RYANAIR GOLD CUP

NOVICE CHASE (GRADE 1)

A MOMENTOUS first season for Kerry Lee reached new heights in the Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase as Kylemore Lough bested the home defence to become the first English-trained winner of this race in 29 years.

Not since Jimmy Fitzgerald’s Tickite Boo in 1987 had this prize gone for export. Following a season which has yielded a series of high profile handicap triumphs in Britain, Kerry Lee was sending out her first runner in a Grade 1 and Kylemore Lough vindicated the decision to journey across the Irish Sea as he made it five wins in succession.

Furthermore he is the first English horse to triumph at Grade 1 level in Ireland this season.

With regular jockey Jamie Moore sidelined, Geraghty stepped in for this spare ride of real quality and he kept the 7/4 shot close to the pace from early on. As the last three fences loomed Kylemore Lough was stalking the favourite Outlander while Blair Perrone was a menacing presence in behind this leading pair.

The latter was forced to give best on the run to the last and it was at this fence that Kylemore Lough eventually started to gain the upper hand. A game Outlander, who was making a quick return to the fray following a fall at Cheltenham, answered his jockey’s promptings but he went down by a length. Blair Perrone was a further half a dozen lengths back.

“Barry’s expertise paid off, Jamie Moore recommended him,” said Ms Lee who trains the Revoque gelding for his part breeder Michael McMahon and numbers the Welsh National amongst her big race triumphs this season. “I have to pay massive thanks to Jamie (injured) as he couldn’t ride him but he has done a huge amount of work on this horse at home.

“That’s my first Grade 1 runner and my first runner in Ireland and it’s just been a great season. Potentially this horse could go anywhere next season as he’s now won five in a row and we still don’t know what the ceiling is with him. I think he’s a class horse and he isn’t ground dependent and we will hopefully be back for the Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown in a few weeks time.”