'I wouldn't miss this for the world' - Dettori somehow wins Barney Curley Cup

Wednesday: Bellewstown

It was at Bellewstown of all places, on a bright and breezy autumn afternoon, that it became officially official that Frankie Dettori can walk on water.

Despite his team winning neither of the races which formed part of the inaugural Barney Curley Charity Cup, Dettori captained his side to victory. Now that is management the Pep Guardiola handbook can't even give you.

Given the day that was in it, and the gambling God we were remembering, it was entirely fitting that the team with no wins next to its name ended up beating the team that won both races in the competition.

"The more races I win, the further I seem to fall behind," laughed Willie Mullins after his jockeys gave him a 1-2 in the concluding race on the card. He had won both battles, but lost the war.

The final score read 70-64 to Team Dettori over Team Mullins. Somehow.

It all came down to basic maths. There were points all the way down to eighth in the two races and Dettori had the 2-3-4-5-8 in the first of them. He then had the 3-4-5-8 in leg two and that was good enough to lift the cup. I know. Me neither.

Anyway, it was all in good taste and it was all good fun. And, most importantly, it was all for a very worthy cause – Dafa (Direct Aid for Africa), the charity Curley devoted so much of his life to.

"I wouldn't miss this for the world," said Dettori of his second visit to the hill of Crockafotha in County Meath.

He had won the big race on this day last year but could not ride this time because of suspension. He was still here. He still posed for endless selfies. He still signed autographs. He still played golf at Baltray on Tuesday afternoon in the Barney Curley Golf Classic. He is giving plenty back to the man who he says helped give him everything.

Tom Queally was over too. The man who safely steered so many Curley gambles to victory over the years tried to sneak up the inner on the favourite Ransom in leg one. The door was slammed shut and he had to sit and suffer as Declan McDonogh swooped down the outside on Fastman, trained locally by John McConnell.

Curley would certainly have approved of what happened in the finale. Bring Us Paradise, with form figures of 706550, was backed from a morning price of 22-1 into 9-1 at the off and duly obliged under Dylan Browne McMonagle for Luke Comer. Somebody knew.

The famous framed Curley silks were auctioned in the middle of the card and raised a tasty €2,300, while the Delany family, who have such a close association to Bellewstown and the Curley family, sent out Escaping Thejungle to win the sprint maiden.

It was another memorable occasion at Bellewstown. Barney would have been proud.

Results, replays and analysis

Read this next:

Aidan O'Brien: Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe favourite Luxembourg 'in great shape'

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Members' Club Ultimate subscriber? Click here to join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content