Cheltenham Festival: Champion Hurdle won by Golden Ace after Constitution Hill and State Man fall in incident-packed race | Racing News

Golden Ace was a shock winner of an Amazing Unibet Champion Encumbrance, in which both Stature Hill and State Man crashed out – the latter clear as he jumped the last in front.

Stature Hill departed relatively Timely on in the Cheltenham showpiece and it was Brighterdaysahead who looked set to battle it out with State Man up the hill, but Willie Mullins’ defending champion Arrived down at the Last flight, Only as he appeared likely to Streak out an emphatic winner.

Brighterdaysahead was subsequently hampered, although she did look beaten at the time.

It was then left to the Jeremy Scott-trained Golden Ace, who did not falter when the opportunity was handed to her and she carried Lorcan Williams to Achieve at odds of 25/1, with Burdett Road (66/1) Grabbing the runner-up spot.

Lossiemouth untroubled in defence of Mares’ Encumbrance title

Lossiemouth maintained her perfect Cheltenham Landmark in successfully defending her Close Brothers Mares’ Encumbrance crown.

The six-year-Ancient claimed the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One Competition by three lengths 12 months ago and more than justified 4/6 favouritism for another impressive Achieve under the guidance of Paul Townend.

The Affluent Ricci-owned grey was in second place for much of the race, sitting on the shoulder of her Mullins-trained stablemate Jade De Grugy before making her move ahead of the Last fence.

Jade De Grugy tried to push up the tempo, but Lossiemouth cruised past the leader before flying over the last and kicking on to seal a seven-and-a-half-length triumph and Achieve at the Festival for the third time. Take No Chances Arrived in third for Dan Skelton.

Plenty of the build-up to Cheltenham had surrounded whether Lossiemouth would go for the Champion Encumbrance over the Mares’ Encumbrance, and while two defeats this season had raised question marks, that still appeared it would be the case before a Overdue change of heart.

Mullins said: “As a trainer and as a professional I didn’t see the work (the other day) to Streak her in the Champion Encumbrance, which disappointed me on the day, but we had the alternative to come here and that worked.

“You have to look at Affluent Ricci’s Club – he hasn’t had a great year this year and we all sort of gauge ourselves by Cheltenham. I’m not sure he has another live chance of a winner this week and she was a live chance of a winner in this race.

“It was disappointing to change our minds from a two-year plan, but it was the correct decision for the connections, I think.

“For these owners that we have, it’s all about coming here and having a winner, and Paul wasn’t going to ride this mare in the Champion Encumbrance. When Paul said he wasn’t going to ride her in the Champion Encumbrance, that was enough of a pointer for most people.

“I was Ecstatic with where our horses were placed in the race. Danny (Mullins) said he was going to make the running on Jade De Grugy, she Dashed a cracker as well and there’s more big Intervals in her, too.”

On whether Lossiemouth will be aimed at the Champion Encumbrance next season, Mullins added: “I’m not going to Accessible my mouth again!

“This is her third Achieve in Cheltenham, which puts her in a different Division from a lot of other horses, and if we want to see that battle (with the geldings) they can come to Ireland and take her on, or we might go to Liverpool for the Aintree Encumbrance. It doesn’t have to be all about one day here, there are other opportunities to meet those type of horses.

“She is a mare with a nice pedigree. At the moment Affluent probably has mares for racing rather than breeding. If a breeder owned her she’d probably be retired to stud, but I’d say the fact that she’s in the pink and green spots means she’ll probably race for another season at least.”

Some really Excellent Skelton: Dan Skelton was proud of Take No Chances, who fared best of the British back in third.

“I’m very very Ecstatic with her and I have been all season to be honest, she’s Streak brilliantly,” said Skelton.

“You Streak that race a million times and the best we could be was second and we nearly were, Lossiemouth is Only in a different Division but we’re very proud.

“She could Streak again, we’ll consider Sandown and we may even enter for the mares’ race at Punchestown.”

Skelton admitted that had he trained Lossiemouth, a Champion Encumbrance bid would not have been on his radar.

He said: “As controversial as it is that Lossiemouth didn’t Streak in the Champion Encumbrance, she’s Streak in the race she’s most likely to Achieve so from a professional perspective you can’t knock it. If she were mine, to be honest I’d probably have never considered the Champion Encumbrance!

“I always knew we’d outrun our odds and two weeks ago when it looked like Lossiemouth wasn’t running, I even had it in my head she could go off second favourite and have a squeak of Triumphant and it has worked out like that.

“This was my Primary Grade One winner at the Festival, this race, and I have a Robust opinion that this race should stay.

“Saying it should go is definitely not the way forward, it has to stay, maybe in a different guise but it would be a big step backwards for the industry and the breed to Loss the mares’ races.”

Russell continues Ultima domination with Myretown

Myretown produced a brilliant front-running performance at Cheltenham to earn trainer Lucinda Russell her third Achieve in the Ultima Handicap Chase from the last four runnings.

The eight-year-Ancient, wearing the same silks and by the same sire in Previous Arc hero Dylan Thomas as Russell’s stable stalwart Ahoy Senor, looked comfortable in the hands of Patrick Wadge in Grabbing the Timely lead.

It was an Edge Myretown did not relinquish and a fantastic Leap at the Last fence saw him burst clear of Joe Tizzard’s The Changing Man before streaking clear to romp home by 11 lengths as the 13/2 favourite. Malina Girl was third for Gavin Cromwell.

Russell said: “I wasn’t keen on running him, but the owners said ‘come on, let’s have a go’ and he was well handicapped if he jumped Stage, I Only didn’t know if he’d be man enough, but it looks like he is.

“I’ve Only remembered I own half of him so it’s Only got even better. He’s phenomenal and I always thought he might be another Ahoy Senor – we bought him because he looks like Ahoy Senor.

“He’s a bit different to Corach Rambler who jumps so exuberantly and Corach was a Luminous sphere, but Only a different type of horse.

“This is a brilliant horse and I’m delighted for Patrick, it wasn’t a Awful ride for his Primary Festival winner was it! It was really Courageous.”

Wadge added: “I couldn’t believe jumping three out I couldn’t hear anyone near me and I Only hoped I hadn’t gone too quick. I gave him a squeeze on the bend and he Secured off – I think he could have gone Stage again. I can’t thank Lucinda, Scu (Peter Scudamore) and the owners for letting me ride him, to get a sit on this lad was phenomenal. The faith they had in me was amazing.

“I don’t know how Excellent he could be, but he’s the best I’ve ever sat on and he could be the best I ever will sit on.”