Better Days Ahead stays on strongly to land Martin Pipe

Trainer Gordon Elliott was thrilled that his 40th winner at The Cheltenham Festival came in the race named after his mentor Martin Pipe.

Better Days ahead scored by three-quarters of a length in the hands of Danny Gilligan, enjoying his first Festival success, in the concluding Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

Gordon 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.”

On Gold Cup runner-up Gerri Colombe, he said: “He’s a good horse, it’s only his first season out of novice company so he is one to really look forward to.”

Danny Gilligan said: “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 bit 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.”

A capacity crowd at Cheltenham Racecourse enjoyed Gold Cup Day today as Jump racing’s most prestigious race celebrated its 100th anniversary.

A total of 69,129 racing fans were there to see Galopin Des Champs retain his Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup crown for trainer Willie Mullins and give jockey Paul Townend his fourth victory in the race, drawing him level with Arkle’s rider Pat Taaffe as the most successful in the contest’s history.

Ian Renton, who runs Cheltenham Racecourse as Managing Director of The Jockey Club, said: “Today’s racing epitomised everything that is great about the sport and this renewal of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup was certainly worthy of the race’s 100th anniversary.

“It has been a fantastic four days, with some superb performances and the remarkable milestone of 100 Cheltenham Festival winners for Willie Mullins.”

Explaining today’s attendance, Renton continued: “In 2023 we reduced the number of tickets we sold to ensure a capacity of 68,500 on Gold Cup Day. This year we saw a higher number of annual members, owners and trainers present, which resulted in our attendance slightly exceeding this number.”

Today’s crowd of 69,129, follows 60,181 on Tuesday, 46,771 on Wednesday and 53,918 yesterday.

Renton added: “The Cheltenham Festival remains the pinnacle of Jump racing and a marquee event in the sporting and social calendar, but we and all businesses operating in the leisure and hospitality industry know only too well the huge effect that the ongoing cost of living crisis is having on consumer behaviour.

“Whilst we’ve seen slightly lower numbers in terms of general admission this week, hospitality sales continue to go from strength to strength. 

“We want to ensure we are accessible at a variety of price points. Tickets started from £37 when first on sale last March, a price which will be held when 2025 tickets go on sale on Monday.

“We will begin our usual wash-up process for all aspects of The Festival in the coming weeks, including looking at effective solutions to improve our car parking facilities, in order to ensure we continue to provide enjoyable and memorable experiences for our loyal racegoers and those who may be coming racing for the first time.”