Cheltenham joy

Cheltenham joy

18 March 2020

THERE was local success at the Cheltenham Festival last week.

Ravenhill, bred in Comber by Aaron Metcalfe, won the National Hunt Chase on the opening day of the Festival last Tuesday.

The 10 year-old, ridden by leading amateur jockey Jamie Codd and trained by Gordon Elliott, romped home at 12/1. It was Codd’s 10th win at the Festival.

Aaron is also a member of the 10-strong owning syndicate which also includes Killinchy man Bill Dunlop.

Mr Dunlop’s father, Alan, won at Cheltenham in 1976 with Mac’s Chariot and also won the Irish Grand National in 2011 with Organised Confusion.

Bill said afterwards: “We were confident the horse would run well, particularly as Jamie is the best amateur rider in the business.

“It was still unbelievable when he won. I thought the Irish Grand National was special, but Cheltenham is different altogether, particularly when an Irish horse is cheered home.”

Bill added: “We had a good party that night.”