Tralee syndicate celebrates New Year's Day with a big win at Cheltenham
Stumptown ridden by Keith Donoghue wins The Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
A Kerry syndicate marched into their "theatre of dreams" - the Cheltenham winners' enclosure - on Monday to begin the new year on a high.
The Gavin Cromwell-trained Stumptown came to the fore to take the Paddy Power Handicap Chase under rider Keith Donoghue. A 5-1 chance for the staying contest, the seven-year-old stayed on best of all up the hill to prevail by five lengths.
The horse is owned by a five man syndicate from around Tralee - Garrett and Brian Dillon, George Savage, Ger Teahon and Nathan McDonnell.
Teahon said: "He ran in the Kerry National and didn't jump well, at Newbury jumped the first fence but got absolutely boxed after, We just needed him to show what he can do. Keith came over especially just to ride today. We are absolutely thrilled, there's no better place - he ran well here in March but this is so special - it's every owners' dream to have a winner here at Cheltenham."
Meanwhile Shakem Up'Arry provided jockey Ben Jones with a first Cheltenham winner as he struck in the Paddy Power New Year's Day Handicap Chase.
Ben Pauling's 10-year-old - who is owned by former football manager Harry Redknapp - started at 11-2 as Paul Nicholls' Stage Star was the most fancied of the field as the 11-10 favourite.
The latter horse carried the welter burden of 12st, however, and in the end it was Shakem Up'Arry and Venetia Williams' Frero Banbou who pulled clear up the hill. Pauling's gelding pulled even further away after the last and secured a seven-and-a-half-length win on the line.
Peaky Boy gave owner Olly Harris his first winner at Cheltenham when making a winning introduction to hurdles with an effortless success at Prestbury Park.
The six-year-old was contesting the Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Maiden Hurdle on his first run for Nicky Henderson, his first hurdling start after winning a bumper and a point-to-point previously.
Under James Bowen he was the 13-8 favourite and made an impression with a straightforward five-length victory, earning a 33-1 quote for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle back at Prestbury Park in March.
"When we started with him, he just needed his wind attending to, but he's very nice," said Henderson.
"He's really laid back and we thought he had a bit of speed. You ask him a question and you always get the answer, but you do need to ask the question, so it is quite hard to judge on the way he does it.
"I think he's very deep like that and there's a lot there. He handles the ground and he jumps well and I'm sure he's going to stay well, he finished strongly and travelled nicely."
