Lecky Watson gives Byrnes a Cheltenham winner 20 years in the making

Lar Byrne a proud member of the Slaneyville Syndicate who owns, Lecky Watson, the Brown Advisory Novices Chase Grade 1 winner at the Cheltenham Festival this year has confirmed the horse will be aimed at the Gold Cup next season.

The Tullow based syndicate who comprises of the Byrne family hit the headlines in 2004 and 2005 when Hardy Eustace, trained by the late Dessie Hughes, won back to back Champion Hurdles. Since then they have had some very good horses but none of them won in Cheltenham until last week.

Lecky Watson was one of four horses trained by champion trainer, Willie Mullins, in the race but was very much the outsider when they lined up for the three-mile test on Wednesday, the second day of the festival.

At 4/7 favourite, Ballyburn was the market leader but was never going well and eventually finished fifth in a field of seven. There was no such concern for the eventual winner. Jumping impeccably and always in contention jockey, Sean O’Keeffe made his move with two fences to go and the pair never looked as if they were going to concede. The winner was chased home by the Gordon Elliott pair of Stellar Story (22-1) and Better Days Ahead (15-2).

“By far the biggest win since Hardy Eustace. Our first winner in Cheltenham is over 20 years ago. We had to wait 20 years to get back into the enclosure but we got there,” said a jubilant Lar Byrne on Sunday evening as he prepared to head out to an evening of celebration in JJ’s bar in Tullow.

In his preparation for Cheltenham, Lecky Watson had won a beginners chase at Naas in December 2024 and followed this up with a Grade 3 Novice Chase win at Punchestown in January. Both days, Paul Townend rode the horse to victory.

With such a good preparation, connections were amazed that Lecky Watson drifted in the market on the day of his Cheltenham victory.

“He was not the favourite from the Mullins stable. He was very friendless in the parade ring but we were not shy about backing him. We had a few quid on him anyway,” noted Lar.

Yet despite the Syndicate’s confidence there was still an element of caution.

“It made you wonder. Only that everyone was against him and he was drifting in the market, we might have had more money on him. You doubt yourself when you have the only horse drifting in the market. ” agreed Lar.

As the drama unfolded, Syndicate hopes soared as Lecky applied the pressure not just at the finish but by featuring almost from the lifting of the tape.

“Once he got into the race and got into a rhythm we knew he was going to be there or thereabouts. We saw that this fella is on song and the rest is history. You know yourself,” noted Lar.

In a week where emotions ran high at the Festival, the Byrne family have also had to deal with recent loss.

“Slaneyville Syndicate is all the Byrne family. We are Tullow based. Slaneyville is the home place in Barrack Street in Tullow. That is where we were all reared. The whole Byrne family are all involved. Unfortunately we lost our sister (Catherine) a few years ago but her husband, PJ Murphy, is involved with us now as well. It is very much a family affair,” he explained.

Now all going well, there is no doubt where their Cheltenham hero is ear-marked to go.

“Willie said he was the least fancied of my four runners in the race but I always knew he was a very good horse. My intention going forward was to train him for the Gold Cup but the horse has now said we have to.” 

Of course it will be all up to the owners now but the Byrne family would love to have a runner in the Gold Cup in Cheltenham.

“All staying well and healthy that is where we are going next year. As early as that. What other race is there for him? He was the only horse that ran through the line. All the rest were very tired. A lot of horses didn’t get home and we are the horse that did get home. That is the way it goes.” 

 The season is not over yet for the Slaneyville Syndicate. There are many ifs and butts in the racing game. Byrne knows that too.

“Fingers crossed the horse goes forward and stays healthy and well and we will get to enjoy future days with him.

“Hopefully all going well we will go to Punchestown with him. There is a three-mile novice chase on the first day. I would imagine that is where Willie (Mullins) will send him.”

Elseswhere at the Festival, it wasn't quite the dream ending for Willie Mullins as Gallopin Des Champs was denied a historic third Gold Cup in a row but he still managed to match his record of ten Festival winners. They included maybe the performance of the Festival in Fact To File winning the Ryanair and also a stunning 100/1 winner in Poniros in the Triumph Hurdle.