Cheltenham Festival 2019: Our take on the highlights including trainer, jockey and horse of the week

Performance of the week

David Ord

Paisley Park in the Sun Racing Stayers' Hurdle. It's a division that had been craving a champion for a couple of seasons and we now have one. The way he hit the flat spot before thundering home to reel-in the excellent Sam Spinner was a throwback to some of the great stayers of yesteryear. He has some way to go to even get close to the records of the likes of Big Buck's, Inglis Drever and Baracouda but it was a performance in which a champion dominated his division. That's everything Cheltenham should be.

Ed Chamberlin

Paisley Park. Emma Lavelle has been a friend of mine for a long time so while owner Andrew Gemmell understandably got all the headlines last week, I was especially thrilled for the winning trainer who most would agree is one of the nicest people in the game. Paisley Park is magic and has a touch of the Ingles Drever and Big Buck's about him. The moment he hit his flat spot, the crowd went silent but a few strides later he was thundering forward again and the roar erupted. It was a huge moment.

Matt Brocklebank

Few Festival handicaps are chewed up and spat out quite like A Plus Tard in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase. Henry De Bromhead's five-year-old slammed Tower Bridge by 16 lengths giving him 2lb, proving his official rating of 144 to be well wide of the mark. He'd beaten Arkle winner Duc Des Genievres earlier in the season so the writing was on the wall to some extent and he looks to have a massive future after just four starts over fences since switching from France.

Richard Mann

A 1 3/4-length defeat of Politologue might not have impressed everybody but despite not having everything go his own way, Altior proved once again that he is best two-mile chaser in the business when matching Big Buck's record of 18 straight NH victories with victory in the Champion Chase. Mistakes at the seventh and final fence did him no favours, nor did some clever ride riding from the jockeys in the opposition, but Altior would not be beaten, regaining the lead he had surrendered only moments earlier and staying on strongly up the hill to prevail in the his typically resolute style. Sometimes winning ugly deserves more credit than doing it easily and this felt one such occasion.

Horse of the week

David Ord

Frodon. What a partnership he's developed with Bryony Frost and what a record he has on the New Course at Cheltenham. He's a credit to not only his rider - but trainer Paul Nicholls too - and he was deadly yet again at his fences. But it was the sheer will-to-win he displayed when headed by Aso going to the last that will live long in the memory. He somehow set his ears even lower and found the reserves to reel in his potential conqueror as he devoured his favourite hill. A wonderful racehorse.

Ed Chamberlin

It has to be Tiger Roll. Altior was the star act on Wednesday but even through my admittedly biased eyes what Tiger achieved about 40 minutes later was extraordinary. He's now won at four Cheltenham Festivals, starting in a JCB Triumph Hurdle, stepping up to four miles in the National Hunt Chase and now two cross-country victories. He must go down as one of the most versatile Cheltenham Festival horses of all time and when I asked Michael O'Leary if he was still "a little rat' he replied "yes, but a very good one!". The sport is lucky to have a horse like him who resonates so strongly with the general public. He now heads to Aintree to try and win a second Randox Health Grand National and is heaven-sent for ITV and Aintree building up to the big race.

Matt Brocklebank

How could it not be Tiger Roll? Not a week to remember for Gordon Elliott and the Gigginstown operation but Tiger Roll delivered again with a wide-margin victory in the Cross Country Chase for his fourth Festival success. Not many Grand National heroes go on to win races so Tiger Roll is clearly out of the ordinary, backing up his Grade 2 hurdle success over 2m5f to take this 3m6f event by 22 lengths without coming under pressure.

Richard Mann

Tiger Roll. A sparkling display in the Cross Country Chase was to be his fourth Cheltenham Festival success to sit alongside victory in last season's Grand National. Despite his advancing years, Tiger Roll is arguably better than ever and his victory on Wednesday was breathtaking, cruising round before sprinting clear in fine style. A repeat bid in the National is now firmly on the cards but whichever way his career goes from here, he is rapidly becoming the people's horse.

Jockey of the week

David Ord

There are a few potential winners here but I will go with Paul Townend. The role of number two at any yard can be frustrating but he's long since developed from a safe pair of hands to outstanding jockey. For all the focus on Al Boum Photo's Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph and the exorcising of those Punchestown ghosts, the win aboard Duc Des Genievres in the Racing Post Arkle has been somewhat forgotten. But that too was a masterclass. Taking the habitual front-runner off a strong early gallop and keeping him balanced and jumping well throughout, the pair were mightily impressive winners of what admittedly wasn't a vintage renewal of the race. Don't underestimate either moving forward though.

Ed Chamberlin

Rachel Blackmore. I'd never met her before and most ITV viewers wouldn't have known a great deal about her before last week, but they do now. What a star she is, a lovely person as well as an outstanding jockey. Her effort in winning the Albert Bartlett on Minella Indo was probably ride of the week.

Matt Brocklebank

Rachael Blackmore has ridden 84 winners in Ireland at the time of writing and is just a dozen short of Paul Towned in the title race so it was great to see her recognised at Britain's biggest meeting. She followed her first Festival winner on A Plus Tard on Tuesday with Grade One success in Friday's Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle on 50/1 outsider Minella Indo. It's clearly a very promising time for female jockeys and Bryony Frost rightly attracts plenty of attention given her media-friendly approach, but Blackmore is performing at the top of the game week in week out and in terms of pure riding ability, she’s the complete package.

Richard Mann

Often unheralded but clearly an invaluable cog in the Nicky Henderson wheel, Nico de Boinville was crowned leading rider of the week on Friday, and can look back on the Festival with an immense amount of pride. De Boinville handles the build-up to Altior Champion Chase with aplomb and was coolness personified throughout the various stages of the race, not least after the last when getting his mount organised following a bumpy landing before galvanising him for an irresistible finish up the hill. His winning ride on William Henry in the Coral Cup was one to savour, too, and he delivered Pentland Hills to perfection in the Triumph Hurdle.

Trainer of the week

David Ord

It has to be that man Mullins. Heading into the Festival his team was down - numerically - on previous years and it was hard to find many bankers among the raiding party. But he left as leading trainer (ironically despite the one banker, Benie Des Dieux, falling at the last with the OLBG Mares' Hurdle at her mercy). The wait for the a first Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup is over and in the likes of Klassical Dream and the aforementioned Duc Des Genievres, he produced gems who could sparkle at this meeting for many more years to come.

Ed Chamberlin

Philip Rowley winning the Foxhunters with Hazel Hill. It was wonderful to see the 'Cheltenham love" shared all week, especially after it looked like being the Willie Mullins bonanza again after the first two races. So many small yards, owners and unsung jockeys got their moment in the sun and here was a proper point-to-point man getting his own chance to shine.

Matt Brocklebank

Nicky Henderson, and not just for that video clip. Four winners – Beware The Bear, Altior, William Henry, Pentland Hills. Four seconds - We Have A Dream, Janika, Santini, Champ. It didn’t quite happen in the novice department but several of Henderson's youngsters ran really well in defeat and he fared much better in the handicaps than in recent years. All this after the equine flu outbreak set the Seven Barrows team back a few days. You sense that it could be a seriously good Aintree for Henderson.

Richard Mann

Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson will rightly take plenty of plaudits following their successful weeks, the latter brushing off a relatively quiet winter by his high standards to enjoy a Tuesday to remember before lifting his first Gold Cup on Friday. Henderson, too, proved what a master he is having seen many of his horses miss intended engagements due to the Equine Flu outbreak. Nevertheless, Dan Skelton gets vote following victories for Roksana in Mares' Hurdle and Ch'tibello in the County Hurdle. The second-named was the result of a plan hatched over a year previously and demonstrated just what a fine trainer Skelton is; one for the big days and the big league.

Eyecatcher

David Ord

There's a big pot to be won with Fakir D'Oudairies. The Festival preview night circuit - en-masse - seemed cold on his chance in the Sky Bet Supreme but someone warmed to him late as the morning drifter was sent-off the 9/2 joint-favourite. He ran very well too to finish fourth behind Klassical Dream, finding the race a completely insufficient test of stamina. But I loved the way he came home and there's a big pot or two in Joseph O'Brien's charge as he progresses - and goes up in trip - in the future. We might not have to wait beyond Punchestown for the big pay-day either.

Ed Chamberlin

Allaho in the Albert Bartlett. That's one of the most gruelling races of the week and how this fellow managed to finish third despite pulling Ruby Walsh's arms out for much of the contest I'll never know. He must have a serious engine. I thought Ruby rode as well as ever all week and he often disguises if a horse is taking a tug, but this was there for everyone to see. Allaho is a great big, leggy individual who is going to make a serious chaser with another summer on his back. Cheveley Park have some serious ammunition for next season and this fellow is very exciting.

Matt Brocklebank

Lake View Lad has had a fantastic season already but might not be done just yet with the Grand National looming large on his agenda. Nick Alexander's nine-year-old was a fraction outpaced in Ultima Handicap Chase but he stayed on extremely well up the hill under top weight. He's a fantastic jumper, travels surprisingly well for a staying chaser and looks to have a leading chance at Aintree with 10-11 his racing weight if Bristol De Mai stands his ground at the top.

Richard Mann

Champ gets the verdict. As his name would suggest, he is horse that connections have always had high hopes for and the penny has really dropped this year, a maiden hurdle victory at Perth to start of a steep upward curve that saw him land a first Grade One success in the Challow Hurdle over Christmas before his runner-up finish in the Ballymore last week. That was another significant step forward on his previous form, only a game City Island proving too strong for Champ in the closing stages and watching the race back, you have to be impressed with the manner in which Nicky Henderson's charge jumped and travelled. He looks far from from the finished article, one who could excel over a strongly-run 2m, and the Ballymore has produced plenty of Champion Hurdle pointers in the past - don't be surprised if this proves to be another.

2020 Vision

David Ord

Defi Du Seuil to win the 2020 Ryanair Chase. The score with Lostintranslation may only be 2-1 now but this was his most dominant performance so far - and there's the promise of more to come. He's warmed to his task over fences and fenced more fluently than has been the case in the past. But it's the engine that's his strength. It carried him to JCB Triumph Hurdle glory as a juvenile and thundered him past his old rival up the hill last week. There's every chance it will be too much for the likes of Frodon and Aso in the Ryanair next year too - especially as he's a horse who will have that as a sole target all season.

Ed Chamberlin

Allaho in the RSA Chase, for the reasons outlined above.

Matt Brocklebank

There was a hint of regret in Colin Tizzard's voice when explaining to the media that Lostintranslation didn't have an RSA Chase entry in the build-up to the Festival, but the trainer can be encouraged by the way his young chaser jumped and performed when second to Defi Du Seuil in the JLT Novices' Chase. No doubt it will be three miles from now on and the way that the Tizzard team have handled the likes of Native River, Sizing Tennessee and Elegant Escape in recent seasons, it's not hard to imagine this sizeable son of Flemensfirth developing into a genuine Gold Cup contender next term.

Richard Mann

This year's RSA looked a particularly strong renewal with Topofthegame leading home Santini and Delta Work in a thrilling race. Slick jumps at the final two fences saw Topofthegame prove too strong for Santini up the hill but don't underestimate the run of the second who was posted wide throughout as Nico de Boinville looked to give his mount clear sight of his fences. An interrupted preparation will have done him no favours either but take nothing away from the winner who looks a very smart prospect and one who is improving all the time under Paul Nicholls' expert tutelage. Both could be big players in next season's Magners Gold Cup, similarly Delta Work who travelled supremely well throughout the RSA and should have plenty of big days ahead.

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