Cheltenham Gold Cup

War of Attrition from the Bernadette Murphy stable, ridden by Conor O’Dwyer was a promising 15-2 shot before the running of the 78th Totesport sponsored Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday March 16th 2006, and by the end of the race, he had fulfilled that promise by romping home strongly up the Cheltenham hill, just under 3 lengths ahead of runner up Hedgehunter, ridden by Ruby Walsh.

Irish Clean Sweep

After waiting almost a decade for Kicking King to become the first irish-trained mount to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2005, irish eyes were smiling again, as they saw their first ever 1-2-3 with the leading trio to cross the line all trained in Ireland by ‘Mouse’ Morris, Willie Mullins and Michael O’brien respectively.

After the running of Cheltenham’s Blue Riband event, winning trainer Mouse Morris waxed lyrical about his champion horse:

“You dream about these things. I’ve always had a lot of faith in him. I have always said he is one of the best I have ever had and I think he’s proved that”.

Large Field

An unusually large 22-strong field started the race and was bunched together for a good portion of the running with english horse Lord of Illusion, ridden by Jason Maguire at front around the first circuit.

War of Attrition hit the front coming into the last long left-hand turn before the home straight, as he tried to stride away from the rest. Heading to the last fence, it looked like Ruby Walsh was getting up on Hedgehunter to mount a challenge. That was until he made a mistake forcing the 16-1 shot trained by Willie Mullins wide, losing ground in the process.

From there it was all War of Attrition as Conor O’Dwyer guided his horse home, showing his joy with clenched fists and a large beaming smile as he and his mount took the £228,080 winner’s prize.

Favourite Left Behind

Pre-race favourite, Beef or Salmon in is his 4th Gold Cup, trailed in 11th placed, as he never looked like winning this race, such was the ferocious sprint for home from War of Attrition.

It was the 2nd successive year that an Irish horse had taken the Gold Cup and the watching Prestbury crowd were as rowdy as ever.

After the tragedy of the death of legendary Best Mate late in 2005, the sport needed something to cheer about and they got just that with this enthralling contest.

 

Friday the 17th March 2005 marked the 77th running of the wonder that is the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase and Prestbury Park was awash with a throng of excited punters. The going was good, there were 15 in the field and after the unfortunate withdrawal of hot favourite Best Mate due to a burst blood vessel, it was all to play for.

Would there be an Irish-trained winner of the Gold Cup for the first time in a almost a decade? One thing was for sure, it would be exciting finding out.

The Early Running

After the customary early jostling for position, it was Graham Lee’s mount, the fancied Grey Abbey that made all the running around the first circuit with 12-1 shot Ballycassidy ridden by Seamus Durack and Sir Rembrandt in close attendance.

Heading round the second lap, Andrew Thornton on Sir Rembrandt joined the Grey at the head of the race, as they both stretched the field. That scenario remained constant until the last 4 fences, when the leading two were caught by the great Irish hope, Kicking King who cruised into second with Barry Geraghty looking determined to snatch victory.

The Final Fences

4 out and the Tom Taaffe trained 4-1 favourite moved effortlessly into second before hitting the front at the third fence from home. He was momentarily challenged for the lead by Tony Dobbin on Take the Stand, but the 7 year old had too much in the tank and pace to burn, striding away to win by five lengths.

Ireland had a winner at long last, with the Cheltenham crowd euphoric cries echoing around the racecourse.

Speaking after the race, owner Conor Clarkson revealed how the victor almost didn’t make the race at all:

“Two weeks ago, I thought we were out and I felt so lucky just to be here. When we thought he was out of the race, we were shattered”.

There had been concerns in the lead up to the race that the horse would have to withdraw due to illness, but he recovered just in time. And how lucky they were that he did, as he romped over the line to claim the £212,268.40 winner’s prize money and Gold Cup Champion 2005.

Trainer Tom Taaffe’s father was the jockey that rode the amazing Arkle to three successive gold cup victories in the 60s, but this time it was his son’s time to celebrate into the night.

Ireland had their winner and the punters went home happy, after witnessing a thrilling Totesport sponsored Cheltenham Gold Cup!

March 18th 2004 was a red letter day in National Hunt Racing, as it was Best Mate with an enormous weight of expectancy on him, who was the punters’ choice to emulate Arkle’s feats in the 1960s of 3 consecutive Gold Cup victories.

The heavily backed 8-11 favourite, trained by Henrietta Knight and ridden ably by Jim Culloty was poised to make modern racing history and achieve what many saw as impossible, especially as their racehorse would have to cope with ground softer than he would ideally have liked.

They’re Under Way!

The 76th ToteSport sponsored Cheltenham Gold Cup was under way and the 10 runners set off at a good pace, which had the field stretched almost right from the off.

The early running was made by the french horse, First Gold, ridden by Thierry Doumen who found himself and Harbor Pilot, partnered by Paul Carberry 2-3 lengths clear of the rest. All 10 runners and riders cleared the first 4 fences and the feverish 60,000 Prestbury Park crowd showed their appreciation as they headed round the turn for the first time.

Early Stages

With the early jostling for position over, the field was spread with First Gold still in the lead with Best Mate, handily placed in the chasing pack. The effortless efficiency with which Jim Culloty was guiding the 2-time winner around the course was an ominous sign for his rivals.

Beef or Salmon owned by Craig and McLarnon had achieved a better result than in 2003 by clearing the fence that had ended his race the year before, but was fading badly at the rear of the field.

The Chasing Pack

Over the 6th of 22 fences, First Gold was really working hard to maintain his lead, but Harbour Pilot was just ½ a length back and the chasing pack, which included, Irish Hussar, ridden by Mick Fitzgerald, the 10-1 shot Keen Leader and Best Mate, was beginning to make ground.

Even at this early stage, Alexander Banquet, the 100-1 outsider, ridden by A.P. McCoy had replaced Beef or Salmon at the rear of the field. This was probably due to the ferocious pace, still being made by First Gold.

At the Turn

Over the 13th now and the pack was almost up with the leader, with Alexander Banquet now out of sight. 9 became 8 when Irish Hussar pulled up at the 15th, as the pack, now led by 4 lengths by First Gold came to the 6th from home.

First Gold Falters

A mistake at the 4th from home by First Gold and the chasing field were upon him and quickly swallowed him up. It was now a 4 horse race as they sped down the hill for the last time.

Boxed In

Over the 3rd from home and favourite Best Mate found his chances of a 3rd consecutive win in jeopardy, as he became legitimately boxed in at the rail by Harbour Pilot.

Best Mate was made of the right stuff however, pulling wide at the 2nd from home to make his move. A palpable sense of euphoria from the attending crowd was cranked up another notch, as Jim Culloty sailed over the last in front to romp home to an historic win in a time of 6 minutes 42 seconds, taking the £203,000 purse in the process.

Jim Lewis and Henrietta Knight had done it again. 3 times a charm and the first horse to complete the treble in 40 years. A modern fairy tale as this amazing horse had achieved what had been thought to be out of reach of mere mortals.

Best Mate as good as Arkle? Nobody can be 100% sure, but what a race that would be to witness.

Going into the 2003 Tote Sponsored Cheltenham Gold Cup, Best Mate was the 7-4 favourite thanks to conquering the field in a narrow victory over Commanche Court just 12 months before.

Facing the 3 mile, 2½ furlong course and the 22 fences it comprises was a 15 strong field that contained a number of jockeys and racehorses that had previously tasted Cheltenham Gold Cup success.

At the Off

The going was good, field were under starters orders and they were under way.

Right away Behrajan, the 14-1 shot, ridden by Richard Johnson hit the front, followed closely by the 200-1 rank outsider, Modulor and See More Business, the 1999 winner of this race ably partnered by Joe Tizzard.

Fell At the First

Disaster for the fancied 5-1 Michael Hourigan trained Beef Or Salmon, who lost his rider and fell at the first fence, much to the consternation of the grandstand crowd, with groans echoing around the enclosure.

The camera would shortly after show a dejected Timmy Murphy in the green and yellow colours of owners Craig and McLarnon, trudging back to the paddock covered in mud and turf, but mercifully unhurt by his fall.

After One Circuit

After completing the first circuit of the picturesque Cheltenham Gold Cup course, Best Mate was well place in 7th, just a length or two behind the leaders with champion jockey AP McCoy way off the pace at the back of the field on 50-1 tip You’re Agoodun.

Coming to the 4th from home and it was all to play for, as the leader Chives, ridden by Richard Guest had pulled 5 lengths clear, but was starting to wane as Valley Henry and Best Mate pulled ever closer.

Turning Point

This race had reached a critical point, as Best Mate, chasing back to back Gold Cup wins, hit the front as the 8 yr Gelding jumped the 3rd from last in the lead. To the dismay of his competitors, Best Mate had the most left in the tank and strode clear to an historic win, a massive 12 lengths clear of the rest.

A huge cheer came from the grandstand when Jim Culloty safely guided Best Mate over the last fence to achieve a feat of back to back wins of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, something that hadn’t been achieved since L’escargot had done so in the early 70s.

Jim Lewis and Henrietta Knight will have been dancing to the winners enclosure to meet their amazing racehorse. Best Mate had answered all questions relating to his pedigree…except one – “Could this amazing gelding make it a hat-trick of wins in 2004?”

Only time would tell.