O’Donoghue out of Kerry bid to end Dublin streak
A record Festival for Irish raiders as Elliott edges out Mullins for trainer’s title
All-Star full-forward, hit 1-6 in Kerry’s vital victory over the Rossies two weeks ago as they kept their final aspirations alive and the Dingle ace will be expected to carry the scoring burden once again in an inside line flanked by rookies Kevin McCarthy and Jack Savage.
It’s just over two years since the Kingdom inflicted the last defeat on Jim Gavin’s back-toback All-Ireland champions and the game has an added spice given the Dubs’ recent domination of Kerry, with four successive championship beatings in recent years.
It’s usually taken with a pinch of salt when Gavin names his side and he has listed the same 15 which brushed Mayo aside by 12 points two weeks ago with impressive new faces like Conor McHugh and Niall Scully given more time to take their chance.
Old hands like Diarmuid Connolly and Cian O’Sullivan are expected to get game-time, however, so there could be highprofile changes before throw-in.
IN THE END, he had to prove his stamina at the expense of two of the strongest stayers in training, but Sizing John did that and more in a stunning 7/1 Gold Cup success at a heaving Prestbury Park.
In defying the doubters who insisted the hill would blunt his kick, Alan Potts’ steed was achieving all manner of firsts. Neither Jessica Harrington nor Robbie Power had any involvement in the great race before. Potts was fulfilling a lifelong ambition.
He is said to have belittled Sizing Europe’s 2011 Champion Chase win: it wasn’t a Gold Cup. Reports say he tried to acquire a staying rival this season but failed. He spends big on pointers. Money no matter in pursuit of Gold.
UNCOMPLICATED
It was all so uncomplicated: Sizing John cantered through the race, took it up going best at the last from the faltering Djakadam – which had a perfect trip – and had too much for the staying-on duo of Native River and Minella Rocco.
Power’s faith in the horse is pronounced, yet a career-defining day for man and beast involved deviation. “I can’t believe it,” the trainer said “and it was amazing how he jumped and travelled. Robert said he wasn’t going to go down the inside – but he did. It’s absolutely fantastic.”
Cue Card repeated his third-last tumble of 2016 but looked unlikely to play a starring role in any event. The surprise was how Djakadam faded into fourth, Willie Mullins’ pursuit of a first win in the race unlikely to end at the hands of what now seems a dubious stayer. Everything had gone like clockwork for a sublime Ruby Walsh.
Days like those toss the hoop at the target and it snares two prizes. Rock The World (10/1) doubled up for Harrington and Power in the finale; now time for these longtime allies to assure each other it could hardly be a dream if they corroborated dazzling details.
Moreover, the Irish rout of the British in a friendly but ultimately relevant battle for the Betbright Cup was staggering. The visitors went to battle outnumbered, yet the rivalry within the camp was such that 19 winners were concocted by seven trainers. From the military might of Gordon Elliott to the slingshot of Pat Kelly, the collective effort reinforced that we do horse-racing better than pretty much everything – a reminder that stereotypes need challenging on our national day.
Paul Townend rode a couple of winners for Mullins, our 16/1 tip Penhill getting a sweet steer in the Albert Bartlett, while 20/1 Arctic Fire took the County. “He’s just a bit unlucky,” Mullins said, “he’s around the same time as Ruby. But he has a head for the big day as well.”
In the end, Elliott and Mullins shared a dozen winners, Elliott taking the Irish Independentsponsored award on the equivalent of transferred votes. Ruby’s four got him his tenth title.
Privileged are we, party to it all.