Only 40 minutes after Marine Nationale stormed to the Queen Mother Champion Chase title,
further honoured the memory of the late Michael O’Sullivan at
with a poignant success in the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.
O’Sullivan enjoyed a fine day one of the 2023 Festival when registering a memorable double aboard both Marine Nationale and Jazzy Matty and two years later, both were back to triumph again in the late jockey’s memory at Prestbury Park.
Jazzy Matty has switched hands to
since his previous Festival success, but his course form was exemplary and the 15-2 chance was always travelling stylishly in the ultra-competitive two-mile event.
Left to fight out the finish with defending champion Unexpected Party, it was the Irish raider who came out on top thanks to a fine ride from Danny Gilligan who was enjoying his second Festival success.
Mervyn Gray of the Top Man Racing syndicate said: “We just can’t believe it. We gave him a great chance at the weights and the race went like a dream, he pinged every fence.
“Somebody is looking over us today and our thoughts and hearts are with Michael.”
Earlier on the card, Jimmy Du Seuil came out on top as Willie and Danny Mullins teamed up to great effect in the Coral Cup.
The six-year-old was a 16-1 chance when returning from a long absence from the track, with his last run coming at Punchestown in May last year.
It was also his handicap debut but none of those factors stood in his way and he took up the lead just after the final flight and accelerated up the hill to defeat Impose Toi by three lengths.
Winning rider Mullins was quick to praise his uncle: “It was some training performance after a year off the track and he had a nice bit of form with Ballyburn. But it was his first time round here, and to jump so well through the race I was obviously delighted.
“All Willie’s have a chance of winning which makes our job so much easier. I did miss out the third-last, but on the whole I was taking lengths off them down the back. My first Festival winner for Willie and obviously I’m delighted to have done that.”