has been reported that "it is necessary to appreciate this in order to assimilate that Arkle had to win two Cheltenham Gold Cups before Tom Dreaper conceded that "he might be the Prince's equal"" Following the suspension of National Hunt racing in Britain, many leading British chasers including Roman Hackle and Medoc II were relocated to Ireland. Prince Regent however, maintained his position as the best jumper in the country, winning several major races and finishing second under top weight in the Irish Grand Nationals of 1943 and 1944. Plans to send the horse to race in England in the spring of 1945 were abandoned when he developed a warble on his back. 1945/46 National Hunt season Prince Regent returned in November 1945 and was beaten a head when attempting to concede 42 pounds to Roman Hackle at Leopardstown Racecourse. He then made his first appearance in England and won the Bradford Chase at Wetherby at odds of 1/10. On 14 March 1946 the eleven-year-old Prince Regent contested the Cheltenham Gold Cup and started the 4/7 favourite. The best of his five opponents appeared to be Red April (third in the Champion Hurdle) and the novice Poor Flame, whilst the other runners were the outsiders Elsich, Jalgreya and African Collection. Elsich took the early lead before falling and leaving Prince Regent in front. The challengers steadily dropped away and by the second last only Poor Flame was in any position to test the favourite. The novice made a bad jumping error and Prince Regent drew away to win by five lengths, with another four lengths back to Red April in third. The first Grand National for six years was run at Aintree Racecourse on 5 April and Prince Regent was made the 3/1 favourite despite top weight of 173 pounds in a race attracted a crown estimated at 400,000. He survived several jumping errors before taking the lead on the second circuit and, despite being repeatedly hampered by loose horses, reached the final fence with a clear lead. He tired on the run-in however and was beaten into third place by Lovely Cottage and Jack Finlay. At the same meeting, Prince Regent won the Champion Chase over two miles and seven furlongs. Later career The winter of 1946/47 was exceptionally severe and many National Hunt fixtures, including the Cheltenham Festival, were either cancelled or postponed. When the weather eased Prince