When everyone expected to see Galopin Des Champs complete a treble on Gold Cup Day, it was not to be. Instead the gold and green colours of J P Mc Manus were victorious in the Boodles sponsored Gold Cup that went off at 4.00 pm at a packed and excited Prestbury Park. Supplemented for fee £25,000 fee into the race in the last week, connections were obviously happy to take on the investment.
Over the trip Mark Walsh picked up the champion jumper was not jumping well and followed him for most of the race. It became apparent approaching the second last Inothewayurthing was going the better of Galopin Des Champs. The Gavin Cromwell, seven year old, jumped well at the last and hit the turbo up the hill to win by an impressive six lengths. The Willie Mullins, nine year old star could find no more. In credit to Galopin Des Champs he was over 12 lengths from the third horse home the M F Morris trained Gentlemansgame.
This was an outstanding training achievement for the Cromwell yard who have well established themselves at the top of the tree in racing circles. Gavin Cromwell also enjoyed success this week with another winner on Stumptown in the Cross Country Chase over 3m 51/2 f.
He also had a number of other horses finish in the frame. A good week by any standards but this in Cheltenham.
Finally in the last race of the festival Gordon Elliott’s got a winner on Wodhooh at 9/2 winning the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap. An emotional Elliott couldn’t hide his tough week were he kept ‘hitting the bar’ but finally obliged for the local syndicate, such is the emotion of racing and the will to win.
No doubt Willie Mullins and his team with ten winners at Cheltenham are the bench mark and standard but the Meath trainers still came away with winners and pride intact. There will be plenty of celebrations in Balrath and indeed St Patrick’s weekend will be remembered for many a year in the county.
It’s all about the way you think or is it ? Well done Team Cromwell.
