By RUSSELL SMITH FARINGDON-based jockey Mick Fitzgerald was in dreamland after powering See More Business to a thrilling victory in the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup on the final day of the Festival yesterday.

The Irishman brought the Paul Nicholls-trained 16-1 chance with a well-timed run to head Go Ballistic (66-1) at the last before forging clear up the run-in to win by a length.

Irish raider Florida Pearl, the 5-2 favourite, was 17 lengths back in third.

"This is what they call unbelieveable, I think," said a breathless Fitzgerald after pulling up. "I just can't believe it. Paul Nicholls - all credit to him. We have kept it in the family again.

"I was second in 1996 on Rough Quest and I thought I would never experience this."

See More Business was giving Fitzgerald and his brother-in-law Nicholls, who trains at Ditcheat near Shepton Mallet in Somerset, their second big-race success in the space of 24 hours after they had taken the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Call Equiname. It also formed the centrepiece of a glittering 636-1 last-day treble for Fitzgerald, who also landed the Elite Triumph Hurdle on Katarino and the Cathcart Chase on Stormyfairweather.

His four winners were also enough to give him the London Clubs Trophy for the most successful rider of the Festival.

And after dismounting from See More Business, Fitzgerald, who won the 1996 Grand National on Rough Quest, added: "It's like someone has placed me on top of the world.

"I always thought that winning the Gold Cup was better than the National, but when I won the National I realised how much it meant to everybody - not to people in racing. But this is the one that everybody in racing wants to win."

Strongly-fancied Teeton Mill pulled up after slipping a tendon on his off-hock, and could now face retirement.

Story date: Friday 19 March

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