An enquiring text message from Sean Flanagan helped secure the winning ride on Willie Mullins' Bachasson (6/4f) in Cork's featured Grade 3 Bar One Racing Chase today, as the gelding notched a 17th win.

The prolific 12 year old returned from a 749-days absence to win last month and today showed his old enthusiasm when comfortably beating chasing newcomer Feronlily, with Mullins' one-time high-class veteran Chacun Pour Soi finishing third.

It was trainer Mullins' fifth winner of the afternoon, and a third at Cork, and afterwards Flanagan reported “I actually texted David Casey (Mullins' assistant) yesterday morning when I saw nobody down to ride him.

“That's my third ride for Willie and my second winner, so I'll try and keep up the strike-rate!”

He added “Bachasson was attacking his fences and was very quick through the air. Obviously he liked the bit of nicer ground today and did it well. He is very very clever and still has loads of enthusiasm.

“He is a classy horse and every time he straightened up and saw a fence. he priced his ears and was attacking all the time - I was taking him back on the flat. He doesn't feel like he is a 12 year old.”