Cheltenham Festival 2024 reports, results and free video replays for day four

Majborough maintains Mullins domination

Majborough (6/1) and Mark Walsh led home a one-two for Willie Mullins in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, his fourth success in the juvenile contest in the last five years.

Mullins had a typically strong hand and it was Majborough and Kargese who proved best of his seven runners, having the race between them heading to the final flight.

They jumped the last together but Majborough proved the stronger on the climb to the line, winning by a length and a half.

A further four and a half lengths back was Salver, trained by Gary Moore, who ran a fine race in third. Nurburgring stayed on into fourth with Storm Heart fifth and Salvator Mundi sixth on debut for Mullins.

Kargese had won the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival from Storm Heart, Majborough and Bunting but the third home, owned by JP McManus, was the horse that many took out of the race, his first since arriving from France.

They were vindicated as Majborough produced an impressive performance under more patient tactics although his trainer revealed that had not been the plan.

"Looking at the cards this morning I thought we had some really nice chances," said Mullins on Racing TV. "But you never know the way things go but at least it's started off well; very pleased.

"This horse is so untypical of what a Triumph Hurdle horse is; he's a big three-mile chaser to me. When he came into the yard and they told me he was a Triumph Hurdle horse, I looked at this fellow and thought this can't be right.

"Then we started working him and we could see; he gallops more than has speed and Danny (Mullins, rider of Kargese) had him covered for speed coming round the last bend but Mark said to me when he got off him at Leopardstown the last day this fellow jumps and gallops. His intention today was to make the running and Danny's intention was to make the running so it shows how fast the pace was as they were fourth and fifth going around the whole way and that's how fast the pace was of this race.

"Then when Danny went on, I could see Mark still winding him up and going for one jump at the last, he got that jump and he just ground that out as Mark said he would.

"I never like going novice chasing with a horse that young but we'll see; I'm sure JP and Frank (Berry) will have their views so we'll throw it all in the hat."

Of the runner-up and his other runners, he added: "She ran a cracker. I'd be very happy with all of mine the way they ran."

King of the County

Paul Townend delivered Absurde (12/1) late in the day to deny L'Eau Du Sud in the BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle.

Trained by Mullins, the winner was having just his fifth start over hurdles and third of the season after a profitable Flat campaign in 2023 which saw him win the Ebor and finish seventh in the Melbourne Cup.

Afadil was allowed a five length lead from flag fall and was still in a share of the lead at the last with L'Eau Du Sud jumping alongside. Harry Skelton had given the 7/2 favourite a fine ride but his mount had no match for the flat speed of the winner who quickened impressively to win a shade comfortably.

The winning margin was a length with the first two pulling over three lengths clear of the field.

Last year's second Pied Piper finished well for third, relegating Magical Zoe to fourth. Afadil held on for fifth and was followed home by 2023 winner Faivoir and Zenta.

An admiring Mullins said of his jockey: "There wasn't an ounce of warm blood in his body, he was so cold-blooded the whole way down the hill; wide, delivered late. He just missed the last but everything else went well; he's some guy to have on your side."

The trainer revealed the testing conditions had given him cause for concern, saying: "I went for Risk Belle, I thought she was the best in my squad and had more or less drawn a line through Absurde.

"It was a very slow race early on and I'd say his speed was the factor at the end. I thought early on that was no place to be but then I looked at the time on the screens, 18 second furlongs, it's going to be a sprint, he might have a chance. One hell of a ride. It will be hard to beat that as the ride of the week.

"We'll probably go to Punchestown. I want to see can we get back out to Melbourne if we can but it might be harder to qualify this time around."

Townend told ITV Racing: “I got a lot of satisfaction out of that one to tell you the truth! What a horse to have travelled the world and come back and put in a performance like that on that ground.

“We hacked, but I suppose that probably got them racing early enough because everyone was aware that they set off going so slow and wanted to get in a position. I thought I had the pace of them all on his Flat form and if he handled the ground, he had a good chance. But the ground was a big worry.”

Story stars as Readin disappoints

There was heartbreak for Kielan Woods, Ben Pauling and Harry Redknapp as Stellar Story (33/1) snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.

Woods has had a tough season and had to watch from the sidelines as Ben Jones provided Pauling and Redknapp with a Festival winner on Thursday and it appeared for all the world as though he was going to enjoy his own moment in the sunshine. Allowed to set his own fractions on The Jukebox Man, he quickened clear on the approach to the last and went around four lengths up from the eventual winner who had chased him throughout.

The Jukebox Man wasn't fluent at the last but got away well enough only to tie up dramatically half-way up the energy sapping hill. Stellar Story, having been outpaced, stayed on stoutly and joined the leader on the line with a photo required to split the pair.

The winning distance was announced as a head to the delight of winning jockey Sam Ewing.

There were seven lengths back to Dancing City in third with Spread Boss Ted and Lecky Watson in fourth and fifth. All three were trained by Mullins as was the well-backed favourite Readin Tommy Wrong who travelled smoothly but was pulled-up having stopped quickly.

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said: "Brilliant. Great for Sam Ewing, he's a big part of my team at home. Jack (Kennedy) unfortunately picked the wrong once but we knew both horses would stay; this one's a big chaser for next year.

"I'm delighted for Gigginstown, Michael O'Leary, Lisa and the whole team; they're wonderful supporters of me. You don't realise what a wonderful man he is, there's no one like him."

A crestfallen Pauling commented: "He's run a cracker. He's got an easy lead, dictated the pace and been very sweet in front, just got slightly under the last two and probably just knocked his rhythm a little bit otherwise I think he'd have been away and clear. He's a fabulous horse for next year, a chaser and a gorgeous individual.

"If he'd hung on it would have been one of the rides of the week but there we go. Probably was! But not quite."

Redknapp was in a more philosophical mood, saying: “That was unlucky. That’s racing though innit. Yesterday we got home and today we just missed out, but I’ve had a great time, with two fantastic runs from two lovely horses.

“I thought he was home. He was going away from them going to the last. He looked sure to win, but he didn’t jump the last great and just got caught. Kielan rode a blinder, didn’t he. Absolutely. He led from the front and made all until the last stride. It was a great run wasn't it, and we’ve got a very nice horse there.”

Woods, who had only recently returned from a long suspension for repeated infractions of the whip rules, vowed to keep going, adding: “I did think I was home and hosed, but unfortunately we got pipped late on. We always had the plan to come up the left side of the track as he can hang left under pressure, and I didn’t see the point in being up along the rail and then hanging out to the middle of the track.

"He’s a smashing horse, it’s just a shame we didn’t get him home. It’s been a tough few months for me and missing out yesterday through nobody’s fault but my own - this would have been nice. I’m incredibly grateful for the support (from Pauling)and I’ve just got to keep my head down and drive on.”

Sine equal!

Sine Nomine (8/1 ) produced a stunning performance to win the St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase.

The winner was trained by Fiona Needham, who partnered Last Option to victory in this race in 2002 for her father Robin Tate, and ridden by John Dawson and cut down the well backed favourite Its On The Line in the closing stages.

Given a patient ride by Dawson, she lost her position heading towards the last when the Derek O'Connor ridden favourite proved the stronger when going for the same gap. Dawson switched Sine Nomine just yards before the final fence but she safely negotiated the obstacle before hitting her stride and powering past Time Leader and Its On The Line.

Its On The Line, recently acquired by McManus, had also finished second 12 months ago and gave his jockey little help, racing on and off the bridle, but he gave everything when it mattered most only to have no answer to Sine Nomine's turn of foot.

The winning distance was just three quarters of a length. Time Leader was a further five and a half length third at 50/1 with 66/1 chance D'jango a similar distance away in fourth.

A delighted Dawson said: "Just a phenomenal buzz. She's a lovely mare. She's come through and progressed all the time. We all believe in her. We're chuffed."

Needham, clerk of the course at Catterick, added: "That’s a dream come true, and what a ride he gave her. My only instruction was to save a bit for up the hill but I couldn’t have been that calm. I thought we were beaten going to the last, but boy did she pick up. She’s a star.

"I was screaming and being very embarrassing I’m afraid. I thought if she was third she’d have run a very good race, and that was where I thought she was going to finish, but then she picked up.

“I said two years ago that this what I wanted to do and he said ‘you are absolutely mad, we should be going for mares’ races’, but I said ‘no, no, this is the dream and then we can go back to reality when we come back with our tails between our legs’ and it’s paid off.

"You don’t get highs like this at Catterick!"

Limerick Lace repels Dinoblue

There was a thrilling finish to the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase fought out by the two best backed horses in the race.

Dinoblue had long been favourite for the Grade 2 contest despite having her stamina to prove but her position at the top of the market was threatened on raceday by Limerick Lace (3/1) following sustained support.

Keith Donoghue had no doubts about the winner's stamina and went for home off the bend having taken over from the gallant front-runner and eventual third Marsh Wren. Try as she might though, Limerick Lace couldn't shake of her rival who gradually reduced the deficit little by little as the roars from the crowd reached a crescendo as the two JP McManus owned mares served up a thrilling spectacle.

To the delight of Donoghue and trainer Gavin Cromwell, Dinoblue couldn't quite reel in Limerick Lace, finishing three quarters of a length down where it mattered.

Cromwell said: “That was fantastic and Keith was very good on her because she’s not straightforward. She’s a bit of a madam, she almost kicked the cameraman on the way out and she’s broken a lot of white rail at home. She’s a bit of a lady, but you don’t mind when they’re that good.

“We knew she’s stay well, but when you’re in front for so long you’re worried you’ll get nabbed, but she stuck at it.

“On the day, over two and a half on testing ground, it probably played more to Limerick Lace’s strengths than Dinoblue’s. They’re two very good mares. She’s in the Grand National and that’s a possibility.

“She’s a full-sister to the horse that won yesterday (Inothewayurthinkin), I’m sure it’s happened before but I shouldn’t think too often (two siblings winning at the Festival).”

Ireland dominate Martin Pipe

Irish trained horses filled the first five places in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle with Better Days Ahead (5/1) coming out on top for Danny Gilligan and Elliott.

One of several well-backed runners in the race, the two mile five furlong contest produced a thrilling finish with market rivals Waterford Whispers and Quai De Bourbon both in contention while Answer To Kayf was always prominent and went down on his sword in finishing fourth.

Waterford Whispers had taken up the running a long way from home and was still there at the last but was flanked on either side by challengers and although he kept galloping Better Days Ahead proved the stronger, scoring by a length and a half.

Elliott told RacingTV: “I got as big a kick out of that as any winner this week. To win the Martin Pipe race – he is my idol in life. Noel and Valerie Moran of Bective Stud sponsor my yard, are one of my biggest supporters and very good friends. They sponsor Meath football, they are massive people in sport in Meath and to have their first Cheltenham winner is just unbelievable. What they do for the yard is unbelievable. No people deserve it more, they are putting so much money into the game – what they do for me, for Meath football and for everyone, I’m just absolutely delighted. They’ve been so good to me, I’ve been trying to get them a Cheltenham winner and have been hitting the crossbar, they are really going to enjoy this, they are brilliant people.”

He added: “He’s a big chaser, we have minded him for this race, he had a good run at Navan a few months ago, which helped us come straight here for this.”

Summing up the meeting, he said: “I’ve had three winners, 17 or 18 placed horses, so I can’t complain.”

Gilligan added: “I felt like I was everywhere out there, and turning in I still had a bit to do. I knew going out he’d love the ground, and he’s a lovely chaser to look forward to next year. He’s just a big galloper, and at the back of the last when he met the hill, he found another leg.

“It was very messy down at the start, but I got a nice start and a good position, and I was probably just going a gear faster than I wanted to. I was switching out and switching in, and I got a lovely run up the rail turning in - thankfully it worked out.

“He’s a fine, big horse and he loves that ground. He gallops for fun. I’m over the moon to get a first winner in Cheltenham for the owners, who sponsored me at the start of the season. They are massive owners in the yard and I’m sure Gordon would be lost without them.

“It probably hasn’t sunk in yet, but just walking back down there, the buzz is unbelievable. Mam and Dad and all my brothers are here. Meeting them on the way down was extra special.”

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