English/Ire
Apolon De Charnie causes Triumph shock for team Mullins
Apolon De Charnie made his first start for Willie Mullins one to remember when landing the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Formerly trained by Yannick Fouin, Apolon De Charnie was looking to reverse the form with stablemate Proactif having finished six lengths behind him when they met in the often-informative Prix Finot at Auteuil and on his start on British soil, he was sent off 50/1 to gain Grade 1 honours.
Ridden by son Patrick Mullins, the four-year-old Chanducoq gelding, who now carries the colours of Edward Ware, overcame a slight mistake at the final flight to fend off both the 5/1 chance Maestro Conti and the Adam Nicol-trained Minella Study.
The winning distance was a length and a half, with Dan Skelton's Maestro Conti filling the runner-up spot.
Mullins, who claimed the prize twelve months ago with 100/1 shot Poniros, said: "I was able to shout, 'Go on, my son!' He came in late and had a very light prep, so we were hoping for the best.
"Every time I looked at him on the TV, I could see him going well. He was going well all the time, while my other ones were meeting with trouble.
"I said he was going to win before the last, then after the last he had to get down and win the race for a second time. Once he got to the front and heard that Cheltenham roar, he still didn't stop. A lot of horses put their heads up when they hear that Cheltenham roar, but he didn't, he did it very well."
Dan Skelton's Maestro Conti headed into the contest looking to make it four from four in his career and despite relinquishing his unbeaten record, Skelton believes the future looks bright for his talented juvenile, with a trip to Aintree on the cards.
Dan Skelton, trainer of runner-up Maestro Conti, said: "It was a great run. He was a little bit gassy through the first half but that's how he does it.
"I could see Patrick travelling very well down to the last, but my instinct was that with a big jump at the last maybe we'd have won, but the way Patrick was going I'm not convinced.
"I'm very happy with him and I'd say he'll make a fine horse going forward. I'll probably run him at Aintree."
Maestro Conti could be set to cross swords once more with Minella Study, who lost absolutely nothing in defeat back in third for trainer Adam Nicol.
Nicol, who trains less horses than Willie Mullins has running on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, said: "I know he's won on this course and he clearly handled it, but I think he'd be even better on a flat track, because he's got gears.
"I'd love to take him to Aintree, but because they're juveniles you don't know how they're going to come out of this. We'll let the dust settle for the next 10 days and we'll see. There are options - Aintree would suit him."
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