Johnny Murtagh keeps Goal up to his work to score in Limerick© Photo Healy Racing
You couldn’t help feeling that the Champions race was a contest to savour as racecourse commentator Richard Pugh called them home after pointing out that the jockeys had ridden 22,000 winners and had won upwards of 80 titles between them.
And so it proved as chances came and went in the final furlong, however, it was Johnny Murtagh who was champion of champions on board 2/1 favourite Goal as they burst through to land the spoils in the extended mile and three handicap in good style.
As he was led back in, Johnny Murtagh quipped: “It’s a great day and it’s lovely to win. I got a lovely run through, he was travelling well and it was never in doubt. The first of many for Gordon Elliott, hopefully!”
Gordon Elliott said: “It’s brilliant to have a winner today. It’s a great crowd. Myself and JT were friends since we were young lads and rode against each other.
“I was worried about the trip, but Johnny gave him a great ride. He’s in at Wolverhampton on Saturday under a penalty.”
Ruby Walsh finished well on Flying Light (9/1), but went down by a length and a quarter. He split the flat jockeys as Pat Smullen steered Anoosou to third at 16/1.
Murtagh may have had a winner, but the other jockeys had their revenge as they dunked him in a water trough afterwards!
Football agent Willie McKay owns Goal and donated the first prize to the Jockeys Emergency Fund.
Champion flat trainer Aidan O’Brien’s Fairylike finished unplaced and afterwards he said: “We’re delighted to be here. Everyone wants to tell the lads how much we are supporting them.
“I don’t think this would happen anywhere else in the world. I don’t think there’s a day in any country in the world where you would see a race like that.”
The crowd at Limerick today was confirmed to be 10,500.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
