Former Scarlets Hopeful Lorcan Williams Earns Welsh Glory At Cheltenham

Former Welsh rugby hopeful Lorcan Williams admitted he was in dreamland after pulling off a massive shock by winning on Golden Ace on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Williams - who was involved in the Scarlets youth set-up as a promising teenager - celebrated the biggest moment of his racing career by triumphing in the Champion Hurdle, 

During his teenage years, Williams regularly played rugby against Carmarthen Quins fly-half Ben Jones, who also enjoyed success on Tuesday by securing victory in the National Hunt Chase aboard Haiti Couleurs, completing a memorable day for Welsh jockeys who switched from rugby.

"I picked what I loved," said Williams after his stunning 25-1 win in the Champion Hurdle. 

"That was before any of this has happened and I feel lucky to be a part of it and on the right side of circumstances. I'm shell-shocked this has happened.

"I played rugby at quite a high level but my love of horses was always massive. I was close [to going professional in rugby] at some points but my heart overruled my head."

The 25-year-old jockey had previously tasted Festival success with Porlock Bay in the 2021 Hunters' Chase before winning the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle last year aboard Golden Ace. 

"I always had this feeling I'd be part of a pub quiz one day and I guess that's come true," he joked. "This is another one as I'm the only professional to win the Hunters' Chase too."

Golden Ace’s victory came in extraordinary circumstances after both Constitution Hill and State Man crashed out of the Unibet Champion Hurdle. 

Constitution Hill’s race ended early, while State Man, who looked poised for a commanding win, fell at the final flight. 

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Brighterdaysahead, the other key contender, was hampered in the process and faded out of contention.

That left the door wide open for the Jeremy Scott-trained Golden Ace, who seized the moment and powered to victory, with 66-1 outsider Burdett Road finishing second.

Scott, overwhelmed by the outcome, described the surreal nature of the victory.

"I couldn’t even dream that would happen. I’ve just asked someone to thump me because I must be dreaming, it is just bizarre.

"It’s a tragedy those horses came down and it spoiled the race entirely. We looked booked for second if not third but then State Man came down so it is marred by that, but the gods have favoured us."

The decision to enter Golden Ace in the Champion Hurdle rather than the Mares' Hurdle proved inspired, though Scott admitted his owner, Ian Gosden, had been particularly keen to take a shot at the bigger prize.

"My owner was not at loggerheads (with me) because he pays the bills, but he was very keen to have a runner in the Champion Hurdle and we thought we could nick a bit of prize-money and we didn’t think we could beat Lossiemouth (in the Mares’ Hurdle) – it’s extraordinary how things work out."

Golden Ace now boasts an unbeaten record at Cheltenham, and Scott hinted at potential future plans inspired by dominant trainer Willie Mullins.

"She is unbeaten here so she obviously likes the track. It’s interesting Willie tends not to run his mares much before Christmas so maybe that might be the way to go next year.

"Winning the Champion Hurdle is brilliant for the whole team, it’s amazing."

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Fortunately, both Constitution Hill and State Man, along with their respective jockeys Nico de Boinville and Paul Townend, escaped unscathed from their falls.

For Williams, the size of his achievement was still sinking in as he reflected on a day he would never forget.

"Literally, I cannot believe it. She wasn’t travelling as well as I wanted in the latter part of the race; all I was thinking was that we could do with a bit further, then I thought ‘we’re staying on well for second’ and things started to happen.

"I hope they’re all right (fallers) – they’re iconic horses – but we were there to pick up the pieces. I’m absolutely thrilled for the Jeremy Scott team; it’s a massive team effort to come here and I’m lost for words as to what a pleasure it is to get it done.

"Fair play to the owner – we were pushing for the Mares’ Hurdle massively, but I got his point of view from the sense that we could go for the mares’ next year because she’d be a little bit older and would see the trip out.

"I promise you, I did not know what to expect and nothing compares to how I am feeling now. I hope this day will never end. I’m shell-shocked – every time I have come here and got a winner, it’s been a dream come true for me."