Elliott has to wait but comes good in Festival finale

Gordon Elliott had to wait until the final race of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival to get a win on the board, but Wodhooh ensured he would not go home empty-handed with a clear-cut verdict in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

It has been a trying week for the Cullentra handler, with a string of placed efforts and notable near-misses with The Yellow Clay in Wednesday’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle, Stellar Story in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and Teahupoo, whose Stayers’ Hurdle defence was scuppered by Bob Olinger on Thursday.

The race named in honour of former trainer Pipe holds a special place in Elliott’s heart as he rode for Pond House during his spell in the saddle and counts him as a key mentor in his training career.

Having won the contest three times previously, with Champagne Classic (2017), Blow By Blow (2018) and Better Days Ahead (2024), Elliott fielded five contenders this time around, with the Danny Gilligan-ridden Wodhooh sent off a 9-2 chance.

With Gilligan also seeking a repeat having partnered Better Days Ahead, he rode a confident race and Wodhooh could be called the winner from some way out, having plenty in reserve to see off the late charge of Act Of Authority by four and a quarter lengths.

Elliott – twice previously champion trainer at the showpiece meeting – was notably emotional following the victory, acknowledging a “really tough week” in the Cotswolds.

“I think we’ve had five or six (second places) to be honest. They’ve been running well, but it’s heartbreaking for all my staff and my owners,” Elliott told Racing TV.

“I’m a strong man and I love training horses for the owners I have and the staff I have.

“She’s owned by a lot of good friends of mine and there’ll be great celebrations in the ring. I know a lot of them.

“This is special, we’ve had a really tough week, all the horses have run well.”

Elliott’s former assistant trainer Olly Murphy sent out the second and while he could have stomached defeat at the hands of his former assistant, he was thrilled to strike again in the Pipe race.

He added: “Olly Murphy was second and if I was beaten I wouldn’t have minded being beaten by him.

“To finish the week off like this, to win the Martin Pipe – he’s my hero.

“We’ve had a tough week, but I won’t lie down.”