Gold Cup goes to Planet as Denman struggles

PLANET OF SOUND took the honours in an eventful running of the Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup, with War Of Attrition running a fine race to take second on his final start and Cooldine completing the places.

A headstrong performance by fourth-placed Denman left Tony McCoy facing a constant battle to keep the former Gold Cup champion in the race. "He was unridable at times," said McCoy. "There wasn't much I could do. If they were going the other way he'd have won a minute."

The Gold Cup second, sent off an 11-8 favourite, showed no reluctance to jump off, but from his wild leap at the firstit was clear that Punchestown was witnessing a different Denman to the horse who relentlessly galloped his rivals into submission in the 2008 Gold Cup and 2009 Hennessy. Siegemaster cut out the early running but Paul Townend was swiftly forced to allow his mount Cooldine to take up the lead, one of a number of jockeys who were denied an easy ride by their mounts.

None were more troublesome than Denman, however, who ran in snatches, jumped poorly, and rarely allowedMcCoy to dictate affairs. The champion jockey did deserve credit for preserving the partnership and, for all Denman's obvious surliness, it occasionally looked as if his brute force might subjugate these rivals.

It was 14-1 chance Planet Of Sound who proved superior, however, taking up the running a long way from home and holding off all challengers to record a two-and-a-half length victory over 20-1 hope War Of Attrition, who performed admirably in what was his swansong race. [...]