Inca so Brave for the boys of Wexford
Brave Inca was backed from as high as 11-2 in the morning, ending a rock-solid 7-2 favourite on-course.
For Murphy, who learned much of his trade with Aidan O’Brien, it was the culmination of a long season’s planning.
The six-year-old has gone through the entire campaign unbeaten, with Murphy staying loyal to Barry Cash when another handler might have turned to a more fashionable pilot.
Cash, partnering his first Festival winner, gave Brave Inca a superb drive. Brave Inca and War Of Attrition, he was backed from 50-1 to 33’s, emerged as the principals from two out.
War Of Attrition was fastest away from that flight and turned for home with a narrow advantage.
The pair were in the air together at the last, but it was Brave Inca who found that bit more on the flat to score by a hard-earned neck.
Cash looked to the skies in thanksgiving, having fulfilled all his childhood dreams. Said Cash: “This is super, Colm had him spot-on.
“He never gives instructions but told me to ride him handy today. The horse jumped and travelled great and kept pulling it out.
“The first time I rode at Cheltenham was as an amateur, when finishing last on Steel Mirror in the Kim Muir, and this is my first professional ride here.
“It’s a bit better this time round! I have never experienced anything like this before.
“He made a mistake at the second last, otherwise it would have been easier. He galloped all the way to the line and was never going to be passed.”
There were tremendous scenes when Brave Inca came back in triumph, as his owners, the Novices’ Syndicate - the first horse they have owned - celebrated in style. The Syndicate has seven members, made up of two familes from south Dublin, the O’Tierneys and the Creans.
Murphy (29) who spent six years with O’Brien and one with Charlie Swan, was saddling his first ever runner at the Festival. He commented: “It’s unbelievable, you hope for this, but can’t really dream about it.
“He is a smashing horse and his work at home would frighten you. He is improving all the time.
“We were thinking about the SunAlliance, but were worried about the ground being a bit fast. Everything is up in the air as to where he will go now. I’m not ruling anything out, but we will see how he is before making decisions. This is what it is all about, I cannot describe the feeling.”
Conor O’Dwyer, while thrilled with the display of War Of Attrition, was bitterly disappointed at meeting defeat.
“My horse just wouldn’t give in and will be a stone better next season”, reported O’Dwyer. “I would prefer to have been beaten a length!”
Mouse Morris indicated that his star, who carried the colours of the Gigginstown Stud owned by Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary, will now be put away until the autumn.
O’Dwyer was later given a three-day ban for hitting War Of Attrition in the wrong place, but, in the light of subsequent events, will hardly lose any sleep over that.
Irish hopes were dashed, however, when Tom Taaffe’s Kicking King couldn’t get to grips with Well Chief and Tony McCoy in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy.
Well Chief is a very talented five-year-old, who almost gave the contest away at the final fence.
He grabbed a decisive lead over the hard ridden runner-up turning for home, but blundered badly at that obstacle.
Momentarily, it looked as if Kicking King might get back at him, but McCoy soon galvanised his charge and the winner was on top close home.
Commented Barry Geraghty of Kicking King: “My horse ran a cracker. I thought I had a chance when the other fellow made that mistake, but McCoy’s picked up again and we were beaten by a better horse.”
Said trainer, Tom Taaffe: “It’s hard luck, but I’m thrilled. We were outpaced by a quicker horse and I would say will be aiming at the Gold Cup next year.
“I spoke to Martin Pipe the other day and he said that Therealbandit and Old Vic were his only chances this year!”
Said Martin Pipe of Well Chief: “It is always brilliant to have a winner at Cheltenham, it is the Olympics of racing.
“We wanted to give him another run before we came here, but just ran out of time. He jumped really well and that is down to Jonothan Lower, who has done all his schooling at home and said from the moment he first jumped a hurdle that chasing would be his game.”
Pipe later completed a double when Maximize came from a semmingly impossible position to grab long-time leader Merchants Friend close home in the Kim Muir.
It was agonising for Paul Cashman, son of Rathbarry Stud owner, Liam, who rode the second.
He had given him a dashing drive and Merchants Friend was clear going to the third last. He still held a long lead, some 15 lengths, over the final fence, but stopped to a walk on the run-in.
G V A Ireland, representing the father and son combination of Francis and Fran Flood, led over the last in the Pertemps Final, but was eventually beaten half a lengthy by Creon.
Trained by John Joe O’Neill, the winner is owned by J P McManus, was ridden by Timmy Murphy and went off a 50-1 shot.
