Quilixios gave Rachael Blackmore a remarkable sixth victory of the week at the Cheltenham Festival when landing the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Blackmore can do nothing wrong and produced another brilliant ride on the Cheveley Park Stud-owned four-year-old, trained by Henry de Bromhead.
She had Quilixios (2-1) up with the pace from the outset, with rank outsider Talking About You for company.
When that horse weakened coming down the hill with two flights left, Blackmore asked Quilixios for his effort and got first run on the field.
Adagio tried to cover the move, but was outclassed by the unbeaten Quilixios, who powered up the hill to win by three and a quarter lengths. Adagio held Haut En Couleurs by a head for second place. Zanahiyr, the 11-8 favourite, was fourth after failing to get in a blow.
Quilixios – a recent transfer to the De Bromhead yard having previously been trained by the suspended Gordon Elliott (suspended for sitting on a dead horse) – was given a quote of 12-1 for next year's Champion Hurdle with Betfair and 14-1 with Coral.
De Bromhead said: “It’s been an incredible week. He’s a lovely horse, but we’ve only just got him. He’s a gorgeous horse and I’m pleased for Cheveley Park, as they are great supporters of ours.
“All credit to Gordon and his team as he looked amazing on joining us, we’ve done very little with him.
“We knew he jumped really well, and had been really impressive before today and he’s a lovely looking horse. He’ll be a nice chaser in time. I wouldn’t know about next year, we’ll have a chat and see what everyone wants to do.”
Blackmore admitted her parents are thoroughly enjoying her exploits at home in Ireland.
She said: “They’re getting a great kick out of it, so it’s brilliant. I know they’d have loved to have been here today, like a lot of people. I’m just happy I’m here and these horses are here.”
Belfast Banter was yet another winner for Ireland when springing a 33-1 surprise for Co Kildare trainer Peter Fahey in the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Ridden by Kevin Sexton, who has having his first Festival winner, the six-year-old came with a terrific run after jumping the last in fourth place to hit the front in the last 100 yards and claim the prize.
Global Citizen, Mengli Khan, Gowel Road and Fifty Ball were among the leaders in the early stages, but there was all to play coming to the second-last where Third Time Lucki made his bid.
That was covered by Milkwood with Petit Mouchoir, Eclat De Beaufeu, Edwardstone and Ganapathi also in the mix.
Belfast Banter made his challenge in the centre of track to land the spoils by one and a quarter lengths from Petit Mouchoir with Milkwood a length away third and Eclair De Beaufeu a head back in fourth.
Sexton said: “I’m in shock and it hasn’t sunk in. I was second here a couple of years ago and I never thought I’d get the chance again.
“I came here to ride a favourite yesterday [Royal Kahala] and when she disappointed I thought it would never happen.
“This lad has tended to finish second a lot, I have a love-hate relationship with him!
“I thought if we were in the first five we’d be delighted, but he jumped and travelled and took me everywhere.
“I planned on switching out, but I didn’t get the chance and I was lucky that I never got stopped down the middle and he stuck it out really well.”
Sexton was quick to pay tribute to winning trainer Fahey.
He added: “It was unbelievable when we jumped the last, I got quite emotional. I’d actually given up two years ago, but through the support of my family I gave it one last go and I haven’t looked back since.
“I might have given up, but lucky enough no one else had given up on me. Peter got me back in love with racing and put me on Peregrine Run who I won plenty of races on. Otherwise I might have gone to America.”
Vanillier made all the running to give Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell his second winner of the meeting in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle.
Flooring Porter led all the way to take the Stayers’ Hurdle on Thursday and Vanillier (14-1) repeated the trick in the Grade One over three miles.
Both horses should have been ridden by Jonathan Moore, but he declared himself not fit enough to ride after a fall earlier in the month. Danny Mullins was the beneficiary in the Stayers’ and it was Mark Walsh who deputised this time. Moore led in both winners.
Vanillier proved an able partner as he travelled beautifully throughout the race before scooting up the hill to seal the victory by 11 lengths from Oscar Elite.
Streets Of Doyen was a length and a half back in third, with Stattler fourth.
Cromwell said: “That was fantastic. I wasn’t sure how he’d act on better ground as he’s quite a slow horse, but Mark said he travelled with loads of enthusiasm today.
“He showed an extra gear there he hasn’t shown before and we know he stays well. I’m not surprised he won, but I’m surprised how well he won.
“The ground at Christmas at Limerick was knee deep, but he stayed on well at the finish. He had a small wind op after that, but at the Dublin Racing Festival he ran no race, like all mine there that weekend and he came back a sick horse. He’s bounced back, though.
“He’ll go chasing next season, he’s a proper staying chaser of the future.”
Walsh said: “I was always happy how he was going, he might have been doing too much in front early, but he settled eventually.
“I got a good breather going to the second-last and when I couldn’t hear anyone coming I kicked and he found plenty.
“It’s unfortunate for Jonny, he’s missed out on two Grade Ones but fair play to him for doing it [standing himself down] – it takes a lot of guts to do that.
“I’ve had three seconds here this week so to finally get my head back in front was brilliant.”
Porlock Bay just denied Billaway in a terrific finish to the St James's Palace Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase.
The pair crossed the line virtually inseparable after a ding-dong tussle on the run to the line, but it was Porlock Bay who got the verdict.
Porlock Bay is usually ridden by his trainer Will Biddick, the most prolific winner of point-to-points in the UK and a winning rider at the Festival, but with amateurs unable to ride due to covid restrictions, he booked Lorcan Williams for the ride.
The conditional jockey proved an able substitute as he got the better of Paul Townend on the Willie Mullins-trained Billaway, was also second 12 months ago.
Staker Wallace was third and Latenightpass fourth.
Williams said: “He jumped the last really well and I’m delighted for Will, who was always sort of an idol of mine growing up. It’s been a pleasure to ride for him.
“We weren’t sure he would stay the last day, but I felt he did stay and I wasn’t overly hard on him. He’s come out fresh today and in really good form.
“I was always one or two off the rail and going down the back I gave him a bit of light and I wanted to make our ground and be handy at the top of the hill.
“He sort of just came alive and I was probably going too well.
“I managed to fill him up and his jumping was so accurate, which has probably just got him there.”
Kennedy was out of luck aboard Mighty Stowaway in the Hunters’ Chase, with that defeat ensuring Blackmore will claim the top jockey title at the Festival.
Blackmore is the first woman to be crowned leading rider at the meeting, with the victory sealing a fabulous week that yielded six victories overall.
She was out of luck on her final ride of the meeting as Cabaret Queen pulled up in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.
The Grade Two heat is a new addition to the Festival this year and Willie Mullins dominated the inaugural running, with Colreevy (9-4) pipping stablemate Elimay (6-5 favourite) to glory.
The pair went toe-to-toe all the way down the straight, with Colreevy finding more for Townend to edge victory.
Shattered Love was back in third.
Cheltenham results
1.20
1 Quilixios (R Blackmore) 2-1
2 Adagio (T Scudamore) 10-1
3 Haut En Couleurs (P Townend) 20-1
8 ran
Winning trainer: H de Bromhead (Ire)
1.55
1 Belfast Banter (K Sexton) 33-1
2 Petit Mouchoir (J Gainford) 22-1
3 Milkwood (RT Dunne) 28-1
4 Eclair De Beaufeu (JW Kennedy) 11-1
25 ran
Winning trainer: P Fahey (Ire)
2.30
1 Vanillier (MP Walsh) 14-1
2 Oscar Elite (J O'Neill Jr) 40-1
3 Streets Of Doyen (S Torrens) 10-1
16 ran
Winning trainer: G Cromwell (Ire)
3.05
1 Minella Indo (J Kennedy) 9-1
2 A Plus Tard (R Blackmore) 10-3
3 Al Boum Photo (P Townend) 9-4 Fav
12 ran
Winning trainer: H de Bromhead (Ire)
3.40
1 Porlock Bay (L Williams) 16-1
2 Billaway (P Townend) 2-1 Fav
3 Staker Wallace (MP Walsh) 9-1
18 ran
Winning trainer: W Biddick
4.15
1 Colreevy (P Townend) 9-4
2 Elimay (MP Walsh) 6-5 Fav
3 Shattered Love (J Kennedy) 6-1
11 ran
Winning trainer: W Mullins (Ire)
