'We'll paint Cheltenham red' - Irish syndicate plans big celebration after pulling off 28-1 coup with first-time winner in opener

Irish plots at Cheltenham are not confined to the festival in March and Lagoon Nebula executed a plan that had long been in the making to send her 11-strong syndicate into dreamland.

The Stay Wut Her Jonny Syndicate vowed to “paint Cheltenham red” after the filly's 28-1 success in the 2m1f juvenile handicap hurdle under Sean O’Keeffe.

The victory was the brainchild of County Kildare-based trainer Andrew Kinirons, who turned the five-time Flat maiden into a Cheltenham-winning hurdler and recorded his breakthrough at the home of jump racing.

The syndicate is run by the trainer’s 65-year-old father Eddie Kinirons, who said: “Four of us had a horse last year and we had some 'craic' so we wanted another. Andrew picked this horse out, we paid €6,000 and the plan was this race.

“We just can’t believe it, we’re over the moon about the whole thing. We’ve won a few quid, we’re in Cheltenham on Thursday night and we’ll paint it red and then we’re home in the morning. This is brilliant, absolutely incredible. We’ve got people here from the ages of 25 to 65 and everyone’s had such fun.”

Nicholls' Jubilee gift

Jubilee Alpha bounced back from her disappointing effort at the Cheltenham Festival to strike in the Listed 2m4½f mares’ novice hurdle.

Paul Nicholls called her his best chance of a festival winner and she was sent off 15-2 for the Mares’ Novices' Hurdle but could finish only eighth.

Here she was back to her best in a race won by subsequent Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace 12 months ago and put up a smart display under Harry Cobden.

Jubilee Alpha (right) bounces back to form in the mares' novice hurdleCredit: JOHN GROSSICK

Nicholls, celebrating his 63rd birthday, said: “That was good, she’s a nice mare. Our mares didn’t look great around Cheltenham time but they’ve come forward now. She did well there as she was giving them all weight and had a bit to prove. You can’t rule a horse out on one run, it just didn’t happen for her.

“Seeing her get two and a half miles on better ground opens up a few doors for us. She won’t go chasing next season but she’s exciting going forward.”

Patience pays off

Leading syndicate manager Nick Brown enjoyed his first Cheltenham winner in 25 years when Greyval landed the 2m4½f mares’ handicap hurdle. The six-year-old followed up a Chepstow success to give Fergal O’Brien his second victory at the April meeting.

O’Brien said: “It doesn’t matter when it is, it’s just special to give someone their first Cheltenham winner. It’s an amazing place.

“Greyval has been great. She was a good juvenile and then we lost her a bit last season. She’s very fast at home but isn’t the quickest on the track. I’ve forgiven Johnny Burke for the two times she was beaten with him on board at Stratford this season.”

Debut winner

There was another Cheltenham first as Lambourn trainer Toby Bulgin enjoyed his breakthrough at the track when Poetisa took the 2m1f mares’ bumper on her debut.

Bumper crowd

Cheltenham enjoyed its highest attendance for this day since the Covid-19 pandemic with 7,742 on course.

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