Flood opens account in Ninetieth Minute

Paddy Flood partnered his first Cheltenham Festival winner when the Tom Taaffe-trained Ninetieth Minute continued the great run for Irish horses this week in the Coral Cup.

The six-year-old gelding didn't go unnoticed in the ring at 14/1 and gradually got into a challenging position in the two miles and five furlong handicap.

The son of Old Vic led after two out, forging clear in the straight before holding on by a diminishing length and a half from Mirage Dore. Pause And Clause was a further half length back in third, with Star Of Angels fourth.

'You can't describe the feeling, it's just 'wow'. People say it's the best feeling ever, but you don't understand until it happens. It's powerful,' said Flood.

'He didn't travel early. He's a big horse, he has a big stride on him and it took me the first half of the race to get into a rhythm.'

'I didn't get a nice position until we got to the top of the hill, but to be fair to him he's as tough as nails. All his races he's won this year I've gone on with him early, and he gallops on.'

Taaffe said, 'He's owned by Dermot Cox, who was the brainchild behind the development of Punchestown. His wish is for us to rough the horse off and bring him back over fences next season - although there is a slim chance that he could run over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival.'