Davy strikes Gold for Lucky Jim
Lord Windermere won the RSA Chase here last year but up against market heavyweights Bobs Worth, Silviniaco Conti and Last Instalment, Jim Culloty‘s eight-year-old wasn’t given much of a chance in the Gold Cup.
But after tagging along at the rear of the field, he was produced at the perfect moment by Davy Russell who drove him on to beat On His Own and The Giant Bolster in a thrilling finish.
A photo finish confirmed the winning distance at a short head but then there was an agonising wait as the stewards held a lengthy enquiry, broadcast on Channel 4, before upholding the result.
It was part of a superb treble for Russell and saw Culloty become just the fourth man to ride and train a Gold Cup winner.
Michael O’Leary finishes on a flyer
Irish runners won six of the seven races on the final day and no fewer than four of those wore the colours of Michael O’Leary‘s Gigginstown House Stud at odds of more than 82,500/1.
After watching Russell and Tiger Roll hose up in the day’s opener, the JCB Triumph Hurdle, O’Leary saw Paul Carberry take the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on 33/1 outsider Very Wood.
“It’s like I’ve died and gone to heaven,” the Ryanair boss said as he soaked up an unforgettable quadruple with wins for Don Poli (12/1) and Savello (16/1) in the last two races on the card.
Consequences of Chaos
Not everybody was left smiling as the final day drama played out. Ruby Walsh fell from Abbyssial in the opener and was taken to Gloucester Hospital with a compound fracture in his arm that will very likely rule him out of the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals.
If it was any consolation, none of his rivals could overhaul him as he picked up the jockeys’ championship and Willie Mullins sealed the trainers’ prize.
Paul Townend stood himself down after a fall in the same race while the start of the Albert Bartlett was delayed when Port Melon charged into a rail on the way to the start, fracturing Daryl Jacob‘s knee, leg and elbow just minutes after the Irish jockey had claimed his first win of the week on Lac Fontana.
Big winners: The Irish
It became quickly apparent that strong as the Irish challenge was, this week was never going to quite match the heights of last year’s 14 winners. Heading into the last day, Ireland only had six winners to show but a remarkable six out of seven on the final day took them to a very respectable 12.
Big losers: The Bankers
Briar Hill was put up as the Irish banker of the meeting by most while Bobs Worth was the English equivalent, and there were no shortage of takers for the 6/1 double that was on offer this morning.
But both disappointed, Briar Hill crashing out in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle while Bobs Worth couldn’t do better than fifth in his Gold Cup defence.
Tweet of the Day
The Guardian’s Barry Glendenning puts Daryl Jacob’s fall into a little bit of context for footballers everywhere.
Full Results
1.30pm — JCB Triumph Hurdle: 1. Tiger Roll (10-1) 2. Kentucky Hyland (20-1) 3. Guitar Pete (7-1)2.05pm — County Hurdle: 1. Lac Fontana (11-1) 2. Arctic Fire (7-1)3. Montbazon (20-1) 4. Diakali (25-1)2.40pm — Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle: 1. Very Wood (33-1) 2. Deputy Dan (10-1) 3. Apache Jack (20-1)3.20pm — Cheltenham Gold Cup: 1. Lord Windermere (20-1) 2. On His Own (16-1) 3. The Giant Bolster (14-1)
4.00pm — Foxhunter Chase: 1. Tammys Hill (15-2) 2. Carsonstown Boy (40-1) 3. On The Fringe (11-2)
4.40pm — Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle: 1. Don Poli (12-1) 2. Thomas Crapper (10-1) 3. Caid du Berlais (9-1) 4. Urbain de Sivola (33-1)
5.15pm — Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase: 1. Savello (16/1) 2. Ned Buntline (6/1JF) 3. Claret Cloak (6/1JF) 4. Next Sensation (7/1)
