MINGLERS POPEYE landed Newcastle trainer Stuart Tighe his first GBGB Category One victory with a brilliant victory in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup (480m) at Monmore on Saturday.

Trained and part-owned by Tighe along with Richard Colquhoun, Kelly Macari and Robert Malone, the May 2018 son of Sparta Maestro and Minglers Suarez soon put his rivals under pressure in the £10,000 decider, bossing proceedings after a fluent exit.

Heading towards the rails in the dash to the turn, Minglers Popeye’s trapping and early pace afforded him the luxury of a clear path across and connections never looked backed thereafter as he kept up a searing gallop throughout.

Favourite Signet Ace (Kevin Hutton) missed the break and was crowded wide at the turn before staying on well in third. However, it was left to Antigua Storm (Mark Wallis) to keep up the pressure on Minglers Popeye with another strong-running effort from him.

However, the ex-Irish trained Shelbourne Gold Cup finalist was not for catching as he landed the Monmore version by three-quarters of a length from Antigua Storm in 28.45sec (-10) to spark some fantastic celebrations at the presentation podium.

Winning trainer Tighe told RPGTV: “I’m absolutely buzzing. It’s our second Cat One final and our first win – and I’m just delighted for this dog. From day one he’s been absolutely brilliant and it makes the long hours in the job so worth it.

“All the lads have enjoyed it tonight and we couldn’t have asked for more. He didn’t get the draw in his Derby quarter-final at Towcester and got turned sideways, but he’s proved he’s not draw-dependent and has won out of one, two, three and four here.

“I’d like to thank my dad for his support and help and to Stevie Duncan, who’s just a brilliant dog man.”

Monmore racing manager Tony Williamson said: “Congratulations to Stuart and his team. That’s some achievement to go unbeaten through the Gold Cup and he also won his prep race here – so that’s four-in-a-row for Minglers Popeye which is a cracking effort.

“It’s a first major win for Stuart Tighe and he dominated from the start – but it was the traveling supporters which made it special. They lifted the atmosphere with riotous celebrations and their journey home would have been shorter am sure!

“You could see from Minglers Popeye’s Irish card and then his performances at Towcester to get to the quarter-finals of the Derby made him definitely one to watch and he’s just got better and better – and it topped a fantastic night for the Newcastle trainers.

“They won both the Gold Cup and the Summer Stayers final, with Coolavanny Bani running a fantastic race for Angela Harrison and Jimmy Wright. It was important in a race with so much early pace that she made the most of a brilliant break.

“Racing to a fast 12.54sec sectional set up victory and she’s won comfortably. And then with Droopys Conrad winning the supporting 630m it’s turned into a great night for the kennel, so congratulations to them too.”

Results: https://www.gbgb.org.uk/meeting/?meetingId=376554&raceId=766784