Attrition Grabs Gold For Ireland

War Of Attrition stayed on strongly to win the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup for Ireland on St Patrick's Day.

The seven-year-old, trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Conor O'Dwyer, took the blue riband of steeplechasing from last year's Grand National winner Hedgehunter.

Forget The Past was third as Irish-trained horses filled the first three places, with French raider L'Ami fourth.

Leading at the second-last, War Of Attrition (15-2) was hard-pressed by Ruby Walsh on Hedgehunter (16-1) but proved conclusively he stays this extended three and a quarter miles.

Running in the colours of Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, he never looked like stopping up the testing hill and went on to land the spoils by two and a half lengths.

Forget The Past (9-1) could not quite live with the first two in the closing stages and was seven lengths away in third, but 4-1 favourite Beef Or Salmon was a major disappointment.

O'Dwyer, victorious in this race on Imperial Call 10 years ago, told Channel 4 Racing: 'It was an easy ride, he pinged the last two fences when he just stood off and he loves racing.

'This is an emotional moment and we made the right decision to come here ? it has paid off.

'He jumped super and we had a great run ? I had to come wide but he is only a second-season novice so I didn't want to be too tight on him either.

'When I wanted to go he was able to go, which was a huge plus.'

Morris said: 'It is fantastic and Conor gave him a super ride, for an older fellow! It was a great race for the Irish and you dream about these things.

'I have always had a lot of faith in this horse and I have always said he is one of the best I have ever had and I think he proved that.'

Willie Mullins, trainer of Hedgehunter, was delighted with the effort of his 10-year-old.

'I never thought I would be so delighted to finish second in my life but I am after the way mine have been running.

'He jumped fantastic and ran a fantastic race.

'The pace was a bit strong in the first half mile but he warmed to it nicely and he will definitely go for the Grand National now.

'I was so disappointed with the way my horse ran in the first race (Mister Hight) that I came so close to taking him out but he had travelled over well and eaten well and I hadn't any excuse to take him out, so we decided to take our chance.

'We couldn't win a Gold Cup unless we ran in it. I was hoping he would get to the other horse but I fancied War Of Attrition ever since I saw him beat Kicking King back in October.

'I thought ?that's the Gold Cup winner' but little did I know I would finish second to him. He is a fantastic Gold Cup winner and I am delighted to be second.'

Herve Barjot, racing manager to Sean Mulryan, owner of Forget the Past, said: 'We weren't surprised with that performance as we knew he was very talented.

'There are a lot of good horses in the Gold Cup and it is just a case of how they turn out on the day.

'Michael Brien's horses have just started to come right so we were quite confident of a big run.

'He is still a very young horse so we will be back next year and it is possible he will go to Punchestown next.'

Francois Doumen, trainer of L'Ami said: 'He could have done with the ground softer and was doing all of his best work at the finish.

'He was catching them all the way up the straight and is just starting to fill his frame. The race probably came a year too soon.'

Beef Or Salmon has now failed in four attempts in the Gold Cup and his trainer Michael Hourigan said: 'I'm beginning to believe the people now. I wonder if we can have the meeting transferred to Leopardstown.

'There were no excuses, he was off the bridle early on and he just didn't perform.'

Celestial Gold came down on the first circuit and his rider Timmy Murphy was attended to by paramedics.

'Timmy has some soft tissue damage on his body and has gone to hospital for X-rays on his throat,' the horse's owner David Johnson said.

'He's been stood down for the rest of the day. I think he's OK and the horse is all right and I'm sure this is just a precautionary measure.

'Celestial Gold had jumped well until that point and it's a shame but that's the way things have gone for us this week.'

Tony McCoy, who pulled up his mount Iris's Gift, said: 'He jumped well enough but when he came off the bridle he was soon beaten.'

Robert Walford, who partnered the disappointing Kingscliff, said: 'He just couldn't keep up in the ground. It was totally against him.'

Monkerhostin also failed to produce his best form and his rider Richard Johnson said: 'He just didn't seem to be good enough but he jumped OK and was staying on towards the finish.

'He didn't seem to have the speed today.'

? PA Sport