The final race on Thursday provided the Williams family with a welcome winner as Ask Brewster won the Kim Muir. The result was Cath Williams’ first winner as the license holder, after Evan Williams was found guilty of assault.
The yard had already basked in the glory of a second-placed effort in the Champion Chase with Libberty Hunter.
“We’ve had two runners this week, Liberty Hunter in the Champion Chase and now this one’s won,” Williams told the Racing Post. “He wants good ground and we were worried about the rain, but this is absolutely huge for us.”
The son of Ask rattled off a hat-trick of chase victories. The final leg of that came on seasonal debut at Chepstow. He couldn’t land a blow at Sandown, but bounced right back to form in the Kim Muir. He was well-positioned the fore throughout, fending off Road To Home up the run-in. It ensured Willie Mullins still yet to land a handicap chase at the festival.
“It’s been an emotional week” – Cath Williams
Williams praised the jockey Shane Cotter, before touching upon what’s been a tough week for the family: “There aren’t many amateurs who could do the weight; we struggled to find one but Shane could. And he was very good” William’s noted. “I’m so delighted. It’s been an emotional week, but it is what it is and we’ll deal with it. We were confident with the horse coming into it because we knew he was in good order.”
“I’ve dreamt of this since I was seven or eight” – Shane Cotter
Speaking via the Irish Examiner, 19-year-old Shane Cotter spoke about the adulation of riding a Cheltenham Festival winner. “It was unbelievable. As a child watching it on the telly you can only dream of being here, let alone a winner. I’m lost for words; I don’t know what to say. I can’t thank Evan Williams enough. All his team have produced the horse beautifully for today, and he jumped and travelled everywhere.
“I watched a few replays, and any time he was in front he seemed to love it and winged his fences; I jumped him out nice and handy and he ran away nearly to the first. I knew it was his day then. He was very game when Patrick came to us.”
Cotter concluded “I’ve dreamt of this since I was seven or eight. I ride out for Denis Murphy six days a week and he’s very good to me. I’ve ridden 20-odd winners in point-to-points and I’ve only one winner on the track at home, so hopefully after this people might start using me.”
“This is my very first ride in England — it’s unbelievable. All my family are here — everyone’s here!”