Results Cheltenham Wed, 12th Mar, 2025

The New Lion stars in battling Turners success

Our mouths probably ran away with us earlier this season, but he just looked so good. Harry gave him an outstanding ride there, so patient. It’s not a coming-of-age ride because he’s been doing it for so long, but what a great ride. And the horse was just phenomenal. I trusted him and going to the last, with the three of them there, I believed he’d win. I always believed he’d win. In my heart, it just feels like it would take a very good one to get past this horse. I think he could be the best we’ve had, but this is uncharted territory for me as a trainer in my own right. When I worked for Paul (Nicholls) we had all those superstars, but I haven’t had a horse who can do things like this one. His simplicity is his greatest asset and he’s so easy.

Lecky Watson upsets Ballyburn and company in Brown Advisory

He has been improving all season and we just told Sean to take him a bit wider and keep out of trouble. He kept it very simple and it was an excellent ride. He hadn’t run over three miles previously this season, but that wasn’t any sort of plan. It was just a case of getting them out and running them and we always thought he was going to be a stamina horse. We had a good team of horses there and I’d have probably put him in fourth of our team. I thought Dancing City was travelling well until he made the mistake and I thought Quai De Bourbon was travelling really well when he unshipped his rider. I hadn’t been planning that (Gold Cup route), but we’ll have to go that way now. It’s amazing as you have to come to the races and turn up and find out. You can have all the dreams you want at home, but it’s out there that they’ll tell you what they’re really worth and this fella is obviously improving all the time. They’re all nice horses to look forward to next season.

Jimmy Du Seuil makes light of long absence to land Coral Cup

Stumptown storms home for convincing Cross Country victory

I was very concerned for a while to be honest, but he’s run out a good winner in the end. I think Keith thought he wasn’t at his best either, but we’ll take it. He obviously loves the cross-country racing and Keith is definitely worth a few pounds around that track, that’s for sure. We’ll aim him at the Grand National. It is coming soon enough, but all being well, he’ll go there. It is tight, but the race today was on nice ground and there’s a lot of twisting and turning. I don’t know if it takes as much out of them as a traditional handicap chase where it’s end-to-end stuff.

Emotional Cheltenham scenes, as Marine Nationale takes Champion Chase crown

It’s very poignant and it’s very raw, the whole thing with Michael over the last three or four weeks has been absolutely horrible and my thoughts and prayers are with the family, his friends and his girlfriend. I think this is hopefully a fitting tribute to him.

Jazzy Matty does his bit to honour memory of Michael O’Sullivan

Somebody is looking over us today and our thoughts and hearts are with Michael. 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.

Jody Townend keeps up family tradition with first Festival winner

I got a perfect position and I couldn’t believe it when I jumped off and got where I wanted to be, it normally doesn’t happen in that race. She always keeps trying and has a heart of gold and this is a special place for me now anyway. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a child and have grown up watching Paul ride winners round here, but it’s my turn to be happy now. She had two runs and was very good both times and everyone was very keen to leave Jody on her, which was a great decision. She gave her a fabulous ride, she was in the right position at all stages and has a clock in her head. I didn’t say anything to her, I always leave her to ride her own races. Patrick couldn’t do the weight so was always going to ride Copacabana and connections were always happy to have Jody. I’m delighted for Jody. Tim Townend her father was here and of course Paul, her brother was. She’s been a surprise package, but is now unbeaten in three runs.