Irish stables continue to dominate at Cheltenham

The domination of Irish horses at the Cheltenham Festival in western England continued on Thursday, though not in the predicted manner.

On the seven-race program, six winners were from stables based in Ireland, notably the Grade 1 winners Allaho in the $368,164 Ryanair Chase at 2 5/8 miles and Flooring Porter in the $333,432 Stayers’ Hurdle at three miles.

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The day began with a surprise in the Grade 1 Marsh Novices’ Chase at 2 5/8 miles when Ireland’s Envoi Allen, the 1-5 favorite, fell at the fourth of 16 fences. Envoi Allen was considered Ireland’s banker, or most likely winner, of the four-day event.

The race was won by Chantry House, a 7-year-old who has won 6 of 8 starts, all for trainer Nicky Henderson of England. Chantry House, who paid $22.20 in American pools, was the last winner of the day for an English stable.

Allaho ($7.80) led throughout the Ryanair Chase to give jockey Rachael Blackmore a personal-best fourth Grade 1 win of the festival, which began on Tuesday and continues through Friday. Trained by Willie Mullins, Allaho pulled clear to win by 12 lengths over Fakir D’oudairies of Ireland.

Flooring Porter ($16.80) was a surprise winner with a surprise rider. Jockey Jonathan Moore took off the 6-year-old gelding after being involved in a spill at Naas Racecourse on Sunday. Replacement rider Danny Mullins guided Flooring Porter to a win by 3 1/4 lengths over the Irish-trained Sire Du Berlais, a 5-1 chance.

Paisley Park, the winner of the 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle, finished third as the 2-1 favorite, beaten five lengths.

Flooring Porter, trained by Gavin Cromwell, had won a Grade 1 hurdle at three miles at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland on Dec. 28.

Blackmore later won the Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on Telmesomethingirl, but was unlucky in the day’s final race when she was unseated from Plan of Attack in a handicap chase at 3 1/4 miles.

Irish-trained horses won five of the seven races on Tuesday and six of seven on Wednesday.

The four-day festival concludes on Friday with the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup at 3 1/4 miles. Al Boum Photo, who has won the Gold Cup the last two years, is favored. Of course, Al Boum Photo is trained in Ireland by Willie Mullins.