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The gite owners said Alex, who they knew as Zach, was "part of our family".

The Gite de la Bastide is one of a handful of stone houses that make up part of a small hamlet nestling in the foothills of the Pyrenees.

While his mother did not live there, Alex "left several times" to join her, they said - adding that the last time he came back to the gite was early this summer.

Energumene had only finished third to Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone at Cheltenham in January, but there was no danger of a repeat as the 2022 winner put in a flawless display.

There was another 24 lengths back to Greaneteen in third, while Editeur Du Gite led before fading into fourth and Edwardstone was a distant fifth.