'He's only a pup' - Morris takes the positives from French Dynamite's second

Much was made of Ireland's poor record in the build-up to the 2022 Paddy Power Gold Cup, but for most of the home straight the Mouse Morris-trained French Dynamite looked like adding to the recent haul of valuable British prizes claimed by raiding trainers.

Tranquil Sea, victorious in 2009, was the only winner to have crossed the Irish Sea since 1980 and that remains the case after a less than fluent jump at the last potentially cost Darragh O'Keeffe's mount in a thrilling finish in which he was beaten by just three-quarters of a length.

French Dynamite took things up as the field rounded the final bend and faced the famous Cheltenham hill, taking the final two fences in front, but a blunder checked his momentum and once Ga Law, who was in receipt of 6lb, got on terms he was always fighting a losing battle.

"He didn't disgrace himself," was Morris's understated evaluation. "He missed out the last a bit and lost his momentum, Darragh said with the sun he just caught the top of it. I'm not making excuses, we were second and that's it."

Ga Law (centre) beats French Dynamite (right) in the Paddy Power Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Morris has not won a race in Britain since Rule The World claimed the biggest of the lot when landing the 2016 Grand National, but French Dynamite has him dreaming of big prizes once again.

"He's a nice horse to look forward to for the season, where we go I don't know," he said. "He's only a pup but he's 17 hands. He gets me out of the bed in the morning.

"He'll probably end up running over three miles towards the end of the season, he has enough speed for this and I think he'll get that trip. That's only his first handicap, per se, and he didn't miss a beat bar the last."

French Dynamite contested a novice handicap over 2m5f at the Punchestown festival, finishing third having been sent off the 3-1 favourite, but this was his first start in a handicap in open company.

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