Novice chaser Coneygree made all of the running to run out the sensational winner of today’s Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup and become the first novice to win since Captain Christy in 1974 to win chasing’s blue riband event.
Trained by Mark Bradstock, the gelding (7/1) was having just his fourth outing over fences to jumped like a stag throughout at the head of affairs in the hands of Nico de Boinville and ran his rivasl ragged.
Djakadam and Road To Riches through down challenges after the last, but Coneygree dug deep and found extra to score by 1 1/2 lengths from the former.
Road To Riches was a further 2 lengths behind, while Holywell took fourth, another 6 lengths further back.
The winning jockey, said: “It’s the best feeling ever, unbelievable, I’m lost for words. It was a great plan (to go for the Gold Cup). They knew the weather gods were looking down on us – the rain came at the right time, ideal.
“Coneygree is so deceptive. Even when he is in tight, he is brilliant. It is all thanks to the Bradstock family, Alfie, who show jumps him and gets him to know where his feet are.
“It’s just unbelievable. It’s a great family effort and I must thank the owners – Lady Oaksey and the syndicate, and the Bradstock family – for keeping the faith in me.
“These horses only come once in a lifetime and I am very grateful because I didn’t ride him at Newbury and fair play to Dickie (Johnson), he is a hell of a guy and was very good to me there. It’s still sinking in.”
Mark Bradstock commented: “It’s wonderful. It won’t sink in for a while but it is great. We have done it before in smaller races and we will still keep doing it but it is obviously fantastic to do it on the big stage.
“I am not very good at watching races and I won’t be very fit in the morning but, when I do get round to watching it, you will have to ask me then.
“The decision was very tricky because the forecast was so up and down. We were obviously liaising very closely with Simon Claisse, walking the course. The rain was meant to be here Tuesday, then Wednesday, then it never arrived. Luckily, we made the right decision.
“Coneygree is a gorgeous, gorgeous horse and it is just so tragic that Sarah’s dad wasn’t here – he had the bet on wrong horse, a big bet on Carruthers winning – and I think that is the downside. I am sure he was probably still watching us now.
“It’s all very well me standing here but the likes of my wife, who is not very well and rides him every single day, and the kids are involved. Chicky has been so wonderful and then the farriers and the vet. I could just carry on – it’s brilliant.”
Sara Bradstock, wife of trainer Mark and daughter of Coneygree’s breeder, the late Lord Oaksey, said: “It’s so unbelievable. In the last month I’ve been on the yard from 6am to 10pm, and it’s all for this.
“It means anyone can do it. It doesn’t need hundreds of thousands. He doesn’t know he’s a novice, does he?
“I’ve been saying when we win the Gold Cup in the same sentence as I say when we win the Lottery, and I don’t even do the Lottery! So that’s how amazing it is. It doesn’t happen to people like us.
“The little mare [Coneygree’s dam, Plaid Maid, also dam of 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carruthers] cost £3,000 and look what she’s done. Fairy tales do happen.
“It’s because my father was the greatest. That’s where we’ve got this luck from; he deserved it and he’s looking down.
“People were saying to me after Newbury, would Nico [de Boinville, Coneygree’s jockey – Richard Johnson rode the horse at Newbury to win the Denman Chase] get the ride back, and of course he would. He rides this horse beautifully. I think he’ll be a great jockey. He just knows his balance and the gallop he can go.”
