Prestbury Cup review For the sixth year in a row, and the ninth time in a decade, Ireland won the Prestbury Cup at the Cheltenham Festival by gaining more winners than Britain. It was a predictable outcome, with the balance of power in jumps racing firmly housed on Irish soil right now, but once more the home team had to suffer the Prestbury Cup reverse (20-8) alongside the ignominy of Willie Mullins (10) outscoring the British training ranks on his own. The Prestbury Cup is, to one degree or another, a gimmicky addition to the Cheltenham Festival. Most punters aren't quite so patriotic as to care where their winners are trained, as long as they are indeed winners, but it does add something to the week. Perhaps all the more so were it to return to the heady days of its beginnings from 2014-2016 when the scorelines were 15-12 to Britain, 14-13 to Britain and 15-13 to Ireland. Those close run things are what will generate the most excitement. Championship races dominated by Ireland The four crown jewels were dominated by Irish-based runners. With Constitution Hill a faller in the Champion Hurdle it looked as though State Man would retain that crown before his final-flight calamity, leaving Golden Ace to strike for Jeremy Scott. Thereafter it was a green-wash as Marine Nationale won the Champion Chase, Bob Olinger the Stayers' Hurdle and Inothewayurthinkin landed the Gold Cup. Indeed, Jonbon was the only UK-based runner to make the front three in those three Championship events. Throw in Fact To File leading home an Irish one-two-three in the Ryanair and it wasn't a great showing from the home team in the marquee races. Britain's fast start fades After day one, Britain had assumed a 4-3 lead. Golden Ace's shock success in the feature race was supplemented on Tuesday by Jango Baie thrusting home to win an Arkle firecracker, while Myretown continued the UK domination of the Ultima, a race which Ireland has now failed to win for 19 straight years. Myretown was one for Scotland and Lucinda Russell and day one ended with Welsh glory as Haiti Couleurs won the National Hunt Cup for Rebecca Curtis in fine style. At the end of day one, it was Ireland 3, England 2, Scotland 1 and Wales 1, but thereafter things were to get more one-sided. The New Lion's Lion was a fine winner of the Turners for the Skelton brothers to start Wednesday and looks a bright prospect but from there Ireland would enjoy six straight winners on day two as Lecky Watson, Jimmy Du Seuil, Stumptown, Jazzy Matty and Bambino Fever flanked Marine Nationale in the big one. Thursday's was a tit-for-tat affair, as Air Of Entitlement, Fact To File, Bob Olinger and Daily Present mixed it UK winners Caldwell Potter, Doddiethegreat and Jagwar. Irish eyes are smiling on day four The final act on Friday was dominated by seven Irish winners, the signs ominous from the moment 100/1 chance Poniros got up in the last stride to deny top UK hopes Lulamba and East India Dock in the Triumph Hurdle. The County and Mares' Chases were dominated by Irish contenders as Kargese and Dinoblue won, before Jasmin De Vaux's success in the Albert Bartlett. The Gold Cup saw a shock as Inothewayurthinkin denied Galopin Des Champs his third win, before Wonderwall called the tune in the Hunters' Chase and Wodhooh won the Martin Pipe to finally get Gordon Elliott on the scoresheet at the 28th time of asking. Perhaps nothing signifies the Irish dominance at Cheltenham more than the fact it was a landslide win for raiders, despite the Elliott team having to wait until the final race to contribute a winner. Of course, the utter domination of a certain WP Mullins is the main driving factor in this golden age for Irish jumpers. Get €40 in FREE bets with the William Hill sign up offer:
