IT is 13 years since Tranquil Sea won the Paddy Power Gold Cup. It was the Paddy Power Gold Cup then too, when Edward O’Grady’s horse was steered to victory by Andrew McNamara, before it became the BetVictor, and then became the Paddy Power again, although it will always be the Mackeson for many.

Irish horses have gone close since then, the Michael Hourigan-trained Dancing Tornado was second in 2010, the year after Tranquil Sea, and the John Hanlon-trained Hidden Cyclone finished third in 2013, again under Andrew McNamara, but there hasn’t been an Irish-trained winner of the race since Tranquil Sea, since 2009, and he was the first since Bright Highway in 1980.