Herefordshire connections find Cheltenham Festival tough

Royale Pigaille, from the Kings Caple yard of Venetia Williams, enjoyed the rain softened conditions and he ran his customary solid race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup but lacked a change of pace over the final two fences, finishing seventh behind the impressive Irish winner Galopin De Champs.

Royale Pigaille (pink silks) finished seventh in the Cheltenham Gold Cup for Herefordshire trainer Venetia Williams. Picture: Phil Blagg Photography (Image: Phil Blagg Photography)

Jockey Charlie Deutsch said: “I’m really pleased with him, he’s run a solid race as usual and we can ask no more as he’s done his best”.

Hi stable are now looking to running the nine-year-old in the Grand National at Aintree next month for which the marathon trip of four-and-a-half miles will be right up his street.

Deutsch and Williams teamed up later on the final day of the Festival to take third place with 33/1 shot Pink Legend in the two-and-a-half-mile Mares Chase, following their second place in the same race last season.

Prominent throughout the race Pink Legend was headed by the Irish duo of Impervious and Allegorie de Vassy at the second last fence, but she battled on strongly to finish behind the front two.

Herefordshire trainer Venetia Williams talks to jockey Charlie Deutsch after the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase. Picture: Phil Blagg Photography (Image: Phil Blagg)

The hopes of local Ledbury owner Clive Hitchings with his Secret Investor in the Foxhunters Chase got no further than the first fence when his horse took a crashing fall, giving jockey Natalie Parker no chance of staying in place, with the race eventually going to the welsh point to pointer Premier Magic ridden by Bradley Gibbs at 66/1.

Much Marcle trainer Tom Lacey entered two in the County Hurdle with Glory And Fortune and Luttrell Lad.

Glory and Fortune (purple and black silks) competing in the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle. Picture: Phil Blagg Photography (Image: Phil Blagg Photography)

It was the 150/1 chance Luttrell Lad who took stable honours as he finished a creditable eighth in the competitive hurdle with Glory And Fortune fading after the second last flight.