THE Powers Gold Cup, traditionally run over this Easter weekend, for decades has been one of the biggest prizes for novice chasers in the Irish calendar. More recently sposnored by Ryanair and the Tote, it has provided some thrills over the years and was won by some of the best Irish-trained chasers of the last 60 years including Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Arkle, Fort Leney, Captain Christy and more recently the dual winner Al Boum Photo.

Captain Christy won it the day after he had fallen in the Irish Grand National, while Carvill’s Hill, Merry Gale, Bobsline and Dorans Pride are also on its roll of honour. It has some surprise winners too, Ruby Walsh and Ger Lyons, no less, combined for success with Big-And-Bold in 2002. There were also talented novices who just came up short, like Kinloch Brae and Rince Ri.