Doddiethegreat becomes another poignant Cheltenham winner

The memory of Doddie Weir was honoured at the Cheltenham Festival, as Brian Hughes produced Doddiethegreat to perfection to lead home a Nicky Henderson one-two in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

Running in the colours of Kenny Alexander, the nine-year-old is named after the former Scotland rugby union great, who died of motor neurone disease in November 2022, with prize-money earned throughout Doddiethegreat’s career donated to the foundation set up by Weir to raise funds and aid research into MND.

Second at Haydock in his previous start, Doddiethegreat was sent off at 25-1 in the hands of Hughes – picking up a chance spare ride for Henderson – and was always catching the eye as he eased into contention on the second circuit.

At the business end, it was stablemate and 11-2 favourite Jeriko Du Reponet that proved the biggest danger but Doddiethegreat was not to be denied as the result represented not only a turnaround in the fortunes for Henderson, in a week Jonbon and Constitution Hill have suffered reversals, but also a first winner at the Festival for Hughes since Mister Whitaker in 2018.

Henderson said: “We all like Doddie; he’s named after Doddie Weir and it all goes to the foundation.

“He got the most horrible overreach and spent time up in Ayr. It didn’t look like he would get back to a racecourse, but thankfully he did.”

Regarding his one-two, the trainer added: “Both of their chasing careers were cut short but both travelled into the race beautifully today. I would like Jeriko to try chasing again.”

Hughes commented: “Opportunities for me at the Festival have been few and far between but it was lovely to get the chance to ride this horse at Haydock, where he ran really well.

“He has his quirks and has been called a monkey but I think that’s harsh, and going over three miles today, he jumped and travelled.

“I think the lack of opportunities for me is because the good horses are not in the main housed in the stables I’m riding for, but I’m not done yet.”

JP McManus got his hands on one of the few Festival trophies missing from his mantlepiece when Jagwar followed up his impressive Trials day victory in great style in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase.

A second Festival win for both the training team of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero and the man in the saddle Jonjo O’Neill Jr, Jagwar was sent off the 3-1 market leader and came home ahead of Gavin Cromwell’s 4-1 second favourite Thecompanysergeant and Alan King’s Masaccio

Guerriero said: “He’s just a good horse who is improving all the time. His jumping wasn’t as good today as last time but the quicker pace took its toll, I think.

“He’s learning about the game and is relaxing more now. He’s a massive horse with a lot of ability, so hopefully he keeps improving.”

McManus commented: “I think they have been very patient – he’s a big horse that has needed time. It’s a happy occasion.”

It looked as though McManus was set for further success when the Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained Johnnywho jumped the last in front in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.

However, Paul Nolan’s Daily Present proved perfectly positioned to take advantage of a scratchy leap from the 9-2 favourite and the mount of Barry Stone proved too strong for the market leader in the closing stages as he gave Ireland another victory at odds of 12-1.

Nolan said: “I thought we looked done but in fairness to this lad, I remember the last race he won at Down Royal, he looked like finishing fourth but he just stayed on and stayed on. I think he wants four miles.

“I think that is Barry’s first ride in the UK, so that is some going. He’s got a lovely pair of hands and I just thought he was super on him. He was up against Derek O’Connor there.

“I’ve not thought beyond today to be honest, since he was fifth in this last year we thought we’d come back as he ran keen. He’s so slow at home we couldn’t imagine this would happen.

“He never put him into the race until he had to, but he looked like being second. I knew he’d keep going though. I’m delighted to have another winner here.”