Five horses who provided the best moments for Mullins and Gigginstown

Following the news that Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud will be sending a team of horses to Willie Mullins' Closutton yard for the upcoming season for the first time in six years, we take a look at five of the horses who provided the best moments for the partnership.

Apple's Jade

Apple's Jade was pitched into Graded company on her first start for the yard. She justified that faith by landing the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle. She then went for the JCB Triumph Hurdle in 2016 at the Cheltenham Festival and was touched off in second. She put that defeat firmly behind her, taking the Grade 1 Betfred Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle by 41 lengths at Aintree before victory at the top level again on her last start for Mullins in the AES Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle.

Sir Des Champs

Sir Des Champs comfortably won on his debut for Mullins before taking his place in the trainer's Cheltenham Festival team. The then five-year-old finished strongly to land the Martin Pipe, a first major success for the partnership. Sir Des Champs would then go on to be a revelation over fences, landing the Jewson Novices' Chase at the following year's festival before Grade 1 victories in the Hennessy Gold Cup and Punchestown Gold Cup.

Don Poli

Don Poli became another Cheltenham Festival winner for connections in the 2014 Martin Pipe after taking a Grade 3 at Clonmel. It was over larger obstacles where Don Poli flourished, taking three Grade 1s, two of which came at Leopardstown. He returned to Cheltenham in 2015, landing the RSA Chase, and also finished third in the 2016 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Outlander

Outlander proved himself one to follow after taking three bumpers in succession, the first two in decisive fashion. His peak over hurdles came with victory in the Grade 2 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown. He gained more Grade 2 honours over fences at Limerick before a first Grade 1 in the Flogas Novice Chase. He was placed twice more at the top-level for Mullins before the split in 2016.

Valseur Lido

Not as high profile as those before him, but Valseur Lido was a dual Grade 1 winner for connections. He was an eight-length winner of the Drinmore Novice Chase in 2014 and also landed the Growise Champion Novice Chase. He was also placed in the JLT Novices' Chase and the Ryanair Chase in successive Cheltenham Festivals.

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Willie Mullins and Gigginstown back together after six-year split

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