'AP McCoy told my agent he had a very good chance' - Glengouly defies 33-1 odds to win Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup

The December Gold Cup run in honour of John and Amy Hunt's family provided a fitting backdrop for champion jockey Sean Bowen to unveil his latest masterclass on the Faye Bramley-trained Glengouly at Cheltenham.

The £125,000 weekend highlight, which was run in support of the Hunt Family Fund, allowed Bramley to advertise her talents as a trainer, transforming a horse who had not scored since winning on his chasing debut for Willie Mullins four years ago, to one who was able to hold off all challengers and become the longest-priced winner in the race's history.

Glengouly, whose previous best achievements included finishing second in the 2024 Thyestes Chase and leading for a good deal of the Grand National won by I Am Maximus in the same year, was 7lb out of the weights and the rank outsider in the ten-runner field at 33-1.

But he delivered an inch-perfect round of jumping and showed determination to repel his rivals, who had been queueing up from the turn for home but were ultimately unable to pass the gallant nine-year-old.

Bowen was once again the subject of praise, this time from Sir AP McCoy, the greatest jump jockey of all time, after his textbook front-running ride toppled market-leaders Vincenzo and Jagwar.

It was a particularly good result for McCoy. Bramley trains from his Lodge Down Stables in Lambourn, while the 20-time champion jockey is racing manager to JP McManus, whose Jagwar ran an encouraging third on his first start since winning at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

“Faye is a good hard worker who wants to get better,” said McCoy. “She asks all the right questions and is learning all the time. She didn’t want to run the horse as he was so far out of the weights, but owners Justin [Carthy] and Ronnie [Bartlett] made the decision and it's paid off.

“Sean’s been very good and you want to use the best available all the time. Racing is hard and you have to give yourself the best chance every time, and Sean is absolutely flying.”

Bowen, who joked that "hopefully AP will think I'm better from the front now", continues to excel in a vintage season, with the win his biggest at Cheltenham. 

"That was brilliant," said Bowen. "He was out of the handicap, but Faye and AP obviously know what they're doing. Faye is a very good trainer and AP said to my agent that he [Glengouly] had a massive chance. When someone like that is telling you he's got a big chance, you trust in it. 

"He had some good form here and stepping up to two and a half miles has really suited him. He got into a really good rhythm. It's great to win a December Gold Cup because I don't think I've ever won any of the big handicap chases here, so I enjoyed that one."

Bramley, who started training this year, said: "I get really nervous watching races, but I was fine watching that, he just loved it.

"He's a star and I'm speechless. I couldn't have been any happier with where Sean had him and the speed he was going. I know the horse inside out and I could tell he was good with it. I can't even believe I'm here, never mind having a winner."

John and Amy Hunt congratulate winning rider Sean Bowen after Glengouly's successCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

For Vincenzo it was a similar story, having also finished second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup a month ago, but connections of Jagwar were pleased with his effort and will look to return to Cheltenham on New Year's Day for another handicap.

Joint-trainer Oliver Greenall said: "He was a bit rusty as he hadn't run for a long time. He looked like he was motoring at one stage then he missed the last, but he wouldn't have won anyway.

"We're happy, though. It's not easy here and he'll come on plenty for it."

'You owe the rider a drink at the very least!'

Deputy betting editor Graeme Rodway analyses Glengouly's 33-1 win in the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup

Fancy letting the champion jockey have an easy lead. That’s what happened here and it should be back to school for the other riders in the race, many of whom were too far behind.

Sean Bowen wasn’t, though. He was able to dictate a nice, steady pace, which resulted in the slowest time of all four chases on the card, and the race was completed nearly a length and a half more slowly than the much weaker  0-125 mares’ handicap chase run only 35 minutes before. 

The topweight in the December Gold Cup ran off 148, so that gives you an idea of just how slow the time was in comparison to the class of horse lining up to contest it, and Glengouly kicked off the front to record a finishing speed percentage in excess of 107. 

That means he finished his race more than seven per cent faster than his overall average speed for the entire contest and was therefore still going forward after the turn from home. That was always going to make him difficult to catch, and the others simply couldn’t get close to him.

John and Amy Hunt talk to winning trainer Faye BramleyCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

The result wasn’t totally unfathomable, though. Glengouly might have been 7lb out of the weights off a mark of 128, but he had raced from as high as 146 in handicaps in Britain previously and evidently had the back-class to play a part if he turned up on his best form.

He had also been showing plenty more speed in cheekpieces recently, and definitely went off too fast when fourth behind Triple Trade over two miles at the course last month. 

He did well to finish as close as he did after going off so quickly on that occasion, beaten less than five lengths by the winner. But even with that said, could I have realistically seen him winning this? The answer is no, so well done if you found him yourself, but don’t forget you owe the rider a drink at the very least!

Read more . . .

'It has been an emotional week and a tough week but we're ending it with a joyous moment' - John Hunt shines on a special day 

The Hunt Family Fund nears £250,000 after December Gold Cup participants add to money raised in charity auctions 

'He's the real deal' - Minella Study gets high praise as trainer Adam Nicol plots Triumph Hurdle bid 

Jockey Club to invest tens of millions starting with Aintree and Cheltenham - but Kempton's future remains uncertain 

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