Sweet Will provides Buckley with first Cheltenham win Kieren Buckley and Gavin Cromwell teamed up to take the opening race of the Cheltenham November meeting, the Markel Insurance Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, with Sweet Will. The five-year-old gelding carried a 7lb penalty for scoring at Fairyhouse on Tuesday and followed up here when leading after the last to beat Fine Casting by nearly four lengths. Buckley took the unusual step in the summer of making the move from the UK to Ireland when it is normally the other way around. Offered a job by Cromwell having ridden My Mate Mozzie for the trainer in the County Hurdle, he teamed up here with his boss for an 8/1 success and his first at the track. “It’s a moment I’ve dreamt about since I’ve started riding. I just couldn’t believe how I went away from the rest of them when I pinged over the last,” said Buckley. “I’ve been with Gavin since May and I was with Nigel (Hawke) before. I don’t know if it’s a bit poetic or what, but I had a ride here for Gavin in the County Hurdle and got offered the job on the back of that — so to come back here six months later and ride my first Cheltenham winner for Gavin is amazing and I owe the man a lot.” There was further Irish success in the concluding Valda Energy Novices' Handicap Hurdle where the Dick Donohoe-trained Contrapposto just got the better of Tony Martin's Explosive Boy. The 28/1 shot also provided talented claimer Michael O'Sullivan with a first Cheltenham winner and he was seen to good effect as the eight-year-old ended a long losing run when prevailing by a head.
