Fairytale comeback for Ryan Mania as 'warrior' Vintage Clouds rolls back years

Ryan Mania could hardly believe his luck after riding his first festival winner in the Ultima just 17 months after returning to the saddle.

The jockey won the 2013 Grand National aboard 66-1 shot Auroras Encore but struggled with his weight and fell out of love with the sport before walking away the following year at the age of 25.

Yet the allure of race-riding proved far too hard to resist and he came out of retirement in October 2019 and started to rebuild. Watching Vintage Clouds jump seamlessly from fence to fence, it is perhaps easy to understand why he was unable to stay away.

"After five years out, I felt lucky to get rides at Cheltenham, let alone ride a winner," said Mania, whose landmark success had not yet sunk in when he spoke to the media shortly after the race.

Ryan Mania: 'It's been a hard road but I'm over the moon'Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I was in a dark place 18 months after winning the Grand National and walked away from the sport I love but I was enticed back with unfinished business. It's been a long road but I'm over the moon."

Few horses had more unfinished business heading to the festival than Vintage Clouds, who was contesting the Ultima for the fifth time. After placing in 2018 and 2019, this was his day in the sun.

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The market may not have been able to forgive his eighth-placed finish last season but his doting connections were sure the 28-1 shot could show his true colours and he did just that, beating Happygolucky by five and half lengths to give owner Trevor Hemmings his 12th festival win.

"He's been a stalwart for the yard and loved it the whole way," Mania added. "The cheekpieces helped to sharpen up his jumping and he was slick. We all thought he'd have a good each-way chance.

"He's a proper old warrior so we're delighted with that. You never want your first winner to come under these circumstances without crowds but it doesn't matter – this has still been a memorable day."

It was also a memorable day for Sue Smith, who scored at the festival for the first time since Mister McGoldrick won the 2008 Plate.

Vintage Clouds (right) fends off Happygolucky jumping the last to finally claim Cheltenham Festival gloryCredit: Michael Steele

"It was a superb round of jumping," said Smith. "The old lad loves it around Cheltenham and everything seemed to be in his favour. He's improved all the time after a wind op and we were happy with him.

"He's a great jumper and has been very consistent for us over the years. He's run very well in the race and just got beaten there two years ago but he's an absolute star for us. He deserved every bit of that success today."

The 11-year-old may have broken his festival hoodoo but there are still big targets on the horizon and Smith confirmed he will be entered in next month's Scottish National at Ayr.

Big win for the north

It is not just the bookmakers who were celebrating the 28-1 victory of Vintage Clouds in the Ultima Handicap Chase for Sue and Harvey Smith.

The game success of Trevor Hemmings' rejuvenated 11-year-old was just the boost that northern jumping needed after a barren few years at the sport's biggest meeting.

No horse from his part of the country had won at the festival since Hawk High took the Fred Winter in the same colours in 2014 for Tim Easterby, whose father Peter was part of the region’s virtual domination of the meeting in the era of Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon and Little Owl.

Hawk High (near side): 2014 Fred Winter winner was the last northern triumph at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: John Grossick

Soon after that Forgive ‘n Forget, Righthand Man and Earls Brig swept the places in the Gold Cup yet it is now 28 years since the last northern triumph in that race – courtesy of Jodami – and 14 years since the north's last place, with Turpin Green.

Last season 100-1 shot Rayna’s World was the only runner from the north to make the first three in any of the 28 races, coming from behind to grab third in the last 75 yards of the mares’ novice hurdle and prevent a repeat of the total blank endured in 2015.

Nor were the four festivals in between huge success stories, with Sam Spinner’s second in the 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle and a clean sweep of the places in the Ultima the same year rare highlights.

But the ultra-consistent Aye Right was third for Harriet Graham behind Vintage Clouds on Tuesday and looks an obvious Scottish Grand National candidate – perhaps the good days are on the way back again.
David Carr

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