After beginning his career in point-to-point races he made rapid progress when switched to professional steeplechasing winning the Mildmay Memorial Chase in 1956 and the Gold Cup in the following year.
In two subsequent attempts at the Gold Cup he had little luck: he unseated his jockey when hampered by a falling rival in 1958 and finished second in 1959 after being badly baulked and almost brought down at the final fence.
As a five-year-old he was bought for £750 from the County Tipperary-based horse-dealer Paddy Quinn, by Ivor Herbert on behalf of his friend and patron David Brown, the owner of Aston Martin.
After the gelding showed some promise on his subsequent starts Herbert brought in the experienced professional jockey Michael Scudamore to school the horse and improve his jumping.
The 30th running of the Gold Cup, which took place on soft ground on 14 March 1957, looked to be a very open race with Kerstin and Pointsman being made the 6/1 joint favourites and Linwell, ridden as usual by Scudamore starting at 100/9.
The other leading contenders in the thirteen-runner field were E.S.B., Sir Ken (a three-time winner of the Champion Hurdle), Gay Donald and Rose Park (King George VI Chase).
As the leaders approached the final fence the race appeared lie between Linwell (now ridden by Fred Winter), Pas Seul and Lochroe with Roddy Owen four lengths back in third.