Cheltenham Festival: Elliott takes top trainer title with record-equalling eight wins

Gordon Elliott secured back to back top trainer titles as Ireland ran riot at this year’s Festival, writes Jonathan Harding at Cheltenham.

In doing so, he saddled a total of eight winners, equalling the record set his rival Willie Mullins in 2015, who managed an impressive seven winners at the meet.

The County Meath trainer lost Mossback in the National Hunt Challenge Cup but, despite a testing opening day, bounced back in style, landing back to back trebles on the following two days.

“This is unbelievable. Willy is the man and he has set the standards, we all have to chase him. Everyone loves him coming over here but I have to look at him every day of the week in Ireland. He’s brought racing to the next level,” he said.

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“The staff I have are brilliant. They do everything professionally and the horses are looking brilliant. I’ve got brilliant horses and brilliant owners – I’m very lucky.”

His standout performer of the week was Samcro who lived up to his already massive reputation with a comfortable victory in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on the second day.

The six-year-old was one of seven winners owned by the Gigginstown House Stud and, after his hurdling success, is now widely fancied to develop into a future Gold Cup horse.

Despite falling behind in the Irish Trainer Championship, it was not all bad news for Mullins, whose seven wins saw him surpass Nicky Henderson to become the Festival’s most successful trainer with 61 winners, a feat he never dreamed of achieving.

“When you start training from a base in Ireland you think it will be amazing to get one Cheltenham winner,” he said.

“I never dreamt of being the leading horse trainer or anything like that, it has come as a complete surprise. Without the owners especially and the staff, I wouldn’t be in this position, I’m lucky.”

In Arkle winner Footpad, Mullins also appears to have a future Gold Cup horse on his hands and it should not be long before the Irish trainers once again start challenging for the top honours – and the top prizes, with the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup all won by British winners.

Irish control of this year’s Festival fittingly peaked on St Patrick’s Thursday, when trainers from the Emerald Isle saddled the first six of seven winners to claim their third Prestbury Cup in a row with a day to spare.

The competition pits British trainers against Irish across the four days and while the home side dominated the three showpieces, the Irish raiders ran out 17-11 winners.

For Mullins, Ireland’s ascendency is symptomatic of their approach to racing while sadly, the British tally is a consequence of theirs.

“Obviously you are seeing an Irish dominance again and I think it’s totally down to the programme, race planning and the prize money they give to good horses in Ireland,” added Mullins.

“Good horses are rewarded in Ireland, they don’t have to go handicapping like they do over here. English owners are realising that now. They buy a good horse and have no races to run them in.

“In Britain a lot of novices have to go through a handicap to win any prize money and you leave a lot of good horses behind that way. Our programme is better I think and it is reflected in these results.”

Gordon Elliott’s stunning week owed a great deal to the performances of his two top jockeys, Davy Russell and 18-year-old Jack Kennedy, who rode a staggering eight winners between them.

The crown of top jockey went to Russell on a countback with the 2014 Gold Cup winner, who has had a winner at every Festival since 2006, taking his total tally to 21 wins.

“This place is special,” said Russell. “When I look at the list of previous winners – Charlie Swan, Ruby Walsh, Richard Dunwoody – they are jockeys that I’ve looked up to all my life.”