Dublin-born Noel Chance trained his second Gold Cup winner in four years when Looks Like Trouble proved too good for Florida Pearl in steeplechasing's greatest prize at Cheltenham yesterday. For Florida Pearl it was a case of so near yet so far.
Ireland's best chaser, third last year, actually passed Looks Like Trouble and briefly hit the front when the ill-fated Gloria Victis fell at the second last but couldn't stay on as well as the winner.
"The mistake he made at the second last didn't help but stamina wasn't the problem," reported Paul Carberry who, because of his back problems, had to pass the course doctor before being allowed to ride and after the Gold Cup gave up his remaining ride of the day.
Florida Pearl's jumping on the first circuit wasn't particularly impressive but Willie Mullins was quick to pay tribute to the winner and to Chance.
"Full marks to Noel for what he has done with the winner. Our horse has run a marvellous race and maybe it will be 3,2,1 for him next year," said Mullins.
Chance, whose string of horses actually dipped to 11 after Mr Mulligan won chasing's greatest prize in 1997, was described as a "genius" by Looks Like Trouble's owner Tim Collins although Chance himself was not surprised with the latest success.
"After he won last year's SunAlliance he did not get the credit because the favourite Nick Dundee had fallen. But even then I told everyone he was a good horse. Now he has proved himself a very good one," said Chance.
The 49-year-old, born in Dublin's North Circular Road, also had the satisfaction of watching the race unfold almost as exactly as he forecasted. The novice Gloria Victis ran a remarkable race. He gave away countless lengths by persistently jumping to the right but still had the reserves to lead the pack to the second last only to fall and fracture a nearfore canon bone.
The horse was taken back to the racecourse stables but had to be put down soon after. The favourite and defending champion See More Business had dropped out of contention coming down the hill but although Florida Pearl completely reversed last year's form, he couldn't cope with the new factor, Looks Like Trouble.
Richard Johnson, who had missed out on Mr Mulligan's greatest day, only came in for the winning ride through the owner's sacking of Looks Like Trouble's regular rider Norman Williamson but made the most of his opportunity.
"He jumped very well apart from a bad mistake coming down the hill on the first circuit and I gave him a couple of slaps at halfway but that was only because he was lazy. To be honest, half-way up the straight he wasn't doing much either. He was enjoying it as much as me!" beamed the 22-year-old.
The most poignant human figure in the aftermath was surely Williamson who admitted he was upset at still not knowing why he had been jocked off the Gold Cup winner.
"I'm gutted. I think everyone of you would like to know why I lost the ride. Well so would I," the Cork-born jockey said. "The answer I've been given is `bad ride in the King George' but what upsets me is that I've not been told any more than that."
Tim Collins wasn't any more vocal on the subject despite admitting to be "overcome with emotion" at Looks Like Trouble's success.
"I've not made a serious comment about it and I'm not inclined to do so now," he said.
The ebullient Chance replied tactfully when questioned about it. "I always stick by my owners. No jockey has ever put horses in my yard!" Chance can be reasonably sure that after this Gold Cup, the numbers of potential new owners will be queuing at his gate.
