Wexford trio dreaming of Gold Cup glory

Of the 28 horses entered in the blue-ribboned race of the season,almost half of them - 13 to be exact - began their careers between the flags in Ireland.

 

The Gold Cup remains the ultimate test for a staying chaser. It's roll of honour includes some of the sport’s most celebrated names, and many of those champions first advertised their ability in Irish point-to-points before progressing through the ranks.

 

Best Mate, the three-time Gold Cup hero of 2002, 2003 and 2004, began his career in Irish pointing before becoming one of the most iconic staying chasers of the modern era. Denman, Paul Nicholls’ relentless “Tank”, won between the flags for Liam Burke at Liscarroll before dominating the 2008 renewal.

 

Imperial Commander, successful in 2010, started out in Irish point-to-points under the care of Kevin Ross before going on to claim racing’s ultimate prize.

 

Native River, War Of Attrition, Mr Mulligan, Imperial Call and Jodami all share the same origin story, with their foundations laid in Irish point-to-points before they climbed Cheltenham Hill in front.

 

The most recent graduate of the Irish pointing field to capture the Gold Cup was Minella Indo in 2021 for Henry de Bromhead. His journey to the top began with a single outing between the flags at Dromahane in March 2018 when trained by John Nallen.

 

Five years on from Minella Indo's triumph, the Irish point-to-point scene is strongly represented among the leading contenders for jump racing’s greatest prize.

 

Remarkably, three of the horses currently prominent in the Gold Cup betting — Jango Baie, The Jukebox Man and Haiti Couleurs — all began their careers with handlers based within a few miles of each other in Wexford.

Mick Goff, James and Ellen Doyle, and Harley Dunne have all played a role in producing three horses now competing at the very highest level of the sport.

 

Leading the pointing contingent for this year’s renewal is Jango Baie. The Nicky Henderson-trained gelding, already a Cheltenham Festival winner, was last seen when narrowly denied in a dramatic four-way finish in the King George VI Chase at Kempton in December.

He began his career between the flags with Mick Goff and now finds himself towards the forefront of the Gold Cup betting.

 

Goff remembers immediately recognising the gelding’s potential.

 

“He was a very, very good horse and a very talented horse,” he said. “I actually went to France and bought his half-brother before he even ran in points because I thought he was that good.”

 

Jango Baie was narrowly beaten on his only outing between the flags, but Goff believes circumstances on the day prevented him from winning.

 

“A horse fell beside him two out, and he was a green horse, and ended up being left in front a little bit too long. Derek O’Connor just nabbed him on the line.”

 

Even at that early stage, the gelding had already impressed his handler at home and had a lovely temperament.
 

“I used to ride him every day myself. Unless a horse is nice and quiet I wouldn’t be riding them every day. He was a beautiful horse with a huge engine and he would give you every ounce he had.”

 

Goff and his family are travelling to Prestbury Park to enjoy the racing and cheer on several of his former inmates, including Daily Present, Hurricane Pat and Jordans Cross.

If Jango Baie were to land the pinnacle of jump racing, it would be a remarkable achievement.

 

“Jango Baie couldn’t win his point-to-point and he could possibly win a Gold Cup — isn’t it great?”

 

Close behind in the market is The Jukebox Man, who now carries the colours of Harry Redknapp. The Ben Pauling-trained son of Ask has won both of his starts this season, including the King George at Kempton.

THE JUKEBOX MAN WINS THE LADBROKES KING GEORGE VI CHASE! %uD83C%uDFC6

THAT WAS A CLASSIC! %uD83D%uDC4F%uD83D%uDC4F%uD83D%uDC4F#ITVRacing | @BenJone04644251 | @benpauling1 pic.twitter.com/Af9mNtoIbP

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) December 26, 2025

He first made his mark when landing his four-year-old maiden at Turtulla in 2022 for the Baltimore operation of James and Ellen Doyle.

 

James Doyle recalls that The Jukebox Man had already shown plenty of promise before making his racecourse debut.

 

“We liked him a lot,” Doyle said. “His homework was quite good and we thought we had a smart horse going down to Turtulla, although you never really know what you’re going to bump into in those races.”
 

The gelding proved straightforward to deal with from the outset.

 

“He was actually very straightforward. He had a good temperament and always had an easy way of going. He just trained off an ordinary deep Wexford sand gallop, like plenty of the lads down this way, and he found it quite easy.”

 

Looking back now, Doyle admits it is a special feeling to see a former inmate lining up in contention for one of jump racing’s greatest prizes.

 

“It’s a nice feeling to be fair. There’s a lot of hard work goes into these horses and we’re producers of horses here, so it’s a good boost for the yard to see one go on like that.”

 

The Jukebox Man’s rise to the top level also highlights the importance of the point-to-point system in producing future stars.

 

“It’s brilliant to see point-to-pointers coming off the fields and going on to run in these big Grade 1 races. Cheltenham is the Olympics of our sport, so it’s great to see our brand getting there.”

 

Doyle will also be making the journey to Prestbury Park next week, and while he will naturally be cheering on The Jukebox Man, the Wexford handler admits he would be delighted to see any graduate of the Irish pointing scene come out on top.

 

“If he’s not my lad, hopefully it’s another point-to-pointer that does it anyway.”

 

Haiti Couleurs adds further strength to the pointing presence. Last season’s Irish Grand National winner for Rebecca Curtis arrives at Cheltenham following a decisive Grade 2 Denman Chase victory at Newbury, where he defeated L’Homme Presse by seven lengths.

Haiti Couleurs runs them ragged in the Denman Chase at @NewburyRacing! %uD83C%uDFF4%uDB40%uDC67%uDB40%uDC62%uDB40%uDC77%uDB40%uDC6C%uDB40%uDC73%uDB40%uDC7F@rebcurtis | @Sean_Bowen_ pic.twitter.com/ktqh28Zpqt

— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) February 7, 2026

He also landed the Welsh Grand National to his CV earlier in the season, further confirming his stamina credentials, having began his racing life in the Irish point-to-point field under the care of Harley Dunne.

 

The Wexford native admits that while he always liked the horse, he could not have predicted the heights he would reach.

 

“I knew he was a good horse,” he said. “I didn’t know he’d get to that level. No one knows that, but I did know he was good.”

 

Like many, he initially thought the gelding might prove sharper than he ultimately has.

 

“I thought he was a two-miler. Now it turns out he’s a National horse!”

 

Watching his progression from maiden field to Grade 1 company has been satisfying rather than surprising.

 

“You can’t ask him to do any more. Hopefully he runs well. It would be great for Rebecca Curtis and great for everyone involved.”

 

Dunne will likely be watching from home, but there is no disguising the pride in seeing a former inmate line up in one of the sport’s biggest races.

 

“It’s brilliant. You never really dream of something like that.”

 

Beyond the market principals, former Irish point-to-pointers are well represented in the line-up.

Affordale Fury was a shrewd €8,000 purchase and a first point-to-point winner for Gary Murphy, scoring on debut at Ballycahane before developing into a Grade 1 performer. Banbridge is another graduate of the points circuit who has progressed into top-level company.

Envoi Allen, a multiple Grade 1 winner, also began life between the flags, while Grangeclare West, Nick Rockett and Spindleberry all share similar origins. Fact To File could also add further depth if supplemented for the race.