Bobs Worth lands Cheltenham Gold Cup

CHELTENHAM, England: Favorite Bobs Worth dug deep in stamina-sapping conditions to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup yesterday for Irish jockey Barry Geraghty and trainer Nicky Henderson.
Geraghty timed his run to perfection on the 11-4 chance, wearing down long-time leader Long Run and Sir Des Champs, the mount of champion jockey Tony McCoy, to win the showpiece of British jumps racing by seven lengths.
Bobs Worth jumped to the front at the last of the 22 fences in the three-and-a-quarter-mile contest and powered up the hill to give both jockey and trainer a second Gold Cup success.
“It’s brilliant, he’s a courageous horse. He has a brilliant attitude,” said Geraghty, adding that his triumph was tinged with sadness after the serious neck injuries sustained by compatriot JT McNamara in a fall at Cheltenham on Thursday.
Geraghty piloted Kicking King to victory in 2005 while Henderson was successful with Long Run in 2011.
“It has been a long old week. Both boys gave them great rides and both horses were brave to the line,” Henderson, who became the first to train 50 Cheltenham Festival winners, told BBC Radio 5 Live.
Long Run, ridden by amateur Sam Waley-Cohen, had to settle for third again, as he did last year, fading in the closing stages as Sir Des champs took second.