Last-minute Vautour comes good on the day

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.

Reports of the Robin Des Champs gelding failing to show the same spark in his work as he did prior to winning the JLT Novices’ Chase at last season’s meeting tempered enthusiasm for his supporters, as did the late decision to run in this race. But the manner in which the race unfolded, and the horse’s authority in victory belied all previous concerns.

Although not ridden as forward as last year, he was never far off the strong pace being set by Village Vic, and some fine leaps in the early stages of the race carried him onto the tails of the leaders.