Irish Cavalier and Jonathan Moore© Photo Healy Racing
Last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup-fifth Irish Cavalier was the second British trained winner of the week at the Punchestown Festival today, when landing the Grade A Guinness Handicap Chase for trainer Rebecca Curtis.
Irish Cavalier is the best jumps horse sired by Aussie Rules and today travelled strongly, under capable claimer Jonathan Moore, into contention early in the home straight. From the last, Irish Cavalier, a handicap chase winner at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival, eventually stayed on well for a three and three parts of a length win over Colms Dream
Afterwards Curtis stated “we threw him in the deep end this year, and we brought him to Cheltenham and Aintree but everything was right today - the trip, ground and he was back to handicap company.
"He loves undulating tracks and ran well twice here last year, so it was always the plan to come back.
"He takes his racing well but deserves a break now. We could look at the Paddy Power (Chase in Cheltenham's Open meeting) next season, and maybe run in a conditions race as a prep. He's improved every year, and something like the Ryanair could be a target."
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee
