The contest for leading trainer and
leading jockey was over almost as soon as it had started, with Willie
Mullins saddling three of the first four winners, all ridden by Ruby
Walsh. Douvan, in the William Hill Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, Un De
Sceaux, in the Racing Post Arkle Challenge Trophy, and Faugheen, in
the Stan James Champion Hurdle, all won with the minimum of fuss. So,
too, did Vautour, for the same connections, in the JLT Novices’
Chase two days later and that was that as far as the leading jockey
title concerned. Mullins, though, added another four more winners to
set a new record of eight wins by a single trainer at the Festival.
Other notable winners during the week
were Dodging Bullets in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Moon Racer
in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and Cole Harden in the Ladbrokes
World Hurdle. The headline story, however, was the victory of
Coneygree, trained by Mark Bradstock and ridden by Nico De Boinville,
in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 8-year-old, having just his
fourth start over fences, became the first novice to win the race
since Captain Christy in 1974.
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