Fox Watch just prevailed in tight finish © Photo Healy Racing
Fox Watch got up in the shadows of the post to claim the Fred Kenny Lifetime Services To Racing Ladies National Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse.
Jody Townend always had the Tony Mullins trained seven-year-old handy, as the pack chased clear leader Rightplacerightime
For long periods, it looked as though Maxine O'Sullivan had stolen a march on the latter named horse but a tendency to jump out to his left proved costly in the closing stages.
Approaching the final fence, Townend still had ground to make up but another wayward jump from the leader opened the door.
It was only inside the final 100yards that Townend got to the leader and to the credit of both horse and rider, they found that bit extra to take the spoils.
“That's great, Jody has won the Ladies Derby for us and now the Ladies National,” said Mullins.
“She's just an unreal rider. He missed the second last and the runner-up missed the last and that was the dividing of it.
“We're looking at the 3m7f on the last day of Punchestown. It's a big ask to go over three miles three times in one month but if he pulls out fresh that's what we are thinking.
“He's a super jumper and a very sound horse, maybe he'll turn into a proper national horse someday.”
