The Irish and Swiss are cheering as Farclas breaks his duck in style

You know things are going well when you can bring a maiden to the JCB Triumph Hurdle without any great sense of confidence and win jumping's juvenile championship.

For all connected to Farclas, things are going very well indeed.

In leading home a clean sweep of the places for rampant Ireland, Farclas, second on his two previous jumps outings, took Gordon Elliott's 2018 Cheltenham Festival haul to eight, with Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud on six and rider Jack Kennedy on four.

Race replay, result and analysis

The total for Farclas is just the one – but it is one connections had not expected to secure.

At Leopardstown last month, Farclas chased home the Willie Mullins-trained Mr Adjudicator. Here placings were reversed, the pair pulling clear of the runner-up's stablemate Sayo with favourite Apple's Shakira, heavily backed into 6-5, good enough to take only fourth after racing freely.

Farclas (grey) keeps on strongly to beat Mr Adjudicator in the JCB Triumph HurdleCredit: Mark Cranham

Stormy Ireland, who led for most of the contest, was beaten when falling at the final flight.

"I'm genuinely surprised," said O'Leary, whose Tiger Roll has gone on to take the festival's National Hunt Chase and Cross-Country Chase since bagging the 2014 Triumph.

"I thought if we ran into a place today it would have been great. If he hadn't won we'd have kept him a novice for next year. That plan has gone up in smoke now, so we'll just have to learn to live with a second Triumph Hurdle. It's surreal."

Also finding things that are now so real surreal was Elliott.

"It's unbelievable," he said, his comment applicable to the race and his week.

"For a maiden with only two runs it was a big ask. We knew he was in good form and we put a tongue-tie on him, but I still can't believe it.

"On Tuesday night I could have gone home, I was that depressed. It shows what a difference a day makes. On Tuesday night I went to bed, on Wednesday night I gave it a kicking and last night I was in bed early."

Farclas was giving Jack Kennedy his fourth winner of the festivalCredit: Edward Whitaker

Such has been the exceptional nature of Ireland's week in the Cotswolds, plenty of the nation's travelling army of fans and punters will surely have been giving it a kicking as well.

"There's so much talent in Ireland," said O'Leary. "We're very fortunate. A lot of the best horses are being kept in Ireland by people like Rich Ricci, JP and myself. It's a golden era for Irish racing. We have the majority of the best horses, trainers and jockeys - but sadly this will turn."

For Britain this needs to turn, although flying the flag proudly has been Nicky Henderson. This time, however, he was left frustrated.

"Apple's Shakira was far too free," said her trainer. "I think we'll put a hood on her and take her to Aintree. That would be the sensible thing."

One man with more reason to be pleased – even in defeat – was Mr Adjudicator's owner David Bobbett.

"It was a super performance," he said. "I'm absolutely thrilled. You have to enjoy a moment like this – this is your stadium of dreams."

Farclas pictured with groom Georgie Benson after winning the JCB Triumph Hurdle at CheltenhamCredit: Patrick McCann

It is exactly that and one man experiencing the dream stadium on his maiden voyage was Remy Gier, who travelled to Cheltenham from his home near Zurich as the soon-to-be cock-a-hoop breeder of Farclas.

"I'm more than delighted," he said. "I'm over the moon – or even further away than that!

"It's my first time here. Now, I like it very much, although I liked it before as well. It's so huge and there are so many people around here cheering. The roar is great. I was one of them roaring!"

Now the Brits are up against Switzerland as well as Ireland. For the home team these truly are tough times.

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