Two runner races can still provide drama.
Ahead of the November meeting much had been made of the small fields in National Hunt Racing and indeed even Cheltenham could not escape the ongoing issue at the weekend.
This was summed up on the Sunday where in six races only 44 runners went to post, 19 of those coming in one race, The Greatwood Hurdle won by West Cork.
Countryside also saw it’s feature race reduced to two runners, My Drogo, trained by Dan Skelton a highly rated prospect going off at 4/9 favourite and to be honest it sparked little interest, in what many thought would be a formality.
Coming round the top of the hill Harry Skelton made his move aboard Drogo and looked to have passed the Rachel Blackmore ridden Gin on Lime but as they approached the second last, I don’t think anyone could have anticipated what happened.
Drogo slipped unseating Harry Skelton causing Gin on Lime to fell behind her but miraculously, Cheltenham’s leading jockey at the festival in 2021, Blackmore hung on and continued to score a remarkable victory.
Much debate was to be had as to whether it was right to continue to run with the horse with welfare issues being at the forefront in racing, in particular over the last year in light of the Gordon Elliot Scandal.
However, many jockeys supported Rachel Blackmore’s decision what the race did show was that you can never be 100% sure of what is going to happen in National Hunt racing event, in a two-runner race.
Mania and Smith come from the Shadows to land their first Paddy Power Gold Cup.
Saturday saw 18 runners take their place for the ever-hotly contested feature race, the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
Finding a winner in this race can be impossible and cases could have been made for many to be within a chance of taking glory.
However, coming into the straight it was Coole Coady, last year’s winner leading the race with Midnight Shadow in hot pursuit. Coole Coady had been faultless on his way round but on the the second last he fell leaving the race at the mercy of Midnight Shadow.
It looked a formality but at the last Ryan Mania’s mount stumbled and the Dan Skelton trained Protektorat sensed he might be able to steal the victory but Midnight Shadow carried on gamely to see it out and provide Sue Smith and Ryan Mania their first win in the race.
It’s been a big year for the pair, after a winner at the festival in March with Vintage Clouds in the Ultima and yet another big win makes Ryan Mania’s comeback even sweeter having previously retired from the sport in 2015 having battled with weight issues.
Rothwell shows us all what it means to win at Cheltenham.
Phillip Rothwell’s last winner at Prestbury Park had come all the way back in 2006, when Native Jack had won at the festival over the cross-country course. It had been a long wait for the Irish trainer but in the last race on Friday at the November meeting, Mcalpine which went off at 33/1, (great if you backed it), ended his long wait.
Sizing Banjo had gone close earlier on in the day, for the trainer finishing second seemed to be the last straw after Mcalpine’s victory Rothwell struggled to hold back the tears.
For those who know the sport, everyone knows the feeling of having a winner but winning at Cheltenham is massive and Rothwell’s emotional interview illustrated exactly how big it is.
Third Time Lucki looks like a huge prospect for the Skelton’s.
Having won in impressive style at the Showcase meeting a month earlier, Third Time Lucki returned to Cheltenham and was heavily fancied to win again, on Saturday he went off a 2/5 favourite.
Despite their only being three other rivals, Mick Pastor and Captain Tom Cat have plenty of experience but Third Time Lucki was super impressive and produced one jump in particular that was simply mesmerising.
The jump makes any National Hunt fan excited and bookmakers now make the Skelton Horse 10/1 for the Arkle and it will be very interesting to see if he’s a festival winner come March.
Fans flock to Prestbury Park.
The Festival in 2020 was heavily criticised for it’s impact on the spread of Covid-19 rightly or wrongly and Cheltenham then endured nearly 18 months without the return of the crowds.
The November meeting is arguably the first big meeting of the National Hunt season and the weekend showed just how much people enjoy a day at the races.
The Saturday in particular was rammed with racegoers and the Guinness, betting was in full flow as people watched a brilliant day of sport.
It demonstrated that despite the absence of crowds over the last year or so, National Hunt racing is still extremely popular and the crowds will only continue to grow as the season continues.