Swords Prince favourite for Gold Cup after sparkling run

SWORDS PRINCE will start favourite to win the Tote Gold Cup next weekend after producing yet another brilliant display in posting the fastest semi-final time at Shelbourne Park on Saturday evening.

In contrast, there was less luck for the top two in the ante-post betting as Slip The Lark and Ballymac Bondi went crashing out.

Slip The Lark didn’t get away to the fast start he needed from six in Heat 2, while the Brian Madigan trained Swords Prince flashed out trap three and won the vital dash to the bend where he was closely pursued by Chieftain. The latter was baulked by Side Bet at this point and this left Swords Prince in a commanding lead.