A good opening day of the Cheltenham Festival for point-to-point graduates saw The Conditional lead home a one-two for the sport's exports in the Grade 3 Ultima Handicap Chase.
The Conditional had opened his account in a five and six-year old geldings' maiden at Boulta in 2017 for handler Martin Hassett when ridden by Declan Queally he secured an eight-length victory.
Staying with Martin Hassett, the gelding went on to win a maiden hurdle at Thurles in 2018, before putting up some decent performances over fences, most notably finishing fourth in last years Leinster National.
It was after that encouraging effort that the gelding changed hands to David Bridgwater, where he won a £60,000 handicap chase at Cheltenham, before subsequently finishing second to De Rasher Counter at Newbury in the Grade 3 Ladbrokes Trophy chase.
He had one run since that effort, where he finished fourth behind Kimberlite Candy in a Grade 3 handicap chase at Warwick.
However, he took a step forward once again this time around, jumping well in the hands of Brendan Powell throughout, before digging deep on the run in to fend off the challenge of Kildisart by a neck in what was another great finish on the afternoon.
Kildisart finishing second meant Irish point-to-pointers with a one-two in the Grade 3 event.
Previously handled by Colin McKeever, the son of Dubai Destination finished a promising second on debut in a four-year-old geldings' maiden at Loughanmore in 2016.
Ridden by John King on that occasion, he changed hands following that effort to the Ben Pauling stable, where he has enjoyed five successes prior to today's game effort.
Following the success of The Conditional, the winning trainer said:
"He's a good horse - only a baby, still a novice. I was umming and aahing about running him in the RSA Chase. I was half-hoping we would get balloted out of this, but we got in easy and I thought, stuff it.
"And the betting never gets it wrong, we were favourite, second favourite, so... I fancied him for a place in the RSA, which would have made him a certainty today.
"His owner, Mr Cave, has been in the game all his life and it was a great day when this horse won here in October, but to do it here, it's amazing.
"I've always been very lucky here, first as a jockey and then a trainer - I know we haven't had many bullets to fire here, but I wouldn't necessarily run a horse here that hasn't got a chance. I'm not a very social person anyway, so I'm definitely not here for the social. But if they've got a chance, we'll come and give it a go.
"I was pretty confident - I was confident last night and I said to Brendan: 'If you are going well at the top of the hill, just fill him up' because I am not sure whether he actually gets the trip. We are still learning about him. He has given that a peach. It's unbelievable, amazing.
"He is all about next year, really. We've nearly won a Ladbrokes Trophy and now we've won at The Festival - how much higher... Dare to dream, isn't it?
"When I bought him off Martin Hassett I thought he was possibly a long-term Grand National horse. We'll see. He's only a baby and we're still only learning, but that's a great start.
Following the success of The Conditional, the winning trainer said:
"He's a good horse - only a baby, still a novice. I was umming and aahing about running him in the RSA Chase. I was half-hoping we would get balloted out of this, but we got in easy and I thought, stuff it.
"And the betting never gets it wrong, we were favourite, second favourite, so... I fancied him for a place in the RSA, which would have made him a certainty today.
"His owner, Mr Cave, has been in the game all his life and it was a great day when this horse won here in October, but to do it here, it's amazing.
"I've always been very lucky here, first as a jockey and then a trainer - I know we haven't had many bullets to fire here, but I wouldn't necessarily run a horse here that hasn't got a chance. I'm not a very social person anyway, so I'm definitely not here for the social. But if they've got a chance, we'll come and give it a go.
"I was pretty confident - I was confident last night and I said to Brendan: 'If you are going well at the top of the hill, just fill him up' because I am not sure whether he actually gets the trip. We are still learning about him. He has given that a peach. It's unbelievable, amazing.
"He is all about next year, really. We've nearly won a Ladbrokes Trophy and now we've won at The Festival - how much higher... Dare to dream, isn't it?
"When I bought him off Martin Hassett I thought he was possibly a long-term Grand National horse. We'll see. He's only a baby and we're still only learning, but that's a great start.
Ben Pauling was particularly happy with the run of his charge, as he said:
"Daryl (Jacob) gave him an inspired ride and we had to ensure we got a good early position. He travelled and jumped so much better than he has all season, and I was just willing him to come up the hill there. It wasn't quite enough but I'm delighted with him.
"Our horses are right back to form and Daryl is convinced that if the ground had been better he would have won. He's in the National now, and so this was a helluva trial. He did everything right and yet it's still a bitter pill to swallow when you are beaten at this meeting.
"What a run, he just tried so hard. He could go quite well at Aintree, where the ground should be better and we know he stays."
