Megan Nicholls 'speechless' as horse she bought for two golf superstars gets huge win

Racing pundit Megan Nicholls was left 'speechless' by a landmark win for a horse she purchased for two sporting stars.

Givemefive (7-2) galloped on strongly in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle to help her cousin Harry Derham make a training breakthrough at Cheltenham.

The four-year-old jumper is owned by Smash Racing, a syndicate that includes major-winning golfers Graeme McDowell and Brooks Koepka.

Nicholls bought the hurdler from Johnny Murtagh's stable in 2023 and she was able to watch the length and a quarter success from the track, while working for Racing TV.

"I'm a total mess to be honest with you," she told Racing.

"To have sourced Harry his first Cheltenham winner is so special. This horse is honestly a dude.

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"We bought him last year and he was such a fun juvenile. He has obviously improved again and I need to ask Harry what's going to happen now, but I'd love to see him back here for the Greatwood Hurdle (in November). Their team is always getting better with more quality.

"I'm not often speechless, but I am now. It's all a little bit much!"

Derham spent his youth watching legendary horse Kauto Star become the first horse to regain the Gold Cup in 2009.

He went on to work as an assistant to the chaser's trainer and his uncle Paul Nicholls for six years, before branching out on his own in 2022.

In the race, run in front of a record crowd of 20,585, Givemefive used his flat speed to dart around the omitted final obstacle.

McDowell and Koepka did not make the trip to the Cotswolds, but Derham said: “They’re in Florida, but I just had a FaceTime with Graeme there and he’s made up.

“For any owners that support you in a young business, it’s very cool to train winners for them and they’re great supporters of mine. It’s a shame they couldn’t be here, but the horse has done them proud."

Derham revealed that he was considering pulling the horse out of the 2m½f contest, due to the presence of Bottler’secret, sent off the evens favourite and placed third.

"I will also say well done to Graham my head lad, Amy my sister and Charlie my assistant," he added.

"They said ‘come on, you’ve trained him for the race, get on and do it’, so well done them.

"Givemefive has never let us down and this is a plan we’ve had for a long time, so I’m thrilled it has come off.”

As well as the owners and trainer, jockey Paul O'Brien was another new addition to the famous course's roll of honour.

After obtaining the ideal result, McDowell tweeted: "Go on you good thing!!!!!"