50 National Hunt Breeders ed By Tattersalls Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (ed As The Dawn Run)
| 1st | 6 |
|
Concertista | 9/2 | Daryl Jacob | W. P. Mullins |
| 2nd | 7 |
|
Dolcita | 9/1 | Robbie Power | W. P. Mullins |
| 3rd | 13 |
|
Rayna's World | 100/1 | Thomas Dowson | Philip Kirby |
17:30 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase
| 1st | 11 |
|
Milan Native | 9/1 | Mr. Robert James | Gordon Elliott |
| 2nd | 18 |
|
Kilfilum Cross | 8/1 | Mr. Alex Edwards | Henry Oliver |
| 3rd | 12 |
|
Bob Mahler | 16/1 | Mr. N. Marlan | Warren Greatrex |
The favourite Al Boum Photo (100-30) earned his second straight Gold Cup victory, the first back-to-back winner of the Gold Cup since three-time winner Best Mate. In a thrilling finish in the feature race of the four days, Al Boum Photo and Paul Townend held off a fast finishing Santini under Nico de Boinville, and Lostintranslation under Robbie Power.
The win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2020 topped off an incredible day for the Mullins-Townend team, as Paul landed a treble on the day courtesy of Burning Victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, and Monkfish in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, with trainer Willie scoring in the Randox Health County Hurdle with Saint Roi.
The pair ended the week as leading trainer and jockey respectfully, with Paul taking home the Holland Cooper Ruby Walsh Leading Jockey trophy.
It was an emotional day for the O’Sullivan family in the St James’s Place Foxhunters, as Maxine O’Sullivan and It Came To landed the race 29 years after her father won as a jockey.
It’s safe to say that the Cheltenham Festival 2020 lived up to its name as “the Greatest Show on Turf.”
13:30 JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1)
| 1st | 12 | Buring Victory | 12/1 | Paul Townend | W. P. Mullins | |
| 2nd | 2 | Aspire Tower | 5/1 | Rachael Blackmore | H De Bromhead | |
| 3rd | 1 | Allmankind | 7/2 | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton |
14:10 Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)
| 1st | 18 | Saint Roi | 11/2 | Barry Geraghty | W. P. Mullins | |
| 2nd | 2 | Aramon | 8/1 | Paul Townend | W. P. Mullins | |
| 3rd | 10 | Buildmeupbuttercup | 16/1 | Daniel Mullins | W. P. Mullins |
14:50 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (ed As The Spa Novices' Hurdle)
| 1st | 12 |
|
Monkfish | ccc | Paul Townend | W. P. Mullins |
| 2nd | 10 |
|
Latest Exhibition | B. J. Cooper | Paul Nolan | |
| 3rd | 5 |
|
Fury Road | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
15:30 The Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)
| 1st | 1 | Al Boum Photo | Paul Townend | W. P. Mullins | ||
| 2nd | 2 | Santini | Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson | ||
| 3rd | 4 | Lostintranslation | Robbie Power | Colin Tizzard |
16:10 St. James's Place Foxhunter Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase
| 1st | 12 | It Came TO | 66/1 | Ms M O'Sullivan | E M. O'Sullivan | |
| 2nd | 3 |
|
Billaway | 11/4 | P. W. Mullins | W. P. Mullins |
| 3rd | 19 |
|
Shantou Flyer | 3/1 | D. Maxwell | Mrs R. Loxton |
16:50 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
| 1st | 10 |
|
Chosen Mate | 7/2 | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 2nd | 8 |
|
Eclair De Beaufeu | 13/2 | Sean O'Keeffe | Gordon Elliott |
| 3rd | 9 |
|
Us And Them | 10/1 | J. J. Slevin | Joseph Patrick O'Brien |
17:30 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
| 1st | 1 |
|
Indefatigable | 25/1 | Rex Dingle | Paul Webber |
| 2nd | 18 |
|
Pileon | 9/1 | Ben Jones | Phillip Hobbs |
| 3rd | 24 | Great White Shark | 40/1 | Donal McInerney | W. P. Mullins |
Festival 2020 Highlights
History was made as Willie Mullins won the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the second consecutive year on Day Four.
View Our Highlights
