He was sired by Dubawi a top-class son of Dubai Millennium, whose wins included the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Prix Jacques Le Marois.

At stud, Dubawi has been a highly-successful breeding stallion, siring major flat winners such as Monterosso, Al Kazeem, Makfi, Lucky Nine and Poet's Voice.

[2] Dodging Bullets' dam Nova Cyngi, was an unraced daughter of the Prix Vermeille winner Northern Trick, whose other descendants include Main Sequence and Light Shift.

In the following month, Dodging Bullets was sent to the Cheltenham Festival for the first time and started a 20/1 outsider for the Triumph Hurdle in which he was ridden by Daryl Jacob.

Ridden by Ruby Walsh, he led from the start and survived a mistake at the last flight of hurdles to win by one and a half lengths from River Maigue.

He stayed on in the closing stages to finish third behind Darlan and Raya Star, and ahead of Countrywide Flame, Cinders and Ashes (winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle) and Punjabi.

He was moved up in distance for the Mersey Novices' Hurdle over two and a half miles at Aintree Racecourse in April, but again ran poorly and came home last of the seven finishers behind Ubak.

On his debut over the larger obstacles, he started 8/11 favourite for a minor event at Kempton on 20 October and won by four lengths after taking the lead at the tenth of the twelve fences.

[9] Dodging Bullets took on more experienced chasers in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury Racecourse in February and finished second, beaten a neck by the seven-year-old favourite Module.

[10] Dodging Bullets' next race was the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot Racecourse on 17 January in which he started 7/2 second favourite behind the nine-year-old Sprinter Sacre, who was returning after a long break caused by health problems.