War the real hero in Guinness drama
Victory went to Philip Hobbs’ Planet Of Sound, a 14-1 shot, but that was almost a sidebar to other factors in the contest.
The veteran and Cheltenham Gold Cup winner of 2006, War Of Attrition, emerged as the real hero of the race with a stunning display of courage and tenacity to fill second place.
Then it was Cooldine, who again ran far too keenly for his own good, in third and the puzzling Denman, who performed as if he had several corns in his feet!
Richard Johnson sent Planet Of Sound to the front going to four out and that was a brave move.
But Johnson got it exactly right and Planet Of Sound never flinched. Cooldine tried to renew his challenge going to the last, but could find no more, as the great War Of Attrition roared home.
Commented Hobbs: “I’m chuffed to bits. Richard said he was flat and gurgled at Cheltenham, but we put a tongue-tie on today and there was no noise. He’s won on soft ground, but is better when it’s good.
“He has been a forgotten horse and when I saw 25-1 in today’s paper I couldn’t believe it.
“We can dream all summer now. He has plenty of pace, so the King George would probably be the aim before Christmas and we can dream on after that. He could start off in something like the Betfair Chase at Haydock.”
Mouse Morris confirmed that War Of Attrition will be retired. “That’s it”, said Morris, with more than a hint of emotion in his voice. “He has never once let me down.”
Owner, Michael O’Leary, said: “He will now go hunting and we will keep him fit, healthy and active.
“Apart from the birth of my children this horse has given me the best days of my life. Winning the Gold Cup was probably the greatest day, but was closely followed by his success three weeks later at Punchestown. As long as I own racehorses, we will never repeat it!”
Cooldine ran a cracker to fill third, but you just wish that he would learn to relax, do a lot less for most of the race, and give himself a far better chance of getting home.
And then there was Denman. He gave Tony McCoy a nightmare ride, edging left at his fences and frequently hanging dramatically left on the flat.
McCoy could do little or nothing, except to sit and suffer, and did remarkably well to get him into fourth spot.
Denman’s trainer, Paul Nicholls, said: “Ruby (Walsh) and I spoke at length beforehand and we both thought he’d be okay. He will stick to left-handed tracks from now on.”
