Bachasson and David Mullins (grey) lead home stablemate Cilaos Emery © Photo Healy Racing
The 9/4 second favourite Bachasson made all to win the featured Clonmel Oil Steeplechase (Grade 2) by five and a half lengths from his better-fancied stablemate Cilaos Emery (8/11 fav).
The latter made a couple of errors on the way around and the David Mullins-partnered winner (double for the jockey) was a bit more assured over his fences.
It was a winning reappearance for the grey by Voix Du Nord who had won over course and distance when last seen back in March.
Including a couple of bumper wins in his native France, this was a twelfth career success for Bachasson (given a quote of 33/1 by Paddy Power for the Ryanair Chase) who has now won his last five completed starts over fences.
It was a sixth win in eight years in the corresponding race for Willie Mullins, who said: “He was very brave and David (Mullins) had lots of confidence in him - I thought he had gone too far out but I think he had more confidence in the horse than I had.
"Paul (Townend) thought Cilaos Emery needed the race and I'm happy with both nice horses.
"After Bachasson got a fall in Cheltenham I wasn't keen to go back over fences with him but around these country tracks he is fine, but maybe not at the bigger tracks and he seems to enjoy doing that.
"I didn't look beyond today and we wanted to come down here and see where we were with them although Cilaos Emery could now go for the Hilly Way at Cork."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
