Courageous Flame Bearer completes Mullins eight-timer on Sunday with Gold Cup success

Flame Bearer held off stablemate Sir Gerhard to complete an eight-timer on the day for Willie Mullins, but the result was marred by the fatal injury suffered by race favourite Mighty Potter.

Mighty Potter was seeking redemption after a surprise defeat at the Cheltenham Festival, but fell down the back straight. The Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old won seven races from 11 starts.

The victory for Flame Bearer means Ireland's champion trainer has won every race he has had a runner in on Sunday, and he was responsible for all four horses that held a chance turning in before Appreciate and James Du Berlais faded.

Instead, Sean O'Keeffe rode Flame Bearer positively and he found plenty under pressure to hold off the strong-finishing Sir Gerhard at odds of 17-2.

The success is just a second for O'Keeffe at the top level, a year on from his breakthrough in the Albert Bartlett aboard The Nice Guy. He rides Tenzing for Mullins in the Irish Grand National on Monday.

The jockey said: "It's amazing to win that and big thanks to Willie and the owners for the opportunity. The plan was to let him be positive and let him get into his rhythm. He doesn't like to get interfered with and I just have to get a couple of breathers into him just to hold onto enough. In fairness, he stuck his head out and dug in deep for me.

"I knew Patrick [Mullins, on Sir Gerhard] was coming so I needed a jump at the last. He got there and was always going to the line."

The victory is a first at Grade 1 level for the eight-year-old, who joined the Mullins yard at the start of the season from Pat Doyle. Paddy Power make him a 25-1 chance for next season's Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

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