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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![Horses from Willie Mullins stable make their way back from the gallops prior to the start of Ladies Day during the Cheltenham Festival]()
Image: Willie Mullins' string return from their morning gallop - would day two belong to them? -
![Racquel Campbell from Birmingham and Debbie Grogan from Sheffield on Ladies Day]()
Image: Racquel Campbell from Birmingham and Debbie Grogan from Sheffield on Ladies Day -
![Victoria Pendleton on Ladies Day during the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.]()
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 -
![Windsor Park ridden by Davy Russell on their way to victory in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle]()
Image: Windsor Park, ridden by Davy Russell, lands the opening race -
![CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Windsor Park ridden by Davy Russell jumps a fence alongside Warrantor ridden by Gavin Sheehan and Beast of Burden ridden b]()
Image: Russell (yellow cap) had his mount prominent throughout and won by almost four lengths -
![The Duchess of Cornwall (centre) watches the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle with son Tom Parker-Bowles (left)]()
Image: The Duchess of Cornwall watches the Neptune alongside her son, Tom -
![Don Poli ridden by Bryan Cooper races clear to win the RSA Chase on Ladies Day during the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.]()
Image: They didn't see which way 13/8 favourite Don Poli went in the RSA Chase -
![Don Poli ridden by Bryan Cooper (left) races clear of the field before going on to win in the RSA Chase on Ladies Day during the Cheltenham Festival at Che]()
Image: Don Poli powers clear of Southfield Theatre to hand Willie Mullins a fifth winner of the Festival -
![CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Bryan J. Cooper celebrates on Don Poli after they win the RSA Chase during Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival at Chelte]()
Image: Bryan Cooper celebrates an emotional win, one year on from suffering a career-threatening injury -
![Manchester United's Rafael Da Silva (front left), Daley Blind (second from right) and Ashley Young (far left) watch the RSA Chase]()
Image: Rafael Da Silva (front left), Daley Blind (second from right) and Ashley Young (far left) of Manchester United -
![Zabana ridden by Robert Colgan (right) leads the field in the early stages of the Coral Cup on Ladies Day during the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Race]()
Image: Zabana (right) made most of the running in the Coral Cup... -
![Eventual winner Aux Ptits Soins ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies (left) and Zabana ridden by Robert Colgan (right) race together in the Coral Cup on Ladies Day]()
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 ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies (right) races clear of second placed Somersby ridden by Brian Hughes and goes on to win the Betway Queen Mothe]()
Image: Dodging Bullets beat Somersby to win the feature Champion Chase... -
![Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies celebrates on board Dodging Bullets after winning the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase on Ladies Day during the Cheltenham Fest]()
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 -
![Davy Russell riding Rivage D'Or clears the last to win the Glenfarclas Handicap Steeple Chase]()
Image: Davy Russell lands his second winner of the day aboard Rivage D'Or -
![Rivage D'Or ridden by Davy Russell (right) jumps clear and goes on to win the Glenfarclas Handicap Chase]()
Image: Any Currency (noseband) finishes second in the race having also done so in 2014 -
![Winning owner Michael O'Leary and his wife Anita Farrell celebrate]()
Image: Winning owner Michael O'Leary and his wife Anita Farrell celebrate -
![Qualando ridden by Nick Scholfield (centre) jumps clear to go on to win the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle]()
Image: Qualando continues a dream day for Nicholls by winning the Fred Winter -
![CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Qualando ridden by Nick Scholfield clears the last fence on their way to victory in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurd]()
Image: The horse jumped the last in front and held off the challengers -
![Trainer Paul Nicholls is all smiles on Ladies Day during the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse.]()
Image: Nicholls is understandably all smiles after a day two treble -
![CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 11: Tom Scudamore riding Moon Racer celebrates winning the Weatherby's Champion Bumper Open Natuonal Hunt Flat Race during da]()
Image: Tom Scudamore celebrates as he crosses the line in front on Moon Racer to win the Champion Bumper -
![Tom Scudamore celebrates his victory on Moon Racer in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper on Ladies Day during the Cheltenham Festival]()
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."
