One of my best Cheltenham bets was in 2016, but it is probably better described as the most satisfying.

My family sold Un Temps Pour Tout for a big price in November 2013, having raced the horse in France.

Now trained by David Pipe, the horse attracted plenty of media attention due to his price tag and there were doubters following a few disappointing runs.

Un Temps Pour Tout came good to win the 2015 French Champion Hurdle and then was switched to fences.

I backed him some way out to win the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival, probably more with my heart than head. He duly romped home at odds of 11/1 and the smiles and visible elation of his connections returning to the winner’s enclosure was simply priceless!

I was proud the horse had provided them with a brilliant winner at the mecca of jumps racing. As one of the owners said. ‘You can’t put a price on that!’

Remarkably Un Temps Pour Tout won the same race again in 2017, although the price was a bit shorter!

This article is taken from The Irish Field Cheltenham Magazine 2023. CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY