Trip no concern as Big Gossey records fifth Curragh success

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.