Paddy Power Gold Cup
Grade 3 Handicap, Cheltenham 14:25 £160,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 78y, Class 1
Saturday 14th November 2015

1 Annacotty 12/1
2 Buywise 10/1
3 Sound Investment 20/1
4 Double Ross 16/1
5 Irish Cavalier 8/1
20 ran Distances: ½l, ¾l, 3¼l
TIME 5m 12.80s (slow by 14.80s)

What a finish! Annacotty wins the Paddy Power Gold Cup on his first run for trainer Alan King

Annacotty
© Racehorse Photos

Trainer Alan King was delighted with the performance of Annacotty after the 12/1 shot ground out a half-length victory over the fast finishing Buywise.

The seven-year-old was one of a number of horses who could have won the race jumping the last but he stayed on strongly up the hill to land the spoils from 10/1 chance Buywise, with recent Aintree winner Sound Investment a further three quarters of a length back in third.

Annacotty had been trained by Martin Keighley last season and King admitted he was no more than hopeful before the race.

"We've been happy with him at home but you never really know until the race," said King.

"Ian (Popham - winning jockey) has been riding him at home and reckoned he was in good form and the change of scenery has probably helped freshen him up a little.

"At the top of the hill, I thought we were in big trouble but his stamina has probably kicked in at the end of the day. He's an absolute gentleman to deal with and the interesting thing is that his mother, Mini Moo Min, was the very first winner I trained back in 1999 so I've always had an eye on him. I didn't know what to expect today. I knew he was as well as we could get him but I would have loved the heavens to open at lunchtime as the softer, the better for him.

"I'm delighted for Liz (Prowting - winning owner) and sorry for Martin (Keighley). He's a great mate but the horse was going to move over the summer and the view was, if I wasn't going to take him, someone else was. I had a chat with Martin and I feel for him but that's racing. I've known Liz since 1985 when she used to have horses with the Duke (David Nicholson - the late trainer and King's former boss). I hope she's coped with it all - she likes to celebrate!

"The December Gold Cup (at Cheltenham) could be his next target but I just wanted to get today out of the way with. He's in the Hennessy (at Newbury) but I doubt he'll go there. We'll enjoy today first. This might have been his day - catch him fresh on his first run."

Owner Liz Prowting was wreathed in smiles following the race.

"We thought Annacotty might need a move, which is why we switched him to Alan; to sweeten him up," she said.

"Ian Popham does understand the horse, comes down specially to school him and knows him very well. He is a tough horse and he keeps going, but I honestly thought something was going to get to him. It has been a great day."

Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase (Grade 3 Handicap)
£160,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 78y, Class 1
20 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places