MARIE and Joe Donnelly had a memorable hour at Kempton the day after Christmas when they witnessed a Grade 1 double in their colours, thanks to the Willie Mullins-trained Kitzbuhel (Cokoriko) in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase, and Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino in the Christmas Hurdle. This took to seven the number of Grade 1 races won by the couple in the calendar year.

Winner and placed second from three starts over hurdles as a three and four-year-old in France, the six-year-old Kitzbuhel was bred by Michele Juhen Cypres, and raced for her in partnership. He won his first two starts from Closutton, on the second occasions taking the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park comfortably. He then ran fifth at Aintree and third at Sandown in a Grade 2 hurdle, less than a length behind the winner.