Wily Walsh earns a Gold star
Ruby Walsh went down the inside on Kauto Star to land yesterday’s totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup and only a man utterly at peace with his talent could have taken such a decision.
Kauto Star simply exploded in the closing stages, despite his now trademark blunder at the final fence, to beat a gallant Exotic Dancer and fulfil a boyhood dream for Walsh, surely one of the greatest, if not the greatest, National Hunt riders of all time.
There was a major doubt about the horse’s jumping coming into the race and, you suspected, Walsh would go the outside route, at least for a circuit.
Not a bit of it. He set off on the inside and only left it when challenging turning in to face the second last.
Was it always your intention to do that, I questioned? “Yes, he's a horse who has a tendency to jump to his left and I was never going to go anywhere else.
“He's a great horse, the best I have ever ridden. There is always pressure, it is part of life, part of racing.
“He was very well prepared. The more I looked at the race the more I thought I would win. As Tony Martin said to me last night the only thing that could beat us was bad luck. All I wanted was for Kauto to settle and he did.
“I only played a small part in this. Paul (Nicholls) and all his staff are a great team. I was worried, I might have gone to the front a bit soon.”
Walsh made light of Kauto Star's error at the final fence, when he again banked the obstacle. “It was nothing'', his face bursting with pride.
“That didn’t worry me, I was far more concerned with McCoy (on Exotic Dancer), I could see him trying to challenge.”
Beef Or Salmon enjoyed some time in the lead, but it was the winner’s stable companion, Neptune Collonges, who went for glory going out for the final time.
Kauto Star never gave the slightest indication he might fall, as Walsh hunted him round with typical patience.
McCoy was even more patient, staying right at the back for much of the journey. Calmly, the two giants of the game worked their charges into the contest.
Walsh took no chances as they swung for home, easing to the outside of the field. McCoy was quickly in hot pursuit.
Two from home, Kauto Star was in front and the question now was would his unproven stamina be up to facing the hill.
Exotic Dancer tried hard to close and had to switch to the right of a loose horse after the last, after Kauto Star had given those who had hammered him in the betting ring a heart-stopping moment at that final fence.
And then the stands erupted as Kauto Star powered clear and confirm the opinion of his pilot that he truly is a “machine.”
Never have I seen Walsh so animated. He waved his whip in triumph and repeatedly punched the air.
Then, as he was about to enter the winner’s enclose, Walsh had a special wave for someone high up in the skies. It was his father, Ted, working for Channel 4.
Said Ruby: “This is a great, I think he is a wonderful horse. He has had his knockers, but everyone has their opinion. I didn’t even think about the last fence.”
Nicholls, successful previously in the race with See More Business, described winning the Gold Cup as the pinnacle of his career.
“What a brilliant performance,” said Nicholls. “We have always believed in him and he’s been awesome, different class and jumped so well.
“The last wasn’t a real problem. He was going uphill and never looked like falling, but perhaps he just panics a little in front.
“It was great when See More Business won, but with all the doubters about this horse it’s been a very special today.
“It’s the pinnacle and brilliant for Ruby and all the team at home. The whole thing is just a brilliant day.
“I’ll talk to Clive (Smith, owner) and Ruby and see about plans. He could go to Aintree, but we’ll see. We’ve done it now and may just look after him a bit next season.
“I have never in my time in racing heard so much rubbish talked about him. He’s won six on the trot, in the Tingle Creek he beat the Champion Chase winner (Voy Por Ustedes) and there’s all these doubters.
“I told Ruby to take no notice of what anyone says, you go out there and do what you do best. It feels brilliant, unbelievable. I cannot tell you how nerve-racking the last month has been. “Everyone has had their doubts about Denman and Kauto Star, but they are good horses and we got them right on the day.”
For owner-Smith is was a massive pay-day. He scopped the prizemoney, obviously, but even more importanly the best part of £1m (€1.46m) bonus put up by Betfair for adding this to previous victories in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the King George at Kempton.
Said Smith: “The money will go, but the Gold Cup will always be with me. I can’t tell you how excited I am. I think he just teased us at the last and then was clear.”
Exotic Dancer’s trainer, Jonjo O’Neill, said: “I’m delighted, our horse has run a blinder. The best horse won, but we beat the rest.
“Kauto was always going well and I could see the only way we were gooing to beat him was if a mistake stopped him in his tracks. We just weren’t going to get past, but I will take second best chaser in Britain any day.”
