Double delight for Neil Mulholland at Cheltenham

Double Powerful extended his winning streak to six when taking the Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle on the opening day of Cheltenham’s November meeting.

Neil Mulholland’s chestnut got off the mark in March last year and has not looked back since, returning this season in October to land a Kelso event by eight lengths.

Two more victories followed at Worcester and Fontwell, by 24 and 10 lengths respectively, and as a result the gelding had to shoulder a 7lb penalty under Dylan Johnston at Cheltenham.

The burden proved no hindrance, however, and he powered up the hill to prevail by half a length from Young Lucy as the 3-1 favourite.

Mulholland said: “I had people texting me all morning asking if I fancied him. I mean, he’d won his last five and was favourite! I kept it polite all morning.

“Fergal’s horse had won his last five too and in this world you’ll always meet somebody bigger and better than you one day, but he just keeps improving and answering the questions.

“We could have gone to Southwell for a lesser race and carried a lot more weight, but we took a chance and we were hopeful. Thankfully he did what we wanted and it’s great for the owners and the yard.

“Long-term you could be thinking of the conditionals’ race (Martin Pipe), but there’s a few bridges to cross between now and then. At least he handled the track so we’ll see what the handicapper does to him after this.”

He went on: “We actually had Peltwell who won seven in a row, but if I was bothered about breaking my own record we wouldn’t have come here we’d have gone to Southwell!

“I can assure you I’d rather be here than trying to beat my own record, though.”