Myretown ruled the pack with a commanding victory, leading from the first fence and destroying the rest of the pack.
1 – Myretown (IRE) 13/2
2- The Changing Man (IRE) 7/1
3- Malina Girl (IRE) 14/1
4- Happygolucky (IRE) 28/1
Guard your Dreams (50/1) fell after the first fence, Zanahiyr (25/1) fell after the Second, Jockey got up quickly after.
Richmond Lake (40/1) and Whistle Stop Tour (66/1) pulled up.
Myretown (13/2) led for most of the race and dominated from the first fence, closing out with a leadwhat looked like seventh lengths.
The Lucinda Russell trained Horse has won the first of the five handicap chases run at the festival.
The Ultima Handicap Chase, also known as the Festival Trophy, is a long-distance handicap chase run as the third race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival and the winner gets £150,000.
Jockey Reaction – Patrick Wadge
“He was brilliant, I didn’t know what he’d be like. His jumping hasn’t been the best through his career but look, I don’t know what happened!
“I just let him wing fences, he made one little mistake on the back, but he was very good.
“Just to be here on these days, and thanks to the boss, everyone back home, it’s a dream come true.
“Just to sit on a horse like this is amazing.”
Trainer Reaction – Lucinda Russell
“He’s phenomenal. I always thought he was going to be another Ahoy Senor, we bought him because he looked like Ahoy Senor.
“I wasn’t that keen about running him, it was Bruce and Karen Wymer that said to me, ‘come on let’s take it on’ and if he jumped round, he was phenomenally well handicapped, I just didn’t know if he was going to be man enough for it, but it looks like he is.”
