Joncol sees off Cooldine in Hennessy thriller
Joncol looked all over a winner of the Lexus on this track previously, before weakening to finish third behind What A Friend and Money Trix.
Nolan reasoned that, on his orders, Cawley had made too much use of the seven-year-old on that occasion and such behaviour was not to be repeated.
Cawley carried out the instructions to perfection, as Ruby Walsh carried them along on Cooldine.
Willie Mullins had been rather negative regarding Cooldine’s prospects all week, but he was a major touch in the ring, finding 5-2 from 4-1.
Cooldine jumped well in front, but for guessing at the sixth, and ran an absolute blinder.
Schindlers Hunt looked the main danger going to the final fence, but was always going to struggle to get home and Cooldine had his measure at the back of the obstacle.
Cawley had allowed Joncol to lob along on the heels of the leaders for most of the journey, but the massive gelding lost his place a little heading to the second last.
Explained Cawley: “He’s a big horse and just got tightened up a bit at that stage.”
He was soon back in contention, however, but then tended to hang towards the stands on the run in.
Cawley kept his cool, though, and powered Joncol through to mount a stirring late surge.
Gradually Joncol, owned by Kay and Dan Browne from Douglas, Co Cork, closed down Cooldine, getting on top close home to win by a neck.
Nolan, who didn’t enter Joncol for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, said: “I’m just delighted, this was his big day, today was his Gold Cup.
“I was worried about running him in three Grade 1’s in-a-row. I didn’t give the horse too much work, kept him fresh and then you are afraid they will blow up.
“We will see how he is before deciding if he should go for the Ryanair at Cheltenham, I’d say that’s 50-50.
“I don’t know if he’s a future Gold Cup horse. He has to improve about 20lbs and I hope he will.”
Said Cawley: “That was brilliant, he jumped from fence to fence. He tried his hardest and kept his head down. I want to thank the Brownes and the Nolans for letting me keep the ride.”
Ruby Walsh said of Cooldine: “He ran a cracker and did everyhing right. Match practice just beat him, but he ran his heart out and is as honest as the days are long.”
Mullins said of Cooldine: “I am delighted with that, he ran much better than I thought he would. He goes straight to the Gold Cup now.”
