It was a day for the British on Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival, as four different British trainers entered the winners' enclosure at Prestbury Park.
Dan and Harry Skelton combined once again for another deserved double, while some famous football managers also played their part.
The Gordon Elliott-trained Teahupoo and Jack Kennedy did still take home the featured Stayers' Hurdle for the Irish - here's the story of Day 3:
Turners Novice Chase: Grey Dawning (5/2)
Grey Dawning (5/2) lead home a British 1-2-3 in the opening Turners' Novice Chase, seeing off the Paul Nicholls-trained Ginnys Destiny to continue an excellent week for Dan and Harry Skelton.
The pair were prominent throughout, but it was the grey who got up deservedly at the line to give the Skeltons their third winner of the 2024 Festival.
🇬🇧 The Brits dominate in the Turners!
Grey Dawning gamely sees off old foe Ginny's Destiny to complete a Festival hat-trick for @DSkeltonRacing & @harryskelton89 pic.twitter.com/IQ8cl44Pwh
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 14, 2024
Harry Skelton told ITV Racing: "He's just magic. This is unbelievable. He was great today and after a long discussion Dan got the right race.
"We just thought on the ground a galloping track would suit him down to a tee. Everything just went perfect. He absolutely pinged the last two fences and he's very good. I hope he's a bit special."
Pertemps Network Final: Monmiral (25/1)
Paul Nicholls is no stranger to the winners' enclosure at Cheltenham and he made his way there once again following the Pertemps, as 25-1 shot Monmiral and Harry Cobden got up late to deny Kyntara.
The winner is part-owned by former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
👀 49 winners for @PFNicholls at the #CheltenhamFestival
Monmiral delivers in the Pertemps under @CobdenHarry pic.twitter.com/L4XZ2b94nB
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 14, 2024
"I can't believe this horse has won that. I ticked the box this morning and he was 25-1. I thought he should be 125-1. Shows what I know!", said winning rider Harry Cobden.
"This is fantastic, brilliant. What a jockey," said Sir Alex Ferguson, who was toasting his first ever Cheltenham Festival winner.
Ryanair Chase: Protektorat (17/2)
It was Fergie time once again in the Ryanair Chase, and another superb showing from the Skelton duo saw Protektorat come home first at odds of 17/2. Henry de Bromhead's Envoi Allen was bidding for a fourth Festival success, but had to settle for second as Protektorat powered home with four lengths in hand to rattle in another British winner and a double for the Skelton brothers.
⚽️ Fergie time again at Cheltenham!
Four-timer for team Skelton as Protektorat wins the G1 @Ryanair Chase pic.twitter.com/YrktqtpiWv
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 14, 2024
Harry Skelton said: "It's fantastic and I can't believe it, but he really deserved this.
"Izzy Algieri, who looks after him, is an absolute saint because she puts up with him every day and he's as mad as a wasp. You'd have to have the patience of a saint. He's so difficult at home and in a race, but today they went really quick up front and it was the first time for a long time that he's settled; normally he's always pulling my arms out.
"I was happy and in a good rhythm behind Harry [Cobden on Stage Star], and he was really tough, but Izzy deserves a lot of credit."
Stayers' Hurdle: Teahupoo (5/4)
The day's feature, the Stayers Hurdle went the way of Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott for their first winner of the week - as Teahupoo justified short-priced favouritism to see off the veteran Flooring Porter and Home By The Lee.
Having finished second last year, Teahupoo put matters right to land a first winner on the day for the Irish.
🏆 Teahupoo - Stayers' Hurdle King @jackkennedy15 & @gelliott_racing on the board at The Festival 👇 pic.twitter.com/X08KCvqAn1
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 14, 2024
"He’s an amazing horse," Kennedy told ITV Racing. "He makes my job very easy. You can put him wherever you want in a race and he jumps great so he’s a pleasure to ride.
"I wasn’t too frustrated because the horses have been running well but I started getting a little bit annoying yesterday evening. It’s brilliant to get off the mark now."
Paddy Power Plate: Shakem Up'Arry (8/1)
The British dominance continued in the Plate as Shakem Up'Arry and Ben Jones came flying home to land the race for in-form trainer Ben Pauling and rider Ben Jones. It continued the theme of winning football managers as the winner is owned by former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp.
He saw off favourite Crebilly in the straight, while Dungarvan jockey Sean Houlihan took third with a fantastic ride aboard Straw Fan Jack for Shiela Lewis.
What a day for football managers at Cheltenham ⚽
Shakem Up'Arry wins for Harry Redknapp!
— irishracing.com (@irishracing) March 14, 2024
"Oh my God, get in there! How good was that? He jumped for fun. What a performance", said Redknapp.
"My nan got me into racing, she was a bookie's runner back in the day. She'd get locked up in Poplar Police Station in the East End of London, because it was illegal in those days. I love the horses, I love the Festival, I love the people. It means so much."
Mares' Novices Hurdle: Golden Ace (10/1)
Jeremy Scott pulled off another shock of sorts in the Mares' Novices Hurdle as Golden Ace saw off the well-fancied Brighterdaysahead in the straight to land the spoils. Ridden by Lorcan Williams, she was sublime throughout - making it 5-1 on the day for the British.
👀 Golden Ace wins the @Ryanair Mares' Novice Hurdle!
What a star for @holworthyfarm pic.twitter.com/GMSIXBJVPK
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 14, 2024
Kim Muir Cup: Inothewayurthinkin (7-4)
Inothewayurthinkin (7-4) cruised home in the last under the guidance of Derek O'Connor for his second winner of the week, and it was once again the JP McManus green and gold carried through the line, as Gavin Cromwell added yet another valuable handicap to his CV. It was a second victory on the day for the Irish, and a first of the festival for Cromwell - who was early narrowly denied with Flooring Porter.
🟢🟡 @DerekOConnor82 has ice in his veins 🥶
Glorious ride, glorious performance. Inothewayurthinkin absolutely hoses up in the Kim Muir for Gavin Cromwell & JP McManus pic.twitter.com/ai5EUtWulm
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 14, 2024
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