Hit by a car and out for the count but Mulcahys Hill keeps bouncing back

Mulcahys Hill, one of the main protagonists in the infamous National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, added another chapter to a fantastical life back at the scene on Friday.

The seven-year-old was on the ground exhausted for five minutes after his fall at the second-last in the festival race, which turns out to be just one of a series of mishaps to have befallen the McNeill family and Prodec Networks Ltd-owned chaser.

His tired fall two out was one of a series of unedifying spectacles in the 3m7½f race for amateur riders – which was reduced in distance from the traditional distance of four miles in 2018 following the repositioning of a fence – which saw only four finish from the 18 that set out.

A BHA review following equine welfare concerns brought in a raft of changes to the historic race.

But back to Mulcahys Hill and his story, which his trainer Warren Greatrex revealed after his novice chaser had found extra reserves on the run-in under an inspired ride from Adrian Heskin to get past favourite Wholestone to gain a first chase victory with the rain lashing down at the end of the 3m½f novice chase.

Mulcahys Hill and a smiling Adrian Heskin after their heroics in the novice chase at Cheltenham on FridayCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Relive Mulcahys Hill's win on Friday and check out his lifetime record

"He has been through a lot in his life," said the Uplands trainer after welcoming back his 12-1 winner.

"He has been hit by a car in the village, and was down for five minutes after his fall here in March."

Mulcahys Hill has positively bounced back from those torrid experiences, whereas his gallant short-head defeat to Poetic Rhythm in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle on heavy ground at Newbury two years ago left much more of a mark.

Greatrex explained: "He has always been very good but the Challow Hurdle killed him physically.

"The rest of that season and the next was a hangover from that run and it is a testament to the horse he has come back and done this. This season he seems to have grown up, and his jumping has always been really good.

"He has always been quirky and I tear my hair out every day with him as he has got such an abundance of talent."

Greatrex had another reason to celebrate as he added: "He is also a first Cheltenham winner for my yard sponsor Greg Stone, in partnership with the McNeill family."

Connections receive the trophy after Mulcahys Hill's victory at CheltenhamCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The fallout from the National Hunt Chase, won by the Jamie Codd-ridden Le Breuil, included the race being shortened by another furlong and a half after nine runners fell or unseated their rider, with five others pulled up.

Four jockeys were banned for a total of 37 days after being deemed to have continued to race "contrary to the horse’s welfare", and to have used the whip when their mount was showing no response.

The Grade 2 race will also now have a minimum rating for horses of 120, which brings it in line with the Grade 1 novice chases at the meeting, while contenders must have run in two novice chases and been placed in the first four in a chase over 2m7½f or further.

Mulcahys Hill, who would not have qualified for last year's National Hunt Chase under those conditions, might not want to hear that Paddy Power made him a 20-1 chance to win this season's contest.

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