IT was sad to learn of the death this week of the 1998 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Cool Dawn but, bowing out at 30 years of age, what a wonderfully long life he had.

The 1988 Over The River gelding, who was bred by John McCarthy out of the Arapaho mare Aran Tour, was one of many top-class horses produced in Co Clare by the Costello family.

The bay was remembered this week by Tom Costello as being “a very good-looking, very well-bred horse who was always a good jumper and was very obliging.

“He was a late developer and didn’t show much for us in the point-to-points as a five-year-old. However, as it turned out, ground was the key to him as he was very much a top of the ground horse. Also, he needed time, which he got, and it worked out for him.

“His owner (Dido Harding) got a great tune out of him when she rode him, especially when second in the Foxhunters’ at Cheltenham, as did Andrew Thornton. Also, in Robert Alner, the horse had a top-class, though underrated, trainer.

OLD AGE

“Throughout his career Cool Dawn only ran in point-to-points or in chases and it was great that he made it to such an old age,” concluded Costello who won The Irish Field point-to-point riders’ championship in 1982 and 1983.

The Costello academy has produced other Cheltenham Gold Cup winners such as the three-time scorer Best Mate, Cool Ground, Imperial Call and The Thinker. Two winners at this year’s Festival were raised by the Co Clare horsemen – Presenting Percy, who is currently favourite for next year’s chasing Blue Riband, and Mister Whitaker.