IRISH RAIDER IS MUDDY MARVELLOUS Streets ahead!

MICKY WINTERS kept his word after saddling Chatham Street Lad to take the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup when rolling in the mud at Cheltenham.

Over the years, there have been some memorable scenes in the Gloucestershire course’s hallowed winners’ enclosure but Winters’ antics were a first, much to the delight of the cheering racegoers.

“A pig is never happier than rolling in the muck,” said Winters.

“I said if I had a winner at Cheltenham, I will get down and roll in the mud.”

Winters, without doubt one of the characters of the game, also knows the time of day when it comes to training racehorses.

Despite lacking the experience of his rivals,

Chatham Street Lad jumped like an old pro under Darragh O’Keeffe when coming home by 15 lengths from Midnight Shadow, with Benatar taking third place.

“That was fabulous,” added Winters. “I would love to come back for the Festival in March with him.

“I’ll have to ask the owners but I think they will agree.” Owner Vivian Healy and three of his mates were milking the occasion as they cheered in the unsaddling enclosure.

“It was a big ask, we can’t believe it,” said Healy.

“Everybody said we were a bit mad but it’s come off. And, of course, we will be back.”

More Irish success followed when Make Good, partnered by

Richard Johnson, took the Albert Bartlett Hurdle for Co. Meath trainer John McConnell.

Hopes of Goshen putting behind him his wretched misfortune of losing last season’s Triumph Hurdle evaporated in the Unibet

International Hurdle after he finished last of the 10 runners.

With three hurdles omitted, owing to the low sun, Goshen refused to settle and hung throughout the contest won by Song For Someone. Goshen is now

CUP WINNER: Chatham Street Lad unlikely to make the Champion Hurdle gig this time around, as is Song For Someone, according to winning rider Aidan Coleman.

Make Good, trained by John McConnell, sprinted clear in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.