"I kept my lips closed. The horse did the talking."

Trainer Michael Hourigan took the success of Dorans Pride in yesterday's Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup in his stride. The crowds gathered in the Leopardstown parade ring and jostled him. He didn't mind. Since his horse's previous run at Naas, where he came in last of five, Hourigan has been keeping mum. Neither he nor jockey Richard Dunwoody could explain the last outing. Not even Hourigan can get inside a horse's mind.

"I'm glad 'tis over now," said the trainer. "I'm glad 'tis over because the last day at Naas I had no answers. If I had, it would be very easy to correct them. But I hadn't."

Yesterday his weathered face opened up into a broad smile. His world became, once again, comprehensible on a day when Mercs with mud-splashed doors mixed with Fiesta runarounds.

The head-to-head with Imperial Call and Cork trainer Fergie Sutherland had pulled in the crowds. In the end, the most-awaited Irish race of the jumping season was decided in a most emphatic way.

Imperial Call was pronounced lame by the vet and had, according to jockey Conor O'Dwyer, been sweating up before the race. But it wasn't a day for hard luck stories.

Dorans Pride not only galloped to a £58,000 first prize cheque but brought his owner, Tom Doran's, winnings to well over the £330,000 mark. It also ensured that the Gold Cup at Cheltenham will not be the total preserve of favourite See More Business. Hourigan's charge is now at 5 to 1 second favourite.

"Richard said he needed the race. He didn't jump until he was half way through because his confidence was so shattered from Naas. I bought three new flights of hurdles specially for him. He jumped them six times and it really paid off. I think the hurdles just helped him to fly a little bit, you know," said Hourigan.

Emotion spilled around but Tom Doran kept himself composed. The presence of the former jockey of Dorans Pride, Shane Broderick, who was in Leopardstown, was warmly evoked by the owner. Broderick fell at Fairyhouse and broke his neck in a simple and tragic fall.

"Shane sat on him the first time he beat Imperial Call and I have to admire him. Today belongs to him. Without Shane nursing the horse through, showing him how to jump fences and jump hurdles as well . . . this is Shane's day," said Doran, almost filling up. "It is a very emotional day.

"I don't like being the favourite. I liked being the underdog today and that's the way we'll go to Cheltenham. It's a bit like Mayo. If they weren't favourites, they might win an All-Ireland," he added.

The race? Well it was simple and ultimately bloodless. Dun Belle, not even mentioned in the form guide as a contender, took up the running and made a contest out of it until the final jump.

Dunwoody added his wellheeled voice to the chorous. "Dorans Pride has the worst behind him and will go to Cheltenham with his bad form over."