Bob bags Punchestown Gold Cup

Champion Trainer Willie Mullins and stable jockey Ruby Walsh combined to win the Bibby Financial Services Punchestown Gold Cup at Punchestown today with Boston Bob combining together for their first win as a partnership in the race.

Remarkably, Mullins (two wins previously in the Grade 1 race) and Walsh (four previous wins) had failed to win the race together but Boston Bob rectified that anomaly with a hard fought win over First Lieutenant

Walsh had elected to ride Boston Bob in favour of Mullins' other runner and Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up On His Own and, with On His Own disappointing badly, Walsh was in a prime position to score on Boston Bob entering the home straight.

Boston Bob was giving chase to leader First Lieutenant on the run to the final fence but jinked left both before and after that final obstacle. Fortunately for Boston Bob's supporters, Walsh isn't easily 'dislodged' and the Champion Jockey-elect quickly had the son of Bob Back racing in top gear on the stands' side rail, for a three and a a quarter lengths win over First Lieutenant.

Mullins later stated “he is only now turning into the horse I always hoped he'd be. I thought he was unlucky twice at Cheltenham and he's getting the reward now for what he's been showing me at home.

“Boston Bob has really turned the corner and good ground is no problem to him. Ruby asked me the other day what to do and I said he should ride Boston Bob (in favour of Gold Cup runner-up On His Own) and he thanked me after he got down today.

“I think that'll be it for the season for him and he'll go the Gold Cup route next season. We'll probably enter him at Down Royal in November but the John Durkan might be the most likely starting point for him. We might look at Grand Steeplechase De Paris with On His Own.”

Afterwards Paddy Power cut Boston Bob to 14/1 (from 25s) for the 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup while Boylesports are unchanged at 16/1 for the same race.

By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee