Dawn Run takes Gold at Cheltenham

ONE FROM THE ARCHIVES GOLD CUP 1986Each week we reprint an original Irish Times report on a major event in Irish sporting history. This week: Michael O'Farrell'sreport from March 14th, 1986

INCREDIBLE! That is the only word to describe the scenes that greeted yesterday's Tote Gold Cup heroine, Dawn Run, after the gallant mare and her partner Jonjo O'Neill, got up to beat Wayward Lad and Forgive 'N Forget in an unforgettable finish.

The roar that greeted the first ever winner of both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup might have been heard miles away and rapturous crows of Irish punters surged towards the unsaddling enclosure, chanting the while, "here we go, here we go".

Milling round Dawn Run (who, if she had had space would have wreaked havoc with her feet), her 67-year-old owner, Charmian Hill, trainer Paddy Mullins and jockey Jonjo O'Neill, who understandably looked most concerned, the winning entourage made their way precariously towards the number one berth, and, once inside, were followed by the crowd, who swept policemen and officials aside like a pack of cards.

Charmian Hill was cheered, Jonjo O'Neill was cheered and Jonjo himself chaired the jocked off Tony Mullins to the presentation dais where the Queen Mother was not cheered, but it might have been a near thing. Indeed there were unprecedented scenes of sheer exuberance that would have done Arkle proud.

Jonjo O'Neill believed he was beaten as Dawn Run negotiated the final fence in third place. "But she picked up after flying the last and I knew we had it won as the others were stopping in front. She's as game as a pebble," he said. And that was all I could get from the happy Irishman as, for the umpteenth time, he was hoisted aloft.

"A lot of people will have to eat their words," said a triumphant Mrs Hill, but she could not have been referring to Irish punters who took the mare to their hearts two years ago, almost to the day when she won the Champion Hurdle.

"When she approached the final jump, I thought she would be lucky to be placed," added the diminutive galloping grandmother, whom I well recall riding Dawn Run herself to win a bumper at Tralee.

It was shortly after that success that the Irish Turf authorities refused to renew Charmian Hill's licence to ride. Well, she has had a lot of compensation with Dawn Run including the English, French and Irish Champion Hurdles and a record £250,000 in prize money which is a fair return for the 5,800 guineas Mrs Hill originally expended on her. There is surely more to come, probably at Liverpool next month, and, of course, in next year's Gold Cup.

Trainer Paddy Mullins deserves every credit. He produced this mare to win the Blue Riband of steeplechasing with only four races behind her and some intensive schooling. He must be a mightily relieved man now that it is all over.

Following some good level jumping, Dawn Run made her serious blunder at the fifth last, and came out from that a length or two adrift of Run and Skip, who had kept her company at the head of affairs from the very start.

Dawn Run began to close again on her rival by the third fence from home and a brilliant leap over the second last propelled her back into contention. But last year's winner, Forgive 'N Forget, and the prolific winner, Wayward Lad, were full of running, and, when Forgive 'N Forget cleared the final fence in front of Wayward Lad, it was all China to a cup of tea that the Irish mare would finish no nearer that third.

Halfway up the run-in, Dawn Run began to peg back her rivals, booted on by O'Neill and lifted by a deafening roar from the delighted Irish contingent.

I can tell you her 5lb sex allowance and Jonjo O'Neill's strong right arm stood her well as she passed the post one length to the good.

Dawn Run can only improve and, if everything goes well, should win another Gold Cup, or two.

Dawn Run not only completed an unprecedented double but she did it in the fastest ever Gold Cup. Her winning time of six minutes 35.3 seconds was two seconds faster than that recorded by The Dikler in 1973.

Successful with Buck House in Wednesday's Queen Mother Champion Chase, Michael Morris turned up trumps again when Attitude Adjuster won the Christie's Foxhunters chase in the capable hands of amateur Ted Walsh, who, at 36 years of age, with all 11 championships behind him, has decided to quite race riding over fences and hurdles. However, he will continue to ride in bumpers and help his father Ruby, to train.

Who would have thought that Attitude Adjuster would have won such an important even after he had scraped home at Thurles on his previous appearance? He was, to say the least, hard ridden on that occasion. As his trainer declared: "He's a tough horse and a top jockey was aboard."

Running for the first time in blinkers, Attitude Adjuster swept past his ground-hating compatriot, Mister Donovan, after rounding the home turn and, popping over the final fence, won readily.

He is owned in partnership by five women - Mrs Robert Sangster (her first winner), Mrs John Magnier, Mrs Mark Kavanagh, Mrs David Nagle, and Mrs John Horgan, and cost them 12,000 guineas at Goffs.

Attitude Adjuster may not be sent to Liverpool. "He is a bit young for those fences," said Michael Morris realistically.

In holding the incredibly late challenge of the grey Brunico, who pipped Son Of Ivor for second place in the Daily Express Triumph Hurdle, 40 to 1 chance Solar Cloud, credited local trainer David Nicholson and former champion Peter Scudamore with their first Festival winner, the latter attempting to lay the bogey for the 76th time.

Formerly trained by Vincent O'Brien and then as a three-year-old by Con Collins, who once trained the dual Champion Hurdler See You Then, the 240,000 guineas yearling purchase Solar Cloud was bought on behalf of Dave Nicholson by Paddy Norris's daughter, Ines, her first purchase since she joined the CBA.

Solar Cloud set sail for home after shrugging off the attention of The Musical Priest on the run to the penultimate flight, where Son Of Ivor switched round the weakening The Musical Priest and gave chase.

However, four lengths behind on negotiating the last, the effort proved too much and he tired close home where Brunico deprived him of second place.

Son Of Ivor will next appear in a 10-furlong flat race at the Phoenix Park, following which he will revert to hurdling at Punchestown.