Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- Home
- News
John O'Riordan
Trip no concern as Big Gossey records fifth Curragh success
Big Gossey and Robert Whearty win the Sheehy Motors Volkswagen Race
© Photo Healy Racing
Despite some pre-race question marks about his ability to last home over the trip, the Charles O'Brien trained Big Gossey proved too strong for a quartet of opponents in the Sheehy Motors Volkswagen Race at the Curragh.
A four-time winner at the venue prior to this afternoon, the admirable grey had done all of his winning over sprint distances.
However, given that he had only been asked to race in excess of 6f on a couple of occasions, there was nothing to suggest he didn't have the stamina reserves for such a test.
Held up off the early pace which was set by another course specialist Verhoyen the six-year-old went in pursuit of Yosemite Valley when that one headed the leader over a furlong out.
Quickening up smartly under Robert Whearty over 150 yards from the line, Big Gossey landed odds of 11-4 by three-quarters-of-a-length.
Robert Whearty said: “He’s been a great old horse for me this year and I won the Bold Lad on him. He’s given my career a boost.
“I thought he hit the line well in the Bold Lad and that he’d stay the seven. He only does enough for himself and I was lucky enough to have something to aim at.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.