Cheltenham Day Three: Doddiethegreat becomes another poignant Cheltenham winner

By Nick Robson and Ashley Iveson, PA

3:20pm

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 Jericho 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.”

Earlier, Rachael Blackmore produced an inspired finish aboard Air Of Entitlement as she secured her first win at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Blackmore and trainer Henry de Bromhead had so far drawn a blank at this year’s showpiece meeting, with the Robcour-owned six-year-old sent off a 16-1 chance to change matters.

There was early drama and after a false start, Maughreen – one of Willie Mullins’ fancied runners – whipped round and was left by the pack at the second attempt to get the race underway.

It was left to outsider Brendas Asking to lead the field along from Ben Pauling’s Diva Luna, with Gavin Cromwell’s 85-40 favourite Sixandahalf always close by and tracking the pace.

Keith Donoghue looked to be sitting pretty aboard Sixandahalf as the runners turned to face the Cheltenham hill and although beating off the challenge of Diva Luna after the final flight, Blackmore was conjuring every ounce of effort from her mount as the line approached, delivering Air Of Entitlement in a power-packed drive to edge a half-length victory over the market leader.

Diva Luna held off Mullins’ Karoline Banbou for third, a further six lengths adrift.

De Bromhead said: “We knew we had the stamina and the New course suits. We always worry about being too handy in this race and Rachael got it spot-on. I thought they went a really good gallop and she gave her some spin.

“She stayed on really well. I thought when we winged the last we had a chance and I knew Keith (Donoghue, riding Sixandahalf) was up there the whole way, which historically hasn’t worked.

“It’s a long way up that straight, I thought we had a chance after jumping the last and I’m delighted.”

Air Of Entitlement was having just her second start and De Bromhead added: “It’s funny but I always say I much prefer coming here fresh and happy than feeling like I need to give them runs for experience.

“She was in Colin Bowe’s as a point-to-pointer, so she’ll have jumped more fences than most of the fillies in that field. It’s always a concern, but I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t concerned about something!”

Blackmore, riding her 17th Festival winner, said: “It’s an incredible feeling. I read an interview recently with JP McManus when he said some people are born luckier than others and I definitely feel like I was born luckier for going round here anyway.

“I’ve been so lucky with the horses I’ve got to ride and this mare is another one. Henry brings his horses over here in such incredible form and she was just phenomenal there. She travelled through the race and jumped well and got her head in front at the right time.”

On having to wait until day three of the Festival for a winner, Blackmore said: “You can’t lose faith, we’re only halfway through the week. We’ve been a bit spoilt in the last few years as every Tuesday I’ve walked home with a winner under our belt. It wasn’t the case this year but I’m so grateful to get one today.

“I missed three months before Christmas and Cheltenham is the main thing to be back for. It was so difficult to watch all these horses you should have been riding, but I’m grateful the injury didn’t happen the other side of Christmas because this is the most important place to be for all of us jockeys.”

Cromwell said of the runner-up: “She was a little unfortunate and probably could have done with a lead for a bit longer to be honest.

“She then jumped the last a little bit too big and after that I suppose there was always a target on her back.

“She ran really well and jumped really well everywhere. She’s travelled the best and she does stay well but she was just in front for a long time.

“Punchestown is a possible, but to be honest I haven’t thought beyond today.”

Pauling had said repeatedly in recent weeks that he thought he had Diva Luna back in top shape and she backed him up by finishing third.

He said: “She’s run a blinder. It was probably a case of we knew we hadn’t had her right, but we were hoping we had and that could be a big step back in the right direction now.

“She will probably run again this season, we’ll see, she’s looked in great form recently but she’s run her heart out there.

“She did miss the last but it didn’t cost her the win, she would have just been a closer third so it was a good result.

“Aintree is possible but it comes quick enough this year.”

Caldwell Potter was a poignant winner of the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase, as Paul Nicholls brought up his 50th winner at the Cheltenham Festival.

Running in the colours of the late John Hales, he was subject of a mammoth €740,000 transfer fee in February 2024 with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson also amongst the seven-year-old’s group of owners.

A Grade One winner in Ireland for Gordon Elliott, Caldwell Potter had won one of his three starts since switching to Ditcheat and was given an enterprising front-running ride by Harry Cobden.

Cobden and the exuberant grey never missed a beat as they led the field a merry dance from and when the champion jockey asked his mount to lengthen entering the home straight, the result was soon a formality as Caldwell Potter silenced the doubters with real interest.

Ken Budds’ 125-1 Anyway picked up the silver medal, with with another outsider, Willie Mullins’ O’Moore Park back in third.