Shropshire horse Salut Flo romps to victory at Cheltenham

Shropshire racehorse owner Allan Stennett was today toasting a famous victory at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 65-year-old was back at his Shifnal base today celebrating Salut Flo's victory in the Byrne Group Plate Handicap Chase.

The victory yesterday – which scooped winning connections £42,712 – was watched by 58,000 spectators at the track and millions more on TV.

"It was a great day," said Mr Stennett, a retired company director whose partner Stella Brazier was also there to see his success.

He added: "There were 10 of us in a box at Cheltenham including my family and Richard Kent from Mickley Stud in Market Drayton, who is effectively my racing manager.

"Salut Flo was superb. I've been a joint owner of winners at the Cheltenham Festival before and we had two on the same day in 2002, Galileo and Blowing Wind who also finished third twice in the Grand National."

The 9-2 favourite, who was out of action for a year after suffering a tendon injury in the spring of 2010, is trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Tom Scudamore.