Cheltenham Festival News: It all came together for Conflated says Davy Russell
- Jonathan Doidge
- 5 February 2022
He may have his own ideas about life but it all came right for Conflated on Saturday February 5, when he landed the Irish Gold Cup under a delighted Davy Russell.
Jumping well and always comfortable with the pace of the race, the eight-year-old was going so well that Russell was confident enough to kick on from two out and the move proved decisive in beating the staying-on Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo into second.
"I understood that as a young horse he showed an awful lot of ability. He's quite quirky and he's done some very strange things but it (ability) was always there," said the jockey.
"When we won so well the last day we were in the mix. I hadn't my mind made up which was I going to ride him until we got to the start and it just fell into place from there.
It's easy when you're riding an outsider like that. Gordon (Elliott) was unbelievably confident.
Reporting that Elliott had told him "We think he's a Grade 1 horse. We'll find out today. Ride him whatever way you want," Russell also added "Camilla who looks after him was very confident leading him up, so look I'd nothing to lose."
The winner, who has last been seen landing a Grade B handicap chase at Navan in December, from an official mark of 145, is clearly improving at a rapid rate. Those quirks may be a concern if he does head to Cheltenham for the blue riband, though sometimes it is precisely those sort of characters that have the edge in the big moments.
"I got to the start I was happy where I was slotting in," said Russell. "To be honest after jumping two fences I knew I was doing the right thing and if he was good enough after that then you know."
Those considering Conflated as a Gold Cup contender may also be worried about the usual genuine end to end gallop in that race, especially after the pilot added of this Irish success: "It came to my lad very easy. I didn't think he'd a huge amount of pace. We went relatively slow and it felt very easy for my lad today.
"I took a bit of a risk. I quickened off the back of the second-last. Not ideal around here. I was either going to be right or wrong.
"I thought if I grabbed three lengths, and I felt I'd saved enough all the way round, I travelled so well, that if I grabbed three lengths and kept him, I'd win the race.
"There was a lot of staying horses and I felt that if I got in amongst them and got into a battle I wasn't sure what was going to happen there."
Russell, whose previous win in the race came on Sir Des Champs in 2013, added: "Often times I am a bit guilty for waiting but it felt right to go and get them three lengths because I had that bit of pace.
"He may not show that pace going to the last and if there was a mistake or something there. I felt that I'd use the little bit of pace he has now and try to get him home."
The 42-year-old said that any decisions as to who would ride Conflated and the stable's main hope Galvin, should both head for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup next month, would be taken by Elliott.
Asked if he felt the Gigginstown-owned gelding is a genuine contender, he said: "He is now. He wasn't at the start of the day but he most certainly is now."
