Captain Marvel: how a modern master of Cheltenham and a genuine pioneer executed one of the shocks of the year

The Racing Post Annual 2025 is out now, with 208 colour pages packed with the best stories and stunning images. In this extract, editor Nick Pulford relives Captain Guinness's surprise win in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. To order the annual, click here or call 01933 304858.

Never be scared of one horse. Sticking to the old racing truism paid off spectacularly for Henry de Bromhead in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. El Fabiolo, at 2-9 the hottest favourite of the Cheltenham Festival for Willie Mullins, had only five rivals but De Bromhead made sure Captain Guinness was one of them. After all, you just never know . . .

"He could be there at a big price and maybe pick up the pieces if anything goes wrong,” was De Bromhead’s view heading towards the festival. Captain Guinness was there – as 17-2 third favourite – but to many eyes he seemed booked to play a minor role, as he had the previous year as the ten-length runner-up to Energumene. Yet you just never know . . .

The Champion Chase had acquired a recent habit of not going to script. Un De Sceaux at 4-6 in 2016, Douvan at 2-9 in 2017, Defi Du Seuil at 2-5 in 2020, Chacun Pour Soi at 8-13 in 2021, Shishkin at 5-6 in 2022. All odds-on, all beaten. Three of the five were trained by Mullins. Maybe it would happen again. You just never know . . .

Jumping is the name of the game. There’s another old racing truism. El Fabiolo’s style of jumping had been far from fabulous at times and was highlighted as a weakness by Nico de Boinville, who was due to ride Jonbon in the race until Nicky Henderson made mass withdrawals at the festival owing to concerns over the health of his string. “To be the best chaser in the country you have to be a phenomenal jumper and I don’t think El Fabiolo is a phenomenal jumper,” De Boinville said.

The game was up for El Fabiolo early in the Champion Chase. He got in low to the third fence, wasn’t great at the fourth and slithered on landing at the fifth, leaving Paul Townend with little option but to pull him up. “The second I saw him take off, I said, ‘He’s gone!’” Mullins said. “There was no point in Paul going on after that.” That made it six beaten odds-on shots in nine years.

Captain Guinness was there to pick up the pieces in a race lacking Jonbon, the season-absent Energumene and now the hot favourite. Perhaps, De Bromhead pondered aloud afterwards, his challenger had played a part in El Fabiolo’s downfall. “He absolutely winged the first few fences, and I just wondered, did he question the favourite a little bit? But I could be wrong,” he said. “And then the race completely opened up and it was incredible.”

In the saddle, Rachael Blackmore was recalculating her game plan for Captain Guinness. “I knew El Fabiolo was out of the equation but there was still quite a long way to go. It does change your brain a little bit, but you’re still just trying to ride from fence to fence,” she said. Her eyes were on Edwardstone, the free-going second favourite who now appeared to be her main rival. “The horse in front [Edwardstone] is such a good jumper, but mine’s a good jumper as well and I didn’t want him to have it too easy in front.”

Edwardstone had been headed by Captain Guinness when coming down at the second-last but Blackmore’s mount faced a fresh challenge up the run-in from Gentleman De Mee, the Mullins second string. Briefly, after the last, it seemed that Mullins could claim victory even without El Fabiolo but Captain Guinness plugged on bravely to take the prize by a length and a half.

Captain Guinness holds off the late challenge of Gentleman De MeeCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

“Unbelievable,” said a beaming Blackmore, having added the Champion Chase to her Gold Cup and two Champion Hurdles. “He travelled incredibly and jumped really well. The hill felt long today, but he held on and it’s incredible. I’m so pleased for his owner Declan Landy. He’s been knocking on the door in these big races.”

The knocking had grown louder when Captain Guinness was third in the 2021 Arkle and then second in the 2023 Champion Chase. Yet this latest season had been quieter in the lead-up to Cheltenham after he was pulled up at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting with a heart problem and then was a well-beaten third behind El Fabiolo on his return at the Dublin Racing Festival.

“He’s had a tricky season,” De Bromhead said. “When he ran at Christmas he had his atrial fibrillation. Anyway, all that was fine, he passed all his tests, and it’s great to see him back. We’ve always said he deserved to win a Grade 1.”

Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead with Captain Guinness in the winner's enclosureCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Captain Guinness was in perfect hands to get him spot on for the big day. He was a fourth Champion Chase winner for De Bromhead after Sizing Europe, Special Tiara and Put The Kettle On. On the trainer’s ability to peak horses at the right time, Blackmore said: “He’s incredible, and all of his team. It’s a pleasure to be riding them. That’s some race to win.”

De Bromhead was equally effusive about Blackmore’s qualities. “She’s such an incredible rider,” he said, “and whatever it is about Cheltenham, she’s amazing here as well. As good as she is everywhere else, she’s even better here.”

Having also struck with Slade Steel in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, De Bromhead stood on 23 festival winners at the end of another successful week. Only the phenomenal Mullins has bettered his tally at the past five festivals.

As one of the modern masters of Cheltenham, De Bromhead recognises that, even if the odds seem stacked against you, you have to be in it to win it. Because you just never know.

Also in the Racing Post Annual 2025

Here are three more short extracts . . .

Max power
The reality is that the Grand National is a very different race now, one that favours a high-class, unexposed type who can travel at a high cruising speed and stay. Jumping alacrity or seasons under the belt aren’t prerequisites for the modern incarnation of the race, and in I Am Maximus Willie Mullins possessed something pretty close to the model prototype.
Richard Forristal

High summer
Aidan O’Brien was soon out on the track his stable star had just conquered. “You’re a genius, an absolute genius,” shouted two racegoers. The recipient of their praise was taking slow, deep breaths, eventually puffing out his cheeks in a manner that told its own story. Then his phone rang.
Lee Mottershead

Blue planet
Through a quarter of an hour of questions, answers and translations between English and French, the piercing dark gaze of the winning jockey never changed. Like a golfer who finds a particular hole or course which fits his eye, Rossa Ryan had gone through the race and seen not just the possibility but an open invitation to be positive from a golden draw.
Scott Burton

PLUS
Galopin Des Champs Back-to-back Cheltenham Gold Cups
Next generation Closutton’s young rising stars
Goliath Giant leap in the King George at Ascot
Charyn Coming of age for Roger Varian's star
Kyprios Top stayer back at number one
Teahupoo Perfect season in staying hurdles

And many more in a packed 208 pages with stunning photographs

The Racing Post Annual 2025 is out now! This exciting review of the racing year has 208 colour pages packed with the best stories and is beautifully illustrated with stunning images. The perfect gift at £19.99. To order, click here or call 01933 304858