FINISHING third on his novice debut, this seven-year-old by the Dutch Warmblood Vechta has just stopped growing according to Harold Megahey, who rides the chesnut gelding for his father Britt.

“We bought him as a four-year-old but he was weak and found it hard to work on the flat while his jump needed to be developed as well,” explained the Glenpatrick producer. “We decided to give him as much time as he needed and Dad hunted him a few times over the past two seasons.

“He has now come to hand and I was really pleased with him at Ballinagore, where he finished second in the EI100 class, and again here at Tyrella where he was brilliant in all three phases. The plan is to qualify him for the new six and seven-year-old one-star class at Tattersalls and, hopefully, be considered for Le Lion d’Angers at the end of the season.”

Coolrock Gold Dust was bred in Co Monaghan by Larry Muldoon out of a mare by the Irish Draught stallion Brehan Gold. His grandam, the thoroughbred Dunhill Lass (by Carlingford Castle), comes from the family of The Last Fling who won 14 times on the track and ran in all the top British chases including the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Grand National at Aintree.