EIGHT horses went to post for the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle in 2007 – and few National Hunt races in Ireland have ever managed to assemble a better cast of players.

Lounaos was the ‘odd one out’ among the field that lined up before the starter – She was a mere Grade 2 winner and never managed a success at the highest level. If she represented the weakest link, imagine what the rest of the cast was like. However, her fourth place finish in the race catapulted her to favouritism for the Triumph Hurdle.