THE final race on the opening day of the 2015 Cheltenham Festival was the Listed CHAPS Restaurant Barbados Novices’ Handicap Chase, over two miles, four and a half furlongs and it was won by Irish Cavalier who came late and swept past his rivals to win by two and a half lengths.

This was his first win from four starts over fences and it adds to a tally of three wins from five outings over hurdles and a single win from two starts in bumpers.

The six-year-old was bred by Limetree Stud, he made €6,000 when sold in Fairyhouse as a foal, and he is a son of the classic winning miler Aussie Rules (by Danehill), who stands at Lanwades Stud.

Despite being by the sire of the popular Group 1 star Fiesolana, he did not run on the flat and he is unusual among his sire’s blacktype winners in that his best relations have made their names under National Hunt rules.

His half-sister Lavender Track (by Pistolet Bleu) won a pair of bumpers and the first of her two starts over hurdles, and that mare’s first foal is the Henry de Bromhead-trained five-year-old Loughmore Queen (by King’s Theatre), who finished third in a Thurles bumper on her debut in November.

Irish Cavalier’s half-brother Make A Track (by Hernando) is with Gordon Elliott, he holds an entry in next month’s Grade 3 Crabbie’s Grand National, and his winning form includes a Grade B handicap chase at Limerick almost 15 months ago.

Their dam was unraced and she, Tracker (by Bustino), is a half-sister to two multiple winners, one of whom is 1997 Grade 1 Champion Hurdle hero Make A Stand (by Master Willie).

He made all to beat Theatreworld by five lengths that day, the highlight of a career that saw him win nine times from 14 starts over obstacles and also three races on the flat. Irish Cavalier is clearly talented, is only six years old, and could have plenty more good prizes ahead of him.