'I had to back it up' - Mick Winters leads muddy celebrations at Cheltenham

Cheltenham may have lacked the many thousands it usually attracts but the near 2,000 lucky enough to be on course were able to witness just how magical this place can be – especially for its Irish visitors.

Cork-based Mick Winters dreamed of glory at this famous venue and with Caspian Caviar Gold Cup contender Chatham Street Lad he had enough of a chance to keep him awake until 2am and flicking through the TV channels.

And on Saturday, the dream of a first Cheltenham winner came true, with Winters leading the celebrations after. The trainer had promised to roll around in the mud – "just like a piggy" – if Chatham Street Lad could pull off the extraordinary and he obliged with a gleaming smile.

Winters said: "I had a long night last night, I was up to 2am watching TV – I was a bit homesick, not thinking about winning. I said if he won I'd do like a piggy rolling in the muck, like a piggy does, so I had to back it up."

The eight-year-old was placed into a midfield position by Darragh O’Keeffe and steadily improved his position approaching the hill.

As Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Coole Cody faded and Master Tommytucker's penultimate-fence error put him out of contention, the Irish raider was coasting. He smoothly took control and pressed on to dominate in incredible fashion. Midnight Shadow got closest, but with 15 lengths between them.

That success set off jubilant celebrations in the winner's enclosure. Chatham Street Lad's Mayo-based team of owners and biggest supporters had made the trip from Ireland, and proudly sported the green and red colours of their beloved county – which was also the inspiration for the silks – and raucously celebrated the win.

The team took the odds of 33-1 when the ante-post market opened rather than his SP of 16-1, and they proudly stated their trip had been paid for.

Mick Winters: successful in Saturday's Caspian Caviar Gold Cup with Chatham Street LadCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Winters said: "It was outstanding and the beauty of it was the jockey. He's local and he comes to school the horse and he's improved him. The owners have always had horses in and they have a couple of pubs locally and things. He won well in Cork but to do it on the big stage is spectacular. It's something that is beyond hoping for.

"Jimmy Gordon was the man who bought this horse and told me he's in the hall of fame [at Cheltenham] so maybe we might get in there also the way we're going.

"I'd be very humble about this. Racing is very special and the horses are treated so kind and people don't realise it. It would be great to give something back as we're only passing through."

Is Chatham Street Lad a serious player for the Cheltenham Festival?

Chatham Street Lad was having his first start outside of Ireland and off the back of an impressive five-length win at Cork last time. His success, off a rating of 141, may now propel him into Graded company.

William Hill introduced the eight-year-old as a 16-1 chance for the race formerly known as the RSA, if connections opt to return here in March.

"I was confident he would run a blinder," added Winters. "I walked the track and I was happy with him this morning. He's a strong horse and a late developer. He's not a Flat-bred, he's National Hunt, and that's what he was bought for. They keep progressing. We don't know where we're going with him, hopefully here again."

The owners are hoping they will be celebrating with their Mayo colours once again next Saturday, with their county taking on Dublin in the prestigious All-Ireland football final next Saturday. They call it their "impossible double" but the chances got a huge boost at Cheltenham.

Midnight Shadow continued his fine record at Cheltenham with a good second, bouncing back from a below-par comeback effort at Aintree, while Benatar made a fine return off a 693-day absence to finish third for the Gary Moore team.

Coole Cody could only finish sixth in his quest for a Cheltenham double, while the well-fancied Master Tommytucker finished seventh with 5-1 favourite Al Dancer ninth of the ten finishers.

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