Glorious day for O'Sullivan family as It Came To Pass strikes at 66-1

Jockey Maxine O'Sullivan described her first festival win as "off the scale" as she rode 66-1 outsider It Came To Pass to land the St James's Place Foxhunter Chase for her father Eugene.

The hype going into the race surrounded the Willie Mullins runner Billaway, looking to give his trainer a fifth winner of the day. The 11-4 favourite shaped well as they turned for home along with key market rivals, and established chasers, Minella Rocco and Shantou Flyer.

But creeping away and travelling sweetly was It Came To Pass and he forged his way into the lead effortlessly to cause a huge shock, with Billaway left ten lengths behind.

The victory gives County Cork-based trainer O'Sullivan a second win in the race, following on from Lovely Citizen's win in 1991. It is only his third win under rules in Britain this century.

It Came To Pass: the biggest-priced winner at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, at 66-1Credit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "It's fantastic and I'm overwhelmed. We won this 29 years ago when my brother rode him [Lovely Citizen] and my dad and my mam were here. Sadly my father isn't with us anymore but I'm sure he's looking down on us today."

O'Sullivan, riding her first festival winner, added: "This is off the scale, it's amazing. I've only ridden in this once but I'd dreamed of winning it. I didn't think it'd happen, it's just really, really good."

"This is really special for my family. My uncle won it in 1991 with Dad training and my grandad owning. We train point-to-pointers, so this is our Gold Cup. This is it for us and it's just brilliant."

The 2017 Gold Cup runner-up Minella Rocco finished fifth and Don Poli was further behind in 11th. Last year's winner Hazel Hill was a non-runner following assessment by BHA vets on course.

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