'We've always liked him and he hasn't come off the bridle in either of his runs'

The days of Gavin Cromwell being recognised as Gordon Elliott's farrier are long gone, as he is now well established as one of the most potent forces in the Irish jumping ranks.

Cromwell's impressive progress in recent years has been one of the standout themes to the end-of-term standings, going from the fringes of the top 20 with eight winners in 2017-18 to seventh position a year later with 33 successes.

The 46-year-old nearly doubled that domestic tally with 62 winners last season and ended proceedings in fifth, with only Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Henry de Bromhead and Joseph O'Brien ahead of him.