Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner 2014
Winner: Lord Windermere
Betting Odds: 20/1
Trainer: Jim Culloty
Owner: Dr. Ronan Lamb
The 86th annual running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) sponsored by Betfred, a bookmakers based in the United Kingdom, founded by Fred Done. It was first established as a single betting shop in Ordsall, Salford, in 1967. Its turnover in 2004 was £3.5 billion.
A going description of good.
Win prize money of £327, 325.82 A winning time of 6m 43.88s (fast by 6:12s).
This eight-year-old gelding, a son of Oscar out of a thrice-raced mare named Satellite Dancer. Bred by Edmund Coleman, in the ownership of Dr. Ronan Lamb, trained by Jim Culloty. Lord Windermere was purchased as a foal for 30,000 (Euros), but later purchased by Culloty as a 4yo for £75,000. He was trained for the entirety of his racing career at Mallow, County Cork, Ireland.
Lord Windermere made his debut as a five-year-old at Cork on the 6th November, 2011. In a Maiden Hurdle over 2m 4f on soft ground. Priced 28/1, he fell at the 4th fence.
Leading up to the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Lord Windermere ran in the Hennessey Gold Cup Chase at Leopardstown racing over 3m on soft to heavy going. Priced 6/1, he disappointed under Davy Russell, finishing a distant 6th beaten almost a distance. However, connections must have kept faith in him after winning the RSA Chase at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival. By all accounts, he looked like a horse that would relish a trip.
Culloty said: ‘The stable was out of form and the gelding was unsuited by the slow pace at Leopardstown. It was a falsely run race and we were disgusted by it. Davy came in with a smile on his face and said to Dr. Lamb ‘take no notice’ it will be different at Cheltenham.’
In a career which saw him race up to the age of 12, he run 28 times, winning 6 races. He achieved total earnings of £497, 964.
Lord Windermere retuned to defend his Gold Cup in 2015. However, he was never travelling and was pulled up behind the winner Coneygree.
Thereafter, he was predominantly campaigned as an Aintree Grand National horse racing on three occasions. He was priced at big odds (33/1 – 50/1) and had many a luckless passages where he was Pulled Up (2015) & Unseated Rider (2018). His best effort came in 2017 when he finished 7th behind One For Arthur.
Lord Windermere concluded his racing career on the 28th April 2018 at Punchestown in a Handicap Chase over 3m 6f. Priced 25/1, he completed the race in 10th place.
Culloty said: ‘He’s not a slow horse. Any jockey who has ever sat on him, they think, this is a slow old horse, we need to make plenty of use of him. But he’s not slow. He is lazy but not slow. There’s a difference.’
14th March 2014 –
3:20 Cheltenham – Betfred Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1)
A field of 13 runners on good ground.
Leading contenders included: Bobs Worth 6/4f, Silviniaco Conti 11/4, Last Instalment 15/2, Triolo D’Alene 10/1, The Giant Bolster 14/1, On His Own 16/1 & Lord Winderemer 20/1.
They have 22 fences ahead of them.
Knockara Beau (66/1) led at the first, with On His Own (16/1) and Teaforthree (33/1). At the back of the field sat Lord Windermere (20/1).
At fence number four, On His Own went to the lead. All safely over while Lord Windermere was slightly detached at the back of the field. He seemed to be losing ground over the next couple of fences.
Bobs Worth (6/4f) was far from convincing with his jumping and sat in sixth place.
Passing the stands, On His Own had a length or so lead over Teaforthree. Lyreen Legend (33/1) made headway up the rail to hold fourth place. It was a pretty bunched field, although Lord Windermere still sat at the tail.
In ninth came Bobs Worth the 2013 Gold Cup reigning champion.
At halfway, heading into the country, On His Own continued to lead with Teaforthree, on his shoulder, Last Instalment.
At the sixteenth, On His Own was booted into it, holding his length advantage, still no more than ten lengths between the field, bar one trailer.
However, Last Instalment unseated his rider at the 17th, with Brian O’Connell flying out of the saddle.
At the top of the hill, the pace started to gather with a number of horses looking to fight out the last five jumps.
Heading downhill to the fourth from last fence, Silviniaco Conti (11/4) cruised into the lead, the field beginning to string out.
Lyreen Legend rallied in third place, while Bobs Worth settled in fourth.
Lord Windermere was slowly but surely gaining ground on the rail but still a number of lengths behind.
Over the second last, Bobs Worth jumped into the lead with Silviniaco Conti sandwiched between him and Lyreen Legend. However, Silviniaco Conti moved on. He continued to hold an advantage at the last fence.
Lord Windermere loomed into contention, as six horses battled to the line.
Silviniaco Conti, Bobs Worth and On His Own, closer to the rail, started to lose their way as a trio including Lord Windermere, who somehow had nosed in front, battled to the line in what would be a dramatic finish.
Lord Windermere held the late lunge from On His Own, a length ahead of The Giant Bolster.
Lord Windermere wins the Gold Cup.
After a steward’ inquiry placing remained unaltered.
It was an amazing race, with the winner, for the most part, looking more like being pulled up than proving victorious.
An exceptional performance from horse, jockey and trainer.
The winning distance, a short head.
In July, 2018, Jim Culloty handed in his trainer’s licence. He struggled to build upon his major wins.
Cheltenham Gold Cup Results:
2015 – PU (20/1)
2014 – 1st
Major wins: RSA Chase 2013, Cheltenham Gold Cup 2014.