Following Churchstonewarrior and Humble Glory 3/1 chance Gaelic Arc was the third winner on the card whose previous outing had been at Sligo’s final meeting of the year on October 22nd as he landed the BetVictor Flat Race.

Third to subsequent Punchestown winner Minella Crooner at the western venue, Finny Maguire’s mount travelled well and, along with Getaway Charlie (6/1), tracked the 8/13 favourite Keepthefaithinme into the straight.

The Arcadio gelding found plenty off the bridle and led over a hundred yards out before going on to score by a length and a quarter from Getaway Charlie. The market leader could find no more in the closing stages and finished the same distance further back in third.

Winning trainer John Ryan said: "He is a nice horse and his half-brother (Galop Marin) has won four French Grade 1s.

"He is a smasher, Finny (Maguire) gave him a lovely ride and he won a bit snug. When he hit the rising ground he was really staying on again.

"He is a gorgeous horse and has his job done now with his bumper won. I'd say we'll go for a winners' bumper because he goes on soft ground."

Ryan's strike-rate has understandably dropped a fair bit since his purple patch in the summer but his tally of 33 winners for the campaign (previous best 15) is a notable achievement with just less than half of the season still remaining.

Quotes from Thomas Weekes