F OR a while, it looked like the greatest impact that the 2001 Land Rover Bumper would have on the world of National Hunt racing would be through the horse who finished third, Beef Or Salmon – and Michael Hourigan’s horse did have a lasting impact – but it wasn’t. It was through the horse who finished first, Tuco. Or, specifically, through the owner of the horse who finished first.

Tuco had swapped Michael O’Leary’s Westmeath colours for Gigginstown House Stud’s Westmeath colours by the time he raced for the second time – he fell at the last when beaten in Xenophon’s maiden hurdle at Naas – and, under the tutelage of David Wachman, he progressed.