Doddiethegreat becomes another poignant Cheltenham winner

The memory of Doddie Weir was honoured at the Cheltenham Festival, as Brian Hughes produced Doddiethegreat to perfection to lead home a Nicky Henderson one-two in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle.

Running in the colours of Kenny Alexander, the nine-year-old is named after the former Scotland rugby union great, who died of motor neurone disease in November 2022, with prize-money earned throughout Doddiethegreat’s career donated to the foundation set up by Weir to raise funds and aid research into MND.

Second at Haydock in his previous start, Doddiethegreat was sent off at 25-1 in the hands of Hughes – picking up a chance spare ride for Henderson – and was always catching the eye as he eased into contention on the second circuit.

At the business end, it was stablemate and 11-2 favourite Jeriko Du Reponet that proved the biggest danger but Doddiethegreat was not to be denied as the result represented not only a turnaround in the fortunes for Henderson, in a week Jonbon and Constitution Hill have suffered reversals, but also a first winner at the Festival for Hughes since Mister Whitaker in 2018.

Henderson said: “We all like Doddie; he’s named after Doddie Weir and it all goes to the foundation.

“He got the most horrible overreach and spent time up in Ayr. It didn’t look like he would get back to a racecourse, but thankfully he did.”

Regarding his one-two, the trainer added: “Both of their chasing careers were cut short but both travelled into the race beautifully today. I would like Jeriko to try chasing again.”

Hughes commented: “Opportunities for me at the Festival have been few and far between but it was lovely to get the chance to ride this horse at Haydock, where he ran really well.

“He has his quirks and has been called a monkey but I think that’s harsh, and going over three miles today, he jumped and travelled.

“I think the lack of opportunities for me is because the good horses are not in the main housed in the stables I’m riding for, but I’m not done yet.”