A YEAR ago five horses lined up for the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park. They were, in finishing order, Our Duke, Presenting Percy, Ballycasey, A Toi Phil and Valseur Lido. One thing they all have in common is that they have all won at Grade 1 level.

It was an emotional day as the Irish Grand National winner Our Duke put a couple of below par performances behind him to show he was back to something approaching his best. The subsequent victory at Cheltenham for the runner-up Presenting Percy showed that the race was out of the top drawer.