Sweeney impresses on Sleeping Night in Foxhunters
There were some doubts about the horse's ability to get round, he often skims his fences, but the very talented Sweeney did a totally professional job.
He pushed him to the front approaching the home turn and kept Sleeping Night running in powerful style as Foly Pleasant threatened to challenge from the final fence.
Commented Nicholls: "Basically he's a horse who has had loads of problems and it has taken six months work to qualify for this that's just the job.
"He was injured in 2003, when just behind Baracouda, and I said to the owner to leave him with me and I would win the Foxhunters.
"He has got hardly any vision in his right eye and if he comes out of this may go for the Scottish National.
"We could, however, call it a day and head for the Henessy (Newbury) next season. He won't run in any more hunters chases."
Colman Sweeney said: "Since I've been a kid I've been dreaming of this moment. I would have been happy just to come here, never mind ride a winner it's unbelievable."
A truly memorable week for Ireland was completed when Mouse Morris' Fota Island simply streaked away with the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.
It left a delighted Morris a trifle perplexed as well. Reportedly, Tuesday's Arkle failure, War Of Attrition, had been proving much superior to Fota Island on the Morris gallops.
But it was Fota Island, owned by J P McManus, who did it on the track, easing to the front over two out for Paul Carberry.
A loose horse was the only real worry in the closing stages, as the massive Fota Island sprinted away.
"He's done that well, as he's only a novice', said Morris. "We managed to avoid the loose horse and this has made up for Tuesday. He is a class horse on his day. We have no great plans, but I expect he will go to Punchestown."
Said Carberry: "It is great to have another winner at the Festival (Oulart was the other). It was a bit worrying when the loose horse came at me and I didn't know which way to go to avoid him.
"First of all he went one way and so I switched to his outside and then he went back the other way, I didn't know what to do. At the last I sat behind him in case he ran out."
Said McManus: "I didn't have a bet. Financially, it has not been a great Festival for me, I had a couple of bets yesterday and left the money with the boys."
In any case, Fota Island took Ireland's tally for the week to nine, a new record by one. And, of course, we won the three main races of the meeting, the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase.
Eric McNamara's Strangely Brown looked the best of our juveniles facing into the J C B Triumph Hurdle and that proved to be the case.
Sadly, however, it only took him into sixth place, victory going to the Robert Thornton ridden Penzance.
Strangely Brown could not lie up for most of the journey and it was only in the closing stages he began to do his best work.
Penzance led heading to the final flight and was soon challenged by Faasel. The latter, however, hung fire on the run in and there was a neck between the principals at the line.
"I thought the winning post would never come, it was the longest furlong of my life", said winning trainer, Alan King.
"My horse travelled well through the race and battled up the hill. Any doubts about his stamina were unfounded.
"I am relived, we had a mixed three days before this. Most of my other horses have not run very well and my confidence was at rock bottom this morning.
"I was worried after the last, thank God the winning post came in the end. I have no idea about him running again this season, though there has to be the possibility of Aintree or Punchestown."
Howard Johnson's Akilak was a big order in the market, but could only plug on for third. "He has to have some juice in the ground', reported Johnson. "We'll keep him ticking over and maybe go to Punchestown, if the ground is right."
Thornton was on the mark as well in the following Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle on Francois Doumen's Moulin Riche.
There was only going to be one winner from early in the straight, with the French raider proving far too good for his rivals.
It was a second success of the week for Doumen to go with Kelami's victory on Tuesday. Said Doumen: "Other than Baracouda being beaten, I am 200% satisfied with the way this year's Festival has gone.
"Moulin Riche will run at Aintree and after that go back to France for a rest before a steeplechasing campaign in the Autumn. I hadn't really thought about this year's King George for him, but he is a typical horse for that he stays forever on any ground. But he would need to get to know the English fences
"As for next year's Gold Cup, we will need to see how he jumps a fence before I can start thinking about that, but obviously it could be a target."
Commented Thornton: "He was always going well and though he missed the one at the top of the hill that had no affect on me and it meant I didn't get to the front too soon."
A major gamble went astray on the favourite, Brewster. He was always close to the lead, but could only stay on one-paced in the closing stages and may have found the surface on the fast side.
Yesterday's attendance was 66,767. The total crowd for the first four-day Festival was 231,000, up more than 35,000 on a year ago.
