Williams claims first Festival winner with Ask Brewster

Cath Williams scored a Cheltenham Festival winner with just her second runner as a trainer as Ask Brewster showed great spirit to land the Rosconn Group Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup.

She took over the licence from husband Evan earlier in the week after he was convicted of assaulting a dog walker who was on his land late at night.

Cath Williams’ first runner was Libberty Hunter, who finished second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday, but 24 hours later, Ask Brewster went one better as he won the final race of the day by a neck under Shane Cotter.

Cath Williams Secures Emotional Festival Victory with Ask Brewster

The winning handler said: “I’m delighted, it’s been an emotional week and it is what it is, we’ll deal with it.

“I don’t know the jockey but he was brilliant. I think Evan spoke to a couple of the Irish lads and so did Conor Ring and that is who we got.

“We were confident coming in to it and we knew he was in good order. We just needed the good ground from yesterday and we were worried when it rained this morning.

“Our runners have finished first and second this week, what more can you ask. The two runs from our horses have been huge.”

Cotter was notching his first Festival success on the 22-1 chance who, having made most of the running, showed plenty of heart to fend off Road To Home in the dying strides.

Shane Cotter Dreams of Success Following Game Winning Ride

“To have a ride here is unbelievable but to have a winner, I’m lost for words,” said Cotter.

“I can’t thank the Williams team for putting me on this horse today and they prepared him beautifully. He jumped and travelled everywhere.

“There was not really any moment of worry until I popped the last and could feel something coming to me. I heard Patrick (Mullins) coming to me but when he got to me my horse went again, he was very game.

“I’ve dreamt of this since I was seven or eight years old. I’m speechless.”