Teahupoo will look to strike when fresh in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle for Gordon Elliott at the Cheltenham Festival.
The seven-year-old was beaten just three-quarters of a length in the same race last year and returned to action this season in good form to take the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle ahead of Impaire Et Passe at Fairyhouse in early December.
He has not run since then and is expected to benefit that as he is proven to go well after a brief break.
“We’re looking forward to Teahupoo in the Stayers’ and he seems in really good form,” said Robbie Power, racing manager to owner Robcour.
“It was a very good performance in the Hatton’s Grace and we’ve changed things up this year coming straight here.
“The big thing for him is he’s a better horse when he’s fresh and all his runs after a 50-odd day break he has won. We think that is the key to him.
“He didn’t get the rub of the green in the race last year and hopefully if things go well this year he will take plenty of beating. He deserves to win a Stayers’ and we’re giving him every chance.”
Elliott also runs reigning champion Sire Du Berlais, who followed up last year’s victory with success in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree.
Flooring Porter landed the race in both 2021 and 2022 before finishing fourth last season, after which he switched to jumping fences in the first half of the current campaign.
He was not without success as a chaser but connections ultimately decided to return to the Stayers’ Hurdle in a bid for a third triumph and veto the alternative option of the National Hunt Chase.
“He’s in good shape and we’re looking forward to it. I hope the ground dries out a little bit, I hope it’s not too deep, so we’ll see what happens,” said trainer Gavin Cromwell.
“He’s had a few schooling sessions over hurdles and they’ve gone well, he’s a very intelligent horse so I don’t see it (switching from fences) being a problem.
“When you see what Corbetts Cross (facile National Hunt Chase winner) did on Tuesday I’d say we dodged a bullet there and we’re happy to be running in the Stayers’ again.”
The British challenge is led by Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo, winner of the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot when last seen.
The seven-year-old beat Paisley Park, Dashel Drasher and Champ on that occasion and looks to be on an upward trajectory in a career that has already yielded seven wins from 10 starts.
“He’s in great form, I’m very happy with him and he has trained very well,” said O’Brien.
“We’ve had a great preparation, he’s just improved and improved for us.
“He doesn’t show a lot at home, everything he’s shown us is what he’s shown on the track and we couldn’t be more pleased with him.
“He’s won on everything, he won on good ground at Ascot and he’s won on heavy at Sandown last year so I can’t see that as an issue for him.
“We’ve our fingers crossed he can get his head in front.”
Jeremy Scott runs the hugely popular Dashel Drasher, with Emma Lavelle also set to saddle a fan favourite in the 12-year-old Paisley Park.
Winner of the race in 2019, he has run every year since and finished in third place in both 2021 and 2022.
Willie Mullins has three chances, with Sir Gerhard seemingly the leading hope as the mount of Paul Townend, while Asterion Forlonge will be ridden by Patrick Mullins and Janidil by Jody McGarvey.
Emmet Mullins’ Noble Yeats, the 2022 Grand National hero, will be partnered by Harry Cobden again after the duo beat Paisley Park to land the Cleeve Hurdle in January.
Joseph O’Brien runs Home By The Lee, with the field of 12 completed by Paul Gilligan’s Buddy One, three times a winner already this season.
“He seems to like this course and he has travelled over really well,” Gilligan said.
“He seems well in himself and although it is a big step up, I’m very happy with him and I think he will run with a lot of credit. I think he will run very well.”
Amidst the turmoil that has overshadowed the ongoing Jamaica Women's Premier League (JWPL), there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the seven participating clubs to chase after, as one of those clubs will be the country's representative in the inaugural Concacaf Women's Champions Cup.
This Women's Champions Cup, the region’s first official women’s continental club championship, follows the successful conclusion of the inaugural Concacaf Women's Gold Cup, which was won by United States on Sunday. The preliminary round and group stage matches of the club tournament are scheduled for August, September, and October this year, with a final four centralized semifinals and final set for May 2025.
Hailed as another strategic move in women’s football, the Women's Champions Cup will be an annual competition that will pit the best clubs from North America, Central America and the Caribbean against each other, and will crown a regional women’s club champion. The tournament will also be the sole path through which Concacaf region clubs can qualify for the new FIFA Women’s Club World Cup, which FIFA has committed to launching in the near future.
Well aware of the gulf in class between other leagues around the region and Jamaica's Women's League, interim Reggae Girlz Head coach Xavier Gilbert welcomed the move by Concacaf, which he believes will offer some exposure for local players.
"It's important for local football, however, I don't think any of our local teams will be able to match up with the teams from Mexico or United States. Those clubs are professional clubs playing in a fully professional leagues, while ours is nowhere close to their standard," Gilbert told SportsMax.TV.
"But it is good, it is more football and more exposure for our local players. At the same time, I think it sends a signal of how important it is for us to look at what we are doing in terms of resources and surfaces for our local teams. So, it is good move by Concacaf, and I think it's for us now here in Jamaica to look at what we are doing and try to improve the quality of our league," he added.
The Concacaf Women's Club Championships will be contested by 11 clubs from member associations which meet Concacaf’s eligibility criteria. Clubs will qualify through their domestic leagues based on sporting merit through criteria which must be proposed by their member association and ratified by Concacaf.
As such, the qualification slots were allocated where Canada and El Salvador will have one club each lock horns in the preliminary round. The winner of that contest will join Jamaica, Costa Rica and Panama with one club each in the group stage. Of course, United States and Mexico, who boast professional leagues, will have three clubs each in the group stage.
The format for the Concacaf W Champions Cup will include a Preliminary Round (Canada club vs El Salvador club) followed by a Group Stage consisting of two groups of five teams, with each team playing a total of four group stage matches (two at home; two away) in August, September, and October. At the conclusion of Group Stage play, the top two clubs from each group will progress to a final four centralized event played in May.
Concacaf president and FIFA Vice president, Victor Montagliani said launching the Concacaf Women's Champions Cup is another exciting step in the confederation's journey of developing all aspects of women’s football in the region.
“When we launched our Concacaf W women’s football strategy in 2019, we focused on creating an enhanced calendar of national team competitions that benefited all of our Member Associations, and on providing opportunities for women and girls to develop a passion for football at all levels of the sport. We have made significant progress in those areas, albeit with much work more to do, and the growth of leagues and clubs is an important next phase in our strategy. The W Champions Cup will provide a tremendous sporting opportunity for clubs in Concacaf, and we look forward to the first edition commencing in August this year, to crowning a first champion in May 2025, and to delivering an exciting pathway to the new FIFA Women’s Club World Cup,” Montagliani shared.
Club allocations: Canada and El Salvador: 1 club in Preliminary Round; Costa Rica: 1 club in Group Stage; Jamaica: 1 club in Group Stage; Mexico: 3 clubs in Group Stage; Panama: 1 club in Group Stage and USA: 3 clubs in Group Stage
In a heartwarming display of generosity and community spirit, Olympic and World Championship star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made a significant donation to the Olympic Gardens Football Club, spreading inspiration and support to the local athletes. The donation, which included essential gear and supplies, was accompanied by a heartfelt message from the iconic sprinter, who hails from the nearby Waterhouse community.
The Olympic Gardens Football Club, based at the Cling Cling Oval in Olympic Gardens, serves as a beacon of hope and opportunity for aspiring young athletes from the surrounding area. Fielding teams across various age groups and categories, including a Super League team, as well as Under-13, 15, 17, 20, and Female teams, the club operates on a voluntary basis, with all funds and resources dedicated to providing equipment and opportunities for its members.
Fraser-Pryce, affectionately known as the "Pocket Rocket" for her explosive speed on the track, has long been an inspiration to athletes both locally and internationally. Hailing from the Waterhouse community herself, Fraser-Pryce understands the importance of support and encouragement in nurturing talent and fostering dreams.
On Tuesday evening, Fraser-Pryce extended her support to the Olympic Gardens Football Club with a generous donation totaling JMD$100,000 towards the team's feeding programme. Alongside the financial contribution, the athletes were thrilled to receive 21 pairs of football boots and socks, courtesy of NIKE, ensuring they have the necessary gear to excel on the field.
Additionally, each player received NIKE drawstring bags, providing a sense of pride and belonging, while further enhancing their sporting experience. To keep the athletes hydrated and energized, Fraser-Pryce arranged for them to receive 876 Water and Lucozade, essential elements for peak performance on the pitch.
The donation from Fraser-Pryce was not just a gesture of goodwill but also a message of inspiration and encouragement to the young athletes of Olympic Gardens Football Club. Through her actions, she reminded them that with dedication, hard work, and support from the community, they can achieve their goals and dreams, no matter how big or small.
She also emphasized the importance of teamwork, which allows them to achieve success and the recognition necessary to attain greater levels of reward for their hard work. (see video below)
In a move that celebrates both his sporting prowess and his national pride, Guyanese cricket sensation Shamar Joseph has been appointed as a Tourism Ambassador for his homeland of Guyana. The announcement, made by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), comes as Joseph's star continues to rise following his remarkable performance against Australia in January, where he played a pivotal role in the West Indies' historic Test victory.
Joseph, hailing from Baracara, Berbice, has captured the hearts of cricket fans worldwide with his record-breaking spell of seven wickets for 68 runs in the crucial test match against Australia not only secured a thrilling win for the West Indies but also marked a significant milestone in his burgeoning career.
"Shamar Joseph's outstanding achievements on the cricket field have not only brought glory to the West Indies but have also shone a spotlight on the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Guyana," the GTA said in a statement. "As a Tourism Ambassador, we believe he will play a vital role in promoting our country's attractions and welcoming visitors from around the globe."
Joseph's heroics against Australia, including his remarkable eight-wicket haul in the second Test match, have earned him widespread acclaim within the cricketing fraternity. His final wicket to clinch the historic victory was met with jubilation from fans and commentators alike, with renowned cricketing commentator Ian Bishop hailing it as "a real dream come true for 'Joseph the Deliverer', for the West Indies."
In addition to his on-field achievements, Joseph's off-field contributions have not gone unnoticed. Cricket West Indies recently awarded him an international retainer contract in recognition of his stellar performances against Australia. Furthermore, he made history by becoming the first-ever West Indies player to receive the ICC Men's Player of the Month award for January 2024, solidifying his status as a cricketing icon.
Shishkin has not been declared for Friday’s Boodles Gold Cup at Cheltenham following an unsatisfactory scope.
Trainer Nicky Henderson had already ruled out Jonbon from Wednesday’s Champion Chase, among others, after five of his six runners on the first day of the Festival were pulled up.
The form of the stable had been a talking point heading into the biggest week of the season, hot on the heels of his brightest star Constitution Hill working poorly at Kempton and subsequently being pulled out of the Champion Hurdle.
Henderson posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Very sadly it will not be possible for Shishkin to run in the Gold Cup on Friday. He was scoped as have all our potential runners this week, but unfortunately he has shown an unsatisfactory picture on which he couldn’t possibly run.
“He appears to be 100 per cent in himself and has been working and schooling better than ever and we were really looking forward to Friday, it is hoped that along with all the other non-participants this week that they will be back in time for Aintree or Punchestown.
“Regrettably Champ has also succumbed and will not run in tomorrow’s Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle and the equivalent race at Aintree could be on the agenda.”
Nicky Henderson has reacted to his overall poor results on the opening day of this year’s Cheltenham Festival by withdrawing several runners on day two, including Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase hope Jonbon.
Henderson went into this year’s Festival under a cloud following the withdrawal of Champion Hurdle title holder Constitution Hill and a disappointing run of form from his stable as a whole.
Luccia provided the Seven Barrows handler with a boost when finishing third behind State Man in the Champion Hurdle, but his other five runners on Tuesday were all pulled up.
Henderson posted on X: “I’m afraid we have had to make some very tough decisions following the very disappointing performances of all bar one of our horses yesterday.
“It was there for all to see that there is obviously something affecting nearly all our horses and consequently we have reluctantly decided that Jonbon, First Street and Kingston Pride will not run today.
“It is impossible to identify any reason for all the disappointments and none of these horses have given us any cause for concern and all yesterday’s runners were scoped clean post race and I am glad to say all are sound this morning.
“There will unfortunately be further non-runners on Thursday and Friday.
“I hope everybody will appreciate that we have to do this in everybody’s interests, particularly the horses. It is very, very disappointing for everybody.”
Among Henderson’s high-profile entries for the rest of the week are JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino and leading Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup contender Shishkin.
Today’s Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase has been abandoned due to waterlogged ground on Cheltenham’s inside circuit.
Following 11mm of rainfall throughout yesterday, there has been no improvement in the conditions on the Cross-Country course and areas of the track remain unraceable.
The forecast for the remainder of the week continues to look unsettled, with further showers likely on both Thursday and Friday.
There will therefore be insufficient improvement to the Cross-Country course and the decision has been taken not to reschedule the Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase at this year’s Festival.
Due to the abandonment, the revised race times for today are as follows: Race 1 – 1345, Race 2 – 1430, Race 3 – 1515, Race 4 – 1600, Race 5 – N/A, Race 6 – 1650, Race 7 – 1730.
The going on the regulation Old and New courses is described as soft, heavy in places.
Newly appointed Under-20 Reggae Boyz Head coach Jerome Waite, is looking forward to the challenge of possibly qualifying the country to its first Under-20 Men's World Cup since the Argentina feat in 2001.
The veteran tactician, who heads Jamaica Premier League (JPL) outfit, Tivoli Gardens, and Manning Cup unit, Wolmer’s Boys’ School, was appointed as replacement for John Wall, who led the team through the first phase of qualifying with victories over Grenada, Martinique and Bermuda in St Kitts and Nevis recently.
Waite brings a wealth of experience to the position, as he previous led or assisted with teams at the Under-20, Under-23 and senior levels.
In fact, Waite was at the helm when the young Reggae Boyz went into the 2018 tournament without much preparation or expectation, but surprised the entire nation when they finished level on 13 points from five games with CONCACAF kingpins, Mexico, at the top of the group. However, Mexico qualified for the second round by virtue of a better goal difference than the Jamaicans, as only the group winner advanced.
Since then, Jamaica's closest run to qualification was when they made the quarterfinal of the 2022 tournament in Honduras.
"It is always a joy working with the national programme. It will be great going into the qualifiers with this group of players. Qualification will not be easy, but it is something that can be accomplished," Waite said.
Waite's appointment comes as Wall has been recalled from the Under-20 assignment by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF).
According to a press release from the JFF, Wall's focus will be on his role as assistant head coach to Heimir Hallgrímsson as the senior men’s team prepares for their Nations League semi-final fixture against the United States later this month.
“The Jamaica Football Federation has decided to recall coach John Wall from duties with the under-20 team, so he can better concentrate on assisting Hallgrimsson in preparing the senior men's national team for the numerous competitions ahead,” an official statement read.
Jamaica's young Reggae Boyz, who topped Group F, joined other group winners Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Canada in the Championship round where they are set to meet the six pre-seeded nations – United States, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic –ranked in that order.
The championship will be hosted in Guanajuato, Mexico in June, with the group draw set for April.
Having delivered according to expectations over the past two years, the hierarchy of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) have promised that this year’s third edition of the Mouttet Invitational Mile will be the best yet, as they announced three changes to the conditions for its marquee event.
Those three changes include the allocation of 10 starting stalls for horses domiciled in Jamaica before January 1, 2024, with six starting stalls now being allocated to horses not domiciled in Jamaica before January 1, 2024, while the winners of the Jamaica Derby, Jamaica Cup, Philip Feanny Gold Cup, and the Port Royal Sprint will gain automatic entry in the Mouttet Mile.
The first two changes represent a shift from last year’s conditions when 12 stalls were reserved for horses domiciled in Jamaica before January 1, 2024, and four for horses not domiciled in Jamaica before January 1, 2024.
These changes by the promoting company are in addition to reaffirming the Mouttet Mile’s status as the most lucrative single racing event in the English-speaking Caribbean with a staggering increase in purse from US$150,000 to US$250,000 ($38,000,000 Jamaican), which was announced earlier this year.
Chris Wills, SVREL’s acting general manager of operations, said it is only fitting that the promoting company surpasses its own milestone set last year when they had overseas-based jockeys and horses to add to the excitement that was livestreamed in the United States on Fox5.
This year’s edition of the Mouttet Mile, a Grade One race for three-year-olds and up over one mile (1,600m), is scheduled for December 7, when the promoting company aims to build on the momentum gained last year.
“When we first conceptualized the idea of hosting a race day at Caymanas Park that could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with most of the prestigious events on the global racing calendar, it seemed like it was an audacious dream. However, with the approval of our board, we set to turn this dream into a reality.
“Of course, every ambitious endeavour requires the support of dedicated partners, and we were fortunate to get the backing of the Mouttet family, who not only shared our vision, but also provided the crucial support which was needed to kick start this incredible journey. Their belief in our vision enabled us to offer the largest purse ever in the English-speaking Caribbean,” Wills said during a press conference in Kingston on Tuesday.
“Since the first staging of the Mouttet Mile, I think it's fair to say the race has become the most anticipated race day in the Caribbean. It has raised the bar for what is possible for a standard we can deliver right here in Jamaica. The success of the first year was just the beginning. So, as we look ahead to 2024, I'm thrilled to announce that the best is yet to come. We are pulling out all the stops to make the third running of the Mouttet Mile Invitational an unforgettable event,” he added.
Aside from the Mouttet Mile, Gary Peart, chairman of Supreme Ventures Limited, pointed to the significance of sustained partnerships to shape the future of the overall racing product and the industry on a whole.
“Our mantra has been harmony and until all the stakeholders in horse racing come together in harmony, we will not truly realize the potential of horse racing. Most of the stakeholders are here, the only one that is outstanding is the government, and I'm appealing to my stakeholders, let's come together in harmony and let's walk and sit with the government because we think that Caymanas can not only change the fortunes of our stakeholders in horse racing, but the country on a whole,” Peart declared, as his hinted at the possibility of attracting more overseas patrons for this year’s event.
“Last year we were able to cut a deal to get Mouttet Mile on Fox Sports, and for the first time, horse racing from Jamaica was live on mainstream TV in the United States.
“It's very important, because if the experts at Jamaica Tourist Board and their team can see the potential of what a day of Caymanas Park is like, then it tells me to convince the rest of the ecosystem here and internationally that it is not going to be that great of a challenge,” he noted.
Meanwhile, SVREL’s executive chairman, Solomon Sharpe, who is overseas, lent his voice to proceedings, as he too promised that this year’s edition will again raise the bar to higher heights.
Trinidad & Tobago sprint twins Sanaa and Sole Frederick are now members of the Adidas family after announcing their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) deal with the German sportswear powerhouses on Tuesday.
“We are beyond excited to share that we’ve officially partnered with Adidas through NIL. We can’t wait to represent a brand that stands for excellence and innovation on the track,” the 18-year-olds, who have both committed to the University of Georgia, said in a joint statement on Instagram.
“We are grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to start the beginning of an incredible journey with Team Adidas,” they added.
Both sisters attend the Druid Hills High School in Atlanta and specialize in the 100m and 200m. Sanaa, who has a personal best of 11.33 in the 100m, finished third in the event at the 2023 Carifta Games in the Bahamas, running a time of 11.65. She went two places better in the 200m which she won in 23.60.
She and Sole were members of the T&T 4x100m relay team that won the silver medal at the Games.
She followed up that performance with a bronze medal run at the Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August 2023, clocking 11.48.
No slouch herself, Sole has personal best times of 11.60 for the 100m and 23.41 for the 200m.
In May 2023, the sisters, along with Southwest DeKalb High School twin brothers Isaiah Taylor and Xzaviah Taylor, combined for 13 of the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) 46 medals at the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) State Track Championships.
They have both also been selected to Trinidad & Tobago’s 68-member team for the 2024 Carifta Games set for March 30-April 1 in Grenada.
Fergal O’Brien said the only comfort he could take from Highland Hunter’s sad death at Cheltenham on Tuesday was that he was now with Keagan Kirkby.
Kirkby had looked after Highland Hunter during his time spent with champion trainer Paul Nicholls and become very attached to the grey chaser.
Kirkby, 25, tragically died in a point-to-point fall in February and Highland Hunter led his funeral procession through the village of Ditcheat last week.
Highland Hunter, who had recently won a valuable prize at Newbury, bowled along at the head of affairs in the Ultima Chase on the opening day of the Festival, putting in some extravagant leaps under Paddy Brennan.
He weakened quickly after jumping the third-last, however, and the 11-year-old was unable to be saved despite the swift attention of racecourse veterinary staff.
“It’s obviously a tremendously sad day for the yard, especially for Scott (Sainsbury) and Sophie (Kelly) who looked after Highland Hunter,” said O’Brien, who trains locally to the Prestbury Park track.
“I suppose the only comfort we can take is that he is with Keagan now. It’s a very sad day.”
Martin Brassil’s Ose Partir also died due to injuries sustained in a fall in the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle.
A spokesperson for the course said: “Highland Hunter was immediately attended by expert veterinary professionals in the concluding stages of our third race but sadly passed away.
“In the sixth race, Ose Partir sustained an injury and was humanely put to sleep. Our heartfelt condolences are with the connections of both horses.”
Bookmakers were left reeling on the ropes following a Willie Mullins blitz on day one of the Cheltenham Festival – and they fear the Irish maestro will go on to deliver a knockout blow.
Gaelic Warrior got the ball rolling for Mullins and Paul Townend when a well-backed 2-1 winner of the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase.
The pair then teamed up again for Unibet Champion Hurdle glory with State Man and a Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle success with Lossiemouth, both rated odds-on bankers by many punters.
“It didn’t take Willie Mullins long to get on the scoresheet at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, his Gaelic Warrior was by far the best-backed Arkle contender and his many supporters had few concerns throughout the race as the 2-1 favourite strolled home in glorious isolation,” said Coral’s David Stevens.
“Odds-on shots State Man and Lossiemouth were in many Mullins-based multiples, and neither let their backers down, meaning we head into day two already knowing victories for their stablemates Ballyburn, Fact To File and El Fabiolo will make it another costly day for the layers.”
Lawrence Lyons, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “Results on Tuesday didn’t go our way and Willie Mullins will be the toast of punters up and down the land. The punters certainly have the advantage heading into day two and we can only hope a few unfancied outsiders bail us out later in the week.”
There was little relief for the layers in the other races, with no outsiders popping up at big prices to save the day.
The Rachael Blackmore-ridden Slade Steel was popular with punters at 7-2 in the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and even the sole British success was far from a surprise, with Kim Bailey’s Chianti Classico well supported at 6-1 in the Ultima Handicap Chase.
Joseph O’Brien’s Lark In The Mornin was the biggest-priced winner of the day at just 9-1 in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and Corbetts Cross rounded things off in the Maureen Mullins National Hunt Chase when romping home by a wide margin at 15-8 for Emmet Mullins.
That last result at least saved Paddy Power from a huge pay-out to a Chelmsford-based punter, who had picked out the first six winners in a £20 each-way accumulator and a £1 Super Heinz, but sided with runner-up Embassy Gardens in the finale.
The online customer did manage to cash out the accumulator for £36,000 and scooped up more than £14,000 in multiple bets on his other wager.
Paddy Power spokesperson Paul Binfield said: “It’s not been an ideal start to the week for the bookies and we’ve lost on the day.
“But it was nice to see one shrewd punter from Essex trouser £50k and we’re happy that our customers have full wallets for the rest of the action with everything to play for.”
Attentions are already turning towards next year’s Champion Hurdle, when Constitution Hill will hopefully be back in a bid to regain his crown and Lossiemouth could also be let loose against the opposite sex.
William Hill’s Lee Phelps said: “After what we’ve seen today, Lossiemouth could have the edge over State Man in next year’s Champion Hurdle. The grey mare was very impressive and is into 7-2 for next year’s renewal, with State Man available at 4-1.
“Constitution Hill is still obviously the one they’d all have to beat at 6-4, but he could have been backed at evens before we saw the performance of Lossiemouth, who don’t forget would be in receipt of 7lb in a Champion Hurdle.”
Trainer Emmet Mullins took the race named in honour of his late grandmother as Corbetts Cross was much the best in the Maureen Mullins National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
A 15-8 chance under Derek O’Connor, the chestnut travelled well throughout and let Mr Vango and Gina Andrews make the running.
As the race wore on Corbetts Cross advanced, and up the hill he pulled effortlessly clear of Patrick Mullins and Embassy Gardens (7-4 favourite) to secure a 17-length triumph.
Mullins – the son of renowned horse transporter George Mullins – said: “It was a great honour from the Jockey Club to name the race after granny and it’s extra special that we were able to win it.
“We were always very hopeful, I suppose he had the form in the book to be second in the Arkle today and he was able to show the same turn of foot over this longer trip. Derek got him into a great rhythm and he showed his true colours today, I think.
“The trip was probably a little worry with ground being so heavy, even though he has plenty form on heavy ground. I think having Derek on board was the main reason we decided to run in this race, to have his expertise is a big advantage.
“That race is a special test, so we’ll take it one day at a time and see how he is after it.”
O’Connor said: “It was a super performance, Emmet has done a wonderful job, he had him trained to perfection and he turned up in great shape.
“He had a very pleasing schooling session last Thursday morning in the hood. It’s not for me to say where he’ll go, but that was a very good performance.
“I have a nice book of rides for the week, but today was important to get us off to a good note.”
Nicky Henderson did not want to speculate on what might have been after seeing his admirable mare Luccia finish third in a Unibet Champion Hurdle lacking stable star Constitution Hill.
The undoubted ace in the Seven Barrows pack, Constitution Hill was mesmeric when leaving the Willie Mullins-trained State Man in his wake 12 months ago, but a very public sub-par workout at Kempton, followed by unsatisfactory scopes and blood test results meant he was unable to defend his crown.
State Man was therefore a short price to claim the feature event on day one of the Cheltenham Festival and duly landed the odds, but the proximity of the 140-rated Luccia in third, beaten just three and a half lengths, only made Constitution Hill’s absence all the more conspicuous.
“I’m thrilled for State Man and Willie and Joe and Marie (Donnelly, owners), I’ve got three runners for them (Donnellys) on Friday and they’re the best,” said Henderson afterwards.
“We’ve had plenty of banter throughout the winter of how State Man and Constitution Hill are going to have a good battle and it wasn’t to be, which is a shame.
“There’s no point in speculating where Constitution Hill would have finished in front of Luccia, I think you can probably guess where he’s going to finish, but that’s for another day.”
Whether Constitution Hill will run again this season, either at Aintree or at Punchestown for a belated rematch with State Man, remains to be seen, but Henderson did issue an upbeat update on his well-being.
He added: “Constitution Hill was ridden out with the others this morning, which was nice to see. His bloods are better, but we’ve got a long way to go.
“He’s not 100 per cent (over the infection), but it’s a long way going down the road of improving dramatically.”
Constitution Hill’s setback aside, there is no doubt Henderson’s string has not been firing on all cylinders ahead of the Festival and the fact both Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender Jeriko Du Reponet and Champion Hurdle hope Iberico Lord were pulled up gave the trainer further food for thought.
“Some of these horses probably aren’t running how they ought to, in which case he (Constitution Hill) is probably safer where he is,” he said.
“Everything you do at home tells you they’re all perfectly right, otherwise to be honest with you they wouldn’t be here.
“We’ll just have to play it quietly and take them as individuals. (The tests) say they’re all OK, but this ground has gone against quite a few of them, so we’ll have to regroup. I can think of two or three that won’t want to be running on that ground, but I need to talk to the owners first.”
The owner of National Hunt racing’s pre-eminent star, Michael Buckley, was also in attendance.
He said: “It’s not very gracious but I think if he ran, he’d have won the race, that is what I think. If I don’t believe in my horse, no one else will.
“He had his blood test yesterday and while they were remarkably improved from where they were a week ago, they weren’t ‘normal’ – but he is out and about.
“It’s not really for me to talk about Nicky’s horses, but on home work Iberico Lord would beat Luccia so, as everyone is commenting about, Nicky has something running about his yard.
“Obviously, Luccia is fine but Iberico Lord pulled up and so did the one in the first (Jeriko Du Reponet), so maybe I’m better off out of it and in a weird way I’m better off not running.”
While the Constitution Hill questions kept coming, Henderson was keen to praise 33-1 shot Luccia’s better than anticipated performance, saying “It was all Paul’s (Sandy, owner) idea to run, the idiotic trainer said ‘you’re mad’ and if I’d had any say in the matter she’d have run in the County Hurdle, but I’m not the boss.
“From two months ago, we’ve said we’d run her and give it a go, she’s a very good mare. She might be going to stud now, but I’ll try to persuade Paul to have another bash.”
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