By Dan Walsh
Rob James is the latest Wexford jockey to ride a winner at the Cheltenham Festival this week when taking the hunters’ chase on Wonderwalk (28/1) for Tipperary trainer Sam Curling this afternoon.
“I was probably going too well and got there a bit too soon, but look, we held on. The line came in time, thank God. It’s the biggest race, it’s the one, as an amateur, you always want to win, to get your name on it. It’s absolutely brilliant,” said Rob, who is joint-National Point-to-Point Champion Rider sharing with Barry O’Neill.
From Tomona, Killanne, Rob James has ridden 372 point-to-point winners, currently he is leading the national riders’ table with 27 wins, this was his second Cheltenham Festival success, the first being Milan Native in the 2020 Kim Muir Chase. He also won the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in 2022 on My Wings.
Third behind James was Willitgoahead now trained by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jamie Scallan, Tomhaggard. Willitgoahead was a three times winner for Ballindaggin handler Sean Doyle with Scallan up including success at Fairwood, Tinahely, last November.
Wexford jockeys Sean Flanagan, Sean O’Keeffe, Barry Stone and Rob James enjoyed festival success. While Paul Nolan, Toberona Stables, Enniscorthy, saddled Daily Present to victory on Thursday.
WexfordLocal.com 