THANKFULLY an intended date with the auctioneers at Goffs UK last August was abandoned. The three-time hurdle winner Charlie Stout (Spadoun) was then in the ownership of Barry Potts, but on his first start last autumn, Potts was joined by co-owners Patrick Walsh and Michael Mulligan.

The then eight-year-old won first time up for the new partnership in September at Galway, put up some useful performances in defeat since, and at the weekend he landed the big prize he had always threatened to do, the Grade A Dan and Joan Moore Chase at Fairyhouse for trainer Shane Nolan.