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A £27,500 supplementary entry fee paid a handsome dividend today for owners Andrea and Graham Wylie when their horse On His Own finished second in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.
In a compelling finish, the eventual winner Lord Windermere, plus On His Own and third-placed The Giant Bolster fought out a close finish on the stands' rail, while on the other side of the course fourth-placed Silviniaco Conti got the better of a duel with favourite Bobs Worth. On His Own, a 16/1 shot, was beaten a short-head, but was three-quarters of a length ahead of The Giant Bolster, who started at 14/1.
After a stewards' enquiry the first past the post, Lord Windermere, was adjudged the winner, but Wylie said: "It was well worth spending the money to supplement him. I'm not at all disappointed, just proud of the horse. He did better than we expected. Coming down to the second-last I thought he might be sixth or seventh, but then his stamina kicked in and he flew up the hill.
"It was Willie's idea to come here, but after he won the Bobbyjo Chase he and Ruby suggested he might make a Gold Cup horse. When Cue Card came out we decided to put him in. This was a hard race so we'll see, but Punchestown is an obvious one."
On His Own's trainer said he would consider lodging an appeal against the result, but admitted he would have been delighted if, this morning, someone had said he would finish second. Mullins added: "Four weeks ago he was a handicapper going for the Grand National, but after he won the Bobbyjo Chase I said let's go for the Punchestown Gold Cup, and when I got home I looked up the cost of supplementing for this race.
"I discussed it with Graham, went through the form and reckoned he could get into the mix. David [Casey] gave him a great ride."
David Bridgwater said of The Giant Bolster, whose Betfred Gold Cup form reads second, fourth and now third, said: "That was brilliant. It wasn't the smoothest race and he had traffic problems, but I'm delighted. I think you will look at that race and with a bit of luck say we could have won. I hope people realise he's a good horse now."
Owner Simon Hunt added: "David Bridgwater's Gold Cup record is brilliant, and this horse has won three times on Trials Day. David has turned himself inside out for this horse - he's a dream horse who we bought as a three-year-old. David deserves more horses."
Tom Scudamore who rode The Giant Bolster, said: "What a wonderful horse to be placed in three Gold Cups. I hope he and David Bridgwater get the credit they deserve."
Paul Nicholls said of fourth-placed Silviniaco Conti: "He ran a blinder. He jumped the last in front and could do no more. He ran right and then left and was left on his own a bit. The first three helped each other, but I'm not complaining."
REACTION FROM BEATEN JOCKEYS & NICKY HENDERSON AFTER THE BETFRED CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
Noel Fehily, rider of fourth Silviniaco Conti, said: "He ran a blinder - he galloped all the way to the line."
Barry Geraghty, on board last year's winner and 6/4 favourite Bobs Worth, who finished fifth, said: "I was on the stretch a lot of the way. I know I thought he wanted better ground but he just didn't have the pace for really good ground. Because I was on the stretch his jumping was under pressure. He ran a good race - he ran his heart out but just didn't get there at the last. It was hard work for him today. You can't expect to win every year. There are plenty of years for him - he's a young horse."
Nicky Henderson, trainer of Bobs Worth ,added: "He's not done an awful lot wrong. He was outpaced a little bit most of the way and the ground was possibly a little bit quick for him."
Paul Carberry, rider of sixth Lyreen Legend, said: "He ran a great race but just missed the second last - they probably went a bit slow for him."
Nick Scholfield, partner of eighth Teaforthree, said: "It was a perfect trial for the Grand National. He ran a great race and jumped super - he just couldn't quite go with the rest two out. I would definitely fancy him for the National - it was the perfect prep race for it."
A P McCoy, jockey of 10th Triolo D'Alene, said: "I got a great ride off him."
In a compelling finish, the eventual winner Lord Windermere, plus On His Own and third-placed The Giant Bolster fought out a close finish on the stands' rail, while on the other side of the course fourth-placed Silviniaco Conti got the better of a duel with favourite Bobs Worth. On His Own, a 16/1 shot, was beaten a short-head, but was three-quarters of a length ahead of The Giant Bolster, who started at 14/1.
After a stewards' enquiry the first past the post, Lord Windermere, was adjudged the winner, but Wylie said: "It was well worth spending the money to supplement him. I'm not at all disappointed, just proud of the horse. He did better than we expected. Coming down to the second-last I thought he might be sixth or seventh, but then his stamina kicked in and he flew up the hill.
"It was Willie's idea to come here, but after he won the Bobbyjo Chase he and Ruby suggested he might make a Gold Cup horse. When Cue Card came out we decided to put him in. This was a hard race so we'll see, but Punchestown is an obvious one."
On His Own's trainer said he would consider lodging an appeal against the result, but admitted he would have been delighted if, this morning, someone had said he would finish second. Mullins added: "Four weeks ago he was a handicapper going for the Grand National, but after he won the Bobbyjo Chase I said let's go for the Punchestown Gold Cup, and when I got home I looked up the cost of supplementing for this race.
"I discussed it with Graham, went through the form and reckoned he could get into the mix. David [Casey] gave him a great ride."
David Bridgwater said of The Giant Bolster, whose Betfred Gold Cup form reads second, fourth and now third, said: "That was brilliant. It wasn't the smoothest race and he had traffic problems, but I'm delighted. I think you will look at that race and with a bit of luck say we could have won. I hope people realise he's a good horse now."
Owner Simon Hunt added: "David Bridgwater's Gold Cup record is brilliant, and this horse has won three times on Trials Day. David has turned himself inside out for this horse - he's a dream horse who we bought as a three-year-old. David deserves more horses."
Tom Scudamore who rode The Giant Bolster, said: "What a wonderful horse to be placed in three Gold Cups. I hope he and David Bridgwater get the credit they deserve."
Paul Nicholls said of fourth-placed Silviniaco Conti: "He ran a blinder. He jumped the last in front and could do no more. He ran right and then left and was left on his own a bit. The first three helped each other, but I'm not complaining."
REACTION FROM BEATEN JOCKEYS & NICKY HENDERSON AFTER THE BETFRED CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP
Noel Fehily, rider of fourth Silviniaco Conti, said: "He ran a blinder - he galloped all the way to the line."
Barry Geraghty, on board last year's winner and 6/4 favourite Bobs Worth, who finished fifth, said: "I was on the stretch a lot of the way. I know I thought he wanted better ground but he just didn't have the pace for really good ground. Because I was on the stretch his jumping was under pressure. He ran a good race - he ran his heart out but just didn't get there at the last. It was hard work for him today. You can't expect to win every year. There are plenty of years for him - he's a young horse."
Nicky Henderson, trainer of Bobs Worth ,added: "He's not done an awful lot wrong. He was outpaced a little bit most of the way and the ground was possibly a little bit quick for him."
Paul Carberry, rider of sixth Lyreen Legend, said: "He ran a great race but just missed the second last - they probably went a bit slow for him."
Nick Scholfield, partner of eighth Teaforthree, said: "It was a perfect trial for the Grand National. He ran a great race and jumped super - he just couldn't quite go with the rest two out. I would definitely fancy him for the National - it was the perfect prep race for it."
A P McCoy, jockey of 10th Triolo D'Alene, said: "I got a great ride off him."
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