Nicholls over the moon with Neptune success

Neptune Collonges, the youngest horse in the race, capped an extraordinary campaign for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh when outstaying his rivals to take the Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown yesterday.

The grey was only the third horse Nicholls has ever brought to this Festival and the other two (Le Roi Miguel and Sporazene) won as well.

“It was always the plan to come as long as the ground was safe”, reported Nicholls.