Back In Focus put up a determined staying performance to give Irish trainer Willie Mullins his fourth winner of this year’s Cheltenham Festival in the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase.
The eight-year-old, who has stamina in abundance, wore down Tofino Bay up the hill to snatch the spoils from Nina Carberry in the four-mile contest for amateur riders.
Rival d’Estruval fell at the second last when separating the two principals and it was Back In Focus (9-4 favourite) who scored for owner Graham Wylie by half a length from Tofino Bay.° Godsmejudge was 19 lengths back in third.
Highland Lodge and Tofino Bay shared the pacemaking duties until the field fled down the hill on the final circuit. Tofino Bay was still going well when Highland Lodge cried enough while the always prominent Back In Focus was not far away with Rival d’Estruval and Buddy Bolero looking dangerous.
Tofino Bay had them all at full stretch two out and Dessie Hughes’s charge seemed to have the race in his grasp when Rival d’Estruval came down. But Ireland’s record-breaking amateur Patrick Mullins, riding for his father, had other ideas and came with a wet sail to deny Tofino Bay to the delight of favourite backers.
When asked to put into words the sensation of a Festival winner — his first over fences — Patrick Mullins said: “It’s like trying to describe colour to a blind person.
“He was a little bit keen. He made one mistake down the back straight and I had to sit and let him get his breath back. He’s very tough and very brave. He was brilliant.”
Willie Mullins said: “I’m delighted for Patrick to break his duck over fences here. He galloped and stayed and I’m over the moon. That winner means as much as any I’ve had here. I know how much it means to Patrick and it means that much to me as well.
“It looked like Nina had stolen it, but the horse found huge reserves. He has an entry in the Irish National, but that will probably come too soon, so he might go to Punchestown. He might be another one to bear in mind for the French Champion Hurdle.”
The New One showed heart and class in equal measure to win the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained five-year-old (7-2) benefited from a fine ride from the Naunton handler’s son, Sam, to defeat Irish raider Rule The World by four lengths. Pont Alexandre, the 6-4 favourite from Mullins’s stable, was always to the fore under Ruby Walsh but finished third.
In a race devoid of any serious pace, Pont Alexandre and Ubak jousted for the lead up until the penultimate flight, when the latter was worried out of it.
Mullins’s inmate remained in a strong position, with Taquin Du Seuil and Rule The World firmly in contention. Sam Twiston-Davies had all bases covered, though, and scampered along the outside of the field as The New One secured his third victory from four starts this season.
The heavily-backed Pont Alexandre finished another four and a half lengths adrift of the accomplished scorer.
The winning rider said: “This is him in his full glory. He jumped brilliant and travelled away great. You won’t get a much better feeling than that.
“It was absolute class. I had a bit of trouble in running coming down the hill. I’d like to think he’d be really, really good. This race looked very competitive and considering we got a few knocks down the hill he has really picked up.”
Triple Gold Cup-winning rider Jim Culloty enjoyed Festival success as a trainer when Lord Windermere took the RSA Chase.
He possibly looked a fortunate winner, however, as the Willie Mullins-trained Boston Bob crashed out at the final fence when going well in front.
That left Lord Windermere (8-1), ridden by Davy Russell, to get the better of Lyreen Legend by a length and three-quarters and give Culloty, who will be forever associated with the great Best Mate, a first winner at the meeting since he gave up riding. Hadrian’s Approach was six lengths away third.
A steady pace was set by Theatrical Star, with Goulanes and Houblon Des Obeaux close up. But the favourite Unioniste was never able to make a serious challenge when the race hotted up coming down the hill.
Boston Bob took it up after the third-last under a decisive move by Paul Townend. He quickly went a few lengths clear only to fall at the final fence, but the race still went to Ireland.
Russell said: “I’ve only ridden him once at home, so all the credit goes to Jim Culloty, who has instilled confidence in him. Jim’s done a marvellous job. I only steered him today and he was in super order.”
Medinas sprang a 33-1 surprise for jockey Wayne Hutchinson and trainer Alan King in the Coral Cup.
Hutchinson brought Medinas with a rattling run on the wide outside to challenge at the final flight, as the winner’s stablemate Meister Eckhart and Fiveforthree from the Willie Mullins stable battled it out on the stands side.
Medinas, winner of the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his previous start, held the aces and swept to victory by two lengths from Meister Eckhart with Fiveforthree just a nose away. Master Of The Sea was fourth and Ericht fifth.
Flaxen Flare gave Ireland another winner with a 25-1 success in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
Trained in Co Meath by Gordon Elliott, the four-year-old gelding skipped four and a half lengths clear of Caid Du Berlais at the line.
Flaxen Flare was in fourth place two out, at which stage Davy Condon went for broke.
The complexion to the Grade Three dramatically changed complexion from there on in as the winner swept into the lead at the top of the straight.
Elliott’s charge continued to extend his advantage and ended up winning most convincingly. Ptit Zig finished third, while Milord was fourth.
Mullins and Walsh teamed up to claim the Weatherbys Champion Bumper for an eighth time courtesy of Briar Hill.
The five-year-old (25-1) trounced his rivals with a withering late run around the outside of the field.
Mullins was securing his fifth winner at this year’s Cheltenham Festival, and Walsh his fourth.
Runner-up Regal Encore (7-1 joint-favourite) fleetingly looked the biggest danger along the straight, but the Graham Wylie-owned Briar Hill bounded up the hill to score by seven lengths. Golantilla finished third for the Tony Martin team.
Mullins said: “We did know he had a little bit of ability. We were only here to see how good he was, so it was a huge surprise to see how well he did it. I think the hill, and probably the better ground, did it for him.”
