Conflated upsets big guns in Irish Gold Cup

Gordon Elliott's Conflated turned the formbook upside down with a power-packed effort in the Grade One Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup, the feature race on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.

On his last start, he landed the Grade B Foxrock Handicap Steeplechase in Navan by five lengths in December which earned him a rise to a mark of 157 which was comfortably the lowest rating in this eight-runner field.

The fact he was racing off level weights against the 175-rated Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo and Asterion Forlonge Frodon Kemboy and Janidil who were all rated well into the 160s made it a stiff task on paper. However, punters supported him from a best price of 40/1 down to an SP of 18s.

He tracked Frodon and then passed that rival who got in deep three out. From there, he was clearly on good terms with himself as he tanked along after the next.

He really put the squeeze on as he bounded clear approaching the home bend and the question would be whether he could see the 'big hitters' off.

The eight-year-old Yeats gelding was still blasting away before the last although he didn't put in his best jump there.

Davy Russell got after him on the run-in as a staying-on Minella Indo began to reduce the deficit. The leader stuck to his guns, though, to win by six and a half lengths from the 11/2 runner-up. Janidil was a neck back in third at 7/1.

Asterion Forlonge (5/2f) finished out of the places in fourth.

Russell said: "I'm very surprised but Camilla (Sharples, travelling head girl) warned me every step we took when I got on his back, she said 'I'm keeping the faith, this fellow is going to run a big race'. That gave me confidence going out.

"He jumped super and did everything really, really well. He jumped straight as a die, he can hang a bit but nothing today.

"It was either one or the other - I was either gone too soon or they would never catch me. To be fair to the horse, he kept responding. The more I pulled out of him, the more he responded."

Elliott added: “He got into a lovely rhythm. I was keen to run him during the week, we were thinking of going for a handicap, but thankfully Eddie and Michael (O'Leary, Gigginstown) let me run him in this.

“I wanted to find out where I was going, how good or bad he was. I know he's a horse with a massive engine but he can be very hot and cold.

“It's great for Michael and Anita, and the whole team in Gigginstown and all the team at Cullentra. We have a massive team behind us and to win a race like this is unbelievable.

“We've had three seconds today so to win a Gold Cup now has just made up for it.

“I said to Eddie before the race that he'd either win or pull up and thankfully he won.

“We've got the Gold Cup, the Ryanair and he's in the Grand National. We'll have a chat with Michael and Eddie and myself and Ryan (McElligott) and Lisa (O'Neill) and the whole team.

“He jumps a bit left so we said we'd go down the paint today and he actually had loads to room down there so it worked out grand.

“I thought it was going to be one of those days but the only thing I had in my head was at least the horses were running well. If they had been second last my head would have been on the ground.

“It's a testament to the team the way the horses are running. Today has been Willie's day and we were picking up the pieces so it was just nice to pick the Gold Cup up.

“If you told me this time last year I wouldn't have been in Cheltenham I would have laughed at you and if you asked me last September if I would have the team of horses I have now I would have laughed at you as well.

“It's a testament to the owners and the team I have in the yard.”

The Stewards interviewed D.N. Russell, rider of Conflated, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence, D.N. Russell stated that his mount was in front from the second last fence and missed the final fence. He added that he was keeping his mount going and did not realise at the time that he had exceeded the whip guidelines. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that D.N. Russell was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended D.N. Russell for two racedays.

Paddy Power slashed Conflated from 66/1 to 7/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup (non runner money back) and made Minella Indo 7/2 from 6/1 (non runner money back).

Additional reporting by Gary Carson