Cheltenham Gold Cup 2006

Following the first Irish-trained winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup since 1996 the previous year, the 2006 renewal of the prestigious steeplechase was notable for the fact that, for the first time in its history, the first three horses home were trained in Ireland. Sadly, though, the favourite, Beef Or Salmon, trained by Michael Hourigan in Co. Limerick, once again failed to fire at Cheltenham and trailed in a well-beaten eleventh of the 17 finishers.

Victory, on St. Patrick’s Day, went to 15/2 third favourite, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, trained by Michael ‘Mouse’ Morris and ridden by Conor O’Dwyer. The seven-year-old had been beaten 4 lengths by Beef Or Salmon, who was heavily eased in the closing stages, in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, but, with his old rival never really travelling, took full advantage.

War Of Attrition took the lead at the bypassed third-last fence and, although hotly pursued by the 2005 Grand National winner, Hedgehunter, all the way to the finish line, stayed on strongly on the run-in to win by 2½ lengths. Forget The Past, who had made much of the running on the second circuit, made a series of tired mistakes over the final few fences, but still did enough to hold third place, 7 lengths behind Hedgehunter and just three-quarters of a length ahead of the fourth horse home, L’Ami, trained in France by Francois Doumen.

After winning his first Cheltenham Gold Cup, Morris said of War Of Attrition, “You dream about these things. I’ve always had a lot of faith in him. I have always said he is one of the best I have ever had and I think he proved that.”