Bellshill gets up to deny brave Road To Respect in Irish Gold Cup

Ruby Walsh won his second Grade 1 in as many hours in a thrilling photo-finish, this time as Bellshill overhauled Road To Respect in a nailbiting Irish Gold Cup.

The two swapped the lead throughout, with Walsh setting the early fractions before Sean Flanagan took things up with more than a circuit to run.

From there it was a case of Bellshill's superior jumping occasionally taking him into the lead, only for Road To Respect to reassert. Turning in, Flanagan kicked for home but Walsh waited, keeping his mount in contention and asking for his effort only after the last.

If Walsh had hoped to outjump his rival again he was left disappointed as Flanagan saw a stride and got a brilliant leap from the odds-on favourite, but Walsh's patience was rewarded and Bellshill was able to get on top near the line and hold off the rallying Road To Respect.

Walsh said: "You don't need 20 runners to make a horserace, you just need the right two. They went at it every step of the way. I was in front, Sean took if off me, I'd jump by him he'd take it back off me, it was tit for tat every step of the way and it was a great rally from the last.

"I got a neck in front and then he was getting me back, so I was looking for the line. I was delighted when it was called as I'd have been kicking myself for getting there too soon.

"I don't think either of us had a ton up our sleeve away from two out, we were both stretching and they were always going to quicken a little bit but it'd be who stayed the best. That's what an honest horse race is. He can build on that and go forward now. He's a bit older, a bit stronger, and he showed today he really stays."

Paddy Power cut the winner to 10-1 for the Cheltenham equivalent next month.

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