Novice chaser Coneygree, story on his fourth outing over fences, help made all of the running in the feature race of The Festival 2015, health the £550,000 Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup, and became the first novice to win since Captain Christy in 1974.
Nico de Boinville, the winning jockey, said: “It’s the best feeling ever, unbelievable, I’m lost for words. It was a great plan (to go for the Gold Cup). They knew the weather gods were looking down on us – the rain came at the right time, ideal.
“Coneygree is so deceptive. Even when he is in tight, he is brilliant. It is all thanks to the Bradstock family, Alfie, who show jumps him and gets him to know where his feet are.
“It’s just unbelievable. It’s a great family effort and I must thank the owners – Lady Oaksey and the syndicate, and the Bradstock family – for keeping the faith in me.
“These horses only come once in a lifetime and I am very grateful because I didn’t ride him at Newbury and fair play to Dickie (Johnson), he is a hell of a guy and was very good to me there.
“It’s still sinking in.”
Mark Bradstock commented: “It’s wonderful. It won’t sink in for a while but it is great. We have done it before in smaller races and we will still keep doing it but it is obviously fantastic to do it on the big stage.
“I am not very good at watching races and I won’t be very fit in the morning but, when I do get round to watching it, you will have to ask me then.
“The decision was very tricky because the forecast was so up and down. We were obviously liaising very closely with Simon Claisse, walking the course. The rain was meant to be here Tuesday, then Wednesday, then it never arrived. Luckily, we made the right decision.
“Coneygree is a gorgeous, gorgeous horse and it is just so tragic that Sarah’s dad wasn’t here – he had the bet on wrong horse, a big bet on Carruthers winning – and I think that is the downside. I am sure he was probably still watching us now.
“It’s all very well me standing here but the likes of my wife, who is not very well and rides him every single day, and the kids are involved. Chicky has been so wonderful and then the farriers and the vet. I could just carry on – it’s brilliant.”
Sara Bradstock added: “That was cool, wasn’t it? He is wonderful. Dad’s not here but he is here in spirit. I can’t believe it. I have been saying to people “when we win the Gold Cup” in the same breath that I say “when we win the lottery” – it’s that amazing.
“Because he has had so much time off, Coneygree hasn’t been off all that time so he is quite wise in his own way.”
Alfie Bradstock declared: “He is just amazing. He is the most pleasant horse to work with – he does everything you ask him and just tries so hard with everything. He is amazing.”