Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Mullins delighted with Photo finish
I’d sort of resigned myself to never winning the Gold Cup, admits Irish trainer
WILLIE Mullins tasted victory in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup for the first time as Al Boum Photo triumphed in a dramatic running of the showpiece event at Prestbury Park.
Leading at the second-last fence, Al Boum Photo (12-1) dug deep for jockey Paul Townend, who was also winning the Festival blue riband for the first time.
Anibale Fly stayed on strongly to finish in second place, two-and-ahalf lengths away, with Bristol De
Mai another three-and-threequarter lengths back in third.
After six second places, trainer Mullins finally broke his Gold Cup hoodoo. His three other runners – Kemboy, Bellshill and Invitation Only – failed to finish. It was later reported Invitation Only had suffered a fatal injury.
Mullins, pictured right, said: “I’ve got used to the disappointment of finishing second.
“I thought Bellshill would take a lot of beating, but Ruby (Walsh, jockey) wasn’t happy with him and pulled him up early. To have three of the four runners out of the race
before they came to the second-last first time round – I was depending on one.
“Every time I looked at Paul, his body language told me was very happy and the horse was relaxed.
“When he came over the last, I just looked at the winning post and thought nothing would come and get him unless he stops or runs out or something like that.
“I was here when my dad (Paddy Mullins) won with Dawn Run and I didn’t get home for two days.
“I’d sort of resigned myself to
last season, dramatically running out when in the lead – said: “I can’t believe it. It’s the Gold Cup, there’s only one a year and I never dreamt I’d win it. Like any race, when you’re going well it’s so simple. It’s unbelievable and I’m privileged to be riding for Willie Mullins.”
Anibale Fly ran a huge race to better this third place from 12 months ago. His trainer Tony Martin said: “He’s run a blinder, but this was the one time I didn’t want Willie to win the Gold Cup!
“He is in the National again and obviously he was placed in it last year after running so well in the Gold Cup before, but he’s had a hard race there. We’ll just have to see how he is, it’s only three weeks away.”
Nigel Twiston-Davies had a word for those who might have written off the chance of Bristol De Mai.
He said: “The experts are the experts and I haven’t got a clue why they are experts. He was the joint top-rated in the race and he got beat, so maybe they are right! He’s been very sound this year. When he ran in this two years ago he’d had problems, but he’s been fine this year.
“He’s just top class, not just at Haydock, anywhere – he’s just finished third in the Gold Cup.”
Defending champion Native River was fourth, with Presenting Percy, the 100-30 favourite, in eighth.
Meanwhile, Pentland Hills caused a 20-1 shock in the JCB Triumph Hurdle for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.
He did not make his hurdling debut until the end of last month when winning at Plumpton.
De Boinville had plenty in front of him coming down the hill, as Quel Destin, Coeur Sublime and stablemate Adjali were still in contention.
Pentland Hills was still moving sweetly on the long run to the last, though, and powered up the hill to beat Gordon Elliott’s Coeur Sublime by three lengths, with Gardens Of Babylon third. The winner was given a 25-1 quote for next year’s Champion Hurdle by Paddy Power.