Honesty is always the best policy, as Paddy Brennan proved after telling a stewards' inquiry that rival Tommy O'Brien was innocent of any foul play having beaten him on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Alaphilippe jockey Brennan was beaten by a neck in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle as O'Brien and Third Wind edged him to the line on Thursday. The result was subject to a stewards' inquiry amid concerns the front pair had clashed near the climax, but Brennan was candid as he assured he "didn't feel any interference."
The 40-year-old watched footage of the race back and agreed he and O'Brien had each drifted in the build-up, but he maintained he was "surprised" the inquiry was called. O'Brien's victory aboard 25/1 Third Wind therefore stood, while 11/2 joint-favourite Alaphilippe settled for silver.
"To be honest, when I heard there was a stewards' inquiry, I was surprised," Brennan told the adjudicators in footage released by ITV Racing. "I didn't feel any interference. There's a big crowd out there today, and I felt like I had a good crack at it. In sport, I'm a fair player. I didn't feel like there was any [unjust] reason why I got beat there."
The scenes coaxed an amorous response from fans on social media, one of whom lauded Brennan as an "absolute gentleman. Was great to see such honesty." O'Brien's victory aboard the Hughie Morrison-trained outsider was all the sweeter considering it came just two days after the birth of his second child.
Other spectators praised the coverage as an example other sports could do with following when it comes to transparency. One viewer gave the thumbs up as he posted: "Class that you’ve got cameras and audio in the stewards room. Adds real value to the coverage."
Another urged the " Premier League and VAR (video assistant referee) take note. Transparency of the dialogue in the stewards room and honesty from the participants. Well done Paddy Brennan and well done Racing."
The victory is easily the biggest of Third Wind's career to date, with his third graded victory raking in a cash prize to the tune of £56,000 for owner Mouse Hamilton-Fairley. Brennan, meanwhile, is now 12 years removed from his famous victory aboard Imperial Commander in the 2010 Gold Cup.
The holy grail of the National Hunt returns to the schedule as this year's Cheltenham Festival rounds to a dramatic close on Friday. Previous winners Minella Indo and Al Boum Photo are each in the frame to lift the 2022 edition of the Gold Cup, though neither Brennan nor O'Brien will be involved in the race.
