THE names of owner Patricia Hunt and trainer Noel Meade are never out of place at any major National Hunt Festival, but at the weekend they combined to win the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire with Layfayette. This was the four-year-old gelding’s third and most important win of his career.

The son of multiple Group 3 winning miler and 10 furlong runner French Navy (Shamardal) was bred by Matt Duffy, who sold the then colt as a yearling for just €4,000 at Fairyhouse to Emmanuel Hughes. What a thrill Hughes got when, the following May, the colt realised €54,000 as a breezer at the Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Sale.