Punch lands showpiece

Persian Punch had to call on his renowned battling qualities to wrest the Lady O Goodwood Cup from holder Jardines Lookout at the Sussex track yesterday.

Despite being headed by his four-year-younger rival two furlongs out, the 10-year-old bravely fought back under Martin Dwyer to record a short-head verdict in a heart-stopping finish.

The veteran was cheered to the echo by his adoring fans, and owner Jeff Smith was almost lost for words.

'It´s not often I´m speechless,' said the emotional Smith. 'He really is a war horse. It´s unreal, extraordinary, we have run out of superlatives for him.

'Looking back to last year when Persian Punch finished last after almost certainly having set off too fast in front, it was just one of those things, and just look at what he has done now.

'He has won two Goodwood Cups and 11 Group races in all and we should just be here and enjoy the moment because I don´t think we´ll see the likes of him again.

'He´s such a wonderful old horse and loves his racing. He enjoys the challenge of other horses taking him on - if it wasn´t a battle he wouldn´t be happy.'

Smith also praised trainer David Elsworth: 'I have also run out of superlatives for David. I think it is no coincidence that the same man has trained two such outstanding horses as Persian Punch and Desert Orchid - there is a genius about the man.'

An exhausted Dwyer was also euphoric. 'He makes you work, the old boy, he really does,' said the successful jockey.

'I think he was taking the mickey out of me because he knows where the winning post is.

'Towards the end when I was tiring, he went, ´right, come on, let´s go on and win´. He is an amazing horse.'

One group unhappy at the finish to yesterday´s showpiece were the bookmakers, who saw almost #250,000 taken from there satchels after the dramatic battle.

'It became a bloodbath out there,' said one disgruntled layer. 'It´s become like Cheltenham revisited.'