[6] On his final appearance of the season, the gelding started 1/3 favourite for the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown and won by three and a half lengths from Apache Stronghold.

His closest rival, Real Steel fell at the final fence, allowing Vautour to come home ninety-two lengths clear of Aladdin's Cave.

[7] On 12 March 2015 Vautour won the JLT Novices' Chase at Cheltenham in impressive fashion marking him a main contender for next year's Gold Cup and received early quotes of 7–1 with race sponsor Betfred.

He was out in front for the entire race and the main challenger, three-times Grade 2 winner Ptit Zig, only came upside at the last fence but after a good jump Vautour went on to win by 2 lengths.

He travelled prominently and followed the pace set by the previous two-times winner of the race Silviniaco Conti until Vautour's jockey Ruby Walsh decided to send him into the lead at the start of the second circuit maintaining a strong tempo upfront.

He was next sent by trainer Willie Mullins for the first time in almost two years back down over the minimum trip of two miles, for the Punchestown Champion Chase where he met six rivals.

After following the pace set by Special Tiara for most of the race, he started to make ground on the leader but going into the home straight he failed to show a turn of foot and was overtaken by Gods Own and Simonsig.

We don't know what exactly happened – it must have been a freak accident – but when one of the girls went out to feed the horses Vautour was found with a broken front leg and our vet had no option but to put him down".