Carlingford claims dramatic Gold Cup

Carlingford Lough recorded a remarkable win in the Irish Gold Cup, coming from last to first to claim the prestigious prize for the second year in-a-row.

The John Kiely trained ten-year-old finished ninth in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham last March and was well-beaten on his return to action over hurdles at Navan in November.

He again disappointed when sixth of six in the Lexus over the course and distance in December, and while he was available at 25/1 this morning he was sent off a 20/1 chance under Mark Walsh.

In rear throughout he looked beaten two out and hit 1000/1 in running on Betfair.

He found another gear as they entered the straight and jumped the last in third, keeping on strongly on the run-in to score by twelve lengths. Valseur Lido (8's last night and from 6's to 5's on-course) travelled best to lead on the run to the last but he unseated Ruby Walsh there. Road To Riches was sent off the 5/4 favourite and he finished second under Bryan Cooper for Noel Meade, while Fine Rightly ran a huge race finishing eight lengths back in third under Andrew Lynch for Stuart Crawford at 33/1 (100's last night).

John Kiely said afterwards: "I didn't think he could win two (Irish Gold Cups). He was in good form but I was just hoping to be in the first four.

"I told Mark to ride him to finish, and it worked. I think he won despite the ground, and if he was up with the pace I don’t think he would have got home.

"Going to the last you could see he was finding a new lease of life, and I thought he had a chance then. It’s lovely for Mark as he’s done a lot of the ground work."

Mark Walsh added: “All credit goes to John Kiely, he had him spot on for today. They went such a gallop and as we were going past the stands for the first time I had a look up and I knew they were going too fast as they were so spread out.

"At one stage I was nearly going to pull up as he never travelled a yard. Once I jumped the second last and past a horse he just took off.

"He just stuck his head down and sprinted up to the last, he winged the last and galloped all the way to the line.

"Ruby had never gone for his lad so you never know what’s going to happen but I'm fairly confident I would have won anyway.

"He is a good horse to that. I think they probably went too quick early and they started to stop coming up to the last.

"I was giving my lad a chance to whole way around to fill himself up."

JP McManus owns Carlingford Lough and he was completing a treble on the card following the earlier wins of Bleu Et Rouge and Blazer

Carlingford Lough is now 20/1 from 33's for the Grand National and the Gold Cup with Paddy Power. Powers now go 20/1 (from 12's) about Road To Riches for the Gold Cup.

STEWARDS REPORTS

D.N. Russell, rider of First Lieutenant trained by M.F.Morris, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount stopped very quickly and was noted to have sustained cuts to his lower chest area.

The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined First Lieutenant, trained by M.F.Morris, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to have two skin cuts to the lower chest area but was otherwise post race normal.

The Stewards requested a report from John E. Kiely, trainer, as to the apparent improvement in form of Carlingford Lough, placed first, as compared with its recent form. The trainer reported that his charge had disappointed in the Lexus Chase here at Leopardstown on the 28th December but being ridden off the fast early pace today gave him a chance to gallop into the race in the closing stages. He added that in the past his charge had shown better form from this stage of the year onwards. Having considered the evidence the Stewards accepted the content of the report.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee