PAUL NICHOLLS BROKE his Paddy Power Gold Cup hoodoo at Cheltenham on Saturday, as Al Ferof stormed to victory in the first serious test of the National Hunt season.

Ruby Walsh had also never triumphed in this particular race but managed to keep the 8/1 shot safe from trouble before easing him away from the dogged Walkon and home by two lengths.

“He must be a good horse,” said Nicholls. “He came in late because he cut himself in the field, but he had a gallop at Wincanton last weekend and went really well.

“I don’t think my horses were right last season, and he’s one of the six-year-olds that are improving.

“We’ll have to think about Kempton (King George VI Chase) now. I always wondered if he would stay but he stayed well there and you’d have to say it might suit him.”

Walsh, typically blunt, described Al Ferof as a “class horse.”

“You need a bit of class in this race, which is why we were keen to take a chance. In fairness to him we were forcing him at two (miles). Stepping up in trip is probably what we should be doing.

“He hasn’t run since Aintree, turned up today with 11st 8lb on his back and does it – but he is a class horse at the end of the day.”

Owner John Hales lost Granit Jack in the same race five years ago but said that Al Ferof’s performance was as good as any produced from his stable.

“That was a stunning performance, as good as from any horse I have owned,” said Hales.

“The rain concerned me today, I wasn’t as confident when I started looking at the race yesterday – I thought it was going to be difficult to give weight away to horses like Grands Crus.

“I think we have decided we will go to the King George now, and he is a horse that we are going to have to look after.”

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