'Colreevy has kept my family going - she's been the mare of a lifetime'

Colreevy's breeder Niall Flynn felt some of the confliction shared by many after a Punchestown Champion Novice Chase which posed more questions than the most inquisitive of small children.

His mare had gatecrashed the season's great head-to-head between Monkfish and Envoi Allen on what would be both her valedictory and most complete performance, as she had been covered by Walk In The Park only a few days earlier.

An injury would emerge to excuse Envoi Allen while there was a suspicion that Monkfish was capable of better than an eight-length beating, but on ratings, taking into account her weight allowance, Colreevy was entitled to have been considered a live contender in any event.