Lord of the Dance
AP McCoy claims debut Irish Hennessy Gold Cup victory
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AP McCoy claims debut Irish Hennessy Gold Cup victory

AP McCoy won his first Irish Hennessy Gold Cup on board Carlingford Lough on a memorable afternoon at Leopardstown.

The 19-time champion jockey sealed his 4,324th career winner, on the weekend in which he announced his retirement at the end of the season.

The John Kiely-trained 4-1 shot edged Foxrock into second, while 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere was third.

McCoy, 40, was required to regain ground with JP McManus-owned Carlingford Lough after a mistake at the second-last fence, before clinching an unforgettable win.

"You can't fight fate and it was obviously meant to be the way things happened," said McCoy.

It was McCoy's second win of the day after victory on Sort It Out in the Paddy Power Handicap Hurdle earlier on Sunday.

McCoy said: "I might just get to steer him around on Gold Cup day at Cheltenham, which is probably the most important day of the whole jumping year and, on today's performance, he's got a live chance.”