Our Armageddon more than made up for a below-par effort in the Arkle Trophy with
an all-the-way success in the Cathcart Challenge Cup.
Richard Guest's seven-year-old was pulled up two days ago, but is nothing if
not tough.
He looked like being swallowed up by Impek at one stage after mistakes at the
fourth-last and third-last fences.
But Jim Culloty's mount cried enough
approaching two out and it was Iris Royal who threw down the main challenge.
Our Armageddon had too much left after the last, however, and ran on well for
a two-and-a-half-length success.
Impek was 11 lengths away in third.
Guest, who won the 1989 Champion Hurdle on Beech Road, said: ``It's a lot better
training a winner than riding a Festival winner.
``There is much more to training a horse and keeping them sound and looking
after them.
``But you have got to take your hat off to Larry (McGrath, who rode the
winner). He is a class act.
``It is a great thing to have your own men riding for you because once the
horse's chance in the Arkle had gone, he looked after him, and we have had a
horse for another day.
``I have always rated Our Armageddon in the highest class and he must be tough
to come here and run twice in three days.
"I think the step up in trip and the
bit easier ground helped him today and I think he will get three miles on an
easy track.
``We are entitled to train him for good races next season and aim for the sky.
Why not?
``I know it sounds blasé sometimes when people praise their staff, but I get
really emotional when I think about mine because they are a fantastic team who
keep us afloat. It is not just the trainer and the jockey.
``That it is for the season for him now.''
McGrath said: ``This is only my fifth ride at the Festival and it's fantastic to
have a winner. It was tremendous coming up that hill in front.
``He is unbelievable. He is a machine, and after he had been messed about at
the last open ditch on Tuesday it was no use, and I looked after him.''
Barry Simpson, racing manager to Iris Royal's owner Sir Robert Ogden, said: ``No
excuses. It was a funny race.
"Normally he is a good jumper, but he jumped poorly
today in the early part of race, but he winged the last three.
``We were disappointed in the early part but thrilled he managed to get back
into it.
"We will consider going for the Grand Jump in Japan as an alternative to
Aintree.''
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook
