The Betbright Cup |
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Tuesday 15th - Friday 18th March 2016 |
BRITAIN AND IRELAND DRAW IN BETBRIGHT CUP
GREAT BRITAIN - 14
IRELAND - 14
The BetBright Cup, celebrating the intense competition between Great Britain and Ireland at The Festival, finishes with a draw as both countries have 14 winners to their credit at the end of four fantastic days' racing.
Robert "Choc" Thornton, who captained the British team, said with a smile: "We've retained the BetBright Cup - it's a draw, but just like happens with the Ashes, the BetBright Cup stays in Britain!
"The highlight was Sprinter Sacre's BetWay Queen Mother Champion Chase win - that was a real 'wow' moment - and Thistlecrack in the Ryanair World Hurdle. And Altior beating Min in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle meant the Brits got off to a flying start.
"The Irish fought back, but a draw is a great result."
Hector Ó hEochagáin, captain of the Irish team, said: " We've come over here and we've had a magnificent week. Choc has scraped a draw by the skin of his teeth, and I have no complaints - we've taken the lion's share of the big championship races, we've taken the big prize-money of the week and Choc has just skinned a draw. It's probably the best result.
"Choc's happy because he didn't want to be the only losing British captain of the BetBright Cup!"
Irish-trained successes at The Festival
2015 -13 (27 races)
2014 -12 (27 races)
2013 -14 (27 races)
2012 -5 (27 races)
2011 -13 (27 races)
2010 -7 (26 races)
2009 -9 (26 races)
2008 -7 (25 races)
2007 -5 (24 races)
2006 -10 (24 races)
2005 -9 (24 races)
2004 -4 (20 races)
2003 -6 (20 races)
2002 -5 (20 races)
2001 -cancelled
2000 -3 (20 races)
1999 -5 (20 races)
1998 -4 (20 races)
1997 -3 (20 races)
1996 -7 (20 races)
1995 -4 (20 races)
1994 -3 (20 races)
1993 -6 (20 races)
1992 -2 (19 races)
1991 -2 (18 races)
1990 -2 (18 races)
1989 -0 (18 races)
1988 -1 (18 races)
1987 -1 (18 races)
1986 -4 (18 races)
1985 -2 (18 races)
1984 -4 (18 races)
1983 -5 (18 races)
1982 -6 (18 races)
1981 -3 (18 races)
1980 -4 (18 races)
1979 -5 (18 races)
1978 -6 (12 races**)
1977 -7 (18 races)
1976 -5 (18 races)
1975 -5 (13 races***)
* Prior to The Festival's extension to four days in 2005, the previous record was eight wins in 1958 (when 18 races were run).
** In 1978, the third day of The Festival was abandoned due to snow. The Triumph Hurdle and Gold Cup were subsequently run in April.
*** In 1975, waterlogging caused several races to be lost.
