When transferred to Ireland to compete under National Hunt rules he made an immediate impact, winning five races in his novice season including four Grade 1 victories in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, Deloitte Novice Hurdle, Mersey Novices' Hurdle and Champion Novice Hurdle. In the following season he won the Morgiana Hurdle, becoming the first horse to defeat Faugheen and then recorded his sixth Grade I success in the December Festival Hurdle.
