irishracing.com | News - Caspian Caviar Gold Cup glory goes to Warthog Top Quick Links Home Fixtures Racecourses Betting Odds Betting Offers IE Free Bets GB Free Bets Race Cards Big Race Entries Entries Fast Results Race Results Weights & Entries Early Closing Hong Kong Races Top 18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure Mobile View Logon | Register + Latest offers Home Cards All Cards Big Race Entries Entries Runner Index Trainer Index Jockey Index Results Full Results"; Fast Results"; Runner Index Trainer Index Jockey Index Bet Offers Listowel Free Bets and Betting Offers Betting Offers IE Betting Offers & Free Bets Existing Customers Offers Promo Codes Betting Offers UK Betting Offers & Free Bets Existing Customers Offers Promo Codes Betting Hub Daily Specials Betting Guides Bet Calculator How to Bet on Horse Racing Horse Racing Terminology and Jargon Explained Horse Racing Betting Terms Explained Understanding Horse Racing Bet Types Types of Horse Races Betting Odds Explained How to Pick a Winner Each Way Betting Lucky 15 Betting Lucky 31 Betting Live Stream Horse Racing What is SP in Horse Racing What is a Handicap Race What is a Tote placepot Tote betting Accumulator betting Odds Betting Odds Betting Odds Calculator Statistics Daily Statistics Season Statistics Ireland Flat Leading Trainers Leading Jockeys National Hunt Leading Trainers Leading Jockeys UK Flat Leading Trainers Leading Jockeys National Hunt Leading Trainers Leading Jockeys Watch Horse Tracker News More Horse Tracker News Blog Hong Kong Races Gallery First Time Gear Fixtures Runners Abroad Punchestown 2022 Cheltenham 2022 Sidelined Jockeys Top 10 Tracked Whispers Runner Index Trainer Index Jockey Index Non-Runners Market Movers Mobile View Search Site With Home Cards Big Race Entries Fast Results Full Results Watch Betting Offers Listowel Free Bets and Betting Offers Betting Hub Betting Offers & Free Bets IE Betting Offers & Free Bets UK Betting Odds HorseTracker News More My Account Non-Runners Market Movers News Fixtures Betting Guides Bet Calculator How to Bet on Horse Racing Horse Racing Terminology and Jargon Explained Horse Racing Betting Terms Explained Understanding Horse Racing Bet Types Types of Horse Races Betting Odds Explained How to Pick a Winner Each Way Betting Lucky 15 Betting Lucky 31 Betting Live Stream Horse Racing What is SP in Horse Racing What is a Handicap Race What is a Tote placepot Tote betting Accumulator betting Statistics Racecourses Runners Abroad Hong Kong Races Sidelined Jockeys First Time Gear Whispers Runner Index Trainer Index Jockey Index Top 10 Tracked Cheltenham Punchestown Bookmakers Logoff Desktop View Home News News Caspian Caviar Gold Cup glory goes to Warthog Sat 14th Dec 2019, 15:06 Robin Des Foret - third for Willie Mullins © Photo Healy Racing Warthog battled back admirably to claim a narrow victory in an attritional renewal of the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. David Pipe’s grey had run a fine race to finish third in last month’s BetVictor Gold Cup on his seasonal reappearance — and while he has previously struggled for consistency, he returned to Cheltenham towards the head of the market as a 7-1 chance under David Noonan. The seven-year-old cut out much of the running four weeks ago and was once again ridden prominently, initially taking the 13-strong field along before taking a lead from outsider Imperial Presence. As the latter faltered, Warthog was back in front before the home turn, but looked booked for minor honours once again after being joined and passed by 40-1 shot Spiritofthegames after the final fence. However, with both horses tiring in the testing conditions, Warthog managed get back up and claim a thrilling contest by a head. Pipe said: “In the past he has been a bit of a weak finisher and I wasn’t really confident. We half thought about going for the two-mile race, but had no weight in this, so we decided to give it a go. “Last season he started off at Sandown really well, but he didn’t progress from there. His jumping went to pot and he lost his confidence. “David Noonan gets on well with him and it was important to get a good start and get the first few (fences) right — it was poetry in motion after that. “This is more of a galloping track than the one the BetVictor was run on and David was keen to keep hold of him as he folded a bit last time, but in fairness, he found loads today. “It’s nice for the yard and for the owners.” Dan Skelton, trainer of Spiritofthegames, admitted defeat was hard to take. He said: “I’m gutted. He was two lengths ahead on, but the other one came back and is obviously a very tough horse. “We were just desperate for the line to come. If the last 100 yards were on better ground he may have held on, but there are no excuses. “I thought we had it won after the last. 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