Cheltenham Festival: Golden Ace sparkles for Jeremy Scott

Exmoor-based Jeremy Scott is now a Cheltenham Festival-winning trainer after 10-1 chance

Golden Ace

upstaged the likes of

Brighterdaysahead

and Jade Du Grugy from the powerhouse Irish stables and galloped to victory in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle under . 

Travelling extremely strongly on the turn into the straight just a few lengths behind the pace-setting Birdie Or Bust and Brighterdaysahead, the beautifully-bred mare - by Golden Horn out of a Meon Valley Stud Listed winner by Dubawi - had no issue with the relative dash to the line and won readily with the best part of two lengths in hand at the finish.

Scott said: “It’s an emotional moment. I thought last year coming second with dear old Dashel Drasher [in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle] was something, but this is very, very, very special. 

“She was travelling so well. Her jumping wasn’t great - she jumped the last one probably the best of the lot. She just travelled well and always looked to have them covered. Lorcan is such a talent. He has a really cool head on him, he is a natural horseman and a cracking bloke on top of a horse. I’m really glad he has had the opportunity to shine and, hopefully, other trainers will use him as well. 

“She is not one that tears the gallops up, in all honesty, but her racing has always been really good. She was so cool and calm in the paddock; she takes everything in her stride and it’s just such an asset.” 

Asked what the plan is for her, Scott replied: “Who knows? It doesn’t look like she will jump a fence, so I think we will stick with hurdles. But we’ve got lots to dream about and we will enjoy this moment, reflect on it tomorrow and think of a good plan.”

He added: “I’m so thrilled for the yard and for my family, who are all involved. It’s a super moment.”

Lorcan Williams said: “We were always quietly confident. After her wind operation she improved a massive amount at home, and everything was a lot sharper. The one question mark we had was her jumping, but the further she went today, the better she got.

“I was watching the racing and seeing the Irish, thinking, ‘Can we really do it?’

“The race sort of went out of my head and my main goal was to watch the main danger and not get there until the last. She has so much turn of pace, there was no pace during the race, so I was absolutely delighted. Fair play, she winged the last and stayed on to the line. She was very quick and very accurate [at the last], and wastes no time in the air. I was just praying for a stride and I was hoping there was one there, and thank God it was the right one and we flew. It was an amazing feeling. She was fantastic on the day and I’m delighted for the Jeremy Scott team and Mr Ian Gosden [owner], who is a massive player of ours.”

He continued: “It’s just fantastic for the team back at home, it’s only a small yard and we have a handful of horses, we just try to do as well as we can with them. The horses have plenty of TLC, the girls all love them at home and they just seem to thrive. Jeremy does fantastically with mares, as you have seen through his strike rate, so here is another one, hopefully.”

Brighterdaysahead finished in the runner-up spot for trainer Gordon Elliott, jockey and owner Gigginstown House Stud.

Kennedy said: “We didn’t go much of a gallop and she was a bit keen with me. I had to try to get her settled, which wasn’t ideal, and it just didn’t really work out, but she ran a good race. I knew I needed a good jump at the last, and I got it, but I was just beaten by a better horse on the day.

“I still believe in her 100%. She’s talented and she has a good future.”