Cheltenham Gold Cup 2014

The 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup, sponsored by Betfred, featured 13 runners and was a dramatic race with an historic, if controversial, finish. After two false starts, five horses, headed by 11/4 second favourite Silviniaco Conti, still held a chance jumping the final fence. However, on the run to the line, Silviniaco Conti veered right towards the centre of the track, while his nearest pursuer, 6/4 favourite Bobs Worth, became unbalanced after ducking away from the yellow jacket of member of security staff, handing the initiative to the horses that would eventually fill the first three places.

Lord Windermere, a largely unconsidered 20/1 chance, despite winning the RSA Chase at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival, had been left with plenty to do after the third last fence, but made relentless progress under pressure to lead inside the final half a furlong and held on, all out, to beat On His Own by a short head. However, in his exhausted state, Lord Windermere hung badly right on the run-in, carrying On His Own and the eventual third, The Giant Bolster, with him towards the stands rail.

The resulting stewards’ inquiry, which was televised, lasted 15 minutes, adding to the melodrama, but the result was ultimately allowed to stand. Stewards’ secretary Paul Barton said afterwards, “There was interference, without a doubt, but on balance we believe it was insufficient to cause us to change the result.”

Victory for Lord Windermere was an historic achievement for trainer Jim Culloty. Ten years after riding Best Mate to the third of his Cheltenham Gold Cup victories, the Kerryman became one of just five men – the others being Danny Morgan, Fred Winter, Jonjo O’Neill and Pat Taaffe – to have ridden and subsequently trained a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. Lord Windermere had been completely outpaced in the early stages of the race and, commenting on the ride Davy Russell had given the horse, Culloty said, jokingly, “To be fair now, halfway round, Davy was getting the sack.” 

Speaking of the sack, Davy Russell rode Lord Windermere to victory just 10 weeks after losing his job as retained rider to Gigginstown House Stud and completed a 3,926/1 treble on the day.