Horantzau D'airy up and over the last for Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
Horantzau D'airy is now two from two over fences for Willie Mullins after a decisive success in the Suir Blueway Steeplechase at Clonmel.
It could be argued that he was a fortuitous winner over fences on debut at Leopardstown as the two horses in front of him fell at the final fence, but there was nothing fortunate about this evening.
The 143-rated, but out of form, Hollow Games didn't give Jack Kennedy an easy time off the front in this 2m4f race and was picked off by a stalking Hotantzau D'airy before two out.
The new leader made a mistake there, but a good jump at the last saw him draw clear by six and a-half lengths. He was nicely backed down to 4/5 favourite. Gaelic Arc returning from a very lengthy absence, was a highly creditable second at 28/1.
Paul Townend said: "He actually jumped better over the bigger fences previously at Leopardstown and maybe the nicer ground helped him then.
"The ground is harder work on the chase course today than the hurdle course, but he won and was good, on the whole.
"I got a great ride from him around Leopardstown, but he was indecisive today and didn't want to let rip - maybe it was harder work on the ground.
"He hit the second-last a fair thump, but is a strong horse who got out through it. I think he is a better jumper than what he showed and, while I don't know what the plan is, I'd imagine he'll be kept going on better ground."
Horatzau D'airy won one of his 10 hurdle races before embarking on chasing and was placed six times.
Townend reduced Jack Kennedy's lead to three winners in the jockeys' title race (117-114) with this victory.
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
