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| Davy Russell
celebrates after riding Lord Windermere to victory in the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe) |
(Blood-Horse.com)
Lord Windermere stormed through the field in the final stretch to win the
prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup in a photo finish before a sellout crowd of
67,500 March 14 on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.
After two
false starts and a tight finish, Lord Windermere, trained by Jim Culloty and
ridden by Davy Russell, snatched the race by a short head from On His Own.
A stewards'
inquiry was held following the race because Lord Windermere had drifted into On
His Own after they cleared the last fence. Although officials concluded there
was a clear interference, they ruled it was not sufficient to amend the
placings.
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| Davy Russell and
Lord Windermere (far right). (Andrew Redington/Getty Images Europe) |
Lord
Windermere, an Irish-bred 8-year-old Oscar gelding owned by Dr. Ronan Lambe,
finished the about 3 1/4-mile trip over 22 fences in 6:43.88 on good turf.
Entering off a sixth-place finish in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown Feb.
9, his record improved to 6-3-1 from 16 career starts.
"I'm
obviously delighted and relieved. It was nerve-wracking," Russell said
after the results were confirmed. "I knew I was under no pressure and I
just took a chance of going down the inside and he's done it."
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