Jockey returns from fracturing vertebra in a fall last month to clinch Cheltenham Stayers’ Hurdle victory
Sire Du Berlais delivered a shock result in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival this afternoon (16 March), winning at odds of 33/1.
Running at his sixth Cheltenham Festival, the 11-year-old adds this victory to his previous two Pertemps Final victories at the Festival, in 2019 and 2020.
Ridden by Mark Walsh, Sire Du Berlais is owned by JP McManus and trained by Gordon Elliott.
“This horse loves it here and he travelled really well through the race – he stuck his head down and galloped to the line,” explained Mark, who has only recently returned to the saddle after fracturing a vertebra in his neck in a fall at the Dublin Racing Festival in early February. “It was a rush to get back in time to ride here, but it’s thanks to the help I had from the people around me.”
This was a first victory in this race for Gordon Elliott, who also trains the second-placed 9/4 favourite Teahupoo.
Teahupoo was third past the post, but after a stewards’ enquiry following the race, he was promoted to second. The stewards ruled that Dashel Drasher, who was second past the post, caused interference to Teahupoo at the final hurdle when drifting left.
“He travelled really well but I just couldn’t get there,” said Teahupoo’s jockey Davy Russell. “He’s only six and he’ll be back here again in the future.”
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Dashel Drasher ran a blinder at 40/1 under Rex Dingle for trainer Jeremy Scott and owners Bridget Tully and Richard Lock, to finish third.
“I’m speechless,” said Jeremy, whose wife Camilla also bred Dashel Drasher. “What a brave, tough horse he’s been.”
Rex said: “He ran his heart out, but that’s Dashel Drasher for you.”
Flooring Porter, who won this race in 2021 and 2022, finished fourth after setting a strong pace throughout.
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Gemma is an experienced journalist, who was a member of H&H staff from 2014 to September 2025. She is passionate about all equestrian sports, including racing and point-to-pointing. She has enjoyed riding out for top trainers Nicky Henderson and Charlie Appleby and took part in a charity Flat race at Epsom in August 2018. Gemma’s has reported from numerous five-star events around Britain and Europe, as well as European championships.