Lord Windermere’s
Gold Cup
was the highlight of a stunning six Irish-trained winners on the final day of Cheltenham 2014 but even though Last Instalment unseated his rider when appearing to be back-tracking in the big race there was still no removing Michael O’Leary from the spotlight.
A festival blank stretching back two years ended with a vengeance as O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud struck with a stunning 82,653/1 four-timer yesterday, the Ryanair boss's former jockey Davy Russell partnering both Tiger Roll to Triumph Hurdle glory, and also Savello who wound the meeting up in style in the Grand Annual.
Mikey Fogarty did the steering on Don Poli in the Martin Pipe Conditional Hurdle, Paul Carberry got the 33/1 outsider Very Wood home in the Albert Bartlett and by the end of the day, the sting had been considerably removed from news that Last Instalment has had to be retired.
"He's done a tendon again. He's done tendons in two different legs so it wouldn't be fair to try and bring him back again. It's sad as he's much too young," said O'Leary. "But I'll never forget this day. You wait two years and then four come along in one day!"
12 Irish winners
Tammys Hill's victory in the Foxhunters was the other hero of the hour, emulating the second day of the 2011 festival when there were also half a dozen Irish trained winners. It brought the Irish total for the week to 12, two short of last year's record. Willie Mullins was crowned leading trainer with four winners and six seconds while Ruby Walsh was top jockey with three winners and three seconds.
The Gigginstown four-timer was a remarkable accomplishment for a single owner although the irony that half of it came with Russell in the saddle wasn't lost on anyone, nor that O'Leary's former rider got on both Tiger Roll and Savello due to the unfortunate fact of his successor Bryan Cooper breaking his leg here on Wednesday.
“Davy is an outstanding multiple champion and I was delighted to see him win the Gold Cup. It was a magnificent ride,” the owner said. “I just feel sorry for Bryan after his horrible injury. Our thoughts are with him and all the injured jockeys this week.”
Russell’s own hat-trick paid out 3,926/1 and his late Grand Annual pounce on Savello had trainer Tony Martin proclaiming it “the ride of the week.”
Martin added: “Davy hasn’t had the easiest few months but when you’re riding like he is now, your horses always have a chance. When you’ve got the balls to sit and wait like Davy did, there’s always a chance.”
Very Wood abruptly brought to an end a poor run for Noel Meade who recently had to shut up shop for three weeks due to illness among his string and brought only a pair of horses to the festival.
"It's unbelievable since we felt at the start of the season that we had our best team ever," said the former champion trainer who also revealed Very Wood was lame on Thursday and was almost withdrawn. "The vet told me we had no chance of getting him sound in time. But we poulticed it and worked on it and he was fine."
Family success
Unlike the huge Gigginstown operation, Tammys Hill provided a family success in the Foxhunters, as James Smyth rode the winner for his father Patsy, who also bred the horse, with Newry, Co Down-based Liam Lennon doing the training. Tammys Hill led home an Irish clean-sweep completed by Carsonstown Boy and On The Fringe.
“I’d say he’ll go to the Irish National next,” said the jockey.
