Cheltenham Festival roundup: Mullins and friends
Key race takeaways and betting context for readers
This piece expands on the race-by-race coverage already on the page, providing practical context for punters and racegoers while keeping coverage editorial and informational. It aims to explain the performances, likely implications for future campaigns, and how form can be interpreted without offering financial advice.
“The Willie Mullins show rolled into Cheltenham Racecourse on Wednesday as the Irish champion trainer landed a 7/1 Grade 1 double.
The best of all came in the feature event of the day as Energumene became the 11th horse to win back-to-back Queen Mother Champion Chases under an ecstatic Paul Townend.
🔵⚪️ Energumene – a procession as he lands successive wins in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
🏇 14 runs
🥇 11 wins
🏆🏆 Champion Chase
🏆🏆 Hilly Way Chase x2
🏆 Punchestown Champion Chase
🏆 Irish Arkle
⭐️ Special#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/QqMNSzaoT5— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 15, 2023
A bet of £400,000 was placed on the nine-year-old with Star Sports Bookmaker at odds of 7/5, winning the punter £580,000 once the Tony Bloom-owned gelding crossed the winning line.
Post-race, Mullins shared that he was confident coming into the contest, as he said: “Paul came home from the Clarence House and said they won’t beat us again. The horse’s work and jumping and everything has been brilliant and we were just keeping our fingers crossed for a clear round.
“I was way more confident coming into this year’s race as we hadn’t got Shishkin to take on and we thought if there was any improvement from the Clarence House that with hopefully with a clear round he would win.”
Similar excitement was shared by Townend, who said: “That was easy, to be honest. I got in a lovely rhythm on him, after the first two fences he was taking them on, he was quick at them, and it was simple – it was just a matter of keeping him in a rhythm after that.
“He allowed me to ride him more forward [than in the Clarence House Chase] because he took on his fences better today. Looser ground probably helped as well and played a factor in it, but he was just more forward. He felt a different horse today.”
However, Energumene’s success over two miles in the Champion Chase was not the first time the ‘master of Closutton’ had been talking to journalists, as he had been tipping his hat to the fans two hours earlier following Impaire Et Passe’s success in the Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.
With a quizzical look on his face, the most-winning Cheltenham Festival trainer in history is already looking towards the future, as he said: “I’m looking at him as a chaser; you have to ask yourself now, do you stay hurdling? What would you do?
“The change of pace down to the last and up the hill – wow. I think that was the horse’s fourth run in his life, so there’s a huge improvement there.
“You have to look at everything, including the Champion Hurdle. Yesterday I was telling Michael Buckley, we’ll have to go shopping again to find one to beat you [Constitution Hill], but maybe we haven’t yet!
“He’s in the same sort of mold with his speed, jumping and the way he came up the hill, so maybe we have one.”
Impaire Et Passe went off as the 5/2 second favourite and it looked like it was going to be two from two for the well-backed horses at the start of the day, however, The Real Whacker bravely fended off the challenge of the favourite Gerri Colombe to win the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
It was a fantastic result at the home of jump racing and the crowd loved the game performance, none more so than joint-owner David Mann, who said: “My heart is pounding and my stomach is all over the place. I can’t believe we have had this winner. It is the best day of my life.
“To come here in November and have a winner was so unreal, to come here New Year’s Day and do it was great. Everybody knows I suppose the king of the crop is the big festival meeting which is today.
“Sam Twiston-Davies gave him such a great ride and we are so proud of the team, especially Paddy Neville who came over from Ireland two years ago.
“He is one of my best friends that I grew up with in the same village in Ireland. Paddy has done so much and brought this horse on.”
⭐️ A dream result in the @weatherbysltd Champion Bumper!
John Gleeson is only 18 years of age & wins on his first ride at the #CheltenhamFestival as A Dream To Share stays on best to claim G1 honours for John Kiely in the colours of JP McManus pic.twitter.com/gTRGDX6VcZ
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 15, 2023
Fast forwarding to the final race of the day, it was a tale of two Johns in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper as 18-year-old John Gleeson produced a brilliant ride onboard A Dream To Share for 85-year-old John Kiely.
Having burst onto the scene at the Dublin Racing Festival following two victories in summer bumpers, the Brucetown Farms Ltd-bred five-year-old powered up the famous Cheltenham hill to please the remaining crowd at Prestbury Park.
“It’s like a dream and I can’t believe it and even being at the Festival is just unreal,” smiled Gleeson. “It’s very special as we’re a small team at home, but we try our best to get to the next stage and to win.
“I can’t believe it – I’ve been going to John’s with dad for as long as I can remember really, he’s 10 minutes up the road from us and I ride out this horse every day before going to school. He’s very special.””
Energumene’s Champion Chase performance analysed
Energumene’s second successive Queen Mother Champion Chase win confirms both his class and the value of a targeted campaign, with Paul Townend producing a measured ride that allowed the gelding to settle and then assert. This result will shape two-mile chasing markets through the season and underline the significance of race rhythm, class and matching ground to running style.
Impact of ground, jumping and race tactics today
Looser turf at Cheltenham and cleaner jumping were cited by connections and proved decisive in separating the top pair from the field, illustrating how conditions and technical jumping can swing outcomes even at the highest level. Readers should note how small margins in ground and tactical pace can affect comparative form when studying future entries.
Willie Mullins’ training decisions and future plans
Mullins’ comments about shifting Impaire Et Passe towards chasing highlight an ongoing strategic choice trainers face between keeping a horse over hurdles or stepping it up to fences, and underline how rapid improvement in a young horse prompts campaign reassessment. The trainer’s experience and willingness to adapt often guides owners and shapes markets as the season progresses.
Ballymore and Brown Advisory: novices and progress
Novice events at the Festival provide a vital snapshot of which prospects are likely to carry forward into higher-grade staying chases and hurdle contests, and both Ballymore and Brown Advisory produced horses whose profiles suggest upward trajectories. Assessing how these newcomers coped with the Cheltenham environment helps form realistic expectations rather than optimistic leaps.
Impaire Et Passe: hurdling potential and route
Impaire Et Passe’s impressive Ballymore win, given it was only his fourth career start, suggests genuine scope whether connections keep him over hurdles or try chasing him later; the decision will hinge on schooling, maturity and how he takes to bigger obstacles in traffic. Observers should watch his educational schooling and any declared entries to frame likely development pathways.
The Real Whacker’s chase: tactics and setup
The Real Whacker’s performance in the Brown Advisory showed game attitude and accurate race positioning, with Sam Twiston-Davies’ ride emphasising calculated tempo control and late acceleration up the hill. That pattern is useful when comparing that form to rivals who may prefer different paces or ground, especially when handicappers and trainers decide on next targets.
A Dream To Share and the Champion Bumper story
A Dream To Share’s win in the Champion Bumper underlines the importance of summer bumpers and winter prep races in establishing early-season promise, with his breeding and schooling now shaping expectations for potential conversion to hurdles. For small teams, a Festival win offers a platform rather than a guarantee, so measured planning for the next campaign is essential.
Young jockeys at the Festival and career impact
John Gleeson’s ride is a reminder that big festival performances can accelerate the careers of promising apprentice riders, creating opportunities at bigger yards and better mounts while attracting media attention. That said, development remains incremental; a single Festival victory is part of a broader progression that includes staying fit, opportunities and continued success under varied conditions.
How trainers plan campaigns for Cheltenham targets
Top trainers map a season carefully, balancing early-season prep, target races and recovery time, and often prioritise long-term goals over short-term victories; this planning is clear in how Mullins and others approached their entries. Understanding those planning patterns helps readers evaluate whether a horse has been designed for the Festival or is being used as a step towards a different aim.
Navigating bookmakers and market movement insights
Market moves on the day often reflect insider sentiment, public money and bookmaker response to large wagers, as with the sizeable bet reported on Energumene; such moves matter for price-sensitive punters but do not replace careful form assessment. When comparing odds, it is sensible to consider strike rates, liability moves and whether a price reflects genuine edge or temporary volatility.
Bet sizing, risk management and staking approach
Responsible staking and bankroll management should always guide how much to risk on any market, especially festival racing where variance is high and outcomes are shaped by many variables beyond form. Readers are encouraged to set sensible stakes, use fixed staking plans and avoid chasing losses, bearing in mind betting is entertainment rather than income generation.
How to use festival form for future racing choices
Interpret Festival form by focusing on expected progression, the context of a horse’s prior runs and the conditions on the day; not every winner will scale the same heights again and some placed horses will improve markedly. Practical use of form involves comparing race patterns, visual performance and trainer plans rather than relying solely on finishing positions.
Prize money, notable bets and betting perspective
Notable wagers during the Cheltenham week highlight how large stakes can land with a single result, but these stories should be reported as items of interest only and not as encouragement to replicate such stakes. Betting on sport should be done within limits, with attention to value rather than size of wager or pursuit of headline sums.
Profiles: jockeys, owners and small yard stories
Owner and small-yard stories, such as the emotional reaction from David Mann, add human interest to the Festival and demonstrate how success can be transformational for participants outside the top yards. For bettors and readers, these narratives are part of the sport’s fabric and should be enjoyed alongside technical analysis.
Responsible gambling notes and 18 plus guidance
All content on this site is intended for readers aged 18 and over and aims to promote responsible gambling practices, including setting limits and seeking support if betting causes harm. If you or someone you know needs help, consider visiting recognised support services and using bookmaker tools for deposit limits, self-exclusion and reality checks.
How to compare bookmaker odds and offers fairly
Comparing bookmaker odds means looking at available prices across operators, factoring in margins, and understanding welcome offers while checking terms and wagering requirements carefully. Our comparator tools can help present those differences clearly so you can make an informed, non-pressured choice if you decide to open an account.
Interpreting form: what past runs reveal about ability
Past runs reveal patterns such as stamina, speed, jumping fluency and consistency, all of which should be weighted according to the race conditions and competition level; horses can regress or improve substantially, so context matters. Aim to combine visual impressions with raw data to form a rounded view.
Festival scheduling: recovery and season planning tips
Post-Festival scheduling is crucial; many winners and placed horses require time to recover, and connections will tailor the rest of the season according to age, health and programme value. Punter interest in subsequent targets is natural, but patience and attention to official declarations and trainer updates will give the best information.
Festival FAQs: practical betting and racing questions
Is it legal to bet on Cheltenham if I am 18 and over?
Yes — betting in the UK is restricted to those aged 18 and over and licensed operators must verify age and identity before permitting play. Always use licensed bookmakers and do not attempt to gamble if you are underage.
How should I use festival form to inform my own betting decisions?
Use form as part of a wider assessment that includes ground, pace, chasing or hurdling experience and trainer intentions, and avoid relying on single metrics; combining visual observation and race context gives a fuller picture. Remember there are no guaranteed outcomes and treat any stake as entertainment.
What responsible gambling tools should I consider before betting?
Consider deposit limits, loss limits, session time limits and self-exclusion options available from bookmakers, and seek support if betting becomes a problem. Betting should never be used to solve financial issues and should remain within affordable entertainment budgets.
Will festival results affect future market prices and targets?
Yes — Festival outcomes often change market expectations, with winners attracting higher ratings and future targeting, while placed runners may be aimed at different graded contests; bookmakers adjust prices accordingly. Use those market shifts as information rather than as signals to increase stake sizes.
How do I compare free bet offers and bookmaker terms fairly?
Read wagering requirements and minimum odds, check expiry windows and see if cash-out or bonus restrictions apply; a larger headline offer is not always better if the terms are limiting. Use comparison tools to line up offers side-by-side and choose one that fits your preferences responsibly.
What should small syndicates or private owners expect after a Festival win?
Festival success can raise a horse’s profile and create new opportunities, but owners should consult trainers on the best campaign path rather than pursue immediate commercial decisions. Emotional reaction is natural, but careful planning and welfare considerations should guide next steps.
Where can I find help if betting stops being fun or becomes harmful?
If gambling causes distress, contact recognised support organisations in the UK for confidential advice and consider using bookmaker self-exclusion and limit tools immediately. Help is available and asking for support is an important and responsible step.
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