Cheltenham Review and Reports: Lecky Watson wins Brown Advisory

Lecky Watson, tipped in Matt Brocklebank's Value Bet column on Sporting Life, avoided the errors that affected some of his rivals, notably the favourite Ballyburn, and he struck the front going well on the turn for home.

A superb jump at the second last helped drive home the advantage and Lecky Watson kept up the gallop to score by four lengths from 22/1 shot Stellar Story.

Ballyburn, the well-backed 4/7 favourite, made a serious mistake at the seventh fence, the one at the top of the hill on the first circuit, and struggled to get in a rhythm. He finished only fifth, one position in advance of Dancing City who made a serious mistake at the third last. Quai de Bourbon unseated his rider four out.

This was Lecky Watson's third appearance at the Cheltenham Festival after finishing fourth in the 2023 Champion Bumper and fifth in the 2024 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. He is now unbeaten in three starts over fences after winning a beginners' chase at Naas and a Grade 3 at Punchestown, both over shorter trips.

Mullins said: "All season he has improved. We just said to Sean maybe go a little bit wider and keep out of trouble. Sean kept it very simple and it was an excellent ride.

"Was it the plan to have not gone over three miles this season? No, it was a case of getting them ready and running them in whatever race possible. We thought he was going to be a stamina horse, but the way the races came up we just took them.

“I hadn’t been planning to go the Gold Cup route with this one, but we have to go that way now. You have got to turn up to the races and find out what you have.

"You can have all the dreams you want at home, but it is out there they will tell you what they are really worth.

"This fella is improving all the time. I do seem a bit surprised, but we had a good team of horses out there and I might have put him in fourth out of our team."

Game over early on for Ballyburn

On Ballyburn, Mullins added: "Ballyburn was gone early and he wasn’t travelling in my mind and then he made that bad mistake.

“The game was over early for him, but we might now go back in trip with him and maybe make more use of him. I don’t think he enjoyed being put in the box seat there and they weren’t going fast enough for him."

O'Keeffe, riding his third Cheltenham Festival winner, said: "I'm over the moon. In fairness, when I got the ride on him I thought he had a nice chance. I saw he went out to a big enough price, but I thought if I got him jumping he'd have a big chance."

O'Keeffe was keen to pay tribute to fellow jockey Michael O'Sullivan who tragically died last month as a result of injuries sustained in a fall at Thurles.

He added: "Michael O'Sullivan was a big fan of this horse and always said he'd win a big race. Michael stayed in the house with us in Cheltenham the last few years so he's missed there this year. He was a very good friend and we'll always miss him."

Jimmy du Seuil lands Coral Cup on belated return

Jimmy du Seuil stormed clear of his rivals to win the Coral Cup on his handicap debut and first start since the Punchestown Festival last May.

Jimmy du Seuil's campaign ended on something of a low note last season with underwhelming efforts in Grade 1 company at Aintree and Punchestown, but he had been runner-up to Ballyburn in the Gallaghers Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season and was expertly brought back to form by Willie Mullins.

Jimmy du Seuil landed after the final flight in a share of the lead with Impose Toi but saw his race out powerfully to pull three lengths clear. Ballyadam, who had finished runner-up to Langer Dan last season, was third this time around, while Beat The Bat was fourth. Well-backed 3/1 favourite Be Aware travelled smoothly into contention but was only eighth.

Rider Danny Mullins said: "Credit goes to Willie Mullins, coming here with no run this season, preparing one for a handicap, with no run in a handicap - it's great to be a part of that team.

"The last furlong was always going to be that difficult furlong, but he hit the line very strong, that's a great performance. He's a good little pony!"

It was a third Festival win for Danny Mullins who enjoyed back-to-back victories aboard Flooring Porter in the Stayers' Hurdle in 2021 and 2022. He added: "This is the place we all want to come every year. I've been lucky enough to ride winners here before, but you don't take any of them for granted.

"Any time you get to the top of the hill in front that's a special feeling."

Matty at it again at the Festival

Jazzy Matty claimed a second career Cheltenham Festival success, winning the Grand Annual two years on from his first triumph in the Fred Winter when partnered by Michael O'Sullivan, who tragically lost his life after a fall earlier this year.

Trained by Gordon Elliott when successful at Prestbury Park as a juvenile hurdler, he joined trainer Cian Collins after being part of the Caldwell Construction dispersal sale last year and has raised his game again over fences for new connections.

Beaten a head by Path d’Oroux over the same course and distance in a novice event at the October meeting earlier this season, the well-backed Jazzy Matty (15/2) went one better under Danny Gilligan who drove the six-year-old to a length and a half verdict over last year’s Grand Annual hero Unexpected Party, the 11/2 favourite this time around.

Gavin Cromwell was responsible for the third and fourth, Midnight It Is running a big race at 25/1 and finishing just ahead of stablemate My Mate Mozzie at 13/2, while sixth went to 18/1 chance Conyers Hill.

Collins, saddling his first Festival winner, said: "It’s unbelievable. We were very hopeful coming here today, but it’s Cheltenham and we needed a lot of luck on our side. We had that. I said that that - Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty winning - doesn’t happen often. This is for Michael.

“He’s gone from strength to strength since we got him. He really enjoys the way we train, and it’s unbelievable to have gone this today. It’s been a long couple of weeks before today - we only had one horse coming over and a lot of time and effort has gone into him. Everyone at home in the yard - we’ve a great team and to get this is unbelievable. To win on the big stage means so much and hopefully showcases that we can get one ready for the big day as well.”

Danny Gilligan added: "It went very smooth, never missed a beat the whole way round there. I’m sure everyone knows there’s someone very special looking down on us today. That’s for Michael.

“He was in such a great rhythm and I didn’t want to disappoint him anywhere; I was letting him stretch for a couple of fences, but he was in such a rhythm. He really loves the hill and loves it round here. He just got touched off here the last day, but he loves the hill and grinds it out.”

Stumptown stays on strongly in Cross Country

Stumptown responded well to pressure to win the Cross Country Chase under top weight.

Stumptown, the 5/2 favourite, appeared in trouble at times, while his rider Keith Donoghue also had to contend with a slipped saddle, but he stayed on to lead at the final obstacle and had matters under control from that point.

Stumptown's trainer Gavin Cromwell also trains the third home Vanillier who did well to get back into contention after losing ground when almost taking the wrong course early on. Latenightpass split the pair in second, seven lengths behind the winner.

Donoghue said: "I was only ever hanging in there. He didn't jump as well as he could jump - the ground was probably a bit soft for him - but he stays well. Going to the last I could feel him getting going and I was never going to be beat."

It was Donoghue's fifth win in the Cross Country Chase, making him the outright winningmost rider in the race. He had previously shared that distinction with Nina Carberry. Donoghue had won three editions of the Cross Country on Tiger Roll and one on Delta Work.

Cromwell said: "I was very concerned for a while to be honest, but he has ended up running out a good winner in the end. I don’t think Keith thought he was at his best either, but listen we will take it anyway.

“I don’t have an explanation [why he didn’t travel as well today], but we got away with it and he won. The cheekpieces just helped him at the finish, but he has thrived over these fences.

“Keith is definitely worth a few pounds around here. He is an ultra professional and there is no stone unturned with him.

“He is in the Grand National and we will aim him at it, but it is coming soon enough. All being well he will go there."

Mullins enhances Champion Bumper record with Bambino Fever

Bambino Fever prevailed in the Champion Bumper to give trainer Willie Mullins his 14th win in the race and rider Jody Townend - the sister of Paul Townend - her first success at the Cheltenham Festival.

Bambino Fever, the first mare to win the Champion Bumper since Relegate in 2018, had won her two previous starts, including the Grade 2 mares' bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival last month.

She was sent off the 4/1 second favourite but the rest of the frame was filled by horses at big prices with Heads Up (33/1) finishing second, Shuttle Diplomacy (66/1) third and Caballero Cliff (150/1) fourth.

Townend, who delivered Bambino Fever with a sustained challenge to score by a length and a half, said: "I'm beyond cloud nine. I can't believe it - it will take a while to sink in.

"I was in front plenty soon. She was running away down the hill and I was looking up at the big screen thinking 'please, someone, don't come and nab me!' It was a big relief when I got to the line.

"I got a perfect position, I couldn't believe it when I jumped off and I managed to get where I wanted to be, usually it doesn't happen in that race. She turned off with me as I went away from the stands but once we turned down the hill and got racing she jumped on the bridle for me. It couldn't have went any better."

Willie Mullins said: “She had two runs before this and she was very good both times. Everyone was keen to leave Jody on her, which was a great decision as she gave her a fabulous ride. She was in the right position at all stages and she has a clock in her head.

“I didn’t say anything on how to ride the horse as I always leave Jody to ride her own races and she was very good.

“I think Patrick was always going to ride the horse that he did. I think connections were happy to leave her on board even though she hadn’t ridden a winner around here as she is a very capable rider.

“Tim Townend her father was here and Paul was obviously here.

“The mare is a bit of a surprise package, but she is now unbeaten in three runs so what more can you ask for. She doesn’t exactly flash up the gallops at home, but she does it on the racetrack which is more important.

“She wouldn’t be like Relegate as she was a different type of mare altogether. This mare would have more speed than Relegate as she was more about stamina.

“I’d imagine the plan will be to come back here next year for the mares’ novices’ hurdle. The boys bought her for breeding and they have refused some very nice offers before this.

"The syndicate is run by Willie Morgan and I don’t know how he keeps them under control, but that will be his problem tonight! I’m really delighted for the syndicate and Jody too."

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