Black Tears delivers for Denise Foster in Gordon Elliott’s absence at Cheltenham

© Provided by The Guardian Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

Denise “Sneezy” Foster, who had saddled 34 winners in nearly 23 years with a licence before taking over responsibility for Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House stable less than three weeks ago, registered the first Grade One win of her career when Black Tears got up in the final stride to beat Concertista in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle here on Tuesday but she wasn’t present to witness the victory.

Foster assumed control of the yard for six months on 9 March after Elliott’s licence was suspended following an inquiry into a picture of the trainer sitting on a dead horse on his gallops in 2019.

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Several of the stable’s star performers left the yard after the image emerged, including Ballyadam, the runner-up in Tuesday’s opener, the Supreme Novice Hurdle, and the unbeaten Envoi Allen, an odds-on chance to win Thursday’s Brown Advisory Novice Chase.

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However, the owners of Black Tears were among those to remain loyal to the stable, along with Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud, who supplied two runners for Foster earlier on the card. Both Abacadabras, a faller in the Champion Hurdle, and Native Milan, a winner at the meeting last year, were unplaced.

Foster took charge of Elliott’s stable too late to complete the necessary Covid-related admin to be able to travel to Cheltenham and was watching from home in County Meath as Jack Kennedy drove Black Tears past Concertista in the shadow of the post.

Lisa O’Neill, a former winner at the Festival as an amateur jockey who was representing the yard, said afterwards: “Denise was the first one on the phone and she was absolutely over the moon as it was her first Cheltenham winner and hopefully it won’t be her last.

“Black Tears is a very genuine and consistent mare and this result is great for her owners, Aidan and Caren Walsh, and John Lightfoot as they have been brilliant supporters of Cullentra House. It is fantastic for them and the whole team there.”

Kennedy briefly acknowledged the recent upheaval at the yard after the race. “It’s been a tough time for the yard and this will be massive for everyone,” Kennedy said. “The amount of effort everyone puts in at home, it’s days like these that make it all worthwhile. We’ve been through a tough time all right, but we’ve kept going and showed that today.”

Foster also made the frame with her final runner of the day, Escaria Ten in the National Hunt Novice Chase, but the 11-4 favourite faded late on after looking like a possible winner as Galvin – who was trained by Elliott until three weeks ago – took over on the climb to the post. Ian Ferguson, his new trainer, was celebrating his second Festival winner having won the Foxhunters’ Chase with Zemsky in 2011.

© Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian Jack Kennedy with Black Tears, who was trained until recently by Gordon Elliott, in the winners enclosure.