Gloria Victis (Fr)'s destruction of a high class field in the Racing Post Chase, when making all under Tony McCoy, singled this horse out to be an exciting star, with the performance of the season. As a six year old connections were entitled to hope for many years of future enjoyment with it. Tragically in the very next race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, it was killed after crashing through the second last and falling, when still disputing the lead and holding every chance, in what had been a relatively slow race. Ironically the decision to run in the Gold Cup in preference to the Sun Alliance Novices Chase was made late in the day. Being the best staying chaser in the country it was entitled to be in the field. The victory of Marlborough (Ire) from Beau (Ire) at the same meeting, highlighted how good it really was. This horse will be missed by many.

The eventual winner of the Gold Cup was Noel Chance's Looks like Trouble (Ire) who stayed on well up the hill to beat Florida Pearl (Ire). This is a progressive chaser who had won the Sun Alliance Novices Chase in 1999. The trainer had won this race previously with Mr Mulligan (Ire). A remarkable achievement for a small stable. The previous season's winner See More Business (Ire) was not suited by the slow early gallop and would have benefitted from a more positive ride to bring its stamina into play on the quicker ground

Sheltering deserves a mention for its tremendous victory in the Champion Hunters' Chase at Punchestown with Satchmo (Ire) and Gunner Welburn (Ire) fell last, well held. Also Paris Pike (Ire) improved rapidly over the second half of the season. Ending up by winning the Scottish Grand National comfortably in April. Marlborough (Ire) in the same race was going ominously well until its jumping let it down in the latter stages. Surely more improvement to come from it over 3m.