Willie Mullins may have missed out on glory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase but he still had plenty to celebrate after landing his 100th winner at the Cheltenham Festival today.
Mullins was expected to reach the milestone moment in the feature race of the day only for 2/9 favourite El Fabiolo to catch a fence and pull up. Captain Guinness took full advantage to run clear from Gentleman De Mee (16/1) to win for Declan Landy at 17/2.
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But Mullins was not to be denied and brought up his century in the final race of the day as Jasmin De Vaux won the Champion Bumper. To cap a memorable moment for Mullins, the winner was ridden by his son Patrick.
Mullins Snr said: “It’s a wonderful day, it’s fantastic.
“I thought my lifetime achievement was when I had a winner here in Cheltenham in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle back in 1995 and who ever dreamt any trainer, never mind me, could do it.
“I can’t train winners without a team of owners who have horses and then the team from my wife Jackie, to David Casey, Patrick, Ruby (Walsh), all our head people, it’s huge for them. I think they are probably going to enjoy it more than I will.
“It’s extraordinary stuff.”
💯 up for @WillieMullinsNH at the #CheltenhamFestival 👏#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/b6SB15GOXs
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 13, 2024
It was also a day to remember for Landy and Captain Guinness’ jockey Rachael Blackmore.
She guided her ride home once Edwardstone fell at the penultimate fence with Gentleman De Mee unable to keep pace.
Funambule Sivola was a 100/1 shot in third.
Blackmore told ITV Racing: “He [Captain Guinness] travelled incredible and jumped really well. It is incredible. So pleased for his owner. He has been knocking on the door.
“It is incredible to win this, just incredible and so happy to do it on this horse. He always runs his race. He is enthusiastic.”
Landy added on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Unbelievable, I’m shocked, lost for words.
“We were hoping to be second like we were last year. With the last run we were confident of a good run – but that’s unbelievable.”
A stunner in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase! 😲
An early mistake from El Fabiolo sees Captain Guinness and @rachaelblackmor take full advantage for @HenrydeBromhead #ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/TG6gEt5VQg
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 13, 2024
Mullins may have suffered disappointment in the middle of the day but he started it the way he finished it, in style, with his horses claiming the first five places in the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle.
Ballyburn led home the quintet with Paul Townend on board as the 1/2 favourite with Jimmy Du Seuil (66-1) second and Ile Atlantique third at 9/2.
Mullins told Racing TV: “That was some performance. For Paul to look around turning for home must have been because of the feel the horse was giving him. I was afraid we were going to have an Annie Power moment at the last because he went into it so fast.
“To come up the hill like that, wow what a performance!”
Ballyburn’s victory gave Mullins win number 98 at the festival and he moved to 99 immediately as Fact To File cruised home in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at 8/13 ahead of Monty’s Star (13/2) and Giovinco (40/1).
Jockey Mark Walsh said: “This is a class horse, he’s something else.
“He jumped and travelled so well. I didn’t want to get there too soon because he was stepping up in trip but he winged the last and just galloped on from there.”
Mullins had a rare blank in the Coral Cup as Langer Dan (13/2) defended his title from Ballyadam (13/2), Shanbally Kid (12/1) and Lucky Place (25/1).
Langer Dan’s trainer Harry Skelton told ITV Racing: “This was 12 months’ planning, but we didn’t have it all plain-sailing. He’s come alive in the last few weeks and when he was getting bumped and banged around there, he was loving it.
“The more you put him in the race the easier he becomes to ride and get competitive. The more he was knocked about the more he thrived.”
There was more Skelton success in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase with Unexpected Party (12/1) finishing strongly to take the win from Libberty Hunter (6/1), Path D’oroux (10/1) and Sa Fureur (4/1 fav).
