THE inaugural Goffs UK Aintree Sale in 2016 was headed by the Colin Bowe-trained point-to-point winner Samcro at £335,000 – the highest price paid that year for a winner between the flags. Seven months later the now Gigginstown House Stud-owned, Gordon Elliott-trained gelding landed the first of three bumper wins when successful at odds-on at Punchestown, before going on to win a listed bumper at Navan which was perhaps prophetically named the Future Champions Flat Race. After his first racecourse win his trainer described the gelding as “a good one”.

That accolade is looking modest today after the five-year-old has added two hurdle successes to his so far impeccable CV, and last weekend he stepped up a level to win the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan and extend his unbeaten run in all codes to six. There is no hiding the admiration his trainer has for his latest star.