First Lieutenant may have last word in battle for Gold Cup

Since he's owned by Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, First Lieutenant is hardly a comfortable fit for any "little guy" role, but he will still be a hugely popular winner should he finally secure another Grade 1 prize over fences in Saturday's €150,000 Irish Gold Cup.

The Mouse Morris-trained star earned top-flight status at Aintree in 2013, but despite also being a double-Grade 1 winner over hurdles prior to that, including the 2011 Neptune at the Cheltenham festival, First Lieutenant’s l career stats still make him something of a ‘nearly’ horse.

Remarkably, he has finished runner-up eight times in Grade 1 races over fences, including when just failing to another of O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud team, Don Poli, in the Lexus Chase at Christmas.

That was the third time First Lieutenant has had to settle for second in the Lexus alone, and he has also been third on three occasions in the top-flight, as well as third in a pair of Hennessy Gold Cups at Newbury.

It was his third to Smad Place in this season’s Hennessy that indicated there is still considerable life left in the 11-year-old. This was subsequently backed up by his fine Lexus effort which saw him raised almost a stone by the handicapper to a mark of 160, just 10lbs shy of his career peak in 2013.

Morris believes that to be an over-reaction, but he says it is probable that First Lieutenant will join Gigginstown’s strong support team behind their hot-favourite, Road To Riches, this Saturday, and the veteran is rated to again be among the leading players for a race in which he disappointed last year, but was third in 2014.

Near-misses

Such a list of near-misses during the course of a long career hasn’t dimmed popular affection for First Lieutenant, who received generous acclaim from the Leopardstown crowd after his last Lexus appearance.

“I think the reception he got for finishing second was quite touching . . . It seems he’s a popular horse with people,” Morris said.

“He’s dead genuine. He couldn’t be more honest. He just usually manages to find one to beat him. But he has won Grade 1s, and won over €600,000 in prizemoney, so how bad is that,” added the Co Tipperary trainer, who in the longer-term is examining a possible tilt at the Aintree Grand Nationalwith the horse.

First Lieutenant is rated an 8-1 shot by some firms for Saturday’s highlight, formerly run under the Hennessy banner but without a sponsor this year.

With doubts surrounding an appearance by Don Poli, and in contrast Willie Mullins keeping open the option of another of his Cheltenham Gold Cup contenders, Vautour, appearing in the race, Tuesday's forfeit stage could see a major shake-up in ante-post betting.

Nevertheless, Road To Riches is currently odds-on in some lists to provide Gigginstown with a third win in four years in the race.

But Morris reckons First Lieutenant can be a major big-race player again.

“He’s possibly about 7lbs off being a 160 horse, and while the Lexus mightn’t have been the greatest race, he’s like Foxrock on form, so he’s not without a chance,” he said.

Runner-up

Foxrock was half a length behind First Lieutenant on that occasion and has also had his own Grade 1 near-miss, having finished runner-up to Carlingford Lough in last year’s race. The latter is likely to take his chance alongside another JP McManus-owned star, Gilgamboa.

Gilgamboa's Christmas appearance came when carrying topweight in the Paddy Power Chase into fourth, an experience trainer Enda Bolger hopes will prove valuable for the relatively inexperienced chaser.

“I was very happy with Gilgamboa in the Paddy Power. To jump and travel the way he did among experienced handicappers will have done him good. He stays well and we’ve always thought soft ground is a big factor to him, so it will definitely suit him at the weekend.”

Bolger’s star hunter-chaser On The Fringe will return to action on Saturday at Leopardstown. On The Fringe pulled off a unique hat-trick by landing the major hunter chase prizes at Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown last season and is on course to defend his title at next month’s festival.

“His programme is different this year in that we missed Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day. He’s far better on spring ground but he needs to run, so he’ll start off at Leopardstown. It’s the only option. He’s still carrying a bit of weight, so I hope the race brings him on a lot,” Bolger said.