IRELAND continued its dominance of the Cheltenham Festival, spearheaded by Willie Mullins, with 20 winners to Britain's eight at this year's event.
It is now nine years since Britain claimed the Prestbury Cup, with Ireland's domination underlined by a clean sweep on Gold Cup Day on Friday.
Mullins once again took the Leading Trainer Award with 10 wins, while Paul Townend was Leading Jockey (four wins) and JP McManus was Leading Owner (six wins).
However, despite the celebrations, there was an air of poignancy as late Irish jockey Michael O'Sullivan was remembered throughout the week.
The 24-year-old Co. Cork native passed away last month, 10 days after he was admitted to intensive care following a fall at Thurles.
However, he was honoured on the first day on Tuesday as fellow Cork jockey Townend rode the Mullins-trained Kopek des Bordes to victory in the opening Supreme Novices' Hurdle, now named after the late jockey.
Townend also delivered for Mullins on Lossiemouth in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, while Mark Walsh rode Puturhandstogether to land the Hallgarten and Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle for trainer Joseph O'Brien and owner JP McManus.
Paul Townend celebrates after riding Kopek Des Bordes to victory in the Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Image: Dan Istitene / Getty Images)Day two also saw another fitting tribute to O'Sullivan as two horses he rode to victory on day one of the 2023 festival romped home.
First, Sean Flanagan rode Marine Nationale to victory in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase for owner and trainer Barry Connell.
Then, Danny Gilligan rode the Cian Collins-trained Jazzy Matty to victory in the Debenhams Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase.
Meanwhile, Mullins saw three of his horses win, with Lecky Watson claiming the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, Jimmy Du Seuil taking the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle and Bambino Fever winning the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
In the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase, Keith Donoghue rode Stumptown to victory for Co. Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell.
O'Neill's Cork tribute to O'Sullivan
Day three saw Rachel Blackmore clinch a double for trainer Henry de Bromhead, winning the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle on Air of Entitlement before taking the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle on Bob Olinger.
Walsh secured his second win of festival and another victory for Mullins on Fact To File in the Ryanair Chase, while amateur Irish jockey Barry Stone claimed the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase on the Paul Nolan-trained Daily Present.
Also on Thursday, Jonjo O'Neill Jr wore a Cork flag up his sleeve as a tribute to O'Sullivan as he steered Jagwar to victory in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase.
"Although this is a great day, we're thinking about Michael and his family because not only was he a good rider, he was a good friend to a lot of people," said an emotional O'Neill afterwards.
Jonjo O'Neill Jr aboard Jagwar after winning the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Image: Harry Murphy / Sportsfile via Getty Images)Into the final day and Mullins-trained horses swept to victory in the first four races, beginning with 100-1 shot Poniros in the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle.
It was a day that saw the Irish stamp their dominance on the festival, with victory in all seven races.
Unfortunately for Mullins, he saw his winning streak came to an end in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase.
Instead, it was Walsh who rode 15/2 shot Inothewayurthinkin to victory for trainer Cromwell and owner McManus.
Trainer Willie Mullins, pictured on day four, was once again crowned Leading Trainer (Image: Harry Murphy / Sportsfile via Getty Images)In doing so, it stopped Mullins' Galopin Des Champs becoming only the third horse to win the Gold Cup three times following victory in 2023 and 2024.
Despite missing out on the Gold Cup, Mullins once again collected the Leading Trainer Award on Friday for a 12th time, his 10 wins meaning he has now saddled a record 113 festival winners.
"It has been a fantastic week," he said.
"Anytime you have a winner at Cheltenham it is good, but to have more than one is brilliant.
"We have been very lucky this week, so we are not complaining, as you don't ever expect to have that many winners here."
