Icy just prevails Icy Reply got up close home to land the Eventus Beginners Chase under Ruby Walsh for Willie Mullins. Having disappointed on her debut over fences at Limerick in July she put in a much improved performance to finish third on her next start at Tramore. Sent off the 11/8 favourite today she was settled towards rear and jumped slowly in the early stages. Her jumping improved on the second circuit and she was pushed along in a close fifth after the last. She was ridden to challenge in the straight and gained a marginal lead in the closing stages, battling gamely to hold off the renewed effort of Milan Quartet by a neck. The runner-up, who led for the majority of the contest, returned a 7/1 chance (was 16's this morning) under Brian Hayes for Joe Dullea. Ruby Walsh said afterwards: "She was very careful with her jumping for a circuit but she warmed up alright on the second circuit. She has her own way of doing it. "I thought she was going to win well off the bend, she was starting to pick up but when we got to Brian Hayes his horse rallied and she had to dig deep then. "When you consider what ground she gave away on the first circuit she probably did well to win. It was also a big help the final fence was so far from the line! "When we schooled her the first time over fences I didn't think she'd ever win a chase but she has." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
