Paddy Power Gold Cup report and replay: Ga Law edges thriller

Sent off at 5/1, Jamie Snowden's charge made a few mistakes and was off the bridle at the top of the hill. At that stage the eventual runner-up was tracking Storm Control and swept past that rival turning for home.

However the winner was beginning to find his stride under Jonathan Burke and he was the only danger after the last. For much of the climb up the hill it seemed the leader would repel his challenge but Ga Law knuckled down to get his head in front in the dying strides and score by three-quarters-of-a-length.

The pair were three lengths clear of Midnight river (15/2) with the strong-travelling Il Ridoto weakening into fourth.

Ga Law was tipped at 8/1 by Chris Day in his Weekend View column, a second successive big winner for him following Frodon (12/1) in the Badger Beer Chase.

“It is an emotional afternoon. Nick Foot died of cancer. There were six of them who came to Cheltenham year in year out and they set up this partnership (The Footie Partnership) with the idea of coming back here and hoping to win a big race at Cheltenham. And here it is – it is all credit to these five guys behind me,” said Snowden.

“I think Nick Foot would have had a grandson yesterday, so it has all come together. All credit must go to my head girl who has nursed him back from injury. He had 600 days off with a tendon injury. My head girl and the vets have done a wonderful job to get him back. He ran a great race at Aintree and stepped forward again to win that. It is lovely.

“We were third in it with Pleasant View a couple of years back after he had won at the Festival that year, so hopefully this chap can go and follow suit and win at the Festival next year. It would be nice.”

He went on: “Big Saturday winners is what it is all about, but everyday winners count a lot for everything going forward. We have been lucky enough to have a Festival winner in the past and there is nothing like Cheltenham and these big races, so it is a wonderful team performance to get him back.

“He is very lightly raced, That was only his second run outside of novice company. His first run out of that was in the Old Roan (at Aintree). He was off a mark of 142 and it was obvious we had to come down the handicap route and we will enjoy today and see what tomorrow brings us, but on the back of that, he certainly wants to be going up in trip. We wouldn’t shy away from three miles.

“When he got injured, which was before the spring festivals in his novice year, I said to the guys, ‘don’t worry about it – we’ll win the Paddy Power in 2022’. But it is all very well saying that then.

“To get him back from injury and nursing him through all that and nursing him back fit and get the prep run into him…obviously the ground has not necessarily been ideal to get a prep run into him, we were struggling as it was just three weeks after the Old Roan and it was pretty tight, but we knew off his mark this was the year for this race.”

The winning jockey added: “At first he wasn’t really jumping or travelling great but as the race went on he got better and better and finished up strong.

“When we landed after three out I felt I had plenty left and I as wary of getting to the front too soon on him, but the second last and the last didn’t really help me as he missed both of them and he’s done very well to recover and come out on top.

“He’s so tough and they’ve done very well to get him back so hopefully it’s onwards and upwards now.”

A disappointed Mouse Morris said of the runner-up: “He is 17 hands and only a pup. He’s a horse who gets you out of bed in the morning. He will probably end up going over three miles again. He has enough toe for that (two and a half miles), but I think he’ll get three miles.

“That was only his first handicap per se. He didn’t miss a beat bar the last. Around Cheltenham they have never won until they have passed the post. I’m well used to that – it’s my old age.

“I’m delighted but obviously disappointed. He gave him a super ride. Lovely job. He is only a novice but these are competitive handicaps. It is a big difference. I’d say keep him at Grade Three of Listed, probably better off. We’ll keep him at home and he loves this good ground. He’s one for Punchestown, I’d say.”

Dan Skelton, trainer of third-placed Midnight River, said:: “If he is alright we will come back for December Gold Cup, if not we will wait until New Year’s Day. He needs the ground a little slower than it was today, but that is not an excuse as to what got him beat. However the ground would be more suitable if it was a bit slower.

“I was happy with the way how he equipped himself in a competitive handicap field like that. He made a couple of mistakes on the way round which weren’t race-losing by any stretch. He could be a little smoother but that is the first time we have took the wraps off him over fences and said you are on your own now and he acquitted himself well. There is definitely one of these races in him. He is a young horse that is progressive. He has got that experience under his belt now and he is only seven. If horses like him can’t be progressive, which ones can?”

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Il Ridoto (4th) and Simply The Betts (7th) said: “He (Il Ridoto) ran really well for a five year old first time out. I’m very pleased with him and he will come back here in a month’s time. The stiffer track might suit him a bit better and they went quick enough on that ground for him. He has learnt a lot today so I’m very pleased. He made a mistake two out but the three in front of him all had a run. Whether that made a difference I don’t know but I wouldn’t have thought so.

“Harry (Cobden) said he was flat out all the way. It was a good run for a five year old. He was relaxed today and last season he was always a bit too keen. It probably helped with the speed they went today. I’m thrilled with him. It probably is his best run. Today he has settled well and jumped fantastic. Okay, he didn’t have a great run early on and he had to pull him wide but he was bang there at the right time but just wasn’t quite good enough on the day. For a five year old we can only build on that.

“Simply The Betts ran well. One minute he was there then the next moment I don’t know where he was. He finished around the same place as last year but David (Maxwell, owner and rider) will have had a lot of fun on him.”

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