Poquelin wins Vote AP Gold Cup Poquelin created a little piece of history by winning the Vote AP Gold Cup at Cheltenham for the second consecutive year. Carrying top weight of 11st 12lb, less jockey Ian Popham's 5lb claim, the seven-year-old found plenty in the straight. Little Josh set a stiff pace with Mad Max in an attempt to follow up his win in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, but he faded to finish fifth. Going down the back straight half a dozen broke clear with northern raider Noble Alan travelling noticeably well before falling at the third-last fence. Popham took up the running approaching the second-last but Great Endeavour joined him and looked as if he was going to add to his Festival win in March. However, despite the huge weight difference, Poquelin (16-1) found plenty and held off Timmy Murphy's mount by a length. Sunnyhillboy stayed on from a mile back for third with Calgary Bay fourth. Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said: "I thought he was a big price even though he was disappointing in the Paddy Power, he doesn't like that track (Old Course) when it is watered in the autumn and he does prefer this New Course. "Ian gave him a peach of a ride and I thought that if he ran to his Ryanair form he would have a big chance. "He ran well on his seasonal debut in the Old Roan against Monet's Garden and I thought the handicapper was a bit harsh - but he has been proved right and he has run to his true mark today." Popham said: "It's a dream to ride horses like this and he made my life so easy, he travelled and jumped so well. "The plan was to go down the inner the whole way - turning into the straight we got a nice gap and he really flew up the straight. "The ground was the key to him today, he zips off this better ground."
