If the decision to re-route Vautour from the Gold Cup to the Ryanair Chase was an unpopular one, all animosity towards the horse and connections had dissipated by the time the beautifully athletic gelding jumped the final fence and strode clear up the straight to record victory at a third consecutive Festival.

Trainer Noel Meade is keen to avoid stable stars Road To Riches and Apache Stronghold crossing paths in the early part of the new campaign.

Road To Riches is likely to feature at Down Royal’s big meeting on November 1 following his narrow reverse to Sizing Europe at Gowran on Saturday.