WE had to wait until the end – but then finally a horse blew everyone away at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Gaelic Warrior simply blitzed his rivals in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, hacking all over Jango Baie, who ran a stormer in defeat.
The awesome Gold Cup win of Gaelic Warrior will live long in the memoryCredit: Reuters
People will tell you Arkle Chase winners – over 2m – don’t win the Gold Cup over 3m2f.
Yet here was an Arkle winner beating an Arkle winner. It’s a funny old game.
It wasn’t to be for The Jukebox Man and Harry Redknapp, and it turns out Ben Pauling’s charge will now have a wind operation after he made a noise at the top of the hill.
This, however, was just brilliant training with the winner from Willie Mullins and his team.
Gaelic Warrior is not an easy horse, and his rise is considerable.
His form at the Cheltenham Festival reads 2211, with the two defeats coming in the 2022 Boodles Juvenile Hurdle off a mark of 129 and a runner-up spot to Impaire et Passe in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
Now Rich Ricci’s pride and joy is best of the best.
In general terms off the track there were improvements at Cheltenham 2026, but now it seems it’s on the track that officials need to have a proper think.
Unacceptably poor starts proved a bugbear for nigh on every punter over the last four days, while the ground was clearly not up to scratch in the eyes of legends like owner JP McManus and champion trainer Willie Mullins.
That said, on the latter point after rain on Thursday night it would be easy to argue clerk of the course Jon Pullin actually played a blinder.
For me, the starts were a disgrace. A disgrace I tell you.
I can’t remember any Festival being so marred by a total lack of ability for almost any race to begin in a sensible manner.
Races are either getting under way in the wrong position on the track, or the starter has absolutely no power over the jockeys he’s meant to be controlling.
Or the riders are totally ignoring what they are being told.
One senior jockey and champion of the game said to me beginning races on a bend is a “disaster”. My suggestion is stop doing it!
Whatever the case, many horses – most noticeably No Drama This End, for many a British banker who ended up being a pointless runner in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle – went from having a big shout to no chance the moment hooves began to thunder.
There we all are spending hours on form research and working out pounds and measures to try and find the winner, and it often proved to be a total waste of time.
Homework ruined in a flash.
Away from Gaelic Warrior I wonder if you felt there was another ‘wow’ performance? I’m not so sure.
Possibly Lossiemouth, although ratings would suggest otherwise, who romped home in the Champion Hurdle.
Another for Ricci! Thank goodness she swerved the Mares’. Everyone loves a dashing grey charging up the Cheltenham hill.
Maybe Kitzbuhel, who finished off Final Demand in a decent tussle for the Brown Advisory.
Il Etait Temps was also impressive in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, especially in the way he picked himself up after a peck at the last fence, although the race fell apart when Majborough’s jumping went to pot.
But an exhibition round which left you gobsmacked?
I’m struggling on that score.
What the 2026 Festival did have were loads of results which just left one warm inside.
Like a decent hot chocolate with cream and a flake, rather than a vibrant whisky.
I’m thinking of the ride Richie McLernon gave Johnnywho to land the Ultima, and the confidence of Harry Skelton on Madara and Supremely West.
Not to mention James Bowen banging in a couple on Hollywood Queen and Jingko Blue, and Venetia Williams getting on the right end of the photo with Martator in the Grand Annual.
She needed that.
And then there was Tom Bellamy – whose mum announced he was desperate for a girlfriend – and old boy Kim Bailey with White Noise in the Mares’ Novice.
And the admirable Wodhooh in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle, not to mention Home by the Lee in the Paddy Power Stayers’.
Incidentally, the Stayers’ should always be the main race on the Thursday. Cheltenham take note.
So that’s it for another year.
But although the Flat is around the corner, Aintree comes first.
The Grand National is next for a fabulous sport.
Remember to gamble responsibly
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- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
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- Never chases their losses
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Eze Chidiebere Paul
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