Coneygree Romps to Brilliant Gold Cup Win
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Coneygree became the first novice chaser in more than four decades to win the coveted Cheltenham Gold Cup and did so in a smashing front-running tour de force March 13.
The 8-year-old son of Karinga Bay ran rivals off their feet after bounding to the eary lead, proficiently jumping 22 fences throughout for jockey Nico de Boinville, and staying on well for a 1 1/2-length victory over Djakadam.
Road to Riches tracked the winner throughout but finished third, two lengths back, after losing second to Djakadam in the closing stages. Silviniaco Conti, the 3-1 favorite, faded in the final quarter mile and was seventh.
At 7-1 odds, Coneygree tallied a fourth consecutive win while covering about 3 1/4 miles in 6:42.50 on ground softened by overnight rain. He became the first novice to win the Gold Cup since Captain Christy in 1974.
Trained by Mark Bradstock for The Max Partnership, Coneygree had been impressive winner on all three of his starts over fences since December—his first full season of steeplechasing—and defeated well-seasoned veterans in his previous outing Feb. 7 in Newbury. Prior to that, he romped to a 40-length triumph Dec. 26 at Kempton.
Coneygree was bred in Great Britain by late British journalist Lord (John) Oaksey from the winning Executive Perk mare Plaid Maid, dam of 2011 Hennessy Gold Cup winner Carruthers. Members of his extended family include South African champion 2- and 3-year-old Bold Tropic, a multiple graded stakes winner in the United States.
Also on Friday, trainer Willie Mullins earned a record-breaking eighth win at a Cheltenham Festival when Killultagh Vic captured the day's sixth race, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle.