3 minute read
Stellar Story provided Gordon Elliott with his second winner of the week when getting up in the dying strides to land the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham on Friday.
The seven-year-old son of Shantou made a successful hurdling debut at Navan in November before finishing fourth to Dancing City in Grade 1 company at Leopardstown in February.
Settled in midfield under Sam Ewing, the Gordon Elliott-trained contender looked to have plenty to do when The Jukebox Man kicked clear for home in his bid to give trainer Ben Pauling and owner Harry Redknapp a Festival double for the week.
However, as the winning line fast approached, it quickly became apparent this race wasn't over. Connections of The Jukebox Man would have been praying for the winning line to come as Stellar Story inched closer with every stride, but it would be the Giggingstown Stud team who would celebrate as Stellar Story stayed on strongly in the closing stages to prevail by a neck.
"Absolutely brilliant. He is a horse who jumps very well, he loved that ground today and he battled very hard for me," said Sam Ewing, who was enjoying a first success at the Cheltenham Festival.
He added: "He was brilliant at the last as well, when I needed him. I can't believe it, it's brilliant."
"The way the week was going, you think it's never going to happen, and I couldn't wait to go home. It's unbelievable.
"Fair play to the horse, he stuck his head out, he tried hard the whole way to the line. He did everything right the whole way around. It's brilliant for everybody, and for Eliece who rides him every day."
Gordon Elliott enjoyed Cheltenham success at the top level when Teahupoo landed the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle yesterday and seemingly looks forward to a chasing career with the son of Shantou.
He said: We didn't think he was a 33-1 chance to be honest, but we only made the call at ten to ten on Wednesday to run him. He was going to go to Aintree, but another horse had a niggle, and I couldn't run him.
"He's a quality horse. He's gorgeous and a chaser for next season."