The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase provided one of the most compelling contests on Ladies’ Day at the Cheltenham Festival as Kitzbuhel dug deep to deny his stable companion Final Demand in a stirring finish up the famous hill.
Trained by Willie Mullins, Kitzbuhel made virtually every yard of the running before holding off the powerful late challenge of Final Demand to score by three-quarters of a length in the Grade One contest. It completed a remarkable double on the afternoon for the Mullins yard and showcased the horse’s resilience under pressure.
From the outset, Kitzbuhel adopted bold tactics, jumping fluently and setting a solid gallop. As the field approached the final stages, the race began to intensify, with Final Demand closing rapidly after the last fence. Yet the leader refused to yield, rallying strongly on the run-in to secure a determined victory in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
Trainer Willie Mullins praised the courage of the winner afterwards.
“That was a hell of a performance,” Mullins said. “To make all in a Brown Advisory and then fight off what is a top horse in Final Demand – I thought Final Demand would have had his measure coming up the hill – what a brave performance.
“Things didn’t go right for him the last day, but certainly he bounced back to form today.”
Winning rider Harry Cobden was equally enthusiastic about the effort, admitting the result marked a dramatic turnaround after earlier disappointment in the week.
“I thought No Drama This End was my best chance of the week and I had no luck at all,” Cobden explained. “Everywhere I went I got stopped, I was always too far back and could never win from the second hurdle. It’s funny how 40 minutes changes your life.
“He is braver than I am, this little chap. Thank you to the owners and Willie Mullins for putting me on him. He’s a phenomenal horse and I’m delighted to be on board.
“He was brilliant today, very brave. He was lugging right the whole way and that was why I kept him down the middle. Everywhere I asked him, he delivered. Credit to the horse – he is very, very tough.”
Final Demand, ridden by Paul Townend, lost little in defeat after running a strong race to finish second.
“He felt more like himself today,” Townend said. “His jumping was much better and he carried me everywhere. I still thought I’d win when I jumped the last and even halfway up the run-in I thought so. They are two very nice horses, but unfortunately I was on the wrong one today.”
Salver finished third after a creditable performance. Joint-trainer Josh Moore noted the horse’s preference for softer conditions but was encouraged by the effort.
“He jumped fantastic, ran fantastic and stayed all the way,” Moore said. “We’ll probably be looking at Graded races next season. A race like the Betfair Chase or the Charlie Hall might suit him if he gets slower ground.”
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Highlights on a Busy Ladies’ Day
The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase was one of several memorable moments during a vibrant Ladies’ Day at the Cheltenham Festival, where attendance rose significantly compared with the previous year.
A crowd of 46,317 racegoers enjoyed the spring sunshine, representing an increase of more than 4,000 from 2025. Organisers also reported a notable rise in female attendance, following a campaign encouraging more women to attend the meeting, supported by leading jockey Rachael Blackmore.
Willie Mullins further strengthened his position at the top of the trainers’ standings by taking his tally at the 2026 Festival to five winners. Victories from King Rasko Grey, Kitzbuhel and Il Etait Temps added to a successful day for Irish runners.
The ongoing Prestbury Cup competition between Britain and Ireland stood at 8–6 in Ireland’s favour by the end of the day, with Colin Keane also enjoying a memorable debut success at the meeting in the Champion Bumper aboard The Mourne Rambler.
Cheltenham Racecourse Chief Executive Guy Lavender welcomed the strong turnout and the growing engagement with Ladies’ Day.
“When we decided last year to bring Ladies Day back for 2026 we were determined to really engage with female racegoers,” Lavender said. “It’s been great to see attendance up by nearly 4,500 compared with last year, and the proportion of female racegoers rise from 25 percent to 33 percent.”
Earlier in the afternoon, the third race was marred by an unfortunate incident when HMS Seahorse sustained an injury after falling at the final hurdle.
A racecourse spokesperson confirmed the horse received immediate veterinary attention but could not be saved.
“Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections,” the spokesperson said.
Despite the sadness of that moment, the afternoon will be remembered for Kitzbuhel’s courageous display in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, a performance that drew admiration from the Cheltenham crowd and underlined the strength of the Mullins stable at this year’s Festival.
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