Throwback Race For Friday - 19/02/21

Today, instead of looking back on races that take part this weekend we are going back into the vault to take a look at one of the most controversial races the Cheltenham festival has seen for sometime.

Back in 2019 Benie Des Dieux for Willie Mullins was one of the bankers of the festival heading into the event the most winning trainer at the festival.

Although not seeing her since her win in the race in 2018, many thought she could not get beat and at even money, was essentially printing money.

However, it was not to be and the race will go down in Cheltenham festival history for years to come with the mare, like her pst stablemate Annie Power, taking a dramatic fall at the last when clear of the rest of the field.

Benie Des Dieux was five lengths clear jumping the last and unfortunately jumped a shadow of the fence with the sun causing havoc and tumbling to the floor with Ruby Walsh distraught.

It is a race that left the racecourse in silent, with the first day of the meeting ruined for many punters and although it is not a memory some of us want to relive, we have today.