Age has done anything but wither the 33-1 outsider Sire Du Berlais who graduated to championship glory in Thursday’s Paddy Power Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Gordon Elliott’s veteran 11-year-old emulated the 1986 Stayers hero Crimson Embers by becoming the oldest winners of the gruelling marathon.
The outcome eventually turned into a one-two for Elliott as his 9-4 favourite Teahupoo was promoted by the stewards to the runner up spot over Drashel Dasher (40-1) after interference at the last obstacle.
For most punters the result was the wrong way around and hindsight merchants might be advised to let things cool before pointing out how Sire Du Berlais boasted impressive course and distance form having landed the Pertemps Final in both 2019 and 2020.
He was also runner up in this race in 2021 and subsequently won a Grade 1 at Aintree.
But in a race where other Irish hopes such as Blazing Khal, Home By The Lee and Klassical Dream failed to contend, this was the best of a series of day three results for bookmakers with an SP suggesting that owner JP McManus didn’t fancy his winner either.
It was nevertheless a boost for Elliott whose day began with the odds-on Mighty Potter managing only third to Stage Star in the Turners Novice Chase.
“Of course, it’s a surprise but Sire Du Berlais can do that – he’s either first or last!” Elliott smiled.
“He stayed on well up the hill in fairness to him and Mark (Walsh) gave him a brilliant ride. He doesn’t do anything too exciting as he minds himself, but that’s why he’s still going at his age. I thought Teahupoo would win. He travelled well into it and ran well,” he added.
It wasn’t quite well enough though for Davy Russell who started the day in an ITV spat with Michael O’Leary over the Ryanair boss’s criticism of his decision to come out of short-lived retirement.
“I have as much respect for Michael O’Leary’s opinion as he has for my opinion,” declared the rider before the pair later appeared to kiss and make up in the parade ring before the Ryanair Chase.
The Stayers did turn into a perfect outcome for Mark Walsh who returned just in time from a vertebrae injury at the weekend.
“He is brilliant and he loves it around here and he’s a joy to ride,” Walsh said. “I don’t know what it is about here but he always seems to run a good race. They always say horses for courses and he loves it here.”
Thursday was a rare blank for Willie Mullins but for the third day running it was advantage to the raiders on a five-two scoreline as some festival newbies picked up the slack.
On the 20th anniversary of his first festival winner, Tony Martin struck once again as Good Time Jonny came from the rear of the field in the Pertemps to win under jockey Liam McKenna.
It was a first Cheltenham win for McKenna who last year famously landed the Galway Hurdle with Martin’s Tudor City on what was his very first ride of the season.
“My first ride back from breaking my collarbone was the Galway Hurdle, then I got going after that, then I broke my cheekbone and eye socket a month after and was out again for a while. It has been touch and go but the highs have been very high and I’m happy with that!” exclaimed the 28 year-old Tyrone born claimer.
There were other festival firsts in the Magners Plate as Seddon provided trainer John McConnell and jockey Ben Harvey with maiden victories at the meeting.
Always prominent, Seddon belied his 20-1 odds with a dominant performance, always racing prominently and comfortably holding Fugitif by a couple of lengths at the line.
McConnell had a range of options for the horse who won at Leopardstown over Christmas and the vet turned trainer got his pick correct.
“He was in the Coral Cup, this and the Martin Pipe and we just felt there were less plots in this race. You nearly have to be a Gold Cup horse to win the Martin Pipe,” McConnell said. “It was a deep race but I thought he was overpriced at 20-1. I’ve been dreaming of this since I was five!”
Tipperary trainer Sam Curling and rider Pa King completed the Irish quintet in the concluding Kim Muir with Angels Dawn getting the better of a close finish with the 7-2 favourite Stumptown.
It completed a whitewash for favourites on the card which was watched by an official attendance of 62,429.
