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Gaoth Chuil finishes with a wet sail

Gaoth Chuil  (green and navy) Gaoth Chuil (green and navy)
© Healy Racing Photos

Reese Holohan was seen to great effect when winning the Kellihers Toyota Kingdom Gold Cup Handicap at Killarney on 12/1 chance Gaoth Chuil

Owned and bred by Micheal Ryan, the Harzand mare tracked the leaders but was outpaced and driven along early in the straight in the staying contest over one mile, six furlongs. 

Ridden in sixth passing the furlong marker, her chance of victory looked slim but Holohan switched her right and put down his stick, getting a renewed effort from the eight-year-old who led close home to beat Light Up The Dark by half a length.

It was a third win in her last four Flat starts for Gaoth Chuil, who also won three times over hurdles after gaining her first success in a bumper.  

"I remember this used to be the Carling-sponsored Gold Cup back in the Tralee days, and it was a famous race to win," said winning trainer Ted Walsh

"I never even had a runner in it and when it was moved from Tralee, it just lost its buzz. 

"This is lovely though, and Micheal has been with me up-and-down with different horses since my father died in 1990. Aside from Micheal, I only have JP (McManus) and Mrs Moran's kids as owners nowadays, and he is a great fella. 

"She has €180,000 won in prize money and is a right little mare, but I made a mistake to go jumping fences with her. She jumps them, but doesn't take them on. 

"The ground in Galway was unraceable for Flat horses by the time she got to run, and in fairness to Chris Hayes, he looked after her. She could run in the November Handicap."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

1st
12/1
Tote €15.40 €4.00
2nd
0.5L
3/1JFav
€1.60
3rd
hd
4/1
€1.80
4th
0.5L
16/1
bf
1.5L
3/1JFav
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.