AFTER a long quiet spell which had him more than a little concerned, Jim Culloty hit back in the perfect way by saddling 20/1 shot Lord Windermere to win the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

On a magnificent day for the Irish, who won five of the seven races, the star was undoubtedly Davy Russell, no longer first choice at Gigginstown House Stud but successful also on Tiger Roll in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and Savello in the Grand Annual.

The Gold Cup triumph could hardly have been more dramatic. Russell, pushing and scrubbing away with a circuit to go, might have pulled up at one stage but decided to persevere and had his reward as Lord Windermere finally joined issue.

Even then, in a pulsating finish with only a short-head and three quarters of a length to spare over out-and-out stayer On His Own and the enigmatic but Cheltenham-loving The Giant Bolster, he bore right and did the pair no favours.

Following a protracted stewards’ inquiry the placings were allowed to stand.

For Culloty it was a Gold Cup to add to the glory days of Best Mate a decade earlier.

Not only was the stable out of form but Lord Windermere himself had shown precious little since winning the RSA Chase in 2013. However, when fortunes change in racing there is often a harbinger and Spring Heeled’s victory in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir the previous day had lifted the trainer’s spirits.

Both Spring Heeled and Lord Windermere are owned by Dr Ronan Lambe and Culloty was quick to pay tribute to his loyalty.

As for Russell, the jockey admitted he needed the support of family and friends when losing the number one position at Gigginstown but the Festival could hardly have worked out better for him.

With his replacement Bryan Cooper having sadly broken a leg on Clarcam, he got up on Tiger Roll for Gigginstown and completed his treble on Savello in the same colours.

On an unforgettable day for Michael O’Leary’s organisation, Don Poli landed the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle and 33/1 shot Very Wood the Albert Bartlett, giving the owner four winners altogether.