THANKFULLY an intended date with the auctioneers at Goffs UK last August was abandoned. The three-time hurdle winner Charlie Stout (Spadoun) was then in the ownership of Barry Potts, but on his first start last autumn, Potts was joined by co-owners Patrick Walsh and Michael Mulligan.

The then eight-year-old won first time up for the new partnership in September at Galway, put up some useful performances in defeat since, and at the weekend he landed the big prize he had always threatened to do, the Grade A Dan and Joan Moore Chase at Fairyhouse for trainer Shane Nolan.

He is the best winner from nine foals from the unraced Full Of Elegance (Cadoudal). Bred by Michael Keane, Charlie Stout is just one of a pair of his dam’s offspring to win on the racecourse, the other being Relentless Dreamer (Kayf Tara) who was best as a chaser, winning five times over the larger obstacles, and he was also placed in the Midlands’ National at Uttoxeter.

Charlie Stout is the second big race winner to appear under Full Of Elegance. That mares is also grandam of Getabird (Getaway), a €200,000 sale graduate who is a dual Grade 2 winner over hurdles.

Full Of Elegance is from a French family that has enjoyed plenty of success with its runners in England and Ireland. Her half-sister, the winning Libertina (Balsamo) is the dam of the Grade 1 Gold Cup winner Long Run (Cadoudal) and the Grade 3 Mildmay of Flete Chase winner Liberthine (Chamberlin). Another sibling is the listed hurdle winner Fioca (Balsamo) and she is grandam of Grade 1 chase winner J’y Vole (Mansonnien),

A Group 1 winner at two, Spadoun (Kaldoun) is best known for his National Hunt performers who also include Grade 2 winning chasers Noble Emperor, Pibrac and Araldur, as well as Grade 2 winning hurdler Batonnier.