Rattan, red, and Ruby Walsh on their way to victory in Downpatrick© Photo Healy Racing
Rattan survived a major blunder at the fourth last to decisively win the beginners’ chase at Downpatrick.
The 9/4 favourite soon recovered from that mistake and travelled well under Ruby Walsh on the outside before challenging at the last.
From there he soon put daylight between himself and his rivals to score by five lengths. Ultra Light who was nibbled at in the betting ring from 16/1 to 12/1, was headed on the run-in by the winner, but kept on for second, a neck in front of Mackeys Forge (11/4).
“He won on the flat in England before we got him and now he’s won a flat race, a bumper, a hurdle and a chase. He’ll mix it over hurdles and fences,” Willie Mullins said.
“It was a fine ride by Ruby. He did well to survive. I changed tactics and dropped him in. I said to Ruby to try and get him passing horses. He likes things his own way so we gave him an easy time and it worked out.”
Only six of the 10 runners completed the course as Howwoulduno and Cool Klan fell while Rodriguez fell bringing down Dranagold
