Attrition Run Comes To An End

War Of Attrition was eased in the betting for the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup after his disappointing run in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown.

The Mouse Morris-trained six-year-old is available at 16-1 (from 8s) with William Hill and 14-1 (from 10s) with Coral after finishing a well-beaten fifth in the Grade One contest, which went the way of Hi Cloy.

The sponsors go 20-1 from 10s for the blue riband in March and spokesman Damian Walker said: 'The challengers to the front two in the Gold Cup betting look thin on the ground, so we have clipped Kicking King and Kingscliff.

'War Of Attrition´s Gold Cup bubble appears to have burst.'

So impressive in beating Kicking King and Rathgar Beau earlier in the season, the 4-5 favourite never really looked at any stage as if he would extend his winning run, being nudged along fully a mile from the finish by Conor O´Dwyer.

'I thought we might be in trouble after my horse in the second race (The Fairhill Boy) was pulled up, because he will gallop forever,' said Morris.

'Coming here today I didn´t think we had a problem but now it looks like we do.

'Conor said he just ran flat all the way.'

After consulting with the veterinary officer, Morris later added: 'His scope is clean, but he is blowing very hard which is often the sign of a lung infection - we´ll have to see how he is.'

Restricted to just two appearances last season through injury, Hi Cloy is a top-class performer at trips short of three miles, as he showed when outspeeding Kicking King to win over two and a half miles at Fairyhouse last April.

The 7-1 chance got up in the last 50 yards to deny the front-running Jim by a head and winning trainer Michael Hourigan said: 'I thought he would win today - I was pretty confident. He hasn´t always been an easy horse to train, but he has certainly repaid us with this victory.'

Hi Cloy now faces a clash with Moscow Flyer in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown´s Christmas meeting.

Cashmans introduced the winner at 14-1 into their betting for the Ryanair Chase, the two-and-a-half-mile championship chase at the Festival.

Greystoke-based Nicky Richards made a rare appearance in Ireland when sending out Knockara Luck to trounce her 12 rivals in the Bewleys Hotels & ITBA Fillies Bonus Flat Race.

Sent off the 2-1 favourite to maintain her unbeaten record, the four-year-old was taken to the front by Nina Carberry with two furlongs to go and she soon scooted clear.

Once in line for home, she never looked being caught and kept on well for a three-length call from Haydens First.

'She is a good filly, but we still don´t know how good yet,' said Richards.

'She quickened up well on the bend and took five lengths out of them before she probably just got a bit tired towards the finish.

'I was very concerned about the ground, but she handled it OK and I would like to take her to Sandown for a fillies´ only bumper in February.'

Knockara Luck was given a 25-1 quote by Cashmans for the Champion Bumper at the Festival in March.

(C) PA Sport