Arriving back at Cheltenham, the Golden Ace continued to impress with victory
Jeremy Scott's Golden Ace triumphed easily in her comeback to Cheltenham, maintaining her impressive record.
The six-year-old, who is a daughter of Golden Horn, has had an outstanding season, fulfilling the promise she displayed the previous season when she finished second in the Grade Two mares' bumper at Aintree.
The mare, who had already won two novice hurdles at Taunton earlier in the year, was entered in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, where she was ridden by Lorcan Williams as usual.
She did not meet her Aintree victor Dysart Enos, but she did run with two highly regarded mares, Brighterdaysahead by Gordon Elliott and Jade De Grugy by Willie Mullins.
But neither could match Golden Ace's performance and on a day to remember for Scott and the Holworthy Farm crew, she won by a length and three-quarters.
Her next target was the Grade One Top Novices' Hurdle at the Grand National meeting at Aintree, but she was forced to withdraw due to a bruised foot, ruining her plans.
The Listed Changing Young Lives At Jamie’s Farm Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham was the alternative outing where she lined up as the 4–9 favourite on a step up to 2.5 miles thanks to her past successes.
“She was very good, there were a couple of sketchy jumps but she always had everything covered,” said Scott. Once the Aintree plan fell through this is what we were thinking of for her. Lorcan said that if anything she’d probably be happier on slightly softer ground, so we’ve learnt that, but she came up the hill very well. We’ll aim at the two-and-a-half-mile race (Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle) here next year if we’re lucky enough to be in that position.”
Regarding the Elliott and Mullins mares' subsequent performance, Scott said: “They’ve looked very, very impressive and it was just so frustrating not being able to go to Aintree, but that’s just horses I’m afraid! It’s been a very, very good season for her. She’s been great.”