Patrick Mullins with the inside story of Closutton's very ordinary superstar

December 17, 2016. Maiden Hurdle, Fairyhouse. R Walsh
“Chased leader early… Raced keenly… Disputed between last 2… Soon no extra in 3rd"

Lights flicker above like camera flashes, then come on with a Snap! Through the rustling of straw, blinking horses stick their heads over doors as Rachel Boyd's steps echo around the barn. The third horse the 21-year-old from Birr in Offaly comes to check is a plain dark horse with a dim white spot between his eyes. Of average size and length, he doesn't really stand out in any way. Except that his stable has two narrow green plaques with gold writing that say "Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner 2019" and "Cheltenham Gold Cup Winner 2020". It's the only stable out of 200 of them that has those. And the yard has been here more than 30 years.

"He's very straightforward really," Rachel says merrily as she scoops nuts into Al Boum Photo's pot. "He'll have his head out over the door all right but he doesn't crave attention. Ferny Hollow is across from him and he's always looking for diversion, wanting someone to play with him. Janidil likes to be cuddled but with Al Boum...” She stops and thinks. "He ... likes his chin scratched sometimes. He's a more content horse now than he was before, but he still doesn't like to be annoyed too much."