Lorcan Williams: 'I went to Cheltenham on Wednesday and I was watching the replay all the way on the train'

Lorcan Williams is still on cloud nine almost a week after winning the Champion Hurdle with Golden Ace and even spent his commute to Cheltenham on Wednesday watching replays of his biggest victory.

Williams, 25, took advantage of a dramatic contest on the opening day of the festival to steer the Jeremy Scott-trained mare to the most unlikely of victories over the likes of Constitution Hill and State Man, who both fell.

Constitution Hill went at the fifth, while last year’s winner State Man, who looked to have the race in the bag, added more drama when falling at the last.

Williams, for whom it was also a first Grade 1 victory, said on Sunday: "I went to Cheltenham on Wednesday and I was watching the replay all the way on the train, so I’ve watched it a fair few times now.

"It was a great day and I’m still reaping the rewards. We had a lot of luck, but take nothing away from Golden Ace. She's a great mare, she always turns up and runs her race and we were there to pick up the pieces."

Constitution Hill’s fall almost saw Golden Ace taken out of contention, and Williams thought his chance was gone.

"That had quite a lot of impact because it stopped our momentum in a crucial point of the race," he said. "We were climbing the hill when he came down and the others quickened, so they were getting away from us a little bit. At that point I'd have been happy to finish second, but you have to expect the unexpected."

Lorcan Williams can't believe his luck after winning the Champion Hurdle on Golden AceCredit: Sportsfile via Getty Images

It has been a mixed campaign for Williams, who missed the 2023 Cheltenham Festival due to an 18-day ban for breaching the whip rules.

He said: "Jeremy and I probably haven't had a great season, but since the new year the horses have started running well and Golden Ace has been waving the flag for us both.

"In this game everything can change in a day. I was sort of accepting it was just one of those seasons and I was just waiting for the new season to start, but after Tuesday it’s turned into my best campaign."

It’s the second successive year the rider has struck at the festival, having won the Mares’ Novices' Hurdle with Golden Ace 12 months ago.

"I'm pretty jammy, really, aren't I," he said. "I also won the Hunters’ Chase as a professional jockey [on Porlock Bay] during Covid, and now I’ve won probably the most dramatic Champion Hurdle."

Golden Ace was following up her success in the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle last month, and Williams added: "She's absolutely amazing. You wouldn't notice her at home – she's very easy and doesn't show anything. She's very relaxed in her work and in her day-to-day life. 

"Without her I don't know where I'd have ended up. She's kept me going for a long time."

Read these next:

'Race of the season' on the cards as Golden Ace could face Punchestown rematch with festival fallers  

Golden Ace capitalises on final flight fall of State Man to win dramatic Champion Hurdle after Constitution Hill crashes out 

'I’m delighted the gods have favoured us' - Jeremy Scott in dreamland after Golden Ace capitalises on Champion Hurdle havoc 

Lorcan Williams: from teenage try scoring sensation to Champion Hurdle-winning jockey 

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