High flyer hits gold
And with Cork horse Whyso Mayo taking the very next race, the Christie's Foxhunters Chase, the Irish ended up with a record-breaking ten festival victories to send the travelling support home in an even more delirious state of mind and finances than even St Patrick himself could have hoped for.
But it was the War Of Attrition team, including the owner, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, who sent the Irish home happiest.
But while his trainer Michael Hourigan, was finally forced to admit that Beef Or Salmon would never be a main course at Cheltenham, the Irish can now relish the fact that War Of Attrition can be expected to lock horns with last year's winner, the injured Kicking King, in next year's renewal.
And even with a full 12 months to go, the potential duel is already creating massive anticipation.
But yesterday was War Of Attrition's day and, in leading and Irish 1-2-3 in the Gold Cup, ahead of Hedgehunter and Forget The Past, the seven-year-old finally confirmed the potential he showed here in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle when he was only just touched off by Brave Inca.
It was truly a special performance from War Of Attrition and Morris was only too glad to lay credit at the door of Conor O'Dwyer who, just days short of his 40th birthday, wrapped up his fourth victory at Cheltenham.
He's not giving it up either as War Of Attrition will hopefully becoming back next year to defend his title and he intends to be riding.
Mouse described O'Dwyer as having given his horse "a peach of a ride" and was not the only one jockey himself included who recalled the ride he gave Imperial Call in the same race ten years ago.
"I gave him no instructions whatsoever," Mouse said. "At this stage of his life he doesn't need them. He knows his way around here and he stuck to his guns, taking him wide all the way around and well out of trouble until he kicked for home at the top of the hill. It wasn't bad for an ould fella."
The trainer admitted that he didn't feel under any pressure before the race and said he was actually under more stress last year when the horse failed to live up to favouritism in the Arkle, finishing a poor seventh. But yesterday's result demonstrated that the Arkle distance had patently been too short for the horse and as well as being a race for which the preparations had been difficult.
This year the run-up was unhindered and although there were doubts that War Of Attrition would get the Gold Cup trip, Morris said while they were never confident going into a race of this stature, they planned their tactics to give the horse the best chance of lasting the distance.
"I walked the course beforehand and told Conor I didn't mind if he came up the inside or ran on the outside. The only place I didn't want him to be was in the middle because that was where the ground was worst," he said.
O'Dwyer added that he had initially started down the inner but quickly switched to the outside when he realised he was following the dodgy jumper Iris's Gift. "I certainly didn't want to be there, so I switched to the outer early on and from there on it was really like the ride I had on Imperial Call."
As the connections celebrated in the winner's enclosure, Ruby Walsh (later to secure the jockey's title for the festival thanks to victory in the Coral Cup on Desert Quest), who had given last year's Grand National winner Hedgehunter a brilliant ride into second, complimented all concerned.
"Great win lads, but I thought I had ye at the second last," he quipped.
"I bloody well thought so too," laughed owner O'Leary. "I thought I was going to get a heart attack."
However, with the spoils claimed, the Ryanair boss and owner of the Gigginstown Stud operation which nominally owns War of Attrition, was only too glad to give due credit to trainer and jockey.
"It was a fantastic training performance by Mouse and a great ride from Conor. I never believed I'd see a day like this, but credit to Mouse because of the way he's handled the horse. He was always determined that we took the slow road and every decision he's made has been correct," he said.
There will, of course be some sympathy for Michael Hourigan and Beef Or Salmon, especially given the weight of expectation on them yesterday. The horse obviously does not click at Cheltenham, but the despondent trainer put as brave a face as he could muster on his performance.
"I have to believe that he just doesn't like it here," he reflected. "We'll have to find another horse to come back here with."
A fantastic meeting then for the Irish and, while they might not have won every fight, they certainly won with War.
