A PENNY for the thoughts of Kenny Alexander, Peter Molony and Henry de Bromhead as Darver Star landed in front jumping the last in the Champion Hurdle last March, putting the Irish Champion Hurdle form to the fore.

Then came Epatante, unleashed by Barry Geraghty on the stands side, and she was a decisive winner in the end. Three lengths was the winning margin but the next four horses home were Irish, three of which were beaten by Honeysuckle at Leopardstown. On the face of it, Epatante beat them more comfortably than Honeysuckle did at Leopardstown, but the extra stamina test over Cheltenham’s extended two miles probably would have suited the Irish mare, and she was still improving as well. Another penny for connections’ thoughts.