Sensational Cheltenham triumph for Athlone jockey
Athlone jockey Kielan Woods had a sensational victory at Cheltenham this afternoon when he rode 28/1 outsider Global Citizen to victory in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase.
Global Citizen won by three lengths for trainer Ben Pauling in what was a fantastic win for the Athlone rider.
It was Woods' only ride today in Cheltenham and this victory rivals his win on Croco Bay in the same race at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival.
Global Citizen has mainly been raced over hurdles recently but recaptured the form today which saw him finish 4th in the 2020 Arkle Chase.
The ten-year-old had been to the fore throughout in today's Grand Annual and pressed on from the second last to battle up the hill in heavy conditions.
Originally from Beechpark in Athlone, Woods (29) first learned his craft under Gerry Moran, who had a horse riding school based in Coosan. Kielan has been based in England for over seven years.
Speaking to Racing TV, Woods said: “It's brilliant, I can't believe it really.”
He said it was “a fantastic training performance” by Pauling to get the horse back to full fitness.
Woods said he was travelling so well, he was expecting others to come past him as the race hotted out.
“From the back of two out, I was like 'Where are they? Where they? They are coming..”
Watch the final stages here: