From hospital woe to festival glory: fairytale win for The Conditional's owner

Horseracing is a sport of monumental highs and lows but no-one epitomises that adage more than The Conditional's 82-year-old owner Peter Cave.

Last year he had an accident at David Bridgwater's yard that sidelined him for eight weeks, breaking a hip and suffering a head injury which took him four days to come around.

Fast-forward to March and things had contrasted completely. His horse had given him and Bridgwater their first Cheltenham Festival winner in the Ultima Handicap Chase and he was feeling on top of the world.

Cave explained: "Two young horses came in and they knocked me over on to the concrete. My hip was broken and I had to have a plate put into it.

"I was knocked out and they took me into hospital. I didn't come around for four days. I had eight weeks out – four in hospital and four at home."

Watch The Conditional secure a fairytale festival victory

The owner, who has now recovered and spoke clutching his trophy with a beaming smile, added: "This now is just wonderful. I've had a few horses on the Flat but this is the first time I've really gone in for one over jumps. To be honest our last horses weren't very good, I'd won a few point-to-points but nothing compared to this. Every winner is a good winner, but this is very special."

But to enjoy that moment The Conditional's connections had to endure a pulsating finish. First, the eight-year-old was tasked with overcoming a bad blunder at the penultimate fence, and then he was one of four with a chance over the final obstacle.

The Conditional made his burst for the line, as favourite Vinndication weakened into fourth, while a brave Kildisart charged home but could not get past Powell's determined mount. Irish raider Discorama finished third.

The victory was also a well-earned success for local trainer Bridgwater, who had previously come agonisingly close to a first festival winner, in the biggest race of all, with The Giant Bolster. His popular chaser finished second, third and fourth in the Gold Cup between 2012 and 2014.

The Conditional joined the yard at the start of the season and has already proved a brilliant buy in a somewhat unconventional novice chasing campaign. He won a handicap at Cheltenham in October and finished second in the Ladbrokes Trophy.

"It's just unbelievable," said Bridgwater. "When you buy these horses you think they might do okay, but a lot turn out to be no good. People spend about seven or eight times what we do, so this is just great.

"He's owned by a great bloke too. Peter's been in the game all his life and deserves a day like this. It's just been an amazing day. Brendan has given him a fantastic ride. I've always been lucky here as a jockey and a trainer, but I haven't had many bullets to fire."

He added: "We were considering going for the RSA as I'd half-fancied him for a place. I thought we'd get balloted out but we got in. We dare to dream now. We bought him as a long-term Grand National horse. We're still learning with him but we'll see."

The Giant Bolster's two owners, Simon Hunt and Gary Lambton, were both enjoying the celebrations. Hunt said: "This is so special, David deserved this. It's been an unbelievable day."

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