A TOI PHIL (FR) (2010) b g - Day Flight - Lucidrile (FR)) (Beyssac (FR)) - Won 2 hurdles and 7 chases between 2015 & 2022. FInished second on his sole start in France and his career for new Irish connections ended inauspiciously when at odds on he ran out after one flight of hurdles. He won his next two starts but was unplaced in the Baring Bingham at the Festival. He then went chasing and was highly tried over the next three seasons where he ran frequently (he won four times in his novice campaign), at Grade two and three level but was below top class. He was an outsider in 2019 and finished twelfth which was pretty good as he had never run further than three miles in his life. He later was sold to the UK, had a few runs for Gary Moore and he last raced under rules at Lingfield in February 2022. He then ran in points over the next two years without success​

BLESS THE WINGS (IRE) (2005) b g - Winged Love (IRE) - Silva Venture (IRE) (Mandalus (IRE)) - Won hurdle and 8 chases  between 2009 & 2019. Tough cookie who ran in seven consecutive Cheltenham Festivals finishing second three times, behind The Package in the Kim Muir in 2015 and two Cross Countries in 2016 & 2017. He ran a total of ten times over the Cheltenham Cross Country course winning once in December 2017. At Aintree he finished unplaced in the 2015 Topham and his two Nationals came late in his career at the ages of thirteen and fourteen. He ran the race of his life to finish third in 2018 having been close two out before fading and a well beaten thirteenth a year later. He also finished second in two Irish Nationals, the first of which saw him only denied by a short head having been bumped in a rough finish behind Rouge Angel in 2016. A year later he was decisively beaten by Our Power. That second National in 2019 was his last race A magnificent servant to connections.​

BLOW BY BLOW (IRE) (2011) ch g - Robin des Champs (FR) (Shean Rose (IRE) (Roselier (FR)) - W0n 3 NHF, 3 hurdles and a chase between 2015 & 2022. Won a bumper at the 2016 Punchestown Festival but his career highlight came in his novice hurdle season when he won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle at the Festival. He did not repeat that form over fences and after winning his debut chase at Galway in October 2018 never won another race. The 2019 National was only his eighth start over fences and he pulled up early on the second circuit. He returned home lame but clearly made a quick recovery as he lined up in the Irish National two weeks later but again was pulled up. He was sold shortly afterwards and spent the rest of his career running in Scotland and the north of England. He last was seen at Ayr in March 2022.​

CAPTAIN REDBEARD (IRE) (2009) ch g - Bach (IRE) (Diesel Dancer (IRE) (Toulon) - Won 4 hurdles and 4 chases between 2014 & 2019. Won a couple of points in the spring of 2015. Was a useful animal who plied his trade mostly in Scotland and the north. Aintree was as far south as he ever ventured. He chased The Dutchman home in the Peter Marsh in 2018 before his first National where he unseated at Foinavon first time. He completed the course a year later. Prior to his second National he had beaten 1-6 favourite Definitly Red in a two horse race at Kelso. He also completed the course in two Grand Seftons. He was not seen after pulling up as if something was amiss at Newcastle in November 2019.​​

DON POLI (IRE) (2009) b g Poliglote - Dalamine (FR) (Silery (USA)) - Won 3 hurdles & 5 chases between 2013 & 2020. Ran once in France before being sold to Willie Mullins yard were he initially raced in the Gigginstown House colours. His early career was steller. He won a maiden and then a novice hurdle and on just his fourth start took on the handcappers and won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle at the Festival. The following season he went chasing and won the RSA Chase on just his third start over fences. He failed at the Punchestown festival but started the following season with two wins, beating Many Clouds at Aintree and the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown. In the 2016 Gold Cup it was the story of the two "Dons" both owned by Gigginstown giving Bryan Cooper the dilemma of which Don to choose - Poli or Cossack who was unbeaten in his three completed starts this season but who had fallen in the King George. In the end Cooper got it right, chose Cossack and won whilst Poli finished third but never looked like getting to the first two. He finished second in the Aintree Bowl and third in the Punchestown Gold Cup proving that he was just short of the best. After he was one of the Gigginstown horses moved from Willie Mullins to Gordon Elliott he was lighlty raced. He missed the 2017-18 season and when he returned the National was the target. He finished nineteenth having been sold on the eve of the race. He won two points in 2019-20, finished unplaced in the 2020 Cheltenham Foxhunters and was last seen at Haydock in November 2020.​​

DOUNIKOS (FR) (2011) b g - Smadoun (FR) - Baby Sitter (FR) (Nikos) - Won NHF, hurdle and 3 chases between 2015 & 2021. Won his sole point and a bumper at the fourth time of asking. Won his first start over hurdles and looked partcularly useful over fences winning his first two chases in 2017 but he flopped in the RSA and then pulled up in the Irish Grand National. He showed nothing for a while until a surprise victory in the Punchestown Grand National Trial which propelled him to having a live each way chance in the 2019 National. He pulled up in the closing stages and pulled up in a second Irish National on his next start. He last raced over rules in a handicap on the flat at Cork in August 2021 and then was sold to the UK where he ran in points over the next three years. He was fairly useful winning four times.​

FOLSOM BLUE (IRE) (2007) b g - Old Vic - Spirit Leader (IRE) (Supreme Leader) - Won 4 hurdles and 3 chases between 2011 & 2019. Ran up a sequence of three straight hurdle wins in his younger days and he won the Punchestown Grand National Trial in 2014. He was a regular in long distance chases in Ireland finishing fourth in both the 2016 & 2018 Irish Grand Nationals. He was still in touch and going well when he was brought down six fences from home in the 2016 Scottish Grand National. He won a second Punchestown Grand National Trial in 2018 and also finished unplaced in the Welsh National later that year, He also ran in a Midlands National as well in 2019. He only had one attempt at the National in 2019 and he was amongst the backmarkers. It was his final race. 
GENERAL PRINCIPLE (IRE) (2009) b g - Gold Well - How Provincial (IRE) (Be My Native (USA)) - Won NHF, hurdle and 3 chases between 2015 & 2020. Won his point in November 2014, his first bumper and his first hurdle. He won a Grade Three event at Limerick in March 2017 before finishing fifth in the Irish Grand National. He won the 2018 Irish National in a blanket finish by a head. He was one of three who came down at the nineteenth in the 2019 National and he showed very little after that. He was last seen pulling up at Fairyhouse in November 2020.​

GO CONQUER (IRE) (2009) b g - Arcadia (GER) - Ballimona Wish (IRE) (Katashan (FR)) - Won NHF, hurdle and 4 chases. Brief and unsuccessful career in Irish points (one fall and and an unseat) but he won his bumper and his first hurdle. Was very lightly raced under rules but often ran well in defeat twice finishing runner up in valuabe handicaps at Ascot in 2016-17. Finished unplaced in the 2017 Topham and before his sole attempt at the National in 2019 he won two valuable races, the Sodexo Gold Cup at Ascot in November 2017 and the Skybet (formally Great Yorkshire) Chase at Doncaster. He pulled up in the closing stages of the National. He last ran under rules at Ascot in November 2019 but reappeared three and half years later in a point to point where he pulled up.​

JOE FARRELL (IRE) (2009) b g - Presenting - Luck of the Deise (IRE) (Old Vic) - Won 2NHF, hurdle and 2 chases between 2014 & 2021. Won the Scottish Grand National in 2018 by the narrowest of margins - a nose from Ballyoptic in what had only been his sixth race over fences. He never hit those heights again although he finished runner up in his prep race for the 2019 National at Newbury so he came to Aintree quietly fancied. He struggled and pulled up in the closing stages. He pulled up in the Bet 365 Gold Cup on his next start and apart from finishing third in the 2020 Midlands National showed litle thereafter. He did finish a very well beaten sixth in the 2020 Becher Chase and was last seen the following February in a hunter chae at Doncaster.

​JURY DUTY (IRE) (2011) b g - Well Chosen - Swan Heart (IRE) (Broken Hearted) - Won 3 hurdles and 4 chases between 2016 & 2021. Won two novice hurdles at Navan before finishing third in the Pertemps Final at the Festival when still a novice. Won two novice chases and was favourite for the National Hunt Chase the following year but he unseated when behind in the closing stages. Later that year in a genius move by his trainer Gordon Elliot he was sent to contest the £200,000 American Grand National at Far Hills. This is a National in name only as it was a nine runner affair over two miles five furlongs over fences more akin to fixed brush hurdles. But he he did what was asked of him and won by three and a quarter lengths. He then won his prep race for he National at Down Royal and was sent off at 10-1 for the 2019 National. He unseated at the nineteenth fence. He pulled up in the Irish National on his next start and was lightly raced thereafter although he did win a hunter chase at Thurles in Februay 2021. He last raced at the Punchestown Festival a month later.​​

JUST A PAR (IRE) (2007) b g - Island House (IRE) - Thebrownhen (IRE) (Henbit (USA)) - Won Hurdle and 5 chases between 2012 & 2020. Won a maiden point in 2012 and his first hurdle in Irelamd before moving to the UK. He was beaten by Many Clouds on his UK debut at Exeter in February 2013 and then finished second in the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree. He was sent chasing and won a Grade Two event at Newbury on his second start. He was unplaced though in both the RSA at the Festival and Mildmay Novices Chase at Aintree. He enjoyed a busy 2014-15 season where he made hs debut over the National fences (he pulled up in the Becher Chase) and ended by winning the Bet365 Gold Cup in tight finish from Vics Canvas. He never featured in his two Nationals finishing amongst the backmarkers in 2016 (he walked across the line) and 2017 and was pulled up in 2018, He was denied by a short head by the Young Master who pipped him at the post when he tried to win back to back Bet365 Gold Cups. He ended his career on a winning note though by winning two hunter chases at Doncaster and Carlisle in February and March 2020.

LIVELOVELAUGH (IRE) (2010) b g - Beneficial - Another Evening (IRE) (Saddler's Hall (IRE)) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 2 chases between 2014 & 2021. Won his maiden Point in April 2014 and his bumper that December before finishing down the field in the Festival Bumper. He won his first hurdle at Ballinrobe In May 2016.  He later won a small race at Cork in Janary 2018 but did not win again until he put in a superb display in the 2021 Topham where he made virtually all the running, jumped for fun and won as he pleased by a comfortable four and a half lengths. All the more remarkbale as when he lined up in the National the year before he could only finish eleventh. Maybe he was better suited to the shorter trip. He was fancied for the Galway Plate that August but finished plum last and was not seen out again.​​​

MALA BEACH (IRE) (2008) b g - Beneficial - Peppardstown (IRE) (Old Vic) - Won 3 hurdles and 3 chases between 2015 & 202. Havng shown litle in his first few starts he went on to win a Grade Two novice hurdle at the 2013 Punchestown Festival and added a second Grade Two event at Gowran the following year. It was a similar story over fences with a victory in the 2017 Troytown Chase after he had missed a season. He was unconsidered for the 2019 National and pulled up in the closing stages. He was next seen out winning a point to point and had one more run under rules a Thurles in November 2019.​​

MINELLA ROCCO (IRE) (2010) b g Shirocco (GER) - Petralona (USA) (Alleged (USA)) - Won 2 hurdles & 3 chases between 2015 & 2020. Won an Irish point in 2014 and his only two hurdles in 2015. Gained his first success over fences when he won the National Hunt Chase in 2016 beating future Gold Cup winner Native River. Only had three races before the 2017 Gold Cup and two of those ended with his jockey on the floor. However in the Gold Cup he finished second without looking like he would catch the winner Sizing John. He never hit those heights again. He was disappointing the following season and underwent wind sugery. He pulled up in both the 2019 Grand National and Irish equivalent but the following year he did win two hunter chases. He was last seen finshing fifth in the 2020 Cheltenham Foxhunters.​

MONBEG NOTORIOUS (IRE) (2011) b g - Milan - Barleagh Princess (IRE) (Presenting) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 4 chases between 2016 & 2021. Won a point. He hit a rich vein of form when he won three chases on the bounce including the valuable Thyestes Case at Gowran in January 2018. He was lightly raced the following season, was unconsidered for the National and was tailed off by half way when he pulled up. He later won a small race at Down Royal in 2020 but suffered fatal injuires on the flat in a chase at the Punchestown Festval in May 2021.​

NOBLE ENDEAVOUR (IRE) (2009) b g - Flemensfirth (USA) - Old Moon (IRE) (Old Vic) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 2 chases between 2013 & 2020. Useful hurdler who was ony denied a Cheltenham Festival victory by a head when he finished second in the 2015 Martin Pipe. He was a pretty useful chaser too winning the 2016 Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown. He reached the frame in a second Festival in the Utima in 2017 and finished sixth in that years Irish Grand National. At Aintree he pulled up and he only raced a handful of times thereafter showing little form. He last raced at Gowran in January 2020.​​​​​

ONE FOR ARTHUR (IRE) (2009) b g - Milan - Nonnetia (FR) (Trempolino (USA)) - Won 3 hurdles and 4 chases between 2014 & 2020. The 2017 winner came fro the pointing field where he was successful once in five starts. He won three novice hurdles in a row in 2015 incuding twice at Ayr so he took his chance in the Sefton Novices Hurdle but he was no match for Thistlecrack and he was pulled up at long odds. He went chasing, won on his debut at Kelso but failed to win again in six futther attempts in novce copany. He clearly liked Kelso in the autumn as he won at the same meeting the followng year before his Aintree debut when he finished a very credible fifth in the Becher Chase. He put a marker down for the National by winning Warwicks Classic Chase in a bg field by a comfortable six lengths and was relatively short priced at 14-1 for the big one. At Aintree he settled in rear early on and was never a factor until he suddenly swept into the lead at the second last. Despte being bumped by the weakening Blaklion he went clear and won comfortably. Never has a National winner featured so little in the race itself (he did not get a mention from the ITV commentators until the closing stages) as he quietly bided his time in rear until he made his move. He met with a setback the following seaon and missed a year and had a very unsatisfactory preparation for the 2019 race. He unseated at the second fence in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintee and then unseated at Haydock. So he came to his second National having not completed the course since his first. Again he was held up and made a move two out but this time he couldn't get to the leaders but finished a very honourable sixth, twenty five lengths behind the winnner. He ran in one more Becher Chase finishing fifth but then he pulled up at Haydock in Grand Naional trial and was found to have a fibriliating heart.  His retirement was announced in November 2020. He enjoyed a second career in the show ring but sadly died from colic in March 2023 at the age of fourteen. ​​​​​

OUTLANDER (IRE) (2008) b g Stowaway - Whisper (IRE) (Supreme Leader) - Won 3 NHF, 2 hurdle & 5 chases between 2012 & 2021. Won the Grade 1 Flogas Novices Chase at Leopardsown in 2016 (his third straight win over fences) but fell when fancied for the JLT Novices Chase at the Festival. He only managed one win the following season in 2015-16 but that was the Grade One Lexus Chase when he collared fellow Giggingstown inmate Don Poli in the closing stages. He ran in the 2016 Gold Cup but was never travelling well and his cause was not helped when he was hampered by the falling Cue Card three out. He trailed behind Gold Cup winner Sizing John in the Punchestown Gold Cup on his next start. Showed a surprising return to form winning the Down Royal Champion Chase in November 2017 which was his last win. He was pulled up in a second Gold Cup  in 2018. On the eve of the 2019 Grand National he was sold and finished ninth in the big race itself. He only raced sporadically for his new UK connections (he did run in the Cross Country chase at the Festival in 2020) and was last seen at Ascot in March 2021.​​​​

PLEASANT COMPANY (IRE) (2008) b g - Presenting - Katie Flame (IRE) (Alderbrook) - Won NHF and 3 hurdles between 2013 & 2020. Very talented but very lightly raced and only once managed one season with more than four starts. He won a point and his debut bumper at Ascot in December 2013 but couldn't get his head in front over timber before he changed trainers from David Pipe to Willie Mullins. He ended up without a win over hurdles but won his debut chase at Punchestown in December 2015 and he also won a handicap at the Punchestown Festival at the end of the season. The 2017 National was only his seventh start over fences but he had won his prep race the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse. In the National he finished ninth having stumbled badly at second Valentines. He showed nothing in his two prep races before the 2018 National where he ran the race of his life to finish second. He took the lead at the eighteenth and was still in front two out when Tiger Roll pushed into the lead and held a six length advantage approaching the Elbow. He rallied in the closing stages and ate into Tiger Rolls lead with the post just coming in time for the winner. He was denied by a head and had the line been a couple of yards further he would have been the 2018 Champion. He had a similar preparation for the 2019 National just the two prep races. Then Aintree where he was still in contention when he unseated four out. He was sent to France to contest the Grand Steeplechase de Paris but he finshed tailed off and he only raced two more times finishing unplaced in the Bobbyjo Chase in February 2020. He would have taken his chance in 2020 but Covid came and that was that.​​

RAMSES DE TEILLEE (FR) (2012) gr g - Martaline - Pricesse D'Orton (FR) (Saint Cyrien (FR)) - Won 3 hurdles and 5 chases between 2016 & 2024. Won a point in April 2016, He failed to win over hurdles in 2016-17 but he won his debut chase at Chepstow in November 2017 and he won a second chase there the following January. He finished unplaced in the Ultima at the Festval. He clearly loved Chepstow as win number three over fences was there and he was only beaten a length and a quarter in the 2018 Welsn National. He nearly got round in 2019 but his rein snapped after he jumped the last fence and he was pulled up on the flat. Strangely he then reverted to hurdles. He was still technically a novice and he won novice events at Cheltenham, Doncaster and Haydock and ran in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at the Festival. In doing so he probably became the first National runner to contest a novice hurdle event at the Cheltenham Festival. He could only finish thirteenth though. After that disappointment he was sent to France and ran well in the Grand Course De Haies d'Auteil finishing fifth.  He reverted back to fences, won at Cheltenham on his next start and finished seventh in the Becher Chase, He continued to run in long distance chases, ran in another Welsh National and a Midlands National, won anotherl race at Chepstow and was last seen at Exeter in February 2024. ​

RATHVINDEN (IRE) (2008) b g - Heron Island (IRE) - Peggy Cullen (IRE) (Presenting) - Won 2 NHF, hurdle and 6 chases between 2013 & 2019. Won a point in June 2013 having fallen on hs debut. He won his bumper and his debut hurdle. He was no match for the legendary Faugheen in the Baring Bingham at the 2014 Festival finishing a credible third. His debut over fences was not a happy experience ashe was pulled up after being badly hampered early on. He did manage two wins in the summer of 2017 and by 2018 he had won four times. He gained his biggest win by taking the 2018 National Hunt Chase. He was off for nearly a year but won the Bobbyjo Chase on his comeback and to me he appeared the most obvious National winner on paper. In fact I don't think I have ever been so confident and to be honest 8-1 seemed a steal. He didn't win but I got a good run for my money. He led from the seventh to the tenth and from the eighteenth to the second Canal. He remained with the leaders but looked held in third place two out which is where he stayed. He was sent to France to contest the Grand Steeplechase de Paris but he was hampered early and struggled thereafter finishing amongst the backmarkers. That was it sadly. He was eleven and was only seen one more time when he struggled in a hurdle at Clonmel in December 2019.​

REGAL ENCORE (IRE) (2008) b g - King'sTheatre (IRE) - Go On Eileen (IRE) (Bob Back (USA)) - Won 3 NHF, 2 hurdles and 5 chases. Won a bumper on the all weather at Southwell on his debut in February 2012. His hurdle victory came at Plumpton in November of that yearand he also won a small chase there as well. He loved Ascot though and he ran eighteen times over fences there. He was victorious in the Silver Cup in December 2016, & 2019 and the Sodexo Gold Cup in October 2020. He ran in two Nationals and finsihed eighth in 2017, was a last minute withdrawal on the day in 2018 and eighth in 2019. He ran in the 2022 Topham Chase finishing twelfth at the age of fourteen and he continued racing until he was fifteen where he was last seen falling at his beloved Ascot in February 2023.  ​

ROCK THE KASBAH (IRE) (2010) ch g - Shirocco (GER) - Impudent (IRE) (In The Wings) - Won NHF, 4 hurdles and 4 chases between 2014 & 2021. Only once out of the top three in his first nine starts over hurdles, the highlight being victory in a Grade Three event at Ascot in January 2016. He sarted favourite for the Coral Cup at the Festival on the back of this victory but finished tailed off, only beating one horse home having not enjoyed a clear run.  He won on his debut over fences at Cheptow in October 2016 and won a second chase at the same course the following Februry. He gained a third success there in Octoober 2017. He finished runner up in the 2018 Bet365 Gold Cup and won in a large field at Cheltenham in November of that year. He held a live each way chance for the 2019 National but was brought down at the nineteenth fence. Incidentally he was Richard Johnson's twenty first and final ride in the race. He pulled up in the Bet365 Gold Cup on his next start. By March 2021 he was running in France and he was last seen pulling up in a chase at Nancy in June 2021.​

SINGLEFARMPAYMENT (2010) b g - Milan - Crevamoy (IRE) (Shardari) - Won 2 hurdles and 2 chases between 2014 & 2021. Won his maiden point. Loved Cheltenham and did a lot of his racing there (fourteen of his twenty four chases were at Prestbury Park). He came within a short head of Festival success too when favourite for the 2017 Ultima but he was headed close to the lineb  Un Temp Pour Tout. He was held up on the first circuit in the 2019 National but stayed on past tired horses to finish eighth. He did manage another win at Ascot in Mach 2021 and he last raced at Sandown in November 2021.

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STEP BACK - still in training at the age of 15 in 2024-25

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TEA FOR TWO (2009) b g Kayf Tara - One For Me (Tragic Role (USA)) - Won 2 NHF, 3 hurdles & 4 chases between 2013 & 2019. I loved this one and I was a big fan of his rider Lizzie Kelly who rode him in all bar two of his thirty seven races. Truth be told he was not championship class but he won two Grade One races in his career and in doing so made history. His victory in the Kauto Star Novices Chase in 2015 gave Lizzie not just her first Grade One but she became the first female rider to win one in the UK. He was tried in the highest company, ran in two King Georges (finished third in 2017 and was only beaten by three lengths) and two Gold Cups. The first attempt ended in bitter diappointment when he useated Lizzie at the second fence in 2017 but the following year he finished seventh. He also ran in a Grand National, pulling up in the closing stages in 2019 and at the end of his career he was running in cross country events at Cheltenham. His greatest moment though was his final victory when in April 2017 he managed to head Cue Card between the last two fences in the Aintree Bowl and tenaciously managed to repel his resurgent challenge to hold on by a neck. He was last seen over the Cheltenham cross country course in November 2019. A lovely lovely hrose​​​​

TIGER ROLL (IRE) (2010) b g - Authorized (IRE) - Swiss Roll (IRE) (Entrepreneur) - Won 4 hurdles and 9 chases between 2013 & 2022. By winning a second National in 2019 he did what many of us thought we would never see again as it had taken fourty five years for a horse to win back to back Nationals. Sadly he never got the chance to emulate the legendary Red Rum as first Covid and then disagreements between his owner and the handicapper meant that there would be no third attempt. If anything he will be now be remembered more as a Cheltenham Festival legend with his five Festival victories. He won on his debut at Market Rasen in November 2013 but was sold soon afterwards to run in the Giggingstown Stud Colours and sent to be trained by Gordon Elliott. He was on the small size and a stellar career over hurdes looked to be his future when he ran away with the Triumph Hurdle on what was only his third start over timber. He disappointed at the Punchestown Festival on his next start and whilst he won his first start at Cheltenham the following season his second season was a disappointment. There were no more wins and he was down the field when a 50-1 shot for the Stayers Hurdle. After another disappointing run at long odds at the Punchestown Festival he was off for almost a year and after a spin on the all-weather at Dundalk in March 2016 he put in two more disappointing runs at Aintree and Punchestown in good company and it was clear that his future lay elsewhere. Turning to chasing he won his first two races in the spring of 2016 at Ballinrobe and Kilbeggan and was then kept very busy during that summer and autumn which saw eight more runs and one win in the Munster National at Limerick. He was put away for a few months and then returned to the Festival when he won his second race, the four mile National Hunt Chase when partnered for the only time in his career by Lisa O'Neill. He was not the most consistent of animals and rarely ran two good races back to back and after Cheltenham he raced in the Irish Grand National where he was pulled up before half way having not jumped with any fluency. More disappointing runs followed so he was run over the cross country course at Cheltenham where he enjoyed Festival win number three beating the very useful French raider Urgent de Gregaine. Then to his first National. He was fancied at 10-1 and swept to the lead two out and looked to have the race at his mercy. Six lengths clear at the Elbow the petrol tank began to empty and he only just held on by a head from the fast finishing Pleasant Company. After a slightly disappointing effort over the cross country course at Chelteham,  a spin over hurdles at Navan and a won his second Festival cross country (and his fourth Festival win) and then came his second National. He started favourite at incredibly short odds of 4-1 and in a race of little incident he saw off Magic Of Light by two and three quarter lengths. No last minute scare this time, he won his second National comfortably. He had also for the only time in his career managed to win three races in a row. He underwent surgery in November 2019 to remove a chip from a joint in a leg so did not see a racecourse again until February 2020 when he had another spin over hurdles before an attemp to win his third Festival cross country chase in a row. This time though he found the J P McManus owned, French trained Easysland too good for him. In fact the French raider turned the race into a procession and he was beaten by seventeen lengths. Due to carry eleven stone ten there were no issues raised by his owner about the allotted weight and all was set for the attempt for a third National but as we know Covid put pay to that and the Aintree dream was effectively over. There is no doubt that his form had tailed away in the run up to the 2021 National weights being published. He had finished unplaced in a maiden flat race at Navan in October, pulled up in the November cross country event Cheltenham and finished a long way last in a hurdle at Navan in February. But he was still a dual National winner so eleven stone nine did not seem an unreasonable weight to be asked to carry. Owner Michael O' Leary did not think so and he withdrew the horse at the first forfeit stage. Ironically then he made it Festival win number five when he reversed the placings with Easysland in the cross country and beat him by eighteen lengths. The decision to run him in the Bowl on th first day of the 2021 National meeting still rates as one of the saddest things I have ever witnessed on a racecourse and he was beaten out of sight finishing fourth, a staggerng ninety two lengths behind the winner Clan Des Obeaux. He was entered in 2022 but to be honest nobody really expected him to run and there was no surprise when he was again withdrawn at the first foreit stage. It was all about retiring on a high at his beloved Cheltenham.  It so nearly happened too. In desperate conditions he was going easily two out and with his stable companion and fellow Giggingstown inmate Delta Work had the race between them. It was the latter who led inside the final one hundred yards and broke the colllective hearts of the racing world. Probably the least popular Irish trained Festival winner of all time. O'Leare had spoilt his own party. The two did make a fine sight though as they were led in together into the winners enclosure. An Aintree great but a Cheltenham legend. ​​​​

ULTRAGOLD (FR) (2008) b g - Kapgarde (FR) - Hot D'Or (FR) (Shafoun (FR)) - Won 8 chases between 2012 & 2020. Won chases in the French provinces and Auteuil before moving to the UK in October 2013. He became something of an Aintree specialist running over the fences six times and completing each time. Most notably he joined the exclusive Topham dual winners club when he won back to back renewals in 2017 (at odds of 50-1) and 2018. He also finished runner up in the Grand Sefton in 2017 and third in the Becher Chase a year later. He arguably didn' t stay the full National distance but it was sporting of conections to give it a go and he finished fourteenth in 2019 havng finished lame. He ran a few more times after that including a final trip over the Aintree fences when he finished unplaced in the 2019 Grand Sefton and he was last seen running in a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot in September 2020.​​

UP FOR REVIEW (IRE) (2009) br g - Presenting - Coolsilver (IRE) (Good Thyne (USA)) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 3 chases between 2016 & 2018. Won a maiden point to point in 2014 and his first bumper at the end of the year. Won his first two hurdles, flopped at the Cheltenham Festival but ended a successful season over timber with victory at the Punchestown Festival. Was then off the course for nearly two years but did win two small chases in 2018. The National was only his eighth race over fences and he was brought down at the first fence. Sadly he appeared to land awkwardly and was killed.​​

VALTOR (FR) (2009) b g - Nidor (FR) - Jossca (FR) (Badolato (USA)) - Won hurdle and 6 chases between 2012 & 2022. Did most of his racing in France where he was trained by Eric Leray. He won four chases at Auteuil including a Group Three event there in October 2016. He also ran in two Grand Steeplechase De Paris but did not feature in the finish either time. He moved to the UK in November 2018 an he won his first start for new connections when he took the Silver Cup at Ascot at odds of 33-1. He pulled up on his next start at Aintree and came to the National as an outsider and he was one of the backmarkers.  He didn't return to Aintree but won a novice hurdle at Ascot on his next start and a point  in May 2022. He last raced under rules at Ludlow in February 2022.​​

VALSEUR LIDO (FR) (2009) b g - Anziliero (GER) - Libido Rock (FR) (Video Rock (FR)) - Won NHF, 3 hurdles and 4 chases between 2012 & 2019. Won his bumper in France before moving to Ireland where he won his first two hurdles in 2013 but he was no match for the legendary Vautour in the 2014 Supreme. He won a Grade Two at Fairyhouse on his next start but was then beaten by another legend Faugheen at the Punchestown Festival. He then went chasing and won his first two starts, the second being the Grade One Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse. He ended his novice chase campaign with a Grade One victory at the Punchestown Festival and he looked to be headed for the top. Apart from winning the Down Royal Champion Chase in 2016 (where he beat Silviniaco Conti by eleven lengths) he didn't quite hit the heights expected of him but he did chase home Djakadam in the Punchestown Chase and Vautour in the Ryanair Chase. He lost his way after that Down Royal win and was a 66-1 outsider in the 2019 National where he finished tenth. He last ran under rules in the Kerry National at Listowel in September 2019. ​

VINTAGE CLOUDS (IRE) (2010) gr g - Cloudings (IRE) - Rare Vintage (IRE) (Germany (USA)) - Won NHF, hurdle and 4 chases between 2014 & 2022. Lovey grey horse who loved Haydock. Was still a maiden under fences when he finished seventh in the 2017 Scottish Grand National. Gained his first success over fences at Aintree on his next start and was very consistent thereafter finishing third in the Ultima and Scottish National in 2018. Seemed an ideal Nationl type on the back of a second place in the 2019 Ultima but at Aintree he was with the leaders when he fell at the very first fence. He finished sixth in the Scottish National on his next start. In 2019-20 he pulled up in the Becher Chase but comfortably landed the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock beating Definitly Red. Havng run in the race three times he won the Ultima Chase at the Festival Chase in March 2021. He ran in the Ultima a total of five times and the Scottish National four times and it was in that race that he last saw a racecourse in April 2022.​

WALK IN THE MILL (FR) (2010) b g - Walk in the Park (IRE) - Amour (FR) (Lost World (IRE) - Won 6 chases between 2014 & 2021. Won a chase at Fontainbeleau before being sent to he UK where he became a useful handicap chaser winning a small race at Ascot in November 2017 as well as chases at Exeter and Wincanton. He won back to back editions of the Becher Chase in 2018 and 2019. He had been a reserve for the 2018 National but managed to get into the race only to be withdrawn on the day having been found to be lame. In 2019 he ran a blinder to finish fourth having been prominent throughout and had established himsel as a true Aintree specialist. He would have run a big race in the 2020 National had it not been lost to Covid. Whether connections gained any consolation when he finished second in the Virtual National that was run instead is anyones guess. It was surprising that when he reuturned to Aintree for an attempt at a Becher Chase hat-trick he took a heavy fall at he Chair. This was the only time he had ever fallen in his career. He was pulled up on his next start at Warwick in the Classic Chase and connections decided to retire him. ​​

WARRIORS TALE (2009) b g - Midnight Legend - Samandara (FR) (Kris) - Won NHF, 2 hurdles and 5 chases between 2013 & 2022. Once finished runner up behind One For Arthur in a novice hurdle at Ayr in March 2015. Won two chases at Newbury in March 2017. Pulled up in both his Nationals but in between was a slightly surprising winner of the Grand Sefton. Moved from the UK to Ireland in 2020 where he ran in a few points and he won a hunter chase at Cork in April 2021. Sadly he was killed in a fall at Thurles in January 2022.