Nico de Boinville savours that golden moment on Coneygree. PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Updated 17.25
CONEYGREE GAVE CONNECTIONS an afternoon that they will never forget as he climbed the famous Cheltenham hill to win the 2015 Gold Cup.
The 7/1 shot made all the running to beat the Irish contenders Djakadam (10/1) and Road to Riches (8/1) into the place money.
All three, and fourth-place finisher Holywell, impressed in their first run in the Festival showpiece while the familiar faces of former champions Bobs Worth and Lord Windermere, and the favourite Silviniaco Conti, faded away.
There was little to separate the leaders as they soared over the final fence but none could stop Coneygree, ridden by Nico de Boinville, who won by a length-and-a-half on just his fourth start over fences.
He becomes the first novice to win the Gold Cup since Captain Christy in 1974 — 41 years ago.
It was a great result for the bookies who saw floods of cash for Silviniaco Conti and Carlingford Lough, ridden by AP McCoy on the final day of his final Festival, but not as much for Mark Bradstock’s winner.
Coneygree leads Road to Riches, left, and Djakadam, right, over the last. PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
“After the roller-coaster week we’ve had we have no complaints whatsoever,” a spokesman for Ladbrokes said.
Coneygree has done us a big favour and left punters a bit baffled.
“The gamble on Silviniaco Conti was huge. It would have been the worst result of the week by far and that’s a big shout given some of the wounds we’ve been nursing this week.”
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Ruby Walsh, bidding for his first Gold Cup win since 2009, chased home on the six-year-old Djakadam with Bryan Cooper two lengths further back in third on board Road to Riches in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud.
“He’s run a blinder for a six-year-old and gave it everything he had,” Walsh said. “Unfortunately it just wasn’t enough.”
Wicklow Brave and Paul Townend were eight-length winners of the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Earlier, Wicklow Brave stormed up the Cheltenham hill to win the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle at odds of 25/1 for Willie Mullins.
It was the Closutton trainer’s seventh winner of the week, matching the Festival record.
And when Killultagh Vic inched out Noble Endeavor to win the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, Mullins celebrated an unprecedented eighth that confirmed his position as the preeminent trainer in Great Britain and Ireland.
A delighted Luke Dempsey after his win on Killultagh Vic. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
There was plenty more for the Irish to smile about as Martello Tower gamely stayed on in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle to give Mags Mullins her first-ever Festival winner, while Nina Carberry and On The Fringe won the Foxhunter Chase for Enda Bolger in the colours of JP McManus.
There was no fairytale finale for McCoy who was sent off the 4/1 joint-favourite on Ned Buntline for the AP McCoy Grand Annual Chase, renamed in his honour, but could only finish fourth.
In the opener, Barry Geraghty waged on the bookies as Peace and Co won the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
The 2/1 favourite held on in a gripping finish to Friday’s opening race at the Cheltenham Festival and led home a 1-2-3 for trainer Nicky Henderson. Top Notch was second by a neck with Hargam four lengths back in third.
Peace and Co, far side, held off stablemate Top Notch to win the Triumph. PA Wire / Press Association Images
PA Wire / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Wicklow Brave’s shock success was Willie Mullins’ seventh winner of the week, matching the Festival record.
Eddie Harty’s Sort It Out ran on into second with Tony Martin’s Quick Jack and two more of the Mullins runners, Max Dynamite and Analifet, filling out the places.
Willie Mullins on Wicklow Brave: "He had a very favourable mark and he came wide, kept out of trouble and had lots in the tank."
It was a family affair in the Albert Bartlett as Danny Mullins, son of Mags, finished a half-length back in second on Milsean with Gigginstown stablemate No More Heroes in third.
There was a brief wait while stewards looked into possible interference between second and third before the result was upheld.
RESULTS 1.30pm – JCB Triumph Hurdle
1st – Peace and Co (2/1f)
2nd – Top Notch (7/1)
3rd – Hargam (8/1)
2.05pm – Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle
1st – Wicklow Brave (25/1)
2nd – Sort It Out (17/2)
3rd – Quick Jack (8/1)
4th – Max Dynamite (14/1)
5th – Analifet (33/1)
2.40pm – Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
1st – Martello Tower (14/1)
2nd – Milsean (33/1)
3rd – No More Heroes (6/1)
3.20pm – Gold Cup
1st – Coneygree (7/1)
2nd – Djakadam (10/1)
3rd – Road To Riches (8/1)
4.00pm – Foxhunter Chase
1st – On The Fringe (6/1)
2nd – Following Dreams (50/1)
3rd – Paint The Clouds (11/4f)
4.40pm – Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
1st – Killultagh Vic (7/1)
2nd – Noble Endeavor (14/1)
3rd – Roi des Francs (3/1f)
4th – Kauto Grand Mogol (33/1)
5.15pm – AP McCoy Grand Annual Chase
1st – Next Sensation (16/1)
2nd – Eastlake (12/1)
3rd – Croco Bay (14/1)
4th – Ned Buntline (4/1jf)
Ruby Walsh has to settle for second as Coneygree makes history in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Updated 17.25
CONEYGREE GAVE CONNECTIONS an afternoon that they will never forget as he climbed the famous Cheltenham hill to win the 2015 Gold Cup.
The 7/1 shot made all the running to beat the Irish contenders Djakadam (10/1) and Road to Riches (8/1) into the place money.
All three, and fourth-place finisher Holywell, impressed in their first run in the Festival showpiece while the familiar faces of former champions Bobs Worth and Lord Windermere, and the favourite Silviniaco Conti, faded away.
There was little to separate the leaders as they soared over the final fence but none could stop Coneygree, ridden by Nico de Boinville, who won by a length-and-a-half on just his fourth start over fences.
He becomes the first novice to win the Gold Cup since Captain Christy in 1974 — 41 years ago.
It was a great result for the bookies who saw floods of cash for Silviniaco Conti and Carlingford Lough, ridden by AP McCoy on the final day of his final Festival, but not as much for Mark Bradstock’s winner.
“After the roller-coaster week we’ve had we have no complaints whatsoever,” a spokesman for Ladbrokes said.
“The gamble on Silviniaco Conti was huge. It would have been the worst result of the week by far and that’s a big shout given some of the wounds we’ve been nursing this week.”
Ruby Walsh, bidding for his first Gold Cup win since 2009, chased home on the six-year-old Djakadam with Bryan Cooper two lengths further back in third on board Road to Riches in the colours of Gigginstown House Stud.
“He’s run a blinder for a six-year-old and gave it everything he had,” Walsh said. “Unfortunately it just wasn’t enough.”
Earlier, Wicklow Brave stormed up the Cheltenham hill to win the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle at odds of 25/1 for Willie Mullins.
It was the Closutton trainer’s seventh winner of the week, matching the Festival record.
And when Killultagh Vic inched out Noble Endeavor to win the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle, Mullins celebrated an unprecedented eighth that confirmed his position as the preeminent trainer in Great Britain and Ireland.
There was plenty more for the Irish to smile about as Martello Tower gamely stayed on in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle to give Mags Mullins her first-ever Festival winner, while Nina Carberry and On The Fringe won the Foxhunter Chase for Enda Bolger in the colours of JP McManus.
There was no fairytale finale for McCoy who was sent off the 4/1 joint-favourite on Ned Buntline for the AP McCoy Grand Annual Chase, renamed in his honour, but could only finish fourth.
In the opener, Barry Geraghty waged on the bookies as Peace and Co won the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
The 2/1 favourite held on in a gripping finish to Friday’s opening race at the Cheltenham Festival and led home a 1-2-3 for trainer Nicky Henderson. Top Notch was second by a neck with Hargam four lengths back in third.
Wicklow Brave’s shock success was Willie Mullins’ seventh winner of the week, matching the Festival record.
Eddie Harty’s Sort It Out ran on into second with Tony Martin’s Quick Jack and two more of the Mullins runners, Max Dynamite and Analifet, filling out the places.
It was a family affair in the Albert Bartlett as Danny Mullins, son of Mags, finished a half-length back in second on Milsean with Gigginstown stablemate No More Heroes in third.
There was a brief wait while stewards looked into possible interference between second and third before the result was upheld.
RESULTS
1.30pm – JCB Triumph Hurdle
1st – Peace and Co (2/1f)
2nd – Top Notch (7/1)
3rd – Hargam (8/1)
2.05pm – Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle
1st – Wicklow Brave (25/1)
2nd – Sort It Out (17/2)
3rd – Quick Jack (8/1)
4th – Max Dynamite (14/1)
5th – Analifet (33/1)
2.40pm – Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
1st – Martello Tower (14/1)
2nd – Milsean (33/1)
3rd – No More Heroes (6/1)
3.20pm – Gold Cup
1st – Coneygree (7/1)
2nd – Djakadam (10/1)
3rd – Road To Riches (8/1)
4.00pm – Foxhunter Chase
1st – On The Fringe (6/1)
2nd – Following Dreams (50/1)
3rd – Paint The Clouds (11/4f)
4.40pm – Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
1st – Killultagh Vic (7/1)
2nd – Noble Endeavor (14/1)
3rd – Roi des Francs (3/1f)
4th – Kauto Grand Mogol (33/1)
5.15pm – AP McCoy Grand Annual Chase
1st – Next Sensation (16/1)
2nd – Eastlake (12/1)
3rd – Croco Bay (14/1)
4th – Ned Buntline (4/1jf)
Poll: Who do you think will win today’s Gold Cup at Cheltenham?
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Cheltenham Cheltenham 2015 Coneygree Horse Racing Peace and Co