Racing: War Of Attrition stayed on strongly to win the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup for Ireland on St Patrick's Day. The seven-year-old, trained by Mouse Morris and ridden by Conor O'Dwyer, took the blue riband of steeplechasing from last year's Grand National winner Hedgehunter.
Forget The Past was third as Irish-trained horses filled the first three places, with French raider L’Ami fourth.
Leading at the second-last, War Of Attrition (15-2) was hard-pressed by Ruby Walsh on Hedgehunter (16-1) but proved conclusively he stays this extended three and a quarter miles.
He never looked like stopping up the testing hill and went on to land the spoils by two and a half lengths.
Forget The Past (9-1) could not quite live with the first two in the closing stages and was seven lengths away in third, but 4-1 favourite Beef Or Salmon was a major disappointment.
O’Dwyer, victorious in this race on Imperial Call 10 years ago, said: "It was an easy ride, he pinged the last two fences when he just stood off and he loves racing. This is an emotional moment and we made the right decision to come here - it has paid off.
"He jumped super and we had a great run. I had to come wide but he is only a second-season novice so I didn’t want to be too tight on him either. When I wanted to go he was able to go, which was a huge plus."
Willie Mullins, trainer of Hedgehunter, was delighted with the effort of his 10-year-old.
"I never thought I would be so delighted to finish second in my life but I am after the way mine have been running. He jumped fantastic and ran a fantastic race.
"The pace was a bit strong in the first half mile but he warmed to it nicely and he will definitely go for the Grand National now."
Beef Or Salmon, the 4-1 favourite, was never travelling and trailed home in 11th spot. Trainer Michael Hourigan said: "I’m beginning to believe the people now. I wonder if we can have the meeting transferred to Leopardstown.
"There were no excuses, he was off the bridle early on and he just didn’t perform."
Monkerhostin, another leading fancy at 13-2, ran somewhat better to finish sixth.
Whyso Mayo then gave Ireland a record breaking 10th winner at the meeting when leading home an Irish 1-2-3-4-5 in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase.
The 20-1 chance, trained by Ray Hurley, hit the front running down the hill towards the turn for home and found more under pressure over the last to hold the challenge of First Down Jets by a length.
Joe Blake was another length and a quarter away in third but 11-4 favourite Harbour Pilot finished out of the money.
Detroit City and Fair Along gave trainer Philip Hobbs a one-two in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
The former, ridden by Richard Johnson and wearing Terry Warner’s colours made famous by Rooster Booster, overtook his pacemaking stablemate at the last.
The 7-2 favourite then powered up the hill to beat Fair Along (25-1) by five lengths, with Blazing Bailey (14-1) a further length away in third.
Black Jack Ketchum extended his unbeaten run to six with a faultless display in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle.
Sent off the heavily-backed even-money favourite, Jonjo O’Neill’s charge eased his way to the front at the second-last before scooting clear on the turn for home.
After winging the final flight, he stormed away from his rivals to beat Powerstation and Travino by nine lengths and three respectively.
Trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Ruby Walsh had the final say when Desert Quest took the concluding Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle.
Desert Quest, the 4-1 joint-favourite, came through on the far side to join the leaders and jumped the last with Noble Request and Adamant Approach.
Desert Quest went on to win by two and a half lengths from Noble Request (25-1), with Adamant Approach (50-1) three and a half lengths further back in third and Pirate Flagship, also trained by Nicholls, fourth.
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