McCoy and Gilgamboa bring G1 glory for Westerner

A P McCoy came home to rapturous applause at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday when getting Gilgamboa (7g Westerner-Hi Native, by Be My Native) up to win the G1 Ryanair Gold Cup Novice Chase. The son of Westerner, who already boasted a G2 victory this season, came home half a length clear of fast-finishing The Tullow Tank to bring more G1 glory for his sire. Trainer Enda Bolger paid tribute to the man in the saddle aboard J P McManus’s seven-year-old. “Tony has ridden a few for me but that's the first winner we've had together. It's great to win a race like this and to have that man on top,” Bolger told irishracing.com. ‘The ground was a big help, and he just wasn't right the last day and Mark Walsh looked after him. I don't know whether he'll go to Punchestown for the three mile novice or not.”