Cork jockey Jody Townend lands first Cheltenham winner on Bambino Fever in the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper

Michael O’Sullivan’s shadow has loomed large over Cheltenham this week and the two horses he rode to victory in 2023 on the opening day both won here on Wednesday afternoon. 

Marine Nationale took the days featured race and Jazzy Matty followed up his 2024 victory with a poignant success for trainer Cian Collins in the Grand Annual.

Lisgoold jockey Jody Townend kept the best wine until last from a Cork perspective as she landed the concluding Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper on Bambino Fever on Day Two at Cheltenham. 

Formerly trained by Nicky Stokes she'd won a four-runner point-to-point at Stowlin last year May. 

The daughter of Jukebox Jury was well supported today backed from 7/1 into 4/1 and emerged as the best backed of the Closutton brigade.

Redemption Day gave Jody Townend her first Grade One victory last April in Punchestown’s Champion Bumper. 

Townend again exuded confidence as she picked off Heads up to win a shade readily.

Day two saw Jody's brother Paul Townend aboard short priced favourites in the opening races. 

Townend recorded a double yesterday and was very unlucky in the Champion Hurdle. 

He was out of luck in the opener when the favourite Final Demand had to settle for third place behind The New Lion who gave owner JP McManus an 80th Festival victory. 

Final Demand flattered turning in but ultimately lacked the pace to trouble the front two. 

Townend was aboard Ballyburn who went off the heavily backed 4/7 favourite in the Brown Advisory Novice Chase. 

Ballyburn made a dreadful mistake at the seventh fence at the top of the hill on the first circuit and was struggling from that juncture. 

He eventually finished fifth, one place ahead of Joe and Marie Donnelly's Dancing City who made a bad mistake three out. 

Lecky Watson upstaged his better fancied stablemates to spring a 20/1 surprise under Sean O'Keeffe on a good day for Wexford jockeys.

Marine Nationale, who landed the 2023 Supreme Novices' Hurdle for the late Michael O'Sullivan provided another poignant moment at this year's festival by winning the Champion Chase this afternoon Wexford jockey Sean Flanagan was aboard today and Michael O’Sullivan wasn't far from his thoughts.

"All the jockeys in Ireland, the UK and in the world have been under a cloud for the last couple of weeks.” 

Flanagan was quick to point out the role Michael had in Marine Nationale’s journey.

"Michael is the man who made him what he is and he'll never be forgotten for that."

Doneraile jockey Darragh O’Keeffe was still bang in contention at the final fence on Quilixios as the race had developed into a match between him and Marine Nationale. 

There was to be another dramatic twist at the business end, at a Festival where drama has been the operative word.

The race was still very much in the balance when Quilixios fell at the final fence. 

This left Marine Nationale to come home clear by eighteen lengths. 

The runner-up Jonbon, the 5/6 favourite, lost his chance when he made a bad mistake at the fifth fence from home. 

The winner had won the 2023 Supreme Novice Hurdle under Michael O’Sullivan at the meeting. 

His owner/trainer Barry Connell believes he hasn't got the credit he deserves. 

He only had two runs last year over fences so he's been learning on the job. He'd given Michael O’Sullivan his first Grade One victory in the 2022 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse and he improved again to win.