Cheltenham 2023: Veteran Sire defies his age and odds

On a day of firsts for a trio of relatively unheralded Irish jockeys, it was a Cheltenham Festival regular who captured the major honours as the bookies struck back with a vengeance.

Claimers Liam McKenna and Ben Harvey and seasoned amateur, Pa King, wouldn't be familiar names on the racecard, unlike Sire Du Berlais, who has been competing here since he was out of nappies, and loves the place.

After success in the Stayers' Hurdle, his record at the Festival since 2018 reads: fourth, won, won, second, 11th, won. How he was allowed to start at 33-1 is a mystery.

Perhaps his age was against him as no 11-year-old had won the three-miler since Crimson Embers in 1986.

No one told Sire Du Berlais who rolled back the years with a victory carved out of sheer guts as he galloped relentlessly up the punishing hill to edge out Dashel Drasher, Teahupoo and the front-running dual champion Flooring Porter, who was carried out on his shield. 

The placings of the second and third were reversed by the stewards to give Gordon Elliott a 1-2 worth over £262,000 in a race he had yet to win. It was his 37th success at the Festival.     

‘I didn’t even think about winning this with him. I thought I was going to win it with the other horse!’ grinned Elliott after Sire Du Berlais added to his two wins in the Pertemps Final, a race he failed to qualify for yesterday.

‘Of course it is a surprise, but Sire Du Berlais can do that; he’s either first or last.

‘He doesn’t do anything too exciting - he minds himself, which is why he is still going at his age,’ said Elliott, who has had a winner each day.'

Owner JP McManus revealed he didn’t have a bet on the winner, his 71st at the Festival, which probably explained the sky high odds. 

‘I’ve not had too many 33/1 winners but old Creon (2004 Pertemps Final 50/1) won at a big price and Kadoun (2006 Pertemps Final 50/1) but this one I’m afraid went unbacked.

‘You better ask somebody else why he is so good around Cheltenham. Gordon has done some job on him,’ he said.

Jockey Mark Walsh, 36, had been touch and go to return from a back injury in time to ride an eighth Festival winner. 

‘That's the ups and downs of racing, you're on top of the world one minute and then you're on the ground getting kicked around the place. 

‘I was worried two or three weeks ago but made it back with a lot of help from a lot of people.’

The punters were willing Teahupoo to deliver for veteran Davy Russell and while the 9/4 favourite plugged on, he had no answer to the late charge of Sire Du Berlais.

‘I just couldn’t get upsides the winner but he ran a noble race. Gordon won’t be overly upset about it but I am!’ said Russell.

The veteran drew a blank on a day of plum rides as Mighty Potter never landed a blow in the Turner’s Novice Chase, Maxxum got swallowed up in the Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Final, while Fury Road made no impression on the Ryanair Chase.

For the latter, Russell entered the parade ring in the maroon and white silks of Gigginstown House Stud. When he met Michael O’Leary, the Ryanair chief planted a kiss on his cheek - for the cameras.

‘You’ve got your photo,’ said O’Leary with a forced smile.

It followed a spat, initiated by O’Leary on Wednesday when he said Russell should have stayed retired. ‘At a certain point in time you should put your family first and not your riding career,’ said O’Leary.

The barb stung Russell to respond on ITV before racing: ‘I have about as much respect for Michael O'Leary’s opinion as he has for my opinion, do you know what I mean?

‘I didn’t see any father of the year awards being thrown out yet. I’m happy enough with my responsibilities at home.’

Should Russell deliver O’Leary’s Conflated to Gold Cup glory today, the smiles may replace the scowls for a topsy-turvy alliance that famously soared with Tiger Roll.

Russell is still on 25 Festival wins, one behind Paul Townend who didn’t add to his three winners yesterday as Willie Mullins, for once, drew a blank. 

Finding winners wasn’t easy for Mullins or anyone else as reflected in the day’s winning prices: 15/2, 9/1, 13/2, 33/1, 20/1, 16/1 and 10/1. Not one favourite landed a blow.  

In the race for the leading trainer’s title, Mullins is on four, one ahead of Henry De Bromhead and Elliott, while Irish-trained runners are in front 15-6 and have sealed the Prestbury Cup with a day to spare. 

This contrived event is not only one-sided but has become meaningless and it should be scrapped. 

The lone English successes yesterday were Stage Star in the Turner’s Novice Chase and You Wear It Well in the Jack De Bromhead Novices Hurdle, where Henry almost delivered in the name of his late son with Magical Zoe, who finished second.

Had De Bromhead’s horse won, the weeping skies would have had plenty of companions in the Cotswolds