clear – not the only record to be broken over the four days. An emotional Gavin, who is a farrier as well as training 50 racehorses, said after the win: “I am lost for words. Espoir D’Allen is French bred and they do mature earlier. He has been winning Grade 3s this season, so to go and do that is fantastic. He wouldn’t stand out in the string on his work, but he’s a gorgeous-looking horse.” Espoir D’Allen was sent off as the 16/1 outsider, with double Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air vying for favouritism with the Gordon Elliot-trained Apple’s Jade, and the strong mare Laurina flying the flag for Irish Champion Trainer, Willie Mullins. Legend is defined as an extremely famous or notorious person, especially in a particular field. A word often thrown around in the modern world, a word it is perfectly fitting for the one and only Ruby Walsh. Day One of The Festival has always proved particularly lucky for Cheltenham favourite Ruby, with the day becoming known as Ruby Tuesday. Tuesday 12 March 2019 will long stand in a racing fans’ mind, as the day that Ruby rode his final Festival winner for his long-term boss, Willie Mullins, aboard Klassical Dream. After an extraordinary career, decorated with multiple Irish Championships, Cheltenham Gold Cups and Grand Nationals, in a shock moment following his victory on Kemboy in the Irish Gold Cup Ruby called it a day and hung up his boots for a final time at his home track, Punchestown, in May 2019. Cheltenham Festival is renowned for being a rollercoaster of a week, and Tuesday provided us with plenty of drama. The OLBG Mares’ Hurdle provided one of the shocks of The Festival, as hot favourite Benie Des Dieux looked to be cruising under Ruby Walsh ahead of the final flight before falling when appearing to have the race in her mercy. Roksana and Harry Skelton took full advantage and managed to pull clear of Stormy Island (Paul Townend) in second place. Harry, who was riding for his brother, trainer Dan Skelton said of the win: “Obviously I am the beneficiary of what happened – that’s Jump racing. You are never home until you jump the last and luck has been on our side today.” The Skelton team were celebrating their first Grade One success at The Festival, and it was Harry’s second Festival winner as a jockey. It wasn’t just on the course that The Festival was providing extraordinary moments. One fortunate racegoer, who had hopped on the coach on Tuesday morning for his annual pilgrimage to Cheltenham went home with a whopping £182,567.80 from a £2 bet. The small stakes punter became the biggest winning on-course toteplacepot punter in the history of the bet. It wasn’t just Dan Skelton who had luck on his side that day.
52 Kalendar
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