VICTORY for the Irish comes no sweeter than in the Gold Cup and if favourite Beef Or Salmon yet again failed to lead the shamrock-bedecked hordes to their racing Valhalla, Mouse Morris, Conor O’Dwyer and War Of Attrition stepped into the breach to bring racing’s Blue Riband home for the second consecutive year.

Ruby Walsh was crowned champion jockey at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival but it took until the last race of the meeting before he clinched the Racing Post-sponsored trophy.

Aidan O’Brien has had his hands on the Racing Post Trophy four times in the last eight years and must fancy putting the prize back on the mantelpiece again tomorrow with Septimus.

Frankie Dettori led the Rest of the World team to a convincing 138-102 victory over Great Britain & Ireland in the Shergar Cup at Ascot .