See also » Marine Nationale backs up Queen Mother win in Champion Chase
We missed a lot of our novice season last year so it was a slow build, and I felt the horse had improved every run and had improved again from Cheltenham and we were proved right. He won doing a half-speed and I think this horse has all the attributes to be a multiple Champion Chase winner going forward. Our target is to win three and equal Badsworth Boy who is the only horse in history to win three Champion Chases despite all of the storied horses over the years. He’s only eight and that’s his 12th run — he has no mileage on the clock, and he grows an extra leg in Cheltenham. He’s so laidback, goes through the gears and just does enough. He doesn’t burn any extra petrol than what he needs. He’s the most wonderful creature and everybody in the yard has had a huge part to play in this. Garrett (Cotter) rides him every day, Mandy looks after him — it’s just a great success for Kildare as there are not too many National Hunt horses trained in Kildare anymore. We only have 13 or 14 horses riding out and we are able to punch at the highest level if we get the ammunition. This is the horse of a lifetime and we are going to mind him and you’ll see him back in Cheltenham next year and he won’t be 10/1 like he was this morning! Barry Connell, trainer

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Fact To File (FR), trained by W.P. Mullins, at the request of the Raceday Stewards and reported the animal to have an abrasion on its inside left fore fetlock but to be otherwise post race normal

P.T. Enright, rider of Senecia, trained by Vincent Laurence Halley, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount made a bad mistake down the back.

A steeplechase for five years old and upwards
Weights - 11st 12lbs Mares allowed 7lbs