A rating of 123 for his impresive victory in the Joseph O'Reilly Memorial at Fairyhouse gives Ucello Conti the Champion Hunter Chase prize.
The French-bred began his career in France winning on his debut over hurdles as a three-year-old in 2011. Simon Munir and Isaac Souede subsequently purchased the gelding before he won over fences at Auteuil and a listed race in Enghein in the same year.
Ucello Conti ran well in Graded races as a four-year-old before moving to Gordon Elliott in 2015. While under the care of Elliott, the gelding finished 2nd in the Paddy Power in 2015, 3rd in the Thyestes and 6th in the Aintree Grand National in 2016.
The gelding placed in four of his nine runs over the next two seasons before having a 274 day break in the lead up to this season. Coming out a fresh horse following his absence, the bay won three on the trot starting with the open lighweight at Aghabullogue in January.
That success was followed up with hunter chase wins at Thurles and Navan under the guidance of Barry O'Neill, before he added to his race hauls when beating Sizing Coal at Fairyhouse in April.
Bringing his total to three wins from six runs in hunter chases including a fifth at Cheltenham and runs at Punchestown and Aintree in what was a busy 2019 for him.