The Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old used the Savills New Year's Day Chase as a springboard to Festival glory in 2019 and 2020 - and racked up the hat-trick prior to his third to Minella Indo in this year's blue riband.
Both Minella Indo and Gold Cup runner-up A Plus Tard suffered defeats during the Christmas holiday racing programme, but Paul Townend's mount justified odds of 1-6 against three stablemates with a four-length call from Burrows Saint.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THIS SHOWS PEP HE NEEDS A LOT MORE UP FRONT IN LONG HAAL...
MANCHESTER CITY'S backline will receive the flak but their forwards are worthy of the blame.
MADCLAREN
Lando will come back stronger, but my old team will be kicking themselves ...they could have won it this year
It's a prison camp
Calm gardens, privacy pods and different way to do bird
Nicola: I love WAG drama
Hopes for Coleen on I'm A Celeb
TWO MORE WOMEN SET TO SUE GLITTER
Pop paedo 'depressed\" as legal claims mount
Olympic dispirit
Fortnums shubs Paralympians at party for Team GB's success
CHEAP THRILLS
Forming orderly queue is better than sex, says poll
Ruth lawyers build timeline on Eamonn's new romance
'Forensic' study for divorce talks
We'd be a perfect match if you were still Frank
TRANSGENDER Kellie Maloney ended a potential romance when the friend said they would be a perfect match... if she was still Frank.
EU vows to back Kyiv as Trump fears surge
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell promised Ukraine ongoing support yesterday on a visit to Kyiv, as Russia launched 50 drone attacks.