Stumptown and Jazzy Matty score on an emotional second day at Cheltenham.
Gavin Cromwell and Cian Collins trained the pair of Meath winners on Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival.
Tom Gannon reports
Keith Donoghue and Gavin Cromwell teamed up with Stumptown to win the Cross Country Chase to get Meath-trained horses off the mark at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. It was Donoghue's fifth success in the race, and it means he has surpassed Nina Carberry as the most successful jockey in the Cross Country.
Stumptown was made work for his victory and looked in bother with about a mile left to run. However, the eight-year-old was evidently in control when he turned the final bend, before galloping on strongly to prevail by seven lengths at 5-2.
Speaking after the win, trainer Gavin Cromwell said "I was very concerned for a while to be honest, but he’s run out a good winner in the end. I think Keith thought he wasn’t at his best either, but we’ll take it. He obviously loves the cross-country racing and Keith is definitely worth a few pounds around that track, that’s for sure. We’ll aim him at the Grand National. It is coming soon enough, but all being well, he’ll go there."
Jazzy Matty, the horse that Michael O'Sullivan rode to victory in the Juvenile Hurdle in 2023, gave Robinstown trainer, Cian Collins his first-ever winner at the Cheltenham Festival in the Grand Annual Challenge Cup.
Left to fight out the finish with defending champion Unexpected Party it was the Jazzy Matty who came out on top thanks to a fine ride from Danny Gilligan who was enjoying his second Festival success after he rode Betterdaysahead to glory 12 months ago.
Speaking to Racing TV after the race, Cian Collins was overjoyed with the victory.
"He never put a foot wrong anywhere. He travelled, he jumped, and Danny (Gilligan) was just brilliant. I was happy that Unexpected Party gave us a lead for a while because Jazzy doesn't do a whole pile in front. It worked out for us. He just comes alive when he comes over to Cheltenham." said Collins
"I worked for Gordon for seven years and I learned everything from him. We have a brilliant team at home and a lot of work went into getting this horse here today so it's just brilliant."
Marine Nationale was a very poignant winner of the feature race on Day Two for Barry Connell. Along with Jazzy Matty, Michael O'Sullivan also guided the now Champion Chaser to victory in 2023. Gordon Elliott's Found A Fifty was the only Meath representative in the race and he finished fifth in the race.
Gordon Elliott did hit the frame twice earlier in the card. Noel and Valerie Moran's The Yellow Clay was second in the Turners Novice Hurdle and Steller Story was also second in the following race, the Brown Advisory Novice Chase. John McConnell's Heads Up ran a massive race at odds of 33/1 to finish second in the concluding Champion Bumper.