Cheltenham 2023 winners: Mullins and Townend lead the way again

“A winning favourite in the second biggest betting race of the entire year is never going to be a good result for the bookmakers, and the Lossiemouth-Galopin Des Champs double was also extremely popular, ensuring this year’s Festival will be one to remember for many punters.”

Townend’s five Cheltenham 2023 winners mean he is now the most successful active jockey at the Festival with 28 victories and a third top jockey title, while Mullins is streets ahead of his fellow trainers in having saddled 94 winners overall at the meeting. He has been the fixture’s top trainer on 10 occasions now.

Patrick Mullins, representing his father, said: “To win the Gold Cup and the Champion Chase, they are half of the major races so that was fantastic. Galopin Des Champs winning the Gold Cup though really was the cherry on the top.

“Six winners is probably where we need to be hitting at least. The amount of horses we have and the standard we have, we needed to do everything we did this week.

“Last year was just one of those years after Covid and everything and we were never going to match that total of 10.

“Taking the Gold Cup and Champion Chase while El Fabiolo (Arkle) and Impaire Et Passe (Ballymore) look like they could be anything so we were very pleased to see them win as well. Galopin Des Champs really was the big one and thankfully he delivered.”

JP McManus finished Cheltenham 2023 as the leading owner, with Impervious and Iroko giving him two victories on the final day, although Sire Du Berlais’ shock 33/1 success in Thursday’s Stayers’ Hurdle was the highlight.

Iroko wins the Martin Pipe Conditional 2023! 🏆

Aidan Kelly splits the front pair, driving to the line to take the win for owner JP McManus – a fantastic victory 💪

Describe your #CheltenhamFestival in one word! 👀pic.twitter.com/ItylH6WjPc

— Coral (@Coral) March 17, 2023

He said: “We finished strong which was great. You never know how you are going to get on as it is very competitive here. You are hoping to get a winner or two and it was nice to get off the board on Wednesday night.

“The Stayers’ Hurdle was a lovely race to win and to finish off with the Martin Pipe was great and we topped it off winning the Mares’ Chase. It has been wonderful. Any time you get a winner, they are really precious and they were all very special in fairness.”

The Prestbury Cup – the annual competition between British and Irish trainers – was sealed on Thursday with victory once again going to the raiding party.

Irish handlers ended the meeting with 18 victories, with the British team landing 10 – equalling the 2022 result.

Cheltenham 2023 winners

Top trainer: Willie Mullins – 6 wins

Top jockey: Paul Townend – 5 wins

Top owner: JP McManus – 4 wins

Prestbury Cup: Ireland 18-10 Great Britain

Gold Cup: Galopin Des Champs

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