Some thing of a surprise winner of his first Gold Cup , he proved it no fluke when winning it again last season. He made his debut at Moulins in May 2015, falling in a 2m 1 f 3y hurdle. He moved to Willie Mullins in December that year and made his Irish debut at Fairyhouse in December 2016, finishing 3rd in a 2m 4f maiden hurdle, beaten 2 ½ l behind Minella Till Dawn, then in January 2017, won a 2m maiden hurdle at Thurles by 8 ½ l from Caro Des Flos. He then won a 2m 4f grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in April beating Stand up and Fight 4l, and finished the season with 5th in the 3m grade 1 Irish novice hurdle at the Punchestown festival, 13 ¼ l behind Champagne Classic. He returned in November at Navan, winning a 2m 1f beginners chase by 7l from Tycoon Prince, then fell at Limerick in December. He reappeared at Leopardstown in February 201, finish-ing 2nd to Monalee in a 2m 5f grade 1 novice chase, then fell at Cheltenham in March in the RSA chase won by Presenting Percy. He then won the grade 1 Gold Cup novice chase over 2 4f at Fairy house in April beat-ing Shattered Love 1 l, then ran out at Punchestown in the grade 1 Champion novice chase.
He reappeared at Tramore in January winning a 2m 5g listed chase by 6l from Total Recall, then came to Cheltenham and won the 3m 2f grade 1 Gold Cup by 2 ½ l from Anibale Fly, and finished with 2nd at Punchestown in the 3m grade 1 Irish Gold Cup, beaten 2l by Kemboy.
Only seen twice last season, he reappeared at Tramore on New years day, winning a 2m 5f grade 3 chase by 6l from Acapella Bourgeois (received 11lb), before returning to Cheltenham and landing the Gold Cup by a neck from Santini. It is hard to win 2 let alone 3 Gold Cup’s and whist he sets the standard, he is unlikely to run many times, and looks vulnerable to Santini this season.
Trainer W. Mullins
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