Cheltenham Festival: Don Poli storms to RSA Chase success
Wednesday 11 March 2015 15:15, UK
Don Poli secured back-to-back Cheltenham Festival victories by storming up the hill to claim the RSA Chase.
Last year's winner of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle has impressed in two chases so far and made it three in style, providing Willie Mullins with a fifth winner in nine races so far this week.
The six-year-old, ridden this time by Gigginstown Stud retained rider Bryan Cooper, is now among the favourites for next year's Gold Cup after a display showing plenty of stamina.
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Image: Willie Mullins' string return from their morning gallop - would day two belong to them? -
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Image: Racquel Campbell from Birmingham and Debbie Grogan from Sheffield on Ladies Day -
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Image: Victoria Pendleton: Could she return to ride next year? -
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Image: Soccer Saturday pundit Paul Merson enjoys a well-earned break -
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Image: Windsor Park, ridden by Davy Russell, lands the opening race -
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Image: Russell (yellow cap) had his mount prominent throughout and won by almost four lengths -
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Image: The Duchess of Cornwall watches the Neptune alongside her son, Tom -
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Image: They didn't see which way 13/8 favourite Don Poli went in the RSA Chase -
![Don Poli powers clear of Southfield Theatre to hand Willie Mullins a fifth winner of the Festival]()
Image: Don Poli powers clear of Southfield Theatre to hand Willie Mullins a fifth winner of the Festival -
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Image: Bryan Cooper celebrates an emotional win, one year on from suffering a career-threatening injury -
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Image: Rafael Da Silva (front left), Daley Blind (second from right) and Ashley Young (far left) of Manchester United -
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Image: Zabana (right) made most of the running in the Coral Cup... -
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Image: ...only to be reeled in late on by the well-regarded Aux Ptit Soins -
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Image: Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies celebrates on Aux Ptits Soins -
![Dodging Bullets beat Somersby to win the feature Champion Chase...]()
Image: Dodging Bullets beat Somersby to win the feature Champion Chase... -
![...a result which meant a double for Twiston-Davies and trainer Paul Nicholls]()
Image: ...a result which meant a double for Twiston-Davies and trainer Paul Nicholls -
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Image: Breeder Frankie Dettori (second right) celebrates with winning connections -
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Image: Davy Russell lands his second winner of the day aboard Rivage D'Or -
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Image: Any Currency (noseband) finishes second in the race having also done so in 2014 -
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Image: Winning owner Michael O'Leary and his wife Anita Farrell celebrate -
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Image: Qualando continues a dream day for Nicholls by winning the Fred Winter -
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Image: The horse jumped the last in front and held off the challengers -
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Image: Nicholls is understandably all smiles after a day two treble -
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Image: Tom Scudamore celebrates as he crosses the line in front on Moon Racer to win the Champion Bumper -
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Image: Modus (right) and Wait For Me (blue) in vain pursuit of Moon Racer
He appeared to be in trouble for a while down the back straight as King's Palace set a decent pace, but the Martin Pipe runner was not helped by a couple of bad mistakes.
By the time the field was coming down the hill, Don Poli was back on the bridle with Cooper's main danger coming from Southfield Theatre and stable companion Adriana Des Mottes.
For a while it appeared Ruby Walsh would come out on top on the Mullins second string, but the mare fell in a hole between the last two, just as Don Poli was being kicked clear.
He continued to increase his lead on the run to the line and easily justified 13/8 favouritism ahead of 13/2 shot Southfield Theatre and Wounded Warrior (12/1) also running in the burgundy colours of Gigginstown.
Cooper, who suffered an awful injury a year ago to the day, said: "To get a winner this early (in the meeting) is great. I've been supported by great people.
"Willie's done a serious job with this horse. He could be very special."
Gigginstown supremo Michael O'Leary said: "He always seemed quite comfortable, if anything Bryan had to wake him up.
"It's another outstanding training performance by Willie Mullins - the man's a genius.
"I have a very good jockey and a great trainer. It's great not to have to wait until Friday for a winner."
Asked whether he could be a Gold Cup horse next year, O'Leary added: "I'll enjoy today, there's no point planning for next year - that will take care of itself."
Mullins, who had four winners with Douvan, Faugheen, Glens Melody and Un De Sceaux on Tuesday, said: "It was special. It looked like he was idling the whole way up the straight, ears pricked.
"It looked like he'd have won the four-mile chase after all! If that's the best in Ireland and over in England, you'd have to say that (he could be a future Gold Cup horse).
"We're a bit numb. The week has gone way above our expectations.
"We'll probably get him ready for Punchestown and there's also Auteuil in the spring. I imagine the route we will travel now is for next year's Gold Cup."
Connections of Wounded Warrior were satisfied by his third-placed finish.
Jockey Paul Carberry said: "He picked up the first time when the pace quickened, but when the first few quickened again, he couldn't quite go with them. He could be an ideal Irish National type."
Trainer Noel Meade said: "You never know how much this will take out of them, but he might go to Punchestown or the Irish National.
"We've always liked him, and he should have been in the four-miler on Tuesday, really. He's only six and can only improve."
Paul Nicholls said of Southfield Theatre: "He cut himself at the top of the hill - quite a nasty, superficial injury which will need stitching, but he'll be OK.
"As long as he's all right for next year, that's all that matters."
