Caid launches Power-packed finish Caid Du Berlais denied Johns Spirit back-to-back Paddy Power Gold Cup wins in the last couple of strides at Cheltenham. Jonjo O'Neill's seven-year-old looked to have done everything right under Richie McLernon and went clear after jumping the last well. However, Sam Twiston-Davies conjured a tremendous run out of the 10-1 winner to land the first major handicap of the season by a head, with the favourite Present View third and Oscar Whisky fourth. In the testing conditions, the pace set by Present View was not strong and t here were plenty in with chances coming down the hill, but the market leader still appeared to be going as well as anything. Everything changed after the second-last when Johns Spirit loomed up and took over approaching the final fence, looking set for the history books, but Caid Du Berlais (10-1) found another gear. Nicholls said: "I knew the horse was very well as he looked amazing, Sam has ridden him brilliantly. I put a tongue tie on as I thought soft ground has stopped him before. When they are well things like this happen. I thought he had a chance at the last. "I told Sam to follow Richie, see what happens, and that is what he did. It's great for Sam, two big winners on a Saturday (following the success of Sam Winner). He doesn't panic and gets horses running for him." Twiston-Davies added: "I've got a lot of apologising to do as I told Paul not to run him, but he travelled and jumped - we rode him very differently. "We just let him jump away, but it was impossible to get closer without expending too much energy by going wide. In fairness he really picked up after the last. It's only his fourth run over fences. It's a brilliant training performance."
