In the closing stages, Royal Gait failed to keep a straight course, hanging to the left and then to the right, but he regained the lead and prevailed by half a length and a short head from Oh So Risky and Ruling. He was the first novice to win the race since Doorknocker in 1956. After a break of more than nine months, Royal Gait returned in a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown Racecourse on 30 December in which he was assigned top weight of 168 pounds. He started the 11/10 favourite but finished fourth of the seven runner behind the Noel Meade-trained Novello Allegro. Shortly after crossing the finishing line, Royal Gait collapsed and died after having a heart attack. McCourt said, "He began to lose his action three strides before the last. At first I thought he had blown up or even broken down, but as soon as we got to the line I realised he was going to keel over with me".