Mullins offers sympathies to Moore team after Burning Victory picks up pieces

While the records show Burning Victory was the winner of the 2020 JCB Triumph Hurdle, it is a race that will forever be associated with Goshen's heartbreaking last-flight stumble.

Connections of the 5-2 favourite were left to reflect on a festival winner slipping through their fingers when Goshen failed to clear the final hurdle sufficiently, with Jamie Moore parting company despite his best efforts to keep the partnership intact.

The departure of Goshen meant the race played out as a battle between Burning Victory and Aspire Tower, as a stunned crowd tried to process what had unfolded.

Watch the Triumph Hurdle

Winning trainer Willie Mullins barely celebrated the fortuitous victory, instead offering his commiserations to an understandably distraught Gary and Jamie Moore.

"I feel very sorry for Gary and Jamie," he said. "Jamie did everything right. He had it in the bag and asked the horse all the right questions coming to the last and the horse didn't answer for him, it happens. I'm delighted we've won, but it's not a victory I'm going to celebrate."

Winning rider Paul Townend added: "I would only have been a good second if the leader hadn't gone at the last. It's not the nicest way to win a race but I've been on the other end of that too so I know what it feels like. We’ll take every bit of luck we get."

Burning Victory was jumping into Grade 1 company after winning on her hurdling debut at Fairyhouse in a Grade 3. Formerly trained on the Flat in France, the four-year-old filly is still a work in progress, as Mullins added: "She's not the best jumper in the world. She jumped the first two great then missed the two down the back.

Burning Victory: winner of the TriumphCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"She's got a huge engine but needs to brush up on her jumping. It's great for Greg [Turley, owner of winner with wife Audrey] as he's not had too many horses with me but a few of them have been bad enough so it's nice he's got a nice one."

Aspire Tower filled second spot for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore, with the front-running Allmankind losing his unbeaten record over hurdles but finishing a gallant third for Dan and Harry Skelton.

Read more from the final day of the Cheltenham Festival:

Al Boum Photo seals second Cheltenham Gold Cup after beating Santini in thriller

'He was having a look' – inexperienced Monkfish shows class in Albert Bartlett

Moore 'distraught' as Goshen unseats rider with Triumph at his mercy

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